US3228332A

US3228332A - Underwater release mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3228332A
Application number: US358968A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roger F Snyder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-04-10
Filing date: 1964-04-10
Publication date: 1966-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-11

Description

Jan. 11, 1966 R. F. SNYDER 3,228,332

UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

IN V EN TOR.

A T TORNE Y ROGER E SNYDER 3.

Jan. 11, 1966 v R. F. SNYDER 3,228,332

UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5a 11H @lllh n 1 iii I as

: l lhii" FIG. 2 Q

ROGER E SNYDER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fi ice 3,223,332 Patented Jan. 11, 1966 3,228,332 UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM Roger F; Snyder, State College, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Apr. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 358,968 3 Claims. (Cl. 102-13) This invention relates to release mechanisms and more particularly to automatic release mechanisms adapted to release a Weight or the like in an underwater environment.

One use of release devices of this type is in the release of buoyant experimental capsules containing scientific measuring instruments which have been Weighted by an anchor and dropped into a depth of water. The anchor is attached to the bouyant capsule by means of the release niechanis'm of this invention, thus making the entire assembly heavier than water. The weighted capsule then sinks in the water at a predetermined rate while automatically recording such scientific measurements as temperature, pressure, and the like. When the anchor strikes the bottom, the impact causes the release mechanism to open thereby letting go of the bouyant capsule which floats to the surface and is retrieved. The scientific instruments may thereafter be removed from the capsule. Should the impact release mechanism fail to open when the anchor hits the bottom, a second release device incorporated into the present invention will release the anchor when a water soluble tablet dissolves in the water.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a mechanical automatic release device operable underwater, which Will be triggered by impact.

Another object is to provide a soluble tablet release device which Will automatically release when the soluble tablet dissolves in water.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device toinsur'e the release of an instrument package upon contact with the ocean floor, regardless of the fioors shape or consistency.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a simple, sure, safe, and etficient mechanical device which will operate well in any depth of water.

The characteristic features of the present invention are particularly pointed out in the following description and appended claims,. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this application in which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial representation of one embodiment of this invention in which the release device couples a buoyant instrument package to an anchor.-

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the release mechanism as viewed from its underside.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the release mechanism taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation view of the release mechanism with the hasp in the open position taken along lines 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an elevation view of the mechanism taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4 with the side plate of the device removed and the hasp in the closed position.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGURE 1, the numeral represents the release device as disclosed herein, attached to the lower portion of a buoyant instrument package 12. Coupled to the release device 10 is anchor 14 comprised of anchor rod 16 upon which are placed a number of weights 18.

Referring now to FIGURES 2-5, illustrating the embodiment 10 of this invention, 20 represents a housing having a top plate 22 and a side plate 24. The housing 20 is generally of rectangular shape and has a housing bore 26 extending vertically through the central portion thereof and a bifurcated side portion enclosing a slot 28 over which side plate 24 is positioned by means of bolts 30. To the lower portion of housing 20 is attached tablet release mechanism 32 and impact release mechanism 34. Hasp 36 is supported at one end portion by tablet release mechanism 32, and on the other end portion by impact release mechanism 34, positioned on the lower opposite side of housing 20 from tablet release mechanism 32. Anchor rod 16 is suspended upon hasp 36 while top plate 22 is attached to instrument package 12 by means of screws (not shown).

The tablet release mechanism 32 is comprised of two rectangular

shaped metal blocks

38 and 40 positioned in intimate contact with one another to form an interface 42. The lower portion of

blocks

38 and 40 contain a slot 44 sufficiently wide to admit the end portion of hasp 36, through which passes hasp pin 46. Hasp pin 46 passes through the interface 42 contained within semicircular slots in

blocks

38 and 40. A continuous rectangular link support 48 extends through the lower part of housing 20 and passes through the upper portion of the interface 42 in a pair of semicircular slots. Vertically positioned aligning pins 50 extend into the lower portion of housing 20 and into the upper portion of interface 42 so as to allow

blocks

38 and 40 to be properly aligned and positioned in relationship to housing 20 when the blocks are in intimate contact with one another.

