JP2002200184A - Float for indicating whereabouts - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily find a diver or a victim of an accident floating a float by a radar by increasing the refractive index of a whereabouts indicating float to radio waves of a radar. SOLUTION: A float body QB to give buoyancy to a whereabouts indicating float Q when filled with a gas lighter than air is composed by combining members reflecting radio waves of a radar and having airtightness so that the surface may be a combination of near planes. In a whereabouts indicating float Q floated by filling a gas lighter than air, a plane reflective plate W reflecting electric waves of a radar is annexed to the exterior of the float body QB to give buoyancy to the whereabouts indicating float.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention facilitates the discovery of divers, anglers, climbers, etc. who seek rescue from their mother ship or rescuer during diving, fishing, climbing, etc. The present invention relates to a buoy for displaying a location where immediate rescue can be obtained.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is a mother who finds a diver floating from the sea, finds out an abnormality during diving, finds a fisherman who has fallen into the sea or a river, or a victim in a mountain or the like. He relied on crews and rescuers on board to find out by eye.

[0003]

However, it is extremely difficult to detect a diver floating on the sea or an abnormality occurring during diving by visual recognition from the mother ship.
Lifting to the ship can be delayed and result in long drifts, or even the worst. In addition, it is extremely difficult to visually identify a distressed climber or a person who has fallen into the water, and rescue is delayed, often causing the worst case.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-56841 discloses that a climber carries a floating balloon by filling a gas lighter than air, such as helium gas, and uses air such as helium in an emergency such as distress. It is described that a lighter gas is charged into the balloon and levitated into the air, and a rescuer finds the victim by visually finding the balloon.

[0005] However, according to the conventional visual discovery method described in this publication, if the field of view is closed by clouds or fog, the rescuer cannot see the balloon, and the surrounding trees are not visible. There is a problem that it is not possible to know the distress location because of being shielded by the above.

Also, when a diver ascends from the sea, he or she carries a balloon as described in the above-mentioned publication to seek rescue from the mother ship or to seek rescue in case of an accident in the sea. When asking for airborne gas from a carrying cylinder, this balloon can be filled with a gas lighter than air and levitated in the air, but the reflection of light on the sea surface, the condition of light rays, waves and swells, or fog etc. For this reason, the mother ship or rescuer may not be able to visually recognize the balloon.

It is conceivable to use a radar in order to avoid difficulty in detecting a diver or a victim who has floated out of the sea by visual recognition. However, the detection by the radar is not limited if it is large, such as an aircraft or a ship. When a diver is underwater, radar radio waves are reflected on the sea surface and it is impossible to catch it with radar, and even when the diver is out on the sea, the diver himself is compared to the size of the sea surface In addition to being extremely small, radar waves are reflected by the sea surface and waves on the sea surface, making it almost impossible to catch a diver with radar.

In order to make the radio wave reflected by the levitating body for displaying the position of the radar reach the radar device with a required intensity, the levitating body may be enlarged. However, there are restrictions such as convenience of carrying and the amount of gas to be filled. Therefore, in practice it can not be too large.

Therefore, the present invention relates to the above-mentioned JP-A-9-568.
For example, by using a floating body corresponding to a floating balloon by filling a gas lighter than air, such as helium gas described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 41, and improving the reflectivity of radar waves of the floating body, for example, a comparison is made. The purpose of the present invention is to obtain a levitation body that can be easily detected by a radar device even if it is a small-sized device, so that a diver or a victim who levitates the levitation body can be easily found by the radar device. I do.

[0010]

According to the present invention, even if the above-mentioned levitation body is made of a material that reflects radar radio waves, the levitation having a three-dimensional curved surface such as a balloon, a sphere, or an ellipsoid is used. In the case of the body, it has been difficult to find this levitator with radar equipment.

Then, as a result of studying the reason why this discovery is difficult, the radar radio wave projected from the radar is diffused and reflected by the three-dimensional curved surface of the levitating body, and the reflected radio wave returning from the levitating body to the radar is generated. It was found that this was due to a marked weakening.

Therefore, the invention described in claim 1 is based on FIG.
As shown in the embodiment, when a gas lighter than air is filled, a combination of members that reflect radar radio waves and have airtightness so as to form a combination of substantially flat outer surfaces is used for position indication. It is characterized in that a levitation body main body QB for giving buoyancy to the levitation body Q is configured.

