US2639106A

US2639106A - Automatic signal flare and marker buoy

Info

Publication number: US2639106A
Application number: US104907A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sesera Michael
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-07-15
Filing date: 1949-07-15
Publication date: 1953-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1970-05-19

Description

May 19, 1953 M. SESERA 2,539,106

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FLARE AND MARKER BUOY v Filed July 15, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS May 19, 1953 M. SESERA AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FLARE AND MARKER BUOY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 15, 1949 02' 1] 11 :3 1 0 J02 as 116' n 09 V 97/1/ J5 IN VEN T OR.

ATTDRN EYS Patented May 19, 1953 AUTOMATIC SIGNAL FLARE AND MARKER BUOY Michael Sescra, West range, N. J. Application July 15., 1949. ,Serial'No.'104,'907

Claims. (01. 244-1) 1 This invention relates to improvements "in automatic signal flares and marker buoys and more particularly to self contained devices that are adapted to be used for aerial and marine use,. For aerial use, a compartment is rovided in the fuselage of an airplane in which the signal flare and. marker buoy is positioned. The compartmentis provided with spring actuated doors which controlled from a position nearthe pilot can be openedto permit the device to emerge from the compartment.

The device being arranged so'that it is provided with a water-tight body that will float upon contact of the fuselage of the airplane with'the surface of the water with the top ofthe device above the surface of the water.

The device being providedwith-means for supporting thesame in a vertical position upon contact. with the ground surface. can be dropped from the airplane to engage the ground prior'to the crash of the airplane.

For marine use a container can be placed on the. deck of a large or small vessel andprovided with a cover that can be opened will float asthe vessel submerges.

An important object of the device therefore is toprovide a marker which is susceptible of 'beingv seen by night or day, and by its-operation permit a vessel or airplane to be located without the necessity of radio direction signals.

Radio signals are usually given just prior to the catastrophe, and if the radio is'then damaged, the device will enable. another vessel or airplane to locate the wreckage.

In this manner lives will be savedand-property salvaged, since the device will definitely locate the vessel or airplane upon which it is installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will insure proper ignition or lighting of the flares at predetermined intervals without further effort on thepart of any-survivors of the crash orv sinking.

, A further'object of the invention is to provide a device which is safe to handle, durable, and

composed of few parts, will not become easily damaged once it hasbeeninstalled.

With the above and other "objects and advantages in view, the invention consists "of the novel features of construction, arrangement and combinationof partsas willbe hereinafter more fully described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part 'o'fthe application andin which Fig; 1 is an elevational view of an airplane partly broken away to show the manner of the 'sta-llati-on ofanembodiment-oi the invention.

Fig. 2'is a top plan view of the installation of Fig. 1 with the cover partly broken awayto view the top of the device positioned therein.

Fig. 3 is a top planview of the device with the markers fully extended to show their position when the device-'is'in operation either on land oron the water.

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective viewof asection of one of the markers.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the device on the line 5-5 o'fFig. 2.

s Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the device on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is the same on the line 1 -1 of Fig. 5. Fig. 815 a detailed topplan view of the actuating mechanism-for igniting the flares.

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view-of the squib for igniting the flare.

' Fig. 10 is a detailed fragmentary :view of the timing mechanism for the ignition of the flares.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical system and timing mechanism for controlling the flares,--and Fig. 12 is a detailed sectional view of the top construction of the flare container of. the device.

Referring more in detail to the-drawings an embodiment of the invention is shown and described for aerial use.

In Fig. l thereis' shown a conventionalshowing ofan airship 20 and it is to beunderstood that such showing is merely illustrated, andunot restricted in its scope.

To position the device in itheiuselage of the airship 20 a compartment or. container 2! of a light weight noncombustiblematerial is used. The container 12! willextendientirely through the fuselage permittingegress of the device either through the top 'orbottom thereof.

The container ;2l is provided at the top: and bottom thereofwith hinged covers or

doors

22 and 23 respectively and a coveror ,door22 is retained inclosed position bya pivoted latch 25. The cover or door 23 being retained in closed position by a pivoted latch 25.

