WO2002020344A1 - Rescue device - Google Patents

Rescue device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002020344A1
WO2002020344A1 PCT/GB2001/003900 GB0103900W WO0220344A1 WO 2002020344 A1 WO2002020344 A1 WO 2002020344A1 GB 0103900 W GB0103900 W GB 0103900W WO 0220344 A1 WO0220344 A1 WO 0220344A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
aerial
rescue system
rescue device
rescue
batteries
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2001/003900
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2002020344B1 (en
Inventor
Alex Paddy Salam
Original Assignee
The University Of Sheffield
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by The University Of Sheffield filed Critical The University Of Sheffield
Priority to GB0307900A priority Critical patent/GB2391670B/en
Publication of WO2002020344A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002020344A1/en
Publication of WO2002020344B1 publication Critical patent/WO2002020344B1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
    • H01Q1/34—Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C9/00—Life-saving in water
    • B63C9/0005—Life-saving in water by means of alarm devices for persons falling into the water, e.g. by signalling, by controlling the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S5/00—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
    • G01S5/02—Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
    • G01S5/0205—Details
    • G01S5/0226—Transmitters
    • G01S5/0231—Emergency, distress or locator beacons
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/08—Means for collapsing antennas or parts thereof
    • H01Q1/085—Flexible aerials; Whip aerials with a resilient base
    • H01Q1/087—Extensible roll- up aerials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2201/00—Signalling devices
    • B63B2201/04—Illuminating
    • B63B2201/08—Electric light
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2201/00—Signalling devices
    • B63B2201/16—Radio
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2201/00—Signalling devices
    • B63B2201/20—Antenna or mast
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/02—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using radio waves
    • G01S3/14—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to rescue apparatus relying on radio transmission, for example for people stranded in the sea.
  • radio transmission for example for people stranded in the sea.
  • the alarm should be able to function continuously for up to 24 hours or more.
  • a rescue system includes a device comprising a housing holding one or more batteries, an aerial, an RF generator connected to the aerial, and timing means arranged to provide a train of enabling pulses that turns the RF generator on and off repeatedly.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a rescue device according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing parts of the rescue device .
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of electrical parts of the rescue device.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of electrical parts of a receiver for detecting signals from the rescue device.
  • Rescue device 1 comprises a hollow watertight cylinder 2 containing two AA size batteries 3 and a printed circuit 4 Cylinder 2 may be of plastic.
  • An aerial 5 is attached to cylinder 2.
  • aerial 5 is wound around cylinder 2 and held in this coiled state by rotatable lever 6 of a switch 7 as illustrated in FIG.2.
  • switch 7 When lever 6 is rotated to take position 8 switch 7 is turned on and aerial 5 automatically unfurls to take a substantially straight shape as shown in FIG. 1.
  • Aerial 5 has a curved cross section, like a steel tape measure, causing it to straighten when it is in a free state.
  • Aerial 5 is preferably coated with insulating material at least at its lower part.
  • Metallic screw cap 10 is removable for battery replacement and has a water-tight seal not shown. When screwed in, cap 10 joins battery anode 11 to printed circuit 4 via threaded bushing 12 and wire 13.
  • Rescue device 1 includes an arrangement for attaching it to a person.
  • the arrangement includes an eyelet 15 that is part of casing 2 and to which is linked an attachment cord 16.
  • Attachment cord 16 terminates at its other end, not shown, in an adjustable noose that can be worn round the neck. The noose has a stop for ensuring that it will always be loose round the neck.
  • FIG. 3 shows the electrical arrangement of the rescue device.
  • switch 7 capacitor 20 On turn on of switch 7 capacitor 20 is charged.
  • LED lamp 21 is turned on, and oscillator 22 is energised.
  • Oscillator 22 has a low frequency compared with the RF transmission frequency of the rescue device, for example oscillator 22 can have a frequency of 2000 cycles per second, and the RF can be of 500 megacycles per second.
  • Connected to the output of oscillator 22 is a single- shot circuit having an output pulse width less than the the period of oscillator 22, for example the pulse width can be 50 microseconds or less.
  • transistor 24 is turned on, applying DC power to RF power oscillator 25 for 50 microseconds once every 500 microseconds.
  • the RF power from oscillator 25 is applied to aerial 5 via step-up transformer 26.
  • Power oscillator 25 may include a crystal to give precise frequency.
  • the RF power applied to aerial 5 can be up to five watts or more, even though battery 3 may be too weak to provide 5 watts of DC power. This is because RF transmission occurs for only 10% of the time and capacitor 20 can draw and store electric charge at the rate, for example 0.5 amperes from the low power batteries 3 during the intervals between the RF transmission bursts.
  • LED lamp 21 serves to assist in night-time location of the person wearing the rescue device, and also serves to reassure the person that the rescue device is active.
  • Alkaline size-AA batteries have a capacity of about 2500 ma hours. Thus for 48 hours of operation the average current drawn from batteries 3 should not exceed 50 ma, corresponding to 0.15 watts drawn from the batteries. Because the RF transmission is intermittent the power delivered by power oscillator 25 to the aerial can be up to 1.5 watts for the case where the duty ratio is 10 %. It can be up to 15 watts if the duty ratio is reduced to 1 %.
  • FIG.4 illustrates a receiver for detecting signals from a receiver aerial 30.
  • Aerial 30 is directional, for example by having a reflector, and movable. Signals received by aerial 30 are fed to a frequency selective amplifier 31 tuned to the frequency of oscillator 25. The output of amplifier 31 is fed to a demodulator 32 the output of which is fed to a detector 33 selective to signals having the frequency of oscillator 22. The output of detector 33 is fed to an indicator 34 which provides an audio alarm and a visual indication of the strength of the detected signal. Detection is possible even if the signal received by aerial 30 is extremely weak, because detector 33 is sensitive only to the frequency of oscillator 22 and rejects noise that accompanies very faint signals.
  • Rescue device 1 may include an additional battery tester, not shown, that enables the battery to be checked without actuating switch 6.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transmitters (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
  • Audible And Visible Signals (AREA)