As in the first aspect of the present invention, when the floating body main body QB is configured such that the outer surface thereof is substantially a combination of flat surfaces when the gas is filled, the surfaces forming these flat surfaces are various. When a radar wave arrives from the radar device, the surface near the vertical to the radar wave efficiently reflects the radar wave. This makes it easier for the radar device to detect the floating body for displaying the location.

The floating body Q in the embodiment shown in FIG.
The planes serving as the outer surfaces of B are S11, S21, S22, A, B2, C2, D, if only the illustrated planes are mentioned.
2, B3, C3, and D3, and it is apparent from FIG. 1 alone that the directions of the respective planes, including the plane not shown, are different.

In addition, since the floating body for displaying the position is filled with a gas lighter than air and floats when used, its posture changes due to wind or the like, and the direction of each surface constituting the body of the floating body also changes. However, any one of the surfaces that make up the levitation body is close to the direction perpendicular to the radar wave, so the incoming radar wave is reflected in the direction of arrival of the radar wave without being diffused, and a tertiary sphere, etc. The detection sensitivity of the radar device is increased as compared with the case where the reflection surface is constituted by the original curved surface.

Further, the floating body main body QB only needs to have a combination of substantially flat outer surfaces when gas is charged, and when the gas is not filled such as during storage or carrying, the floating body main body QB is used. It is not necessary for any member to be the outer surface of the QB to be flat, and the material and shape of the members to be combined are selected so that the entire location position display floating body Q can be folded as small as possible for convenience of carrying. It is desirable.

The material "reflecting radar radio waves and having airtightness" in the first aspect of the present invention may be any material that reflects airwaves of the frequency used for radar and has airtightness. For example, a fabric or a plastic sheet on which metal foil is deposited or adhered,
Alternatively, there is a sheet-like laminate in which a metal foil is laminated with a cloth or a plastic sheet.

Further, the surface of the member that reflects the radar radio wave may be provided with irregularities of an appropriate size by embossing, quilting, or the like. The size and depth of the irregularities can be set to optimal values in consideration of the wavelength of the radar radio wave, the spread of the reflected radar radio wave, and the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a floating body for displaying a location Q which is filled with a gas lighter than air and floats is provided. A flat reflector W (reflectors shown are W11, W12, W21, W22) for reflecting radar radio waves is provided outside the levitation body main body QB for providing buoyancy. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the "flat reflector" attached to the levitating body main body QB has various flat surfaces, similarly to the flat reflector of the first aspect. When a radar radio wave from the radar device arrives, the surface close to perpendicular to this radar radio wave reflects the radar radio wave efficiently, so even if it is a small floating position display body as a whole, It is easy for the radar device to detect the buoyant body for displaying the location.

The material of the "reflector for reflecting radar radio waves" in the second aspect of the present invention may be any material that reflects radio waves of the frequency used for radar. For example, a metal foil is deposited. Or, there is a bonded fabric or plastic sheet, or a sheet-like laminate obtained by laminating a metal foil with the fabric or plastic sheet, and the surface thereof can be subjected to embossing or quilting. Same as described above.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is a special advantage that the shape of the levitating body main body QB has no special restriction. The effect that the detection sensitivity in the radar device is remarkably improved only by providing the reflection plate by the above method can be obtained immediately.

The buoyant body QB and the reflector of the buoyant body Q for displaying the location according to the first and second aspects of the present invention are provided, for example, in such a manner that the motherboard and the rescuer can easily find them. It is preferable to apply a paint of a conspicuous color such as yellow or red or a fluorescent paint that is more conspicuous on the outer surface.
It should be noted that the constituent material such as the floating body main body QB which is the outermost part of the floating body Q for displaying the location can be preliminarily colored in the above-mentioned color.

When using the floating body Q for displaying a position according to the present invention, the yarn R having a length of about 20 to 30 m is connected through a connecting band T attached to the lower part of the floating body Q for displaying the position. The levitation body Q is tied in advance to a user's belt or the like, and a gas cylinder filled with a gas lighter than air, such as helium, is tied to the body or carried in a pocket such as a diving suit or mountaineering suit.

When ascending from a dive or other dive and asking the mother ship for discovery, or when trying to indicate its location, such as in the case of a distress or an emergency, the floating body is lifted from the carrying gas cylinder. By filling the main body QB with gas and floating the floating body Q, it is possible to indicate the location of the mother ship and the rescuer. It should be noted that, even when the floater body is filled with gas in the sea, the floater Q for displaying the location is located above the sea from the sea and floats in the air. Absent.