A bore 52 extends through the central portion of

blocks

38 and 40 perpendicular to the interface 42. Bore 52 contains an enlarged counterbore 54 in the area directly adjacent to interface 42. This counterbore 54 contains a compression spring 56 which tends to urge

blocks

38 and 40 apart.

A cylindrical shaped water soluble tablet 58 is positioned between washers 60 on the outer side portion of block 38 from the interface 42. A bolt 62 extends through the bore 52, counterbore 54, tablet 58, and washers 60 and has a nut 64 onits outermost portion. Nut 64 when screwed uponbolt 62 forces water soluable tablet 5 8 and washers 60 to be drawn against the

blocks

38 and 40 thereby compressing compression spring 56. As may be easily seen, if the tablet 58 is dissolved by water when the mechanism 10 is submerged, compression spring 56 will force

blocks

38 and 40 apart thereby releasing rectangular link 48 as well as hasp pin 46 and attached hasp 36.

The impact release mechanism 34 is comprised of ball 66 positioned within the lower part of housing bore 26 such that its lower portion is exposed directly above anchor bar 16. The ball 66 is retained in bore 26 by means of seat 68 integrally attached to the lower portion of housing 20. A cylindrical piston 70 extends vertically through bore 26 and is positioned so that its lower portion is in continuous contact with ball 66. A compression spring 72 is contained within bore 26 by the top portion of piston 70 and top cover 22 so as to urge piston 70 against ball 66.

A slideably positioned trigger bar 74 extends from slot 28 through housing 20 perpendicular to and into contact with piston 70. The central portion of trigger bar 74 within slot 28 is attached to a release bar 76 which is rotatably mounted to trigger bar 74 by means of a pin 78. A compression trigger spring 80 is positioned around trigger bar 74 forcing it into intimate contact with the side portion of piston 70. The central portion of piston 70 has a reduced radius 82 therethrough directly adjacent to trigger bar 74 so that when piston 70 moves upwards, reduced radius 82 will be aligned with trigger bar 74 which urged by trigger spring 80 will be forced into reduced radius 82.

The central portion of release bar 76 is pivotly attached to the bifurcated flanges of slot 28 by means of a pivot pin 84 about which release bar 76 may rotate. The opposite end portion of release bar 76 from that of trigger bar 74 has a perpendicularly positioned release pin 86 therethrough which engages the end portion of hasp 36. A hasp spring 88 attached to pin 46 bears on hasp 36 and block 40 so as to urge hasp 36 to pivot about pin 46. Thus the rotation of release bar 76 about pin 84 will cause release pin 86 to disengage hasp 36. Hasp 36 then rotates about hasp pin 46 to release anchor pin 16.

In operation, embodiment 10 of this invention is secured to instrument package 12 by means of top plate 22 by screws (not shown) and anchor rod 16 attached to hasp 36. The entire assembly is then released in the water and begins to sink at a predetermined rate, While instruments contained within the instrument package 12 are recording scientific data. When the anchor 14 strikes the bottom, the anchor rod 16 is forced against ball 66 which in turn forces piston 70 upwards against compression spring 72. The reduced radius 82 of piston 7 aligns itself with trigger bar 74 which, urged by trigger spring 80, will enter reduced radius 82 area. The movement of trigger bar 74 will cause attached release bar 76 to rotate about pin 84 moving release pin 86 out of engagement with the end portion of hasp 36. Hasp 36 will then rotate about hasp pin 46 urged by hasp spring 88 and release anchor rod 16. The buoyant instrument package 12 thus released will begin to ascend to the surface where it is retrieved.

It may be noted that a premature release of the anchor 14 is not possible in that during the descent the anchor rod 16 bears downward pressure upon hasp 36 which is transmitted to pin 86 preventing it from releasing. When, however, anchor 14 strikes the bottom it releases this pressure from hasp 36 allowing it to release when triggered by impact release mechanism 34.

Should the impact release mechanism 34, previously described, fail to operate, the entire assembly would remain anchored to the bottom. The Water soluble tablet 58 is then dissolved by the water in a predetermined time thus allowing the compression spring 56 to force

blocks

38 and 40 apart thereby releasing hasp pin 46 and attached hasp 36. The instrument package 12, thus released will ascend from the bottom in the manner previously described.