-'I'h e'latch'24 is controlled in its operation bya cable 26 which passing over asheave 2? is connected to the pivoted lever 28 mounted in .a position within reach-of the pilotseat .29. It will be seen that movement of lever. 28 will cause the cable to pivot the latch 24 to release the cover or door 22 which by its spring actuating hinges 22E asyshown in Fig. .2,-will immediatelymove into open position as shown by dotted lines in Fig.1.

In-like; manner, the latch 25, is controlled in its operation by arable. which passing over a sheave 3|, isconnected to .the pivoted lever '32 mounted adjacent the lever 28 and within the reach of the pilot seat 29. In this instance however, the device will not emerge from the container 2| upon operation of the door 23 alone. The device being retained in the container 2| by

pivoted keepers

33 and 34 respectively as shown in Fig. 1. To the keeper 33 there is connected a control cable 35 and to the keeper 34 there is connected 9. control cable 36. The cable 36 is connected to the cable 38 at 31 and the cable 35 is connected to the cable 36 at 38. Thus upon movement of the lever 32 the cable 38 will be actuated. The cable 38 connected to cable 36 will cause simultaneous operation of

cables

35 and 36 to actuate the

pivoted keepers

33 and 34 at the same time that latch 25 is released from its engagement with the door 23 thus as the door 23 opens and the

keepers

33 and 34 are actuated the device will drop outwardly of the container 2| for the purpose to be later described.

Viewing Fig. it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention to be later described comprises a hollow non-combustible buoyant body 39. The bottom 48 of the body is provided with a centrally located flanged opening 4| through which passes a hollow non-combustible flare containing portion 42. The flanged opening 4! being fixed to the portion in any well known manner.

The top of the body 39 is provided with an opening 43 which is provided with a concentric inset flange 44 which is adapted to receive the out-turned flange end 45 of the portion 62.

Within the inset flange 44 there is provided a non-combustible disc 46 on top of which is placed a frangible disc 41, on this disc 4! is placed a non-combustible disc 48, and all the discs are fixed to the flange 44 in water tight relation thereto by fasteners 49.

The purpose of this construction will be later described.

The portion 42 may be of any length desired and the body 39 will have suincient buoyancy to support the portion 42 and its contents so that the top of the body will be above water level.

Fixed in the closed bottom 49 of the portion 42 is a flange disc 58 which is provided with a plurality of concentrically located openings 5| in which is received the lower ends of the flares 52.

The center of the disc 58 is provided with a protuberance 53 which is adapted to engage the bottom of the lowermost dry cell 54. As many dry cells as are desired are located in the portion 42. At the top of the uppermost dry cell 54 there is the disc 55. The disc 55 is provided with the same number of openings 56 as is the disc 58 with the openings 51 and the flares 52 passing upwardly through the disc 55.

Fixed to the bottom 49 of the portion 42 are the nuts 51 which removably receive the threaded ends 58 of the rods 59. The rods 59 extend upwardly within the portion 42 in contact with the dry cells 54. Openings 88 in the disc 59 and openings 6| in the disc 55 permit the extension of the rods there through.

On the disc 55 there is positioned a circular plate 62 having opening 63 to receive the upper ends of the rods 59. Nuts 64 on the upper threaded ends 65 of the rods 59 will when tightened urge the plate 62 and disc 55 downwardly on the rods 59.

Between the dry cells and the disc 55 in contact with the dry cells 54 are the non-conducting compressible members 66. Thus when the nuts 64 are tightened the dry cells by means of the protuberance 53 and members 66 will be retained in the portion 42 within the rods 59.

The

discs

46 and 48 are provided with the same number of openings 61 as are the

discs

58 and 56 and the flares extend upwardly to meet in a short distance of these openings. The disc 4'! however does not have openings, and thus the disc 41 will prevent water from entering the portion 42 through the openings 61.

The discs 49, 4'! and 48 are each provided with a central opening 68 through which the guide rod 69 extends. The rod 69 at its lower threaded end 18 being received in the tapped boss H at the center of the plate 62.