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, since the radar radio waves arriving from the radar device are reflected on a substantially flat surface which is almost perpendicular to the direction of arrival, the reflection is achieved. The radar radio wave directed toward the radar device without spreading, the detection sensitivity of the radar device is remarkably improved compared to the conventional floating body consisting of a three-dimensional curved surface, and it is possible to reduce the size. The effect of is obtained.

[0027]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a floating body Q for displaying a position according to the present invention, which is filled with a gas such as helium which is lighter than air. Is shown.

FIG. 2 shows the floating body Q shown in FIG.
The structure of B is shown in more detail by a top view of (a) and a side view of (b).
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the outline of the levitation body Q for displaying the location of this embodiment will be described with reference to the perspective view of FIG. 1. The levitation body Q for displaying the location is composed of a levitation body QB and a reflector W for reflecting radar radio waves. (W11, W12, W21, W2
2 ...), the connecting band T attached to the floating body main body QB,
And a thread R having a length of about 20 m to 30 m for binding to a carrier such as a diver attached to the other end of the joining band T.

The levitation body QB of the levitation body Q for displaying the position of this embodiment corresponds to the levitation body of the present invention described in claim 1, and is disposed so as to be orthogonal to each other as a whole. It is composed of four trapezoidal portions G1 to G4 without a bottom, a rectangular portion A connected to the upper edge of these trapezoidal portions, and a rectangular portion (not shown) on the lower surface facing the rectangular portion A. It is an airtight bag filled with a gas lighter than air such as helium.

Since the configurations of the trapezoidal portions G1 to G4 are all the same, the trapezoidal portion G2 will be described as an example. The trapezoidal portion G2 is composed of three continuous rectangular surfaces B forming the upper surface of the trapezoidal shape.
2, C2, D2 and a trapezoidal side surface S in contact with one edge (right edge in FIG. 1) of these rectangular surfaces B2, C2, D2.
21 and the trapezoidal side surface S2 which is in contact with the other edge (the left edge in FIG. 1) of the rectangular surfaces B2, C2 and D2.
1 and a trapezoidal side surface S12 of the same shape (see FIG. 2A)
Consists of Note that the shape of the side surface of this trapezoid is shown in FIG.
S11 and S22.

In the buoy Q for displaying the location, the efficiency of reflecting the radar wave from the up and down direction of the buoy Q is improved, and the four trapezoids G1 to G4 are kept at the correct positions. Adjacent trapezoid G1-
Two reflectors W11 and W12 and two reflectors W21 and W2 between G2, G2-G3, G3-G4 and G4-G1, respectively.
2, the reflection plates W31 and W32, and the reflection plates W41 and W42
It is provided on the step. Note that these reflectors correspond to the reflector of the present invention described in claim 2.

Note that, as is most apparent in FIG.
These reflectors W are mounted such that an edge on the floating body main body QB side forms an air gap with the floating body main body QB, whereby seawater, rainwater, and the like accumulate and the buoyancy is reduced. Is preventing.

The material of these reflectors W is made of a material that reflects radar radio waves in the same manner as the material of the above-mentioned levitating body main body QB. It is a sheet-like laminate in which a sheet or a metal foil is laminated with a fabric or a plastic sheet, and the surface of the laminate may be embossed or quilted to provide irregularities of an appropriate size.

As a method for filling the levitation body QB of the buoyant body Q for locating position of the present invention with gas such as helium, which is lighter than air, a gas cylinder or the other end of a tube connected to the gas cylinder can be used. An injection needle is attached, and the injection needle is pierced into a valve provided on the floating body main body QB, which is similar to an air injection valve used for injecting air into a ball for a ball game such as a soccer ball. After opening and filling the floating body main body QB with the gas, the injection needle can be withdrawn.

When such a gas filling method is used, an injection needle can be pierced in place of a valve such as the injection valve of the ball for ball game, and after the injection needle is withdrawn, the injection needle can be used. An elastic plate such as a rubber plate that automatically closes the hole through which the needle is inserted may be attached to the surface or the inner surface of the floating body, or may be provided between the laminated materials for forming the floating body main body QB. .

