Location signaling device

• US 8,356,569 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hans Sjoblom
• Original Assignee: Hans Sjoblom
• Inventors: Sjoblom, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Application Number:
  US10/587,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20070284476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,918 Days
• Field of Search: 116/210, 116/DIG.8, 116/DIG.9, 244/33, 244/153.R, 402/14
• US Class Current: 116/210
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/20 characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights arrangement or adaptation of signalling or lighting devices for ships or other waterborne vessels B63B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/50 Captive balloons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/002 Distress signalling devices, e.g. rescue balloons vehicle optical signalling for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52

Abstract

A location signalling device comprising a wing balloon for signalling a location. The wing balloon is fixed to a tether line that itself is fixed to the location to be signalled. The wing balloon has an inflatable aerodynamically shaped hollow body to be at least partly be filled with a lighter-than-air gas and having a wing attack surface for air flowing relative to said wing balloon. The floating aloft of said wing balloon is supported by said air flow. When the wing balloon is inflated, a flexible wing portion is passively variable. The stronger the wind, the less attack is given. Thus, the dragging force on the tether line is generally static.

Claims

1. A location signaling device comprising a wing balloon for signaling a location and a tether line fixed at a distal end of the tether line to said wing balloon and, in use, fixed at a proximal end of the tether line to said location;

wherein said wing balloon comprises an inflatable aerodynamically shaped hollow body configured to be at least partly filled with a lighter-than-air gas and a wing attack surface configured for generating a lifting force in air flowing relative to said wing balloon and

wherein, when said body is inflated;

said wing balloon comprises a flexible wing portion, whereby said attack surface of said wing balloon is passively reduced by an increase in air flowing relative to said wing balloon,

said flexible wing portion is arranged such that increasing relative air-flow passively decreases a lift generating surface of said wing balloon.

2. The location signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said wing balloon aerodynamic shape is a generally arrow-shaped.

3. The location signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible wing portion is made of a resilient material.

4. The location signaling device according to claim 1, said tether line having a length of 30 m.

5. The location signaling device according to claim 1, said wing balloon comprising at least one radar reflecting surface.

6. The location signaling device according to claim 5, wherein said radar reflecting surface is a radar reflective tail attached to said wing balloon.

7. The location signaling device according to claim 1, said wing balloon having a highly visible color.

8. The location signaling device according to claim 1, said wing balloon having a smoke generating means.

9. The location signaling device according to claim 1, said wing balloon having a chemical heat generating means.

10. The location signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said wing balloon is made of a water repellent material.

11. The location signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said wing is formed for converting relative airflow to a reciprocating, waving, elliptical, or figure 8 motion of said wing balloon.

12. The location signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said device is a location signaling device for search and rescue of people in an emergency.

13. The location signaling device according to claim 1, wherein said device is a location signaling device for locating equipment.

14. The location signaling device according top claim 1, wherein said flexible wing portion is configured to move in an inward direction with increasing relative air-flow to passively decrease the lift generating surface of said wing balloon.

15. A location signaling device comprising a wing balloon for signalling a location and a tether line fixed at a distal end of the tether line to said wing balloon and, in use, fixed at a proximal end of the tether line to said location;

wherein said wing balloon comprises an inflatable aerodynamically shaped hollow body configured to be at least partly filled with a lighter-than-air gas and a wing attack surface configured for generating a lifting force in air flowing relative to said wing balloon and

wherein, when said body is inflated;

said wing balloon comprises a flexible wing portion, whereby said attack surface of said wing balloon is passively reduced by an increase in air flowing relative to said wing balloon, and

said flexible wing portion is arranged such that increasing relative air-flow passively decreases a lift generating surface of said wing balloon,

wherein said flexible wing portion comprises adjacent inflated and non-inflated chambers, said inflated chambers being connected to each other through conduits in said non-inflated chambers.

16. A method of generally keeping static the dragging force on a tether line connected to a location signaling device comprising a wing balloon for signaling a location, said wing balloon comprising an inflatable aerodynamically shaped hollow body configured to be at least partly be filled with a lighter-than-air gas and having a wing attack surface for air flowing relative to said wing balloon such that floating aloft of said wing balloon is supported by said air flow, wherein said method comprises:

passively varying the wing attack surface of said wing balloon by said airflow, