US2497852A

US2497852A - Transmitter buoy

Info

Publication number: US2497852A
Application number: US580458A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gilbert H Arenstein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-03-01
Filing date: 1945-03-01
Publication date: 1950-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1967-02-21

Description

Feb. 21, 1950 G. H. ARENsTElN 2,497,852

TRANSMITTER BUOY Filed March l, 1945 PHD/0 TRHNSM/ 7' TL'R IN VEN TOR.

TTO N EYS Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the lact of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 3 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Goverment for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to floatable or buoyant radio transmitting sets.

The general type of buoy is disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 539,173 filed June '7, 1944 and now Patent No. 2,402.143.

In emergencies at sea such as ship wrecks, for` instance, signaling devices giving the location are invaluable aids to rescue. Many other valuable uses may be made of such devices. Spotting of life boats, or the like launched or released from wrecked ships or planes in war operations or similar spotting of enemy submarines are among other uses. In fact, it may be safely stated, that a signaling device which may be placed at a given point to deliver a given signal, while the placing plane or other agency a returns to base or continues iiight and relays information, may have an almost innite number* of uses or applications. Particularly are such devices valuable aids when capable of use by and with planes.

While the present invention makes use of antenna erection devices, transmitting mechanism and keel or buoyancy stabilizing devices of the same general type and operation as the corresponding features disclosed in my above co- The present invention has been developed, i

particularly, to overcome that objection.

In order to more clearly disclose the construction, operation and use of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of the present application.

In the drawing, the single gure of the drawing is a central longitudinal cross section rwith the parts in the assembled inoperative position.

An outer cylindrical casing I is constructed and arranged to slidably receive in radially spaced relation an inner cylinder 2 having a greatly reduced tubular stem or extension 3 in continuation thereof and concentrically therewith, the lower or free end of that extension-'being exteriorily screw threaded as at 4, for purposes to be later disclosed.

In the buoy of' nism 2b having a ballistic antenna 2c. of course, as in my above application, a central The upper end of cylinder 2 may be adequately capped by a cover 5 threaded thereon in a well opening through the cover 5 for projection of the ballistic` antenna which is substantially the same-as in said application and which is also operated in substantially the same way as in my above copending application.

The' outer cylindrical casing I is releasably secured to and suspended from the inner cylin- .der 2fby the snap hook releasing means 5a in the same manner as described in my previously mentioned copending application and is released 'in the same manner. As in my copending application,- the` outer cylindrical casing l `may be'iwelighted -as at I5 for eiecting stabilization of the buoy and have perforations I6 at its lower end to admit sea water.

Instead of the -usual conventional batteries using a mechanical switch, a sea cell or seawater activated battery 'I is used in this invention. In order to maintain this battery immediately accessible to sea-water for its prompt activation, it is formed as an annular cylinder or a cylinder with a central bore 8 of just slightly greater diameter than the outside diameter of stem 3, making a snug sliding t therewith, and is of substantially the same length as stem 3. The outside diameter of 'I is also substantially that of the outside diameter of the body portion of inner cylinder 2. Thus, in assembled relation, there will be an annular radial space between I and 2 and between I and 'I approximately equal to the radial length of the ange 9 of the cylindrical casing I. Such a battery is completely inert and inactive until activated by infiltration of sea water, accordingly it does not deteriorate in the same way or to the same extent as does the conventional battery, and, as will be obvious, all mechanical switches are eliminated in its use.

Supporting battery 'I in position about 3 is a bulk-head plate I0, provided with a screwthreaded opening for removable connection to the threaded portion 4 of 3, or the opening may 'be- 'Unthreaded and a threaded nut used to support it inI place.` The' lower end of stem 3 is sealed tight withv any suitable insulating plug I I and in' that 'plugare mounted- Vthe connectors I2 for establishing contact between the battery 1 and the power lines I2a extendinglup through 3 3 to the radio transmitting mechanism insidethe body of the inner cylinder 2.

In order to activate the battery 1, sea water must be given access to the inside thereof. that purpose rip patches I3 are provided in the outer wall or surface of 7, adapted to be automatically torn olf to provide inlet of sea water at those points. As shown, two such patches are used. The invention, of course, is not limited to two. Likewise, they may be of various sizes and proportions. They are shown near the opposite ends of the b-attery and it is believed that such disposition is most practicable and eicient but is is also believed the invention will be found to be thoroughly operable with them placed at other points.

These patches, preferably, are connected to a pull cord I4 which extends from the patches upwardly between cylinders I and 2, through the flange 9 on I to a suitable connection with the load cord I1 of the parachute. Thus, as the buoy is dropped, the pull cord, at a predetermined point, will rip patches I3 from the battery 'I opening it to inow of sea water. Then, as in my copending application, another pull cord I8 leading from the load line to the snap hook releasing connection a between I and 2 will sever these connections, permitting the outer cylinder I to drop.

In its drop, the cylindrical casing I will pass below battery 1, its ange 9 engaging the outer portion of plate I 0 from which the outer cylinder remains suspended and acting as a keel or balance. These operations are so timed that the battery 7, with patches I3 ripped off, will be exposed either before the buoy reaches the surface or immediately thereafter.

As the buoy strikes the water it is automatically released from the parachute to prevent fouling, as in my copending application. The inner cylinder 2 containing the radio transmitter has sucient air space to buoyantly sustain all th elements connected thereto in the water.

The breaking of the pull cords for the tear patches and for the release of cylinder I from cylinder 2 are performed as are the breakings of similar pull cords in my copending applicationi. e. they are respectively broken when predetermined stresses applied to them are exceeded, all as will be readily understood.

It is thought that the construction, operation and use of the invention will be clear from the preceding detailed description. Y

Changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and disposition of the various parts of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the eld of the invention and it is meant to include all such within this application wherein only one preferred form of the invention has been shown purely by way of illustration and with no thought or intent to, in any degree, limit the application thereby. y

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by 4Letters Patent is:

l. A transmitter buoy for being dropped into the sca by parachute comprising, a perforated cylindrical casing having an inwardly directed stop means on its upper end and a weighted lower end for vertical stabilization in water, an air tight cylinder in telescopic slidable relation within said cylindrical casing and containing a radio transmitting means and having outwardly turned stop means adjacent opposite ends thereof in cooperative4 engageable relation with said stop means of said cylindrical casing to limit sliding movement with said cylindrical casing through the end thereof opposite said weighted lower end to the extent in either direction of said stop means on said air tight cylinder coming into engagement with the stop means of said cylindrical casing to enclose said cylinder within said cylindrical casing in one limited position and to suspend said cylindrical casing at the lower extremity of said cylinder in the other limited position, the lower extremity of said cylinder being greatly reduced in diameter and supporting a sea-water activated battery thereon, said seawater activated battery having its terminals sealingly connected to said transmitter to provide power thereto upon activation by sea-water, and releasable means for holding said cylinder in its limited position within the cylindrical casing.

l 2. A transmitter buoy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sea-water activated battery is provided with tear patches to condition the battery for sea-water activation, said tear patches and said releasable means being connected by a rip cord whereby a jerk of said rip cord will condition the buoy for operation in the sea.

3. A transmitter buoy for being dropped into the water by parachute comprising, a perforated cylindrical casing having a weighted lower end and a circular opening internally shouldered upper end, an air tight cylinder containing a radio transmitting mechanism slidable within said cylindrical casing through said circular opening internally shouldered upper end, said cylinder having an outwardly projecting shoulder at its upper end and a depending tubular extenson terminating in an outwardly extending iiange for limiting the relative inward and outward movement of said cylinder with respect to said cylindrical casing by engagement of the shoulders and flange, a sea-water activated battery removably mounted on said depending extension having leads sealingly passing through said cylinder to connect said transmitter, a snap hook operative by a rip cord connecting the outwardly projecting shoulder of said cylinder and the cylindrical casing to releasably retain said cylinder in said cylindrical casing in said inward limit of movement, and tear patches on said sea-water activated battery attached to a second rip cord, said two rip cords adapted to be connected to a parachute load cord whereby upon the buoy being dropped by parachute the snap hook would be actuated to release said cylindrical casing and said cylinder to slide to theirv outward limit and said tear patches would be ripped oi to condition said battery to be activated by water for energization of said transmitting mechanism. y

GILBERT H. ARENSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the :Ille of this patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS