MXPA99009035A - Submersible and retrievable buoy - Google Patents

Abstract

Buoy (3) incorporates a release mechanism (5) that permits buoy (3) to be submersed and subsequently automatically released to ascend to the surface. Mechanism (5) includes cap (16) which hermetically seals a space (8) within which release unit (101) is located. Cap (16) is unitarily formed to include two jaws (28, 29) which are moveable relative to one another to release a pin (20). Movement of jaws (28, 29) is via release unit (101) acting to bias at least one jaw (28) away from the other jaw (29). Release unit (101) may be operated by a remotely transmitted signal, or initiated directly by a timer or a controller where specific circumstances dictate such a release (for example, the internal power source is near deplection). Buoy (3) can be attached to any submerged structure such as crab pot (7).

Description

i SUBMERSIBLE AND RECOVERABLE BUOY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to water buoys and in particular, to buoys that can submerge and subsequently recover, and also to release systems that can be used in hermetically sealed environments. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Aquatic buoys are commonly used 10 in a wide spectrum of marine applications to indicate the location of a particular entity. In addition to the use on the surface of the water, the buoys have application in the marking of underwater activities, the objective being to remove the obstruction and intrusion of the surface, besides improving the security of the goods (for example: scientific, industrial, commercial , military) located underwater. When underwater use is desired, it is necessary that the buoy be supplied with means that allow reliable release and recovery at the surface of the water. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a retainer apparatus is exposed - releasable comprising: a body having at least two forks, the forks being configured to releasably retain a member; a displacement means separated from the member by a hermetic seal formed in the body to isolate the displacement means substantially within the body, the displacement means being operable to move at least one of the forks to release and / or retain the member, in wherein at least the fork forms at least a part of the hermetic seal. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a submersible and recoverable buoy is disclosed comprising: a reel-shaped body around which a length of rope can be wound, one end of which can be fixed to the body; a hermetically sealed space associated with the body and within which an actuator is located; a releasable member from the body and to which a middle portion of the rope is attached; and a clamping mechanism operable by means of the actuator to release and / or retain the member, wherein at least one movable holding part of the mechanism comprises at least part of a hermetic seal of the space. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a submersible / recoverable buoy system is disclosed for use in a water body, the system comprising: a transmission device configured to transmit a signal including information, a buoy in accordance with the second aspect, the buoy further comprising a means for receiving the signal and giving rise to the operation of the actuator according to the information, and a payload to which the other end of the rope is attached. Numerous other aspects of the present invention are also set forth. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A illustrates the use of a buoy according to one embodiment; Figure IB is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the buoy of Figure 1A; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the block diagram of the main functional components of the buoy of Figures 1A and IB. Figure 3A is a schematic representation of the block diagram of specific devices that implement the functional components of Figure 2; Figure 3B is a schematic representation of the block diagram of specific devices within a transmitter to be used with the embodiment of Figure 3A; Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a release mechanism, an end cap and a rope restriction bolt according to one embodiment; Figure 5A is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the installation of Figure 4 in a closed configuration; Figure 5B is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the installation of Figure 4 in an open configuration; Figure 5C is a rear view elongated in cross section of the end cap; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional right longitudinal side view of the installation of Figure 4, as seen along line VI-VI of Figure 4; Figure 7A is a view of the underside of the end cap as seen along line VII-VII of Figure 5A; Figure 7B is a fixed fork insert associated with the embodiment of Figure 4, as seen along line VII-VII of Figure 7A; The figures. 8A to 8C are perspective, lower and upper views of a buoy body; Figure 9 is a front elevation view of a release mechanism and end cap according to another embodiment; Figure 10 is a view of the lower part of the end cap of Figure 9; Figures HA and 11B are perspective views and the bottom part of another buoy body; Figure 12A is a representation of a - release assembly of another mode; Figure 12B is a view of the underside of the end cap of Figure 12A; Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the operation of the embodiment of Figures 12A and 12B; Figure 14 is a schematic electronic circuit diagram of a control system for use with the embodiment of Figures 12A to 13; and Figures 15 to 19 are flow charts depicting the modes of operation of the installation of Figures 12A-14. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Figure 1A, a buoy 3 positively floating in a submerged state 1 is shown, remaining below the surface 90 of a body of water by means of a rope, which in this embodiment is a rope 6 connected to a payload negatively floating, in this case a net for crabs 7. As it is apparent from the submerged state 1, the negative buoyancy of the crabs net 7 is of a magnitude greater than the positive buoyancy of the crabs net 7. Figure 1A also shows the buoy 3 in a recoverable state 2, by which the rope 6 is allowed to unroll from the buoy 3. The buoy 3 thus ascends to the surface 90 of the water due to its positive buoyancy. However, the buoy 3 remains connected to the crab net 7 by means of the rope 6 and in this way the crab net 7 can be recovered by means of a fisherman 77 winding the rope 6. Figure IB illustrates the buoy 3 in greater detail, when it is in the submerged state 1 connected to the crab net 7. The buoy 3 is formed of a buoy body 4, which can be made of polyethylene, polypropylene or other plastic materials, molded around a cylindrical drum 8, typically made of aluminum, and a release assembly 5. The release assembly 5 includes an end cap 16 arranged to support a release unit 101. The drum 8 defines a hollow interior with no exit, substantially in the form of a tube inside which the release assembly 5 is housed and which is closed by means of the end cap 16. The end cap 16 includes a peripheral annular channel 91 within which is located a O-ring 79. The end cap 16 includes a threaded portion 32 adjacent to the O-ring 79 and arranged to engage a complementary thread formed in the open end of the drum 8. In this manner, the O-ring 79 and the end cap 16 provide an airtight seal, effective against the ingress of fluids, including gas and liquids, into the drum 8 to thereby protect the contents thereof (e.g., release assembly 5) from