As another gas filling method, a connecting member with a gas cylinder having an openable and closable stopper is attached to, for example, the bottom surface E of the floating body main body QB, and after the gas cylinder is attached to this coupling member, the stopper is opened. After injecting and filling helium gas into the floating body main body QB from the gas cylinder, a known gas filling method such as closing the plug of the coupling member to prevent helium gas from leaking from the floating body main body QB can be applied. it can.

FIG. 3 is a view showing another embodiment of the levitation body QB according to the present invention, wherein the levitation body QB shown in FIG. 1 is shown.
, The trapezoidal portions G1-G2, G2 adjacent to each other
A rectangular surface B at the top of G3, G3-G4, G4-G1
B1-B2, B2-B between edges of 1, B2, B3, B4
3, B3-B4, B4-B1 have triangular reflectors H1 to H4.
(The triangular reflectors H3 and H4 are not visible in FIG. 3) and the reflectors W provided between the adjacent trapezoidal side surfaces are increased one by one as compared with the configuration of FIG. Is different.

The provision of the triangular reflectors H1 to H4 is intended to make it easier to find when viewed obliquely from above. Therefore, the triangular reflectors H1 are provided so that the floating body for displaying the position is conspicuous. ~ H4 is red,
Paint with orange or yellow paint or fluorescent paint. If this triangular reflector H is formed using a material that reflects radar radio waves, the reflection efficiency of radar radio waves can be further increased.

Further, between the side surfaces of adjacent trapezoidal portions, for example, S
The three reflectors W21 and W2 provided between the first and second S21 and S22.
2, W23 has an improved function of keeping the interval between trapezoidal portions G1 to G4 and increasing the area for reflecting radar radio waves by increasing the number of reflectors as compared with the embodiment shown in FIG. And the floating body QB according to the present invention.
, The number of such reflectors W can be increased to an appropriate number.

In this embodiment, the upper portions of the strip-shaped coupling bands T1 to T4 are attached to the rectangular surfaces D1 to D4 of the trapezoidal portion located at the lower portion of the floating body QB by bonding or welding.
The lower ends of these connecting bands T1 to T4 are engaged with each other by bonding or sewing to form an integral part, and the integral part has a length for preventing the floating body main body QB from separating from the user's body. A thread R 'for attaching a thread R of about 20 m to 30 m via a return thread Y to prevent the thread from being twisted was attached.

In this embodiment, in consideration of the use of the buoyant body Q for displaying the location at night or the like, an illuminating device L which is lit by a battery provided with manual operation or automatic lighting means is provided. Was attached to an integral part of the binding bands T1 to T4 to which the above-mentioned thread R 'was attached.

FIG. 4 is a view showing another embodiment of the levitation body for displaying the position, in which a levitation body QB mainly composed of a three-dimensional curved surface is provided with a substantially planar longitudinal reflector G (Gw).
, Gw2, Gw3, Gw4,...) And a horizontal reflector W (Wa1, Wa2, Wa3, Wb) between these vertical reflectors.
1, Wb2, Wb3, Wc1, Wc2, Wc3,...), Which corresponds to an embodiment of the present invention.

The levitation body QB shown in FIG. 4 for applying levitation force to the levitation body Q for displaying the position is composed of a cylindrical portion GP and cylindrical portions Tub, Tbb and conical portions Tuc, provided at both ends thereof.
The cylindrical portion GP, the cylindrical portions Tub, Tbb, and the conical portions Tuc, Tbc are each formed of an airtight material for storing the filled gas, and are connected to each other. The connecting part is also configured to maintain airtightness.

The floating body QB in this embodiment
Is preferably made of a material that reflects radar radio waves, but a part or all of it may be made of a material that does not reflect radar radio waves.

FIG. 4 shows band-like coupling bands T1 to T
3, the lighting fixture L, the yarns R 'and R, and the twisting Y are shown, but these are the same as the corresponding elements shown in FIG.

With only the levitating body main body QB of FIG. 4, there are few planes that are almost orthogonal to the radar radio waves that may arrive from various directions such as up, down, left, and right. There is a problem that the ability to reflect the light is insufficient, and it is difficult for the radar to detect the floating body QB.

Therefore, in the embodiment of the floating body Q for displaying the location according to the present invention shown in FIG.
As described above, the upper cylindrical portion Tub and the lower cylindrical portion Tbb of the levitating body main body QB are used to reflect the radar radio wave to the outside of B.
A plurality of vertical reflectors Gw1, Gw2, Gw3, Gw4,... Extending substantially in the direction in which the columnar portion GP extends are provided between the reflectors, and three horizontal reflectors Wa1, between adjacent reflectors of the vertical reflectors. Wa2, Wa3, Wb1, Wb2
Wb3, Wc1, Wc2, Wc3,... Are provided respectively.