Slidably mounted on the rod 69 by means of the flange openings 12 is the plunger 13. Fixed to each end of the plunger 13 is an upwardly extending guide rod 14 which extending upwardly through openings 15 in

disc

46, 41 and 48 will abut the cover or door 22. Such abutment being achieved by the medium of the coil spring 16 sleeved on the rod 69 intermediate of the boss H on the plate 62 and the under surface of the plunger 13. The spring 16 urging the rod 74 upwardly against the cover will when the cover is opened cause the plunger 13 to move upwardly carrying the contact 11 carried by the plunger 13 and insulated therefrom by non-conducting sleeve 18 to engage the contact 19 carried on the undersurface of the disc 49. The contact being insulated from the disc by means of the non-conducting means 88.

It will be noted that a wire 8| connects the contact 19 with the plus pole 82 of the upper most dry cell 54. From then on the dry cells are connected in series with the minus pole 83 of the uppermost dry cell being connected to the plus pole of the next dry cell by a wire 84, and so on to the last dry cell. The protuberance 53 engaging the metal container of the last dry cell acts as a ground contact for the circuit with the portion 42 forming the ground for the circuit.

Fixed to the uppermost disc 48 centrally thereof is a housing 94 having a removable cover 85 thereon carrying a glass face 86. Within this housing 84 is a casing 81 for a time controlled flare igniting mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 10 the casing 81 has a closed bottom 88 and a removable non-conducting top 89 and a removable curved rim 98 is overlapped on the perimeter of the casing 81 as at 91. Journalled in the bottom 88 and top 89 in vertical parallel relation with the wall of the casing 81 is a shaft 92 and collars 93 adjacent the ends of the shaft retain the shaft in proper position for the journalling thereof. On the shaft 92 is a large worm gear 94 which is engaged by the worm 95 on the drive shaft 95 of a motor 91 mounted in the casing 81.

Fixed to the bottom 88 of the casing 81 adjacent the shaft 92 is a bearing bracket 98. Journalled in this bracket 98 and the top 89 is a short shaft 99. The shaft 99 extends above the top 89 to receive the sweep or conductor arm I88. Carried at the end of the arm I88 is a contact point [8! the purpose of which will be later described. The lower end of the shaft 99 frictionally engages the contact bracket I82 which is carried by yet insulated from the bracket 98. Collars I83 and I84 are carried by the shaft 99 to retain the shaft 99 in like manner as is shaft 92.

Fixed to shaft 92 intermediate of the collar 5 93 andworm gear 94 is a small gear I05 whiehis in alinementand engagement with a similar :sear I96 .onshatt199. Thus as shaft92 is rotated by themotor .91 the shaft-.99 .carryingthe sweep arm I will in turn be rotated.

Referring to the diagram shown in Fig. 11 .it will be noted that the contactwlt. is connected with the movable arm ,IOI of aswitch byrhe lead I08. The fixed contact I of the switch beingconnected to the .motor .9! .by alead :I I0 andv a-lead HI tothe casing Iilwill groundthe circuit for the operation of the motor.

A secondary lead I I2 from the lead I I 0 is connected'tothe contact bracket-I02 and provides a positive source of current tor the arm I 00.

Goncentrically arranged on the insulated top 89 of the casing 81 is a plurality of contacts H3. The contacts are so arranged that they lie in the path of rotation of the contact point IN on the arm I00. From each contact H3 a lead H4 is connected to the squib H5 at the upper end of each flare 52.

The squib comprises a hot wire H6 and an ignition charge HI Fig. 9 and each squib is grounded by a lead H8 to the body 39. The grounds being uniform since portion 42 is connected to the body 39 and the body 39 is connected to the casing 01.

In the operation of this portion of the invention the raising of the cover 22 will cause the plunger I3 to move upwardly through the expansion of the spring I6. Contact TI engaging contact I9 and with the contact I0'I engaging contact I09 the motor 91 will be energized. The motor will then cause the arm I00 to rotate when the contact IOI engages the contact H3 current will flow to the squib H5 causing the hot wire H9 to ignite the charge H1 and the flare 52. Thus the flare will burn and the device will be visible.

The rotation of the arm is controlled through the medium of the gears so that one flare will not be ignited until the other one has been extinguished. Any period of time being available through the use of various size gears as desired.

For visibility during the day the following structure is used.

Secured to each side of the body 39 is a bracket plate H9 and to each bracket plate there are fixed by means of straight ends H9 two coil springs I20 to which is fixed by means of the bent ends I2I a marker I22. Secured by springs I20 having oppositely bent ends I2I' are a plurality of similar markers I22 to form a pattern as shown in Fig. 3. The markers may use two contrasting colors as shown in this figure or other characteristics of identification may be used.

The device has been described as a float, but if it is desirable to locate the device before a ground crash, a ground penetrating spike I23 formed on a circular plate I24 is used. The plate I24 being fixed to the bottom of the portion 42.

In use the device is placed in the container 2I either in the airplane as shown in Fig. 1 or it may be positioned on the deck of a vessel.

When a crash of the plane on the water is inevitable the lever 28 will be moved causing the cable 26 to pivot the latch 24 to cause the cover 23 to open. As the airplane strikes the water the body 39 will float, in the meantime the markers have moved and the device will float on the water as shown in Fig. 3. A reel I25 mounted in the fuselage 20 has a cable I26 thereon which is connected to the eye bolt I2'I on the body 39.

can be used on airplanes or vessels to indicate the position-of acrash-or sinking.

It is b ie ed a h t tramhe towerin c ption thestructure and operation of the device willbe apparent to those slgilledin the. ,art, and it is to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction, arrangement and com-' bination of parts may be resorted to, provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An automatic signal flare and marker buoy comprising a buoyant body, a tubular portion secured to and extending below the body, a plurality of flares carried by said tubularportion, apertured discs in said portion engaging said flares to retain said flares in spaced relation to each other, and electrically actuated means having electrical connection with the flares for intermittently igniting said flares carried by said body when said means is actuated.

2. An automatic signal flare and marker buoy comprising a buoy body and a flare containing portion secured thereto and depending therefrom, flares in said flare containing portion, apertured discs in said flare containing portion engaging said flares to retain said flares in spaced relation to each other, means for igniting the flares carried by each flare, a, current source carried in said flare containing portion and connected to the means for igniting said flares and means interpolated between said last means and said current source to cause the operation of said igniting means at predetermined intervals of time.

3. In an automatic signal flare and marker buoy having a buoyant body and a flare containing portion having flares therein, connected to a source of electrical current, and a plurality of apertured discs in said flare containing portion engaging said flares to retain the same in spaced relation to each other, the improvement comprising timing mechanisms connected to said flares and to said source of electrical current for causing the ignition of the flares at predetermined time intervals.

4. In an automatic signal device for use with an airplane the improvement comprising a casing mounted in said airplane for retaining the signal device therein, said casing having remote controlled spring hinged doors, a buoyant body in said casing having a flare containing portion thereon, flares in said portion, a plurality of apertured discs in said flare containing portion engaging said flares to retain the same in spaced relation to each other, an electrical source of current connected to said flares and means carried by said body and connected to said flares and to said source of current for causing ignition of 7 said flares by said source of current upon the opening of the doors of said container.

5. A float signal for aerial and marine use comprising a buoyant body, a flare containing portion on said body, flares in said portion, means in said portion for retaining said flares in spaced relation to each other, dry cells in said portion intermediate of said last means, means carried by said flares for the ignition thereof, and means connected to said dry cells and to the means for igniting the flares whereby said last means is caused to ignite said flares at predetermined time intervals.

MICHAEL SESERA.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Number Name Date Rose Feb. 19, 1901 Wiese Sept. 24, 1901 Hyra et a1. May 5, 1914 Holt July 13, 1920 Zappey May 3, 1921 Hogg May 8, 1928 Goss May 4, 1937 Solski Jan. 3, 1939 Marple Mar. 19, 1946 Albin Sept. 21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 26, 1934 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1948