Radio beacon enclosure

• US 3,906,370 A
• Filed: 08/28/1974
• Issued: 09/16/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel NV (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: David John Apps
• Inventors: Apps, David John
• Primary Examiner(s): Libman, George H.
• Application Number:
  US05/501,129
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 325/119,114-116,111,102 220/261X,17 206/523X 340/52H,224 102/34.4,35.6,37.6
• US Class Current: 455/96
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device

Abstract

An enclosure for storing and protecting an automatic International Distress Signal radiating radio beacon on the deck of a ship is designed to be released from the ship automatically should the ship sink or capsize. Once released from the ship, the enclosure will float and will automatically eject the radio beacon contained inside into the water. The radio beacon is of the type designed to automatically transmit the International Distress Signal once in the water. The enclosure is constructed so that it provides an electrically sealed enclosure so that the beacon may be tested without removal from the enclosure and without producing external radiation of the International Distress Signal that could cause those receiving it to think there is an emergency when in reality there is no emergency. To facilitate testing the radio beacon, the enclosure includes an internal means to indicate the relative electrical field strength generated by the radio beacon and a test switch to activate the radio beacon. This testing of the radio beacon can be done while the enclosure is sealed and in its normal rest position on the deck of a ship.

Claims

1. A radio beacon enclosure capable of automatically ejecting a radio beacon to enable said radio beacon to float free in water comprising:

a metallic tubular housing having a longitudinal axis;

a rupturable wall disposed transverse to said axis to close one end of said housing;

a second wall disposed transverse to said axis sealed to the other end of said housing;

a plastic cylinder disposed within said housing coaxial of said axis adjacent said one end of said housing, the outer surface of said cylinder being in a slideable relation with the inner surface of said housing, said cylinder being separable into two longitudinal half sections, each of said half sections having cooperating cavities coaxial of said axis to house said radio beacon;

a pressurized gas vessel disposed in said housing between an end of said cylinder adjacent said other end of said housing and said second wall;

a normally closed valve coupled to said vessel; and

a lever connected to said valve and extending through said second wall in a sealed relation thereto;

said rupturable wall having pressure applied thereto by said pressurized gas and said cylinder having pressure applied to said end of said cylinder adjacent said other end of said housing by said pressurized gas when said lever is actuated and said valve is opened, said pressure rupturing said rupturable wall and ejecting said cylinder from said housing through said ruptured rupturable wall to enable said cylinder to separate into its two half sections thereby freeing said radio beacon from said cavities to enable said radio beacon to float free in said water.

2. An enclosure according to claim 1, further including a cradle secured to a deck of a ship;

a metal band to secure said housing and its contents of said cradle, said metal band including as an integral part thereof a water pressure responsive device to release said metal band and hence said housing and its contents from said cradle upon exceeding a given water pressure and;

a tether line anchored to said cradle and connected to said lever to actuate said lever when said tether line pulls tight.

3. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said second wall includes an annular disc having an opening therein, and a window disposed over said disc opening in a sealed relation therewith.

4. An enclosure according to claim 3, further including a pressure gauge disposed within said housing, connected to said vessel and disposed relative to said window to enable said pressure gauge to be observed externally of said housing.

5. An enclosure according to claim 4, further including an antenna rod disposed in said cylinder adjacent said radio beacon;

an electrical field strength meter disposed within said housing, connected to said antenna rod and disposed relative to said window to enable said meter to be observed externally of said housing; and

a circuit including a switch disposed within said housing and connected to said radio beacon, said switch being disposed relative to said window to enable said switch to be activated externally of said housing to test said radio beacon while enclosed in said housing and said cylinder.

6. An enclosure according to claim 5, wherein said switch is a reed switch, and said reed switch is activated by a magnet disposed externally of said housing adjacent said window.

7. An enclosure according to claim 6, wherein said rupturable wall includes a plastic rupturable disc, and a metallic membrane;

and said window includes a transparent metal film deposited on the inner surface of said window;

said housing, said annular disc, said metal film and said metallic membrane cooperating to contain radiation from said radio beacon within said enclosure when said radio beacon is tested.

8. An enclosure according to claim 7, further including a cradle secured to a deck of a ship;

a metal band to secure said housing and its contents to said cradle, said metal band including as an integral part thereof a water pressure responsive device to release said metal band and hence said housing and its contents from said cradle upon exceeding a given water pressure and;

a tether line anchored to said cradle and connected to said lever to actuate said lever when said tether line pulls tight.

9. An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said second wall includes an annular disc having an opening therein, and a window disposed over said disc opening in a sealed relation therewith;

and further including an antenna rod disposed in said cylinder adjacent said radio beacon;

an electrical field strength meter disposed within said housing, connected to said antenna rod and disposed relative to said window to enable said meter to be observed externally of said housing; and

a circuit including a switch disposed within said housing and connected to said radio beacon, said switch being disposed relative to said window to enable said switch to be activated externally of said housing to test said radio beacon while enclosed in said housing and said cylinder.

10. An enclosure according to claim 9, wherein said switch is a reed switch, and said reed switch is activated by a magnet disposed externally of said housing adjacent said window.

11. An enclosure according to claim 10, wherein said rupturable wall includes a plastic rupturable disc, and a metallic membrane;

and said window includes a transparent metal film deposited on the inner surface of said window;

said housing, said annular disc, said metal film and said metallic membrane cooperating to contain radiation from said radio beacon within said enclosure when said radio beacon is tested.

12. An enclosure according to claim 11, further including a cradle secured to a deck of a ship;

a metal band to secure said housing and its contents to said cradle, said metal band including as an integral part thereof a water pressure responsive device to release said metal band and hence said housing and its contents from said cradle upon exceeding a given water pressure and;

a tether line anchored to said cradle and connected to said lever to actuate said lever when said tether line pulls tight.