It should also be noted that soluble tablet 58 is one having a predetermined period of disintegration in water. This period of disintegration is so timed that the tablet will not dissolve and release mechanism 32 prior to the time that anchor 14 strikes the bottom.

Although the particular embodiment of this invention has been described with a degree of exactness, it is to be understood that many variations of this embodiment are possible without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Recovery apparatus, in combination, comprising;

(a) a buoyant object desired to be recovered from the floor of a body of water,

(b) a release device affixed to a lower portion of the buoyant object,

(c) an anchor weight depending from the release device adapted to be released from the release device when the anchor weight impacts the floor of the body of water,

(d) said release device comp-rising a U-shaped member having upwardly extending legs connected by a depending bight portion,

(e) the upper end of one of said legs being releasably pivoted to impact responsive mechanism,

(f) the upper end of the other leg being releasably pivoted to water soluble responsive mechanism,

(g) the bight of said U-shaped member being connected to said weight and adapted to release the latter when the U-shaped member is released from either of its upper ends,

(h) said anchor weight being operatively connected to the impact responsive mechanism for actuating same upon impact of the anchor weight with the floor of the body of water,

(i) said water soluble responsive mechanism being constructed and arranged to be actuated at a time after the anchor weight impacts the floor of the body of water to thereby release the anchor weight in the event of failure of operation of the impact responsive mechanism.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said impact responsive mechanism includes (j) triggering apparatus,

(k) a link affixed to the weight having its upper end engaging said bight, the upper end of the link adapted to engage a portion of the triggering apparatus and actuate same when the weight impacts the floor of the body of water and the buoyant object continues to move downwardly by its inertia.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said water soluble responsive mechanism includes (1) a pair of separable members releasably pivoted to said other leg, and

(m) a water soluble tablet securing said releasable members together until it dissolves.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,818,807 1/1958 Tracey 102-13 2,904,369 9/1958 Campbell 1024 X 2,981,074 4/1961 Wilder 294-83 3,139,032 6/1964 Silverstein 99 X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Examiner.

Claims

1. RECOVERY APPARATUS, IN COMBINATION, COMPRISING; (A) A BUOYANT OBJECT DESIRED TO BE RECOVERED FROM THE FLOOR OF THE BODY OF WATER, (B) A RELEASE DEVICE AFFIXED TO A LOWER PORTION OF THE BUOYANT OBJECT, (C) AN ANCHOR WEIGHT DEPENDING FROM THE RELEASE DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE RELEASED FROM THE RELEASE DEVICE WHEN THE ANCHOR WEIGHT IMPACTS THR FLOOR OF THE BODY OF WATER, (D) SAID RELEASE DEVICE COMPRISING A U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING UPWARDLY EXTENDING LEGS CONNECTED BY A DEPENDING BIGHT PORTION, (E) THE UPPER END OF ONE OF SAID LEGS BEING RELEASABLY PIVOTED TO IMPACT RESPNSIVE MECHANISM, (F) THE UPPER END OF THE OTHER LEG BEING RELEASABLY PIVOTED TO WATER SOLUBLE RESPONSIVE MECHANISM, (G) THE BIGHT OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER BEING CONNECTED TO SAID WEIGHT AND ADAPTED TO RELEASE THE LATTER WHEN THE U-SHAPED MEMBER IS RELEASED FROM EITHER OF ITS UPPER ENDS, (H) SAID ANCHOR WEIGHT BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE IMPACT RESPONSIVE MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING SAME UPON IMPACT OF THE ANCHOR WEIGHT WITH THE FLOOR OF THE BODY OF WATER, (I) SAID WATER SOLUBLE RESPONSIVE MECHANISM BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO BE ACTUATED AT A TIME AFTER THE ANCHOR WEIGHT IMPACTS THE FLOOR OF THE BODY OF WATER TO THEREBY RELEASE THE ANCHOR WEIGHT IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE OF OPERATION OF THE IMPACT RESPONSIVE MECHANISM.