corrosion and damage. The end cap 16 also includes a rope release apparatus 83 having a rope restriction bolt 20, a movable fork 28 and a fixed fork 29. As seen in Figure IB, one end of the rope 6 is fixed to body 4 by means of a knot 81 or something similar. The rope 6 is illustrated wound around the body 4 by a section corresponding to a maximum operational depth of water in which the buoy 3 is used. After having wound around the body 4, a free portion 64 of the rope 6 is tied or otherwise it is securely fastened to the restriction bolt of the rope 20, the free end 65 of the rope 6 being tied or otherwise fastened to the net for crabs 7. The rope restriction bolt 20 is typically formed of stainless steel and has an integrally formed ball-shaped end 66 installed to be operatively fixed between the movable fork 28 and the fixed fork 29 in the manner that it will be described. The other end of the rope restriction bolt 20 has a ring or opening 6-7 to which the rope 6 can be tied as illustrated. The restriction bolt of the rope 20 is either retained or released from the limits of the movable fork 28 and the fixed fork 29, depending on the state of the release unit 101, to thereby obtain the change in the configurations shown in Figure 1A. Turning now to Figure 2, the release unit 101 includes a power source 82, a signal receiver 86, a controller 85, a synchronizer 84 that preferably incorporates a real time clock, a rope release actuator 102 , and a gear installation 103. The power source 82 is connected to each of the rope release actuators 102, the synchronizer 84, the controller 85 and the signal receiver 86 to supply the necessary energy 78 to each one to operate. The rope release actuator 102 is mechanically connected to the gear installation 103 as represented by an arrow 104 and the gear installation 103 is mechanically connected 105 to the rope release apparatus 83. The signal receiver 86 is configured to receive a remotely transmitted signal 53 which contains information about when it is desired that the rope release apparatus 83 be actuated by means of the rope release actuator 102 through the gear installation 103. This information about the reception is first communicated to the controller 85 through a connection 68. The controller 85 is configured to manage the operation of the buoy 3 and to communicate a specific time with the synchronizer 84 in which the release actuator is actuated. rope 102 which can then operate the gear installation 103 and consequently, the apparatus for releasing rope 83. The signal to the rope release actuator 102 for driving the rope release apparatus 83 may be initiated either by the controller 85 via a direct connection 69, or by means of the synchronizer 84 through a connection 87. Generally, the signal to the rope release actuator 102 occurs when a predetermined time has been reached (for example: 72 hours after have been established, or at 10 AM on next Friday April 10, 1998 when you want to collect). The controller 85 is also operable to cause the release of the buoy 3 when specific circumstances dictate a response. For example, in the preferred embodiment, the controller 85 is configured to monitor the rest of the operation duration of the power source 82 so that in the case when the power source is close to being depleted, sufficient to avoid the operation of the actuator 102, the controller 85 can cause the release of the buoy 3, even though the time programmed in the synchronizer 84 has not been reached. The operation allows the buoy 3 to be recovered, instead of being lost in the ocean floor without energy reserves. In this way, this buoy 3 can be protected against accidental loss caused by the inability to operate. The operation is assisted through the connection between - the controller 85 and the synchronizer 84 being bidirectional, thereby enabling the controller to interrogate the time or the time remaining before the release in order to decide whether or not to provide the driving signal 69. FIG. 3A illustrates how some of the the functional components of the release unit 101 of Figure 2. A battery 10 arranged to supply power 78 for operating the rope release actuator 102 is provided., the latter comprising a motor controller 9 and a motor 30. The battery 10 also supplies power 78 to a microcontroller 43 which is configured to implement the functions of both the synchronizer 84 and the controller 85. The battery 10 also supplies power to a receiver infrared 60, infrared transmitter 61 and acoustic receiver 76. In order to conserve battery power and thus maximize battery life, microcontroller 43 is preferably configured to be activated only for 1 millisecond of each second of real time. Such installation, while providing sufficient response time for reliable operation, It provides a minimized energy consumption. The infrared receiver 60 is configured to receive the infrared signal transmitted remotely 53. The information associated with the signal 53 is communicated to the microcontroller 43. Subject to the programming of the microcontroller 43 and the content of the information, the microcontroller 43 is then operable for the signal from the motor controller 9 through the connection 69, 87 which can then allow the motor 30 to energize. The output of the motor 30 is mechanically connected to the gear installation 103 to cause the operation of the rope release apparatus 83. The motor controller 9 has the ability to cause the motor 30 to operate in reverse to cause the reverse movement. of the gear installation 103 and the rope release apparatus 83. This reversal capability allows the rope release apparatus 83 to re-establish itself after a release operation has been executed. The microcontroller 43 in a specific installation can be connected as shown by means of a connection 89 to the acoustic wave receiver 76. The acoustic wave receiver 76 comprises a hydrophone 70 for receiving a signal acoustic, the electrical output from which is transferred to the microcontroller 43 through various signal conditioning elements including a detection amplifier 71, a filter 72, a preamplifier 73, a detector 74 and a decoder 75. In this installation, the signal transmitted remotely as discussed in relation to Figure 2 can be received by the receiver 76 when the buoy 3 is submerged under water. This may be useful if it is desired to change an initial program, which has a predetermined time for release, after the buoy 3 has been submerged, or if immediate recovery is desired. Another installation shown in Figure 3A includes a transmitter 61 connected to the microcontroller 43 via a connection 88. Generally, the transmitter 60 is configured to allow the information to return to the source of the signal transmitted remotely as discussed above. to Figure 2. Therefore, the transmitter 60 is configured for the transmission of either or both of the infrared and acoustic signals, depending on the desired application. Figure 3B shows a unit of - remote programming 42, typically a portable hand-held device, configured to transmit the signal 53 which can be received by the signal receiver 86. The remote programming unit 42 includes a microcontroller 51 energized by means of a battery 52. A transmitter 49 connected the microcontroller 51 is installed to emit the signal 53 suitable for reception by means of the infrared receiver 60 and / or the sound wave receiver 76. A user interface 54 is also connected to the microcontroller 51, to enable programming of the microcontroller 51 by means of an operator. The interface 54 may incorporate a touch sensitive panel to enter information via the human operator and / or a display screen to visually display information about what is currently programmed, or what has already been programmed. Turning now to Figures 4 to 8B inclusive, the release assembly 5 can be described. Figure 4 shows the end cap 16 of which the battery 10 is supported by means of three separate legs 11 installed, extending from the cover of end 16. As best seen in Figure 5A, the actuator of - cord release 102 includes the motor 30 and an electronic unit 106 both of which are seated in a well 109 (seen in Figure 5C) formed in the end cap 16. The electronic unit 106 typically includes at least each receiver signal 60, the microcontroller 43 and the motor controller 9. A chassis base plate 21 is fixed to a substantially disk-shaped face 110 of the end cap 16 to provide a reinforcement to the end cap 16 and also a base for the assembly of other components. Several openings are provided in the chassis base plate 21 to allow the components including the motor 30, protruding and also a hole made with drill 27 associated with the rope release apparatus 83 which will be described later. The gear assembly 103 extends from the motor 30 and includes a gear holder 17, a gear train 33, a helical gear 19, a gear wheel 14, a connecting rod (connecting rod) 24 and a toothed cam 25. The support gear 17 is disposed after the chassis base plate 21 and provides a mounting device by means of which it can be placed and fixed motor 30 __ to gear holder 17 with a clamp -31. A main shaft of the motor 30 is installed to drive the gear train 33 when the motor 30 is energized. The movement of the gear train 33 in turn drives the helical gear 19. As seen in Figure 4, the rotation of the helical gear 19 drives the gear 14 in a direction shown either by means of the arrow 58 or the arrow 96, depending on a polarized drive provided to the motor 30 by means of the motor controller ~ 9. The interaction between the helical gear 19 and the gear wheel 14 alters a rotational movement of the output of the mechanical drive of the motor 30, coming from an azimuthal plane towards an elevation plane. The sprocket 14 has a main shaft 97 that extends through one of two straight wings 92, seen in Figures 4 and 6, associated with the gear support 17. A first end 12A of the main shaft 97 is held in its place by means of a first external retaining ring 13A. Referring to Figure 6, a second end 12B of the main shaft 97 is shown, the second end 12B being extended through the other of the two straight wings 92 of the gear support 17 and held in place by means of a second external retaining ring 13B. Returning to Figure 5A, the main axis 97 is seen in cross section but beyond gear 14, so gear 14 (seen in Figure 4) is not apparent. The main shaft 97 has therein disposed the toothed cam 25, the circumference of which is installed to be operatively slidable within the rod 24 with the aid of a ball bearing 98. A pin 26 provides a second anchor of the connecting rod 24 to the cam 25 to give the desired pendulum movement of the rod 24. As best seen in Figure 5C, the end cap 16 is made of a solid block of plastic material, such as UHM polyethylene, which has strong properties , but elastically flexible when properly sized. Other suitable substitute materials may be used. The manufacture of the end cap 16 forms the well 109 in which the motor 30 and the electronic module 106 are located. In the preferred embodiment, the polyethylene is transparent and the manufacture of the well 109 forms a thin outer section 111 in which the infrared receiver 60 and the transmitter 61 are positioned so that the thin section 111 forms a window 114 (see Figure 7A) through which the communications take place. infrared bidirectional As seen in Figures 5A, 5B and 7A, a sensing locator plate 15 is provided around the exterior of the window 114 to provide it with mechanical reinforcement to prevent distortion of the thin section 111 and / or fractures under pressures encountered in the depths, as well as unnoticed damage. The end cap 16 is also manufactured from its face exposed in an operational manner to define the movable fork 28 which appears as a post extending to an outer well bounded on one side by the fixed fork 29, and on the other side. by a sloping face 108. The manufacture around the fixed fork 28 creates a substantially annular thin section 112 on the face 110 which is sufficiently thin to allow the movable fork 28 to flex elastically, while being thick enough to avoid fractures, distortion or other faults through of the multiple bending of the fork 28, particularly when combined with the effects of depth pressures. The chassis base plate 21 attached to the face 110 helps to reinforce the thin section 112. The inclined face 108 is provided to discourage the formation of debris (eg, oysters, barnacles) in the end cap 16 which may otherwise way to inhibit the operational movement of the fixed fork 28. Formed in the movable fork 28 and extending from the face 110 is a dead-end channel 113 in which the hole made with bore 27 is secured and configured to protrude from the base plate of chassis 21 to be slidably located with the rod 24 in order to cause the bending of the movable fork 28. In this way, the manufacture of the end cap 16 allows the movable fork 28 and the fixed fork 29 to be integrally formed in the end cap 16, thus avoiding the need for a movable seal, but preferably a seal that is capable of flexing in an elastic way As seen in Figures 5A, 5B, and 7A, a fixed fork insert 100 is attached to the manufactured part of the fixed fork 29 and an insert - of the movable fork 99 is attached to the fabricated part of the movable fork 28. The inserts 99 and 100 are typically formed of stainless steel and are provided to prevent wear on the faces of the forks 28 and 29 which may occur through the contact with the restriction bolt 20. As seen in Figures 7A and 7B, a slotted access space 34 is molded or fabricated in the end cap 16 which allows the ball end 66 of the rope restriction bolt 20 to enter a trap 93 defined by the insert of the movable fork 99 and the insert of the fixed fork 100. The ball end 66 is guided and placed in place after passing along a groove 94 slotted in the fork insert fixed 100. Referring now to Figure 5B, the release assembly 5 of Figure 5A is shown, but with a rotation in progress of the main shaft 97 of the gear 14 (Figure 4) in a direction shown by the arrow 58. In the Figu 5B, the main shaft 97 has advanced by about a quarter of a revolution from its position shown in Figure 5A, resulting in an eccentric rotation of the toothed cam 25. This movement causes a displacement of the rod 24 in the direction shown by the arrow 78, which in turn has the effect of displacing the hole made with bore 27 of the movable fork 28 in the direction 59. A virtual pivot point 107 is created from of this movement. In this manner, with sufficient movement, the movable fork 28 tilts away from the fixed fork 29 so that the rope restriction bolt 20 can be released from the limits of the movable fork 28 and the fixed fork 29. The fork movable 28 is kept open by virtue of the high proportion of the gear installation 103. The time taken by the fourth of a simple revolution progression already described is about 30 seconds, which is indicative of the high gear ratio and the elasticity of the end cap material used in the preferred embodiment. Typically, the movable fork 28 can be reset back to the closed position shown in Figure 5A from the open position in Figure 5B by reversing the rotation of the engine 30, which reverses the rotation of the main shaft 97 in a direction shown by the arrow 96. A position detector 18 is provided, fixed to the sprocket 14, as seen in Figure 6 to communicate a signal to the motor controller 9 related to the movement of the fork 28. The position detector 18 can be formed of any suitable installation such as a limit switch magnetic or an optical switch. A signal from the position detector 18 is sent to the controller 85 when the main axis 97 (Figure 5B) has advanced from the position shown in Figure 5A to the position shown in Figure 5B. In response to this signal, the motor 30 (Figure 5A and Figure 5B) is stopped by means of the controller 85 (Figure 2), thereby retaining the movable fork 28 in the open position shown in Figure 5B. The motor 30 (Figure 5A and Figure 5B) can then be inverted when desired to reset the movable fork 28 to the closed position. This reversal of the motor 30 results in the rotation of the main shaft 97 (FIG. 5B) in the direction shown by the arrow 96 (FIG. 5B), in order to return to the configuration shown in FIG. 5A. Referring to Figures 8A to 8C, a preferred example of buoy body 4 is illustrated. 3 of Figure IB. The body 4 is reel-shaped having a central cylinder 119 molded around the drum 8, and from the ends of which the corresponding flanges 121. extend. Several handles 120 are installed on a periphery of each flange 121 as shown. The handles 120 provide a convenient means by which the buoy 3 can be grasped manually, while the V-shaped sections 123 between the adjacent handles 120 provide locations through which the free portion of the rope 6 can be held tightly while the bolt 20 is held within the forks 28 and 29, avoiding in this way undesirable unwinding of the rope 6. This provision of the handles 120, and partly due to its semi-rectangular shape, also allows friction to develop when the rope 6 is unrolled from the body 4 while the buoy 3 rises to the surface 90 of the water (Figure 1). This friction can result in a reduction in the speed of ascent of the buoy 3, thus reducing the chances of the rope 6 becoming entangled and / or the buoy 3 damaging the surface of the boats. Figure 8B is a view of the lower part of the body 4 of Figure 8A that - illustrates a thread 122 of the drum 8, in which the release assembly 5 (Figure IB) can be adjusted by screw. Figures 9 and 10 show an alternative embodiment of the release mechanism 5. An end cap 55 is molded to include an access of the restriction bolt 56, which can receive the ball end 66 of the rope restriction bolt 20. provides a pair of actuator arms 37, which extend through the end cap 55 to form a pair of forks 57. The actuator arms 37 each include a pivot 95 inside the end cap 55 and are sealed using elastically flexible sealants around the pivots 95 to prevent water from entering the interior of the buoy. An engine 38 is positioned so that a threaded shaft for screw 39 extending therefrom can drive a block 36, through which each of the arms 37 passes, in a direction shown by the arrows 58 and 62. When the threaded shaft for screw 39 is rotated in the first direction, the block 36 moves in the direction shown by the arrow 58. This causes each one of the actuator arms 37 rotates towards a diametral center of the threaded shaft for screw 39. When the threaded shaft for screw 39 is rotated in a second direction, the block 36 moves in the direction shown by arrow 62, which Each of the actuator arms 37 rotates away from the diametral center of the threaded shaft 39. The actuator arms 37 thus form a pair of movable forks 57 beyond the pivot points 95 and adjacent to the restriction bolt access. 56. Referring to Figure 10, the installation of the movable forks 57 and the access of the restriction bolt 56 relative to the lower part of the end cap 55 can be observed. An electronic unit 63 provides the necessary operational control for the engine 38 in the manner previously described. An example of another buoy body 130 is shown in Figures HA and 11B. The body 130 is preferably formed of aluminum and includes a central cylinder 131 having ridges 132 formed at each of the ends thereof. The ridges 132 are hollow to provide positive buoyancy to the body 130 and each - - supplied with a number of cylindrical openings 133. The openings 133 are formed of welded metal tubes between the annular side faces 134 of each flange 132. The openings 132 act to reinforce the sides 134 of the collapse, due to pressures encountered at depth. The release mechanisms of Figures 4 to 7B, and of Figures 9 and 10 can be used each with either the body of the buoy of Figures 8A to 8C or that of Figures HA and 11B. Figures 12A and 12B show an alternative release mechanism assembly 200, which is formed after an end cap 201 similar to that used in the embodiments of Figures 4 or 7B. In this embodiment, a chassis assembly 202 extends from a secured base plate 203 to the end cap 201. The chassis assembly 202 is formed of several supports, after which the operating components of the release mechanism assembly are assembled. 200. In particular, a battery pack and electronic circuits are mounted on the rear of the chassis assembly 202 and, on a proximal side, a motor 205 is mounted which incorporates a 100: 1 gearbox and from which extends a driving screw 208. A non-driving end of the driving screw 208 is retained by means of a driving screw sleeve 209 mounted after the chassis assembly 202. A clamp 210 wraps a portion of the driving screw 208 and incorporates a driving nut 211, which engages the clamp 210 with the driving screw 208. As seen, the driving nut 211 is retained in the clamp 210 by means of a retaining ring 212. In this waywhile the driving screw 208 rotates, the driving nut 211 and therefore the clamp 210 move along the length of the driving screw 208. Extending from the clamp 210 is a lever arm in elbow 207 which it has a threaded first end 215 securely coupled to the clamp 210 by means of a clamping nut 213. The other end 216 of the elbow lever arm 207 is also threaded and configured to engage a complementary thread formed within a movable fork 218 of the end cap 201. An additional holding nut 214 secures the elbow lever arm 207 to the end cap 201, passing the nut through a - - opening 228 (seen in Figure 13) formed on the base plate 203. In this manner, the moments of inflection after the arm 207 result in a turn in the nut 214. As with the previous embodiments, the end cap 201 it is formed with a fixed fork 219 after which a fixed fork insert 220 is attached to locate a rope restriction bolt 217 between the fixed fork insert 220 and a complementary moveable fork insert 221 attached to the movable fork 218. A fork plate 223 is attached to an outer portion of the end cap 201 to define a window 224, through which infrared communications can occur. As seen in Figure 12A, a black polyethylene tube communicates from a location adjacent the electronic module and battery pack 204 to the thin section adjacent to the window 224. In this manner, two polyethylene tubes (only observed one of them) 222 supply to the window 224, a tube for transmission and a tube for reception of infrared signals. As best seen in Figure 13, the driving screw 208 is connected to an axis of transmission 225 extending from the motor and the gearbox 205. While the driving screw 208 rotates as shown, the clamp 210 will move in the direction shown by the arrow 226 to thereby impart a moment of inflection in the lever arm 207 to cause the movable fork 218 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow 227 to open the forks 218 and 219. The reverse rotation of the lead screw 208 will act to close the forks 218, 219. Returning to the