Abstract

A rescue system includes a device that is buoyant and that has a coiled aerial which unfurls as soon as the rescue device is turned on. The rescue device transmits RF interrupted at a defined frequency. A corresponding remote receiver is tuned to the RF frequency and includes a sensor tuned to the interruption frequency.

Description

RESCUE DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to rescue apparatus relying on radio transmission, for example for people stranded in the sea. For such applications it is important to be able to provide a personal radio alarm generator that is of very low cost and that is compact and light in weight, so that it can be worn or carried about by the person without discomfort. Furthermore the alarm should be able to function continuously for up to 24 hours or more.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A rescue system according to the present invention includes a device comprising a housing holding one or more batteries, an aerial, an RF generator connected to the aerial, and timing means arranged to provide a train of enabling pulses that turns the RF generator on and off repeatedly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a rescue device according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing parts of the rescue device .
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of electrical parts of the rescue device.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of electrical parts of a receiver for detecting signals from the rescue device.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Rescue device 1 comprises a hollow watertight cylinder 2 containing two AA size batteries 3 and a printed circuit 4 Cylinder 2 may be of plastic. An aerial 5 is attached to cylinder 2. When rescue device 1 is not in use, aerial 5 is wound around cylinder 2 and held in this coiled state by rotatable lever 6 of a switch 7 as illustrated in FIG.2. When lever 6 is rotated to take position 8 switch 7 is turned on and aerial 5 automatically unfurls to take a substantially straight shape as shown in FIG. 1. Aerial 5 has a curved cross section, like a steel tape measure, causing it to straighten when it is in a free state. Aerial 5 is preferably coated with insulating material at least at its lower part. Metallic screw cap 10 is removable for battery replacement and has a water-tight seal not shown. When screwed in, cap 10 joins battery anode 11 to printed circuit 4 via threaded bushing 12 and wire 13.
By placement of batteries 3 below the longitudinal axis of cylinder 2 the center of gravity of rescue device 1 is well below the axis . Consequently when rescue device 1 is floated in water with aerial 5 released the aerial is automatically positioned above the water and substantially vertical. Rescue device 1 includes an arrangement for attaching it to a person. The arrangement includes an eyelet 15 that is part of casing 2 and to which is linked an attachment cord 16. Attachment cord 16 terminates at its other end, not shown, in an adjustable noose that can be worn round the neck. The noose has a stop for ensuring that it will always be loose round the neck.
FIG. 3 shows the electrical arrangement of the rescue device. On turn on of switch 7 capacitor 20 is charged. LED lamp 21 is turned on, and oscillator 22 is energised. Oscillator 22 has a low frequency compared with the RF transmission frequency of the rescue device, for example oscillator 22 can have a frequency of 2000 cycles per second, and the RF can be of 500 megacycles per second. Connected to the output of oscillator 22 is a single- shot circuit having an output pulse width less than the the period of oscillator 22, for example the pulse width can be 50 microseconds or less. Thus transistor 24 is turned on, applying DC power to RF power oscillator 25 for 50 microseconds once every 500 microseconds. The RF power from oscillator 25 is applied to aerial 5 via step-up transformer 26. Power oscillator 25 may include a crystal to give precise frequency. The RF power applied to aerial 5 can be up to five watts or more, even though battery 3 may be too weak to provide 5 watts of DC power. This is because RF transmission occurs for only 10% of the time and capacitor 20 can draw and store electric charge at the rate, for example 0.5 amperes from the low power batteries 3 during the intervals between the RF transmission bursts.