The vertical reflector and the horizontal reflector are made of a material that reflects radar radio waves in order to efficiently reflect all radar radio waves that may be incident from various directions. In this embodiment, the vertical reflecting plate is provided in parallel with the extending direction of the cylindrical portion GP and radially from the cylindrical axis GP, and the horizontal reflecting plate is aligned with the axis of the cylindrical portion GP. It is provided as a plane that is substantially orthogonal.

The horizontal reflector W also has a function of maintaining the positional relationship between the vertical reflectors. By mounting the horizontal reflector so that a gap remains between the horizontal reflector and the cylindrical portion GP, the horizontal reflector is provided. Rain water or seawater is prevented from accumulating in a pocket-like portion formed when the air conditioner is directly connected to the cylindrical portion and the vertical reflection plate, thereby preventing the buoyancy of the location display float Q from being reduced.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the buoyant body Q for displaying the position where the area for reflecting radar radio waves from obliquely above or below is increased. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is used. Are replaced by the upper horizontal reflectors Wu1, Wu2, Wu3,.
And a lower horizontal reflection plate Wt1, which is directed obliquely downward.
4 is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 in that wt2, Wt3,.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the present invention is also applied to the radar radio waves from the obliquely upward and downward directions by the horizontal reflection plates provided in the upwardly and downwardly inclined directions as described above. An effect is obtained that the position display levitation body Q is easily detected.

The number and interval of the vertical reflector and the horizontal reflector in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be appropriately selected according to the length of the floating body main body QB. Regarding the horizontal reflection plate in the illustrated embodiment, not only the number but also the mounting direction can be appropriately selected.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 described above, a flat reflector is simply attached to the existing floating body or an appropriately shaped floating body for easy manufacture. Thus, the effect according to the present invention can be obtained.

[0055]

According to the present invention, there is provided a floating body for displaying a position according to the present invention, in which when the body of the floating body is filled with gas, its outer surface for reflecting radar radio waves has a combination of substantially flat surfaces. The radar wave incident from the direction is reflected in the almost incident direction without being diffused, so that the detection sensitivity of the radar apparatus is significantly improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a planar reflector for reflecting radar radio waves is directed in different directions to the outside of the levitation body for giving buoyancy to the appropriate position display levitation body. As described above, similar to the first aspect of the invention, the radar radio waves incident from various directions are reflected without being diffused, so that not only the detection sensitivity of the radar device is significantly improved, but also the existing floating body and By using a floating body having a shape that is easy to manufacture, a floating body for displaying a location that can be easily detected by a radar device can be obtained.

A diver, an angler, a climber or the like carries the location-position floating body according to the present invention, and seeks for rescue. In an emergency, the helium gas is applied to the body of the location-position floating body. If the floater is filled with a lighter gas than air, such as this, the reflection efficiency of radar radio waves is good, so even if this location display float is relatively small,
Divers, anglers, climbers, etc. who floated this location display float using the radar mounted on the mother ship etc. can be easily found, preventing the occurrence of distress accidents etc. The effect is achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a floating body for displaying a location according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view and a side view of the levitation body main body in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing another embodiment of a floating body for displaying a location according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing another embodiment of a floating body for displaying a position according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of a floating body for displaying a location according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Q: Floating body for displaying location QB: Floating body A, E: Rectangular part G (G1 to G4) ... Trapezoidal part W (W11, W12, W21, W22, Wa1, Wb1)
Etc.) Reflector S (S11, S21, S21, S22, etc.) ... Side surface of trapezoid B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D
3 ... rectangular surface of trapezoid

Claims (2)

[Claims] An air-tight member that reflects radar radio waves and is combined with an airtight member so as to form a combination of substantially flat outer surfaces when filled with a gas lighter than air. Floating body main body QB for giving buoyancy
A floating body for displaying a location, characterized by comprising: 2. A levitation body for displaying a position, which is filled with a gas lighter than air and levitates, reflects radar waves to the outside of the levitation body QB for giving buoyancy to the levitation body Q for displaying a position. A floating body for displaying a position, wherein a flat reflecting plate W is provided.