Figure 12A, the chassis assembly 202 includes a microconmutator mounting bracket 206 after which a pair of microswitches (not illustrated for clarity purposes, but known to those skilled in the art) can be mounted. The microswitches are positioned towards the extremities of the movement of the clamp 210 to respectively define the open and closed positions for the forks. In this way, upon detecting the status of each of the microswitches, a control system can identify the state of the forks and the operation of the release mechanism 200 and also know when the energization of the 205 engine at the termination either of the opening or closing. Turning now to Figure 14, a control system 250 is shown, which can be used for the assembly operation of the release mechanism 200 of Figures 12A-13. The control system 250 is energized from a battery pack 251 preferentially formed using a pack of four solid "D" size alkaline batteries thus offering long life and an input supply voltage of nominally 6.0 volts. The battery pack 251 is used to drive the electric motor 205 both in advance and in reverse in an unregulated manner through a pair of double relays with double pole pull 256 and 257 connected as illustrated. The control system 250 includes a double-mode programmable microenergy voltage regulator 253 preferentially implemented using a MAX663ACPA device, which regulates the input voltage of 6.0 volts up to 3.6 volts DC that continuously and slowly charges a battery rechargeable nickel cadmium 255. The battery 255 then supplies power to the rest of the electronic circuitry of the control system 250, - - which includes a microcontroller unit (MCU) 252, a real-time clock 254, and infrared communication devices 258. The MCU 252 is preferably implemented by means of an HCMOS microcontroller unit device such as the ST6225F1 device manufactured by SGS Thomson Microelect ronics. The device incorporates three peripheral ports, an 8-bit analog-to-digital converter together with an onboard oscillator, 3878 bytes of user program memory, a digital sequence controller and a synchronizer. A voltage output from the main battery pack 251 is sampled using two resistors R6 and R7 and the input to the analog to digital converter of the MCU 252 to detect and monitor the voltage of the main battery. A real-time clock (RTC) 254 is provided, which is preferably implemented using a CDP68HC68T1E device manufactured by Harris Semiconductor Corporation which offers complete clock features including seconds, minutes, hours, date, month and year. The RTC 254 is supplied using a 32 KHz 259 crystal, thus minimizing the consumption of energy that would be increased by using faster oscillators. MCU 252 operates to enable relays 256 and 257 through transistors Ql and Q2 respectively to cause motor 205 to operate either in forward or reverse mode as will be understood from Figure 14. The position of motor 205 (corresponding to the forks 218, 219) is detected by means of the microswitches 261 and 262 which provide inputs to the MCU 252. A leak detector 263, configured within the buoy adjacent to the electronic circuitry also enters the MCU 252 to detect the presence of moisture inside. The infrared communication devices 258 include an infrared transmitting diode 264 and an infrared receiver diode 265, each of which is coupled to the MCU 250 as illustrated. A submersible / recoverable buoy configured using the facilities of Figure 12A to 14 is programmed and / or operated preferably in accordance with the portable communications terminal or a personal computer. An example of the portable communications terminal is the "PSION ORKABOUT PORTABLE TERMINAL" (PSION ORKABOUT HAND HELD TERMINAL) which incorporates a keyboard together with a screen that has 12 lines each of 29 characters. The terminal provides bidirectional infrared communications with the communications module 258 through the window 224. Normally, the MCU 252 sits in a "sleep mode" until it is operated through a hidden interrupt from one of three sources, those that are a user attempting to communicate, an alarm output from the real-time clock 254 or leak sensors 263. The operation of a buoy incorporating the components of Figures 12A to 14 are best understood with reference to the graphics of computer program flow of Figures 15 to 19, which identify the operation of the portable terminal (or personal computer) and the buoy. The programs are stored in the MCU 252 and in the terminal and interact in the manner described below. When configured for communication between the buoy and the portable terminal, once "activated" by the user, a "powered mode" is entered by means of the buoy. A password access, a product legend and a menu of options are then displayed. The user can - then select between the "setting time / date" modes, fork operation and a return to sleep mode. Without a user input after a preset period of time, the control system 250 returns to a sleep mode. However, two exceptions may occur. First, there is no automatic return to sleep mode during (but not before) time / date information access, and also when waiting for a response from the yes / no order request. Also, when the fork operation is selected, confirmation (yes / no) is required for safety reasons to ensure that the fork operation does not harm people or equipment. A reading of the voltage of the battery 251 is taken, then the engine 205 is turned on and after 0.5 seconds, another battery voltage is taken with the battery in full charge. These two voltages are then available for printing or displaying after the open and close detection. The real-time clock is interrupted at least once a day at a time scheduled at the end by the user as an event release date / time. After doing so, the MCU - 250 enters the "powered mode", after which a check of the battery voltage is performed. If the battery voltage is found too low, a release attempt is made. Also, the MCU 252 checks if the current date is the same as that of the date of the release event as programmed by the user. If not, the MCU 252 returns to the "sleep mode". If the dates are the same, the forks open, thus effecting a buoy release followed by a return to rest mode. The same voltage information is also printed (transferred) from the communication port, but without any yes / no confirmation. The leak detector 263 comprises three electrodes arranged in parallel which physically settle near the chassis assembly 202, which is connected to zero volts. The signal output from the sensors 263 is the input to the MCU 252 in a pin programmed with a logic input with an interrupt with an internal positive coupling resistor. The seawater that filters inside the buoy will complete the circuit at zero volts, thus pulling the logic input down causing a - - interruption. Follow an emergency release event. Turning now to Figure 15, an operating flow chart of a system incorporating a buoy and a hand-held portable terminal is shown, by means of which the controller includes a display as described and data entry keys that incorporate the following: - 0, Enter, 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, S and C. A buoy constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment does not incorporate an on / off switch. Instead, it is intended that the buoy spend most of its life in a "resting" mode. When it is at rest, the buoy consumes very little energy and thus allows a long battery life. The buoy can be operated from the standby mode in one of three ways: by means of a user who wants to program a date / time information; when a real liberation event is about to take place; and when a leak is