LED lamp 21 serves to assist in night-time location of the person wearing the rescue device, and also serves to reassure the person that the rescue device is active.
Alkaline size-AA batteries have a capacity of about 2500 ma hours. Thus for 48 hours of operation the average current drawn from batteries 3 should not exceed 50 ma, corresponding to 0.15 watts drawn from the batteries. Because the RF transmission is intermittent the power delivered by power oscillator 25 to the aerial can be up to 1.5 watts for the case where the duty ratio is 10 %. It can be up to 15 watts if the duty ratio is reduced to 1 %.
FIG.4 illustrates a receiver for detecting signals from a receiver aerial 30. Aerial 30 is directional, for example by having a reflector, and movable. Signals received by aerial 30 are fed to a frequency selective amplifier 31 tuned to the frequency of oscillator 25. The output of amplifier 31 is fed to a demodulator 32 the output of which is fed to a detector 33 selective to signals having the frequency of oscillator 22. The output of detector 33 is fed to an indicator 34 which provides an audio alarm and a visual indication of the strength of the detected signal. Detection is possible even if the signal received by aerial 30 is extremely weak, because detector 33 is sensitive only to the frequency of oscillator 22 and rejects noise that accompanies very faint signals. Once an operator has been alerted to the alarm he can move the aerial to detect the direction from which the RF transmission is emanating and proceed with rescue operation accordingly. Rescue device 1 may include an additional battery tester, not shown, that enables the battery to be checked without actuating switch 6.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A rescue system for rescuing a person including a device comprising a housing holding one or more batteries, an aerial and means generating a radio frequency signal that is interrupted at a defined frequency, said interrupted radio frequency signal being fed to said aerial.
2. A rescue system according to claim 1 wherein said device is buoyant in water and includes a lead for loose attachment thereof to a person.
3. A rescue system according to claim 2 wherein said device floats with at least part of said aerial above the water.
4. A rescue system according to any preceding claim including a receiver comprising a detector selective to said defined frequenc .
5. A rescue system according to claim 2 wherein said lead terminates in a a loop worn round the neck.
6. A rescue system according to any preceding claim wherein said device includes a sprung aerial.
7. A rescue system according to any preceding claim wherein said device includes a lamp arranged to be visible a rescuer at night.
8. A rescue system according to any preceding claim wherein said device is arranged to transmit a radio frequency signal of greater power than said one or more batteries can provide.
PCT/GB2001/003900 2000-09-07 2001-08-31 Rescue device WO2002020344A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0307900A GB2391670B (en) 2000-09-07 2001-08-31 Rescue device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0021949.3 2000-09-07
GB0021949A GB0021949D0 (en) 2000-09-07 2000-09-07 Rescue device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002020344A1 true WO2002020344A1 (en) 2002-03-14
WO2002020344B1 WO2002020344B1 (en) 2002-06-06