detected. After any period of activation, the sleep mode is automatically re-entered after a period of default inactivity. In this way, both the MPU 252 and the portable terminal are provided with program code, which enables the operation modes and the inactive communications between them. In order to begin communications, an infrared transmitter / receiver coupled to the portable terminal is mounted on the end cap 201 adjacent to the window 224 and the Enter key is pressed twice. The buoy's serial number is then displayed and an order request is issued to enter a password. This series is shown in Figure 15 covering steps 280. During the entry of a valid password, a visual headline and a menu are displayed to the user in step 281. The menu consequently presents four numbered options: program, 2. establishment of the buoy's clock, 3. test forks, 4. enter at rest. The programming of a release event corresponds to the time and date in the future when it is desired "that the buoy be released from its belt and float to the surface for recovery." During the programming stage, the return to the - rest is disabled. Initially, the release date is entered in terms of day, month and year. Once the release date is set, the release time can be set in a 24-hour format. Once the date and time are set, they return to the user in the display so that they can be verified and recorded elsewhere. This is important because the control system 250 does not incorporate a means by which the release date and time can be interrogated and in this way, once the device is programmed, it is not possible, through the ordinary operation, to recover the scheduled date and time of the release event. In step 284, the user is asked if "he agrees to close the forks" ("OK to cióse jaws") and if not, the user is returned to the main indicator 285. If the user chooses to close the forks in the step 286, the forks are closed, which may take somewhat longer than 30 seconds due to the high gear ratio used. Once the forks are closed and the rope restriction bolt is secured between them, the buoy can be deployed with the control system 250 returning to its standby mode.

- - When selecting option 2 of the menu, the user is asked to enter the current date and time. This step must be done before a release date and time event is scheduled. The operation is seen in Figure 15 in steps 287 and 288. Option 3 of the menu is provided for a forked test operation as seen in steps 289 where the forks are initially required to close and if a return is Yes, a closed fork program is operated (as seen in Figure 18) after which an operation to open the forks occurs immediately (seen in Figure 19). During each opening and closing of the forks, the battery voltage is displayed at the beginning of operations and during operation. This provides an indication of no-load voltage in the battery 251 and the full charge voltage in the battery 251 thus giving the user an indication for the expected lifetime of the battery 251 under normal operating conditions. Through number 4 selected by the user (step 290) the buoy is returned to idle mode 291.

Turning now to Figure 18, the routine for closing the forks 300 is shown, which initially begins with a verification 301 of an error indication to determine if the forks' closure has been hidden. If the error indication is not valid, then a test is made as to whether the forks are already closed in step 302. If the forks are already closed, then an unfolding of this state is performed and the voltages are displayed in step 303. If the forks are not closed, the battery voltage is read and displayed in step 304, at which time the engine 205 is turned on and initiates a synchronizer. Typically, after a period of one half of a second, the battery voltage is read to give the battery voltage "during" the operation in step 305. This is also detected in the alternative where the closure detector is detected 262. If the battery voltage is too low, detected in step 306, the corresponding unfolding is performed and the motor is turned off in steps 307 and 308. If the battery voltage is within the predetermined limits, the program 300 expected either a period of 40 - seconds or that a closed detector 262 detects the closing of the forks. This is observed in step 309. If the closing time expires, a failure signal is provided in step 310 and engine 205 is turned off in step 308 as indicated. Alternatively, the synchronizer is disabled and the engine is disabled indicating that the closed detector 262 has detected the condition in step 311. Step 311 also increments a counter to record the number of forks operations. As seen in Figure 19, program 320 indicates the procedure for opening the forks, beginning with step 321 which detects whether the forks are already open or using open detector 261 or not. If this is the case, it is printed using step 322 and step 323. If not, the voltage of the battery 4 is read and the motor 205 is turned on to enable the forks to open and the synchronizer is started in step 324 Again, after one half second, the battery voltage is read out to display the battery voltage during the operation as seen in step 325. This also occurs if the detector is detected - open 261. The program then waits for the open detector 261 to detect the open configuration at which time the synchronizer is disabled and the engine 205 is turned off in step 327. Step 327 also increments the aforementioned counter to record the number of operations of fork. The printing of the open message and the battery voltages before and during are then displayed in step 323. FIG. 16 shows a program 330 for a clock interruption, which operates for both the operation of the normal release event and for an emergency operation. As noted previously, the clock interruption occurs each day at the time of day when the release event was scheduled. For example, if it was scheduled at 8 AM on June 1, 1998 for a release at 4 PM on June 10, 1998, the clock interruption will occur at 4 PM each day (ie, ten times) until the including June 10, 1998. The procedure begins in step 331, which verifies the voltage condition in the battery 251. If this is detected as too low in step 332, an error indication is established and the forks in stage 333 using the - procedure for opening the forks of Figure 19 previously described. The device then returns to standby mode in step 334. If the battery voltage is found to be useful within limits (ie, OK), the date and time (where they are connected to the handheld controller) are displayed and a determination is made whether the current day is or not the "release day" of step 335. If not, a return to rest mode is implemented in step 334 but if it is the day of release, the procedure for opening the forks of Figure 19 is called in step 336. Figure 17 shows procedure 340 for operation in the presence of a leak. In the detection of a leak, in step 341, a check is made in step 342 to see whether or not a leakage drive indication has been disabled, as may be the case during service. If so, the buoy is returned to the idle mode in step 343. If not, the routine is called to open the forks in step 334 to bring the buoy immediately to the surface. Returning to Figure 15, the program includes a number of hidden menu options, seeing the first menu option 91 on the stage 350, which resets an activation counter that counts the number of times the forks have been activated. The menu option 92 shown in step 352 displays a daily battery threshold, which may be required in extreme environments and deployment conditions such as very cold or very hot water. The menu option 93 