Family

ID=9899020

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2001/003900 WO2002020344A1 (en) 2000-09-07 2001-08-31 Rescue device

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB0021949D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2002020344A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2529404A (en) * 2014-08-18 2016-02-24 Ocean Signal Ltd Personal location device
GB2529689B (en) * 2014-08-29 2018-11-14 Secr Defence Radio with a deployable antenna
FR3074920A1 (en) * 2017-12-11 2019-06-14 Orolia Sas MULTI-MODE AUTONOMOUS LOCATION BEACON

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4968034A (en) * 1988-08-29 1990-11-06 Webert Hsieh Multi-functional electronic self-protection device
US5748080A (en) * 1996-09-30 1998-05-05 Clay; Charles Matthew Overboard safety device
US5886635A (en) * 1997-07-29 1999-03-23 Briartek, Inc. Overboard alarm with localization system interface
US5945912A (en) * 1998-04-09 1999-08-31 Guldbrand; Tony Ocean safe
WO2000023813A1 (en) * 1998-10-19 2000-04-27 Sea Marshall Rescue Systems, Ltd. (Usa) Improvements in and relating to emitters

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8726830D0 (en) * 1987-11-17 1987-12-23 Martin J A Monitoring system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4968034A (en) * 1988-08-29 1990-11-06 Webert Hsieh Multi-functional electronic self-protection device
US5748080A (en) * 1996-09-30 1998-05-05 Clay; Charles Matthew Overboard safety device
US5886635A (en) * 1997-07-29 1999-03-23 Briartek, Inc. Overboard alarm with localization system interface
US5945912A (en) * 1998-04-09 1999-08-31 Guldbrand; Tony Ocean safe
WO2000023813A1 (en) * 1998-10-19 2000-04-27 Sea Marshall Rescue Systems, Ltd. (Usa) Improvements in and relating to emitters

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2529404A (en) * 2014-08-18 2016-02-24 Ocean Signal Ltd Personal location device
GB2529404B (en) * 2014-08-18 2017-12-27 Ocean Signal Ltd Quick Release Antenna for a Personal Location Device
GB2529689B (en) * 2014-08-29 2018-11-14 Secr Defence Radio with a deployable antenna
FR3074920A1 (en) * 2017-12-11 2019-06-14 Orolia Sas MULTI-MODE AUTONOMOUS LOCATION BEACON
WO2019115154A1 (en) * 2017-12-11 2019-06-20 Orolia Sas Multi-mode autonomous localization beacon
US11450939B2 (en) 2017-12-11 2022-09-20 Orolia Sas Multi-mode autonomous localization beacon
IL275235B1 (en) * 2017-12-11 2024-01-01 Orolia Sas Multi-mode autonomous localization beacon
IL275235B2 (en) * 2017-12-11 2024-05-01 Orolia Sas Multi-mode autonomous localization beacon

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2391670A (en) 2004-02-11
WO2002020344B1 (en) 2002-06-06
GB2391670B (en) 2004-12-29
GB0307900D0 (en) 2003-05-14
GB0021949D0 (en) 2000-10-25

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