shown in step 354 resets any indication of error in the program, while the menu item 94 shown in step 356 determines whether or not a second confirmation of the date and time required for an event is necessary. release. The buoys and release mechanisms described previously have a multitude of uses and applications. For example, oyster, shell and mussel crops are traditionally located in tidal areas, so that when there are tidal setbacks, the capture vessel can be collected and the crops are preserved. Alternatively, a long-rope cultivation method can be used where the trays are hung from the surface buoys. Both methods can have a detrimental effect on the environment, including the loss of the recreational area to the public, visual pollution, noise pollution and the risks that are created for swimmers and other water users (marine vessels, etc.). The described buoys can enable the crop to be located underwater. Importantly, when harvesting or inspection is required, buoys can be programmed or instructed to release simultaneously to bring the growing beds to the surface. The installation is advantageous because it allows to relocate the crop away from the beach and the bays that otherwise attract the recreational user, eliminates the need to locate the crops in calm waters, reduces the hazards of boat rides accidents, allows more efficient costs for larger crops, improves safety, and allows stored fish to be placed at different temperatures for growth control. Similar facilities can be used for abalone and fish culture, and the collection of shellfish from shellfish. In maritime operations, permanent moorings are frequently used when dock space is not available. Moorings frequently become a risk because of the requirement of a surface buoy. The embodiments of the present invention can allow mooring when submerged until required, whereby the buoy can be brought to the surface along with a rope or chain with which the mooring or anchoring can be established. The method could also be used by small boats. There have been cases where the boats have been lost or damaged due to the ure of the anchor or a poor selection of an anchor. Various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in an underwater light system, or sound to guide the vessels to their destination. A specific application of the described buoys is found in the oil industry. In particular, an installation of buoys may be established around an oil terminal to be operable in the event of a leak or oil spill. -The aligned between the submerged buoys in a normal way can be an arm (submerged) useful to prevent oil spill through the surface of the water. In the event of a spill, the buoys can be released from fixed anchors in the port floor to raise the arm to the surface. In this way, the arm can immediately and essentially automatically deployed by means of the transmission of an appropriate release signal, for example an underwater sound wave signal previously described. The installation can achieve deployment many times faster than current manual methods. Where environmental monitoring is required, it is often required that the equipment be left in place for periods of time in lakes, rivers, and dams. Generally, to recover the equipment, a surface buoy is required. However, this may allow unauthorized access to the equipment in some cases that is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The information can be distorted and lose months or years of work. Surface buoys have also been used for target practice and this may also restrict a research program. In addition, surface buoys in lakes and rivers become a risk for boats. The previously described buoys allow to monitor the equipment and to the profitable loads to locate them in a safe and recoverable way. Because the described buoys are controlled by computer, usually each buoy, or a group of buoys are provided with an identification code so that remote programming and release is selective and does not apply to all buoys that can detect a signal. The modalities described can also be modified to collect data about the number of times the buoy has been submerged and subsequently recovered. These data can be used to patrol a quota system for fishermen. This can help reduce overfishing, and where a real-time clock is used for off-season fishing, deployment at inappropriate times (eg, at night hours) and the like. Various embodiments of the present invention may be provided for sale only to users licensed in a particular industry and a licensing and monitoring system may be established. Government authorities can keep specific information about buoy serial numbers, source codes, etc. and a user could thus supply the controller 42 for interrogation by those authorities. The use of a microprocessor control allows the described buoys to be programmed to operate only during a specific season - - (for example: the lobster fishing season). For example, the control can be extended to disable the liberation operation, the establishment or restoration of the buoy after sunset and before sunrise, consequently reducing illegal fishing activities during the night. Currently, authorities can incur huge costs by searching the oceans for surface buoys coupled to crabs nets and other profitable cargoes. The surface buoys need to be raised to be verified, then redeployed. If an illegal crabs net is found, then the authority must wait for the fisherman to return and raise the equipment before pursuing the fisherman. This makes apprehension difficult. Using an embodiment of the present invention, where the buoy system is supplemented to include a GPS satellite position device in the remote controller 42, the authorities can interrogate the controller 42 to retrieve the position and time at which the buoy It must reach the surface. The authorities can be present at the team's place at the time of release when the fisherman would be there to retrieve the equipment to carry out any desired inspection. There is no need for the authorities to locate or operate the equipment. At the conclusion of the fishing season, all 42 controllers in that particular industry (for example, lobster farming) can be interrogated and the information loaded onto a computer. This information may include time, dates and positions of the Global Positioning System (GPS) where each buoy is deployed and the management of a particular industry can be substantially improved. The buoys themselves can also be modified to include GPS devices and in some applications, satellite transmitters configured to retransmit the position and time of deployment. It will be apparent from the foregoing that a number of facilities have been described, which allow the operative and controlled release of a submersible buoy. In particular, the use of gear and motor control prevents inadvertent release of activation mechanisms and thus offers the most reliable operation.

The foregoing describes only a number of embodiments of the present invention and obvious modifications can be made to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the two-fork version shown in Figures 9 and 10 could be incorporated into an end cap made of plastic as described for the embodiment of Figures IB, 4, 5A, 5B and 6, thus obviating the need of the elastically flexible sealants described with the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10. In addition, the release mechanism does not need to be used in a submersible buoy but, for example, could be located in a fixed structure (for example, on the ocean floor) and configured to release a payload connected to the restriction bolt.

Claims (43)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and therefore the property described in the following claims is claimed as property. A recoverable retainer apparatus comprising: a body having at least two forks, the forks being configured to releasably retain a member, a displacement means separated from the member by means of a hermetic seal formed in the body to limit the means of displacement substantially within the body, the displacement means being operable to move at least one of the forks to release and / or retain the member, wherein at least one fork forms at least a portion of the hermetic seal. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the hermetic seal is an elastically deformable material. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the hermetic seal comprises a piece formed of the elastically deformable material and having at least one fork integrally formed therein, the fork connected to the displacement means to deflect away from the other fork to release the member from between them. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the other fork is formed integrally in the part to form part of the hermetic seal. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hermetic seal further comprises a static sealing member located substantially adjacent to a part of the body, in which the seal is intended to be completed and / or interrupted. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein it depends on claim 3, characterized in that the part is configured to close an opening in the body and the static sealing member is configured around at least the periphery of the part. The apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the static sealing member comprises an O-ring. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a fork comprises a - structure similar to a pole extending from the relatively thin section of the piece, and the other fork comprises one of a relatively thick section of the piece adjacent to the fork, or a structure similar to a complementary pole adjacent to the fork. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the member is substantially elongated and comprises an end configured to engage between and be held by the forks. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that one end comprises a ball formed integrally on a pin locatable between the forks. The apparatus according to claims 9 or 10, characterized in that a surface of at least one movable fork includes a metal reinforcing portion disposed around the end of the member. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement means includes an electric motor and a gear installation configured to move at least one fork away from the other fork. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the displacement means further comprises a transfer means coupled to the gear installation and configured to convert a rotational force generated by the auxiliary motor through the gear installation into a force of inflection and to transfer the inflection force to at least one fork to deflect the fork away and / or to the other fork. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the transfer means comprises an arm having a first end coupled to the fork and a second end coupled to the gear installation for its eccentric movement, creating the eccentric movement a pivot point virtual around which a fork moves. 15. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the transfer means comprises a driving screw extending from the gear installation and in which a driving nut is configured for longitudinal movement along the driving screw. driving dependent on the rotation of the driving screw, and an arm that depends on the driving nut and attaches to the fork. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the arm extends substantially perpendicularly from the driving screw and the movement of the driving nut along the driving screw imparts a moment of inflection in the arm, transferring the moment to the fork through a virtual pivot point formed in a connection between the arm and the fork. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the transfer means comprises a driving screw in which a driving block is configured for its movement along the driving screw, the driving block including opposite openings arranged in any direction. side of the driving screw and through each of which an arm passes, each arm being coupled to the respective one of the forks to deflect the forks towards and away from each other as a result of the rotation of the driving screw. 18. The device according to any of the claims 13 to 17, characterized in that one end of each arm is at least incorporated within the fork. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement means is configured to move both forks away and towards each other to release and retain the member. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the member is operatively connected to a point whereby the release of the member from the forks allows relative movement between the body and the point. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the point is one of a payload or a fixed location. 22. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement means is operable after receipt of a signal. 23. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the signal is transmitted and received remotely, the apparatus further including a receiver for receiving the signal and for actuating the signal. - means of displacement. The apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the signal is a synchronizer signal that is generated by a synchronizing means to cause the drive means to be driven at a predetermined time. The apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that it further comprises the communication means configured to allow the establishment of the predetermined time within the synchronizing means. 26. The apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 25, characterized in that the motor is an electric motor, the apparatus further comprising a battery power source and a means for evaluating an operational voltage of the battery power source, the evaluation means for causing the drive means to actuate to open the forks and release the member when a predetermined low voltage state of the battery is identified. 27. A water buoy comprising an apparatus according to any of the preceding claims. 28. A submersible and recoverable buoy comprising: a reel-shaped body around which a length of rope can be wound, one end of which can be fixed to the body; a hermetically sealed space associated with the body and within which an actuator is located; a releasable member of the body and to which a middle portion of the rope is attached; and a clamping mechanism operable by means of the actuator to release and / or retain the member, wherein at least one movable clamping portion of the mechanism comprises at least part of a hermetic seal of the space. 29. A buoy according to claim 28, characterized in that the space is sealed by means of a lid that includes a static seal in connection between the lid and the body, the movable fastening part being formed integrally within the lid. 30. A buoy according to claim 29, characterized in that the cover is made to form two forks, at least one of which is movable and between which the member is located for releasably retaining by means of the forks, connecting the movable forks at actuator to move the relative movable towards the other fork. A buoy according to claim 30, characterized in that the actuator comprises a bar connected at one end thereof to the movable fork and the other end thereof to a motor and gear mechanism arranged to deflect the movable fork towards / away of the other fork to hold / release the member to / from the body. 32. A submersible / recoverable buoy system for use in a body of water, the system comprising: a transmission device configured to transmit a signal including information, a buoy according to any of claims 28 to 31, further comprising the buoy means of receiving the signal and causing the operation of the actuator according to the information, and a payload to which another end of the rope is attached. 33. A system according to claim 32, characterized in that the buoy is positively floating, and the payload is floating in a negative manner and of a magnitude greater than that of the buoy. 34. A system according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that the means comprises a signal receiver arranged to receive the signal transmitted by the transmitter and to transmit the information to a control unit connected to the signal receiver and the actuator, the unit being configured control to interpret the information and to cause the operation of the actuator in accordance with it. 35. A system according to claim 34, characterized in that the signal is coded for reception by means of a selected buoy and the information comprises synchronization information to determine a mode of operation of the buoy by controlled operation of the actuator. 36. A system according to claim 35, characterized in that the synchronization information comprises real-time data and the control unit includes a real-time clock by which the control unit is operable to monitor the real-time clock to cause the actuator operation when the real-time data is valid. 37. A system according to any of claims 34 to 36, characterized the receiver The signal comprises at least one infrared signal receiver and an acoustic wave receiver. 38. A system according to claim 37, characterized in that the buoy further comprises an infrared signal transmitter arranged to transmit information alluding to the programming and / or use of the buoy. 39. A system according to claim 36 or 37, characterized in that the infrared receiver and / or transmitter are placed adjacent to the thin section of the cover substantially transparent for infrared light and form a window from the transmission and reception of the information by middle of the buoy. 40. A system according to claim 39, characterized in that the lid is made of UHM polyethylene or substitute material having similar properties. 41. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the body is sealed in a sealed manner by means of a combination of a piece through which at least one fork extends to be movable by means of displacement, a static seal arranged in a connection between the piece and the body, and a seal elastically deformable formed around the fork adjacent to the part. 42. The apparatus according to claim 41, characterized in that the piece is substantially solid and rigid. 43. The apparatus according to claim 30, characterized in that the lid is solid and substantially inflexible, and the manufacture of the lid creates relatively thin sections which allow the fork (s) to be formed integrally and to be located adjacently to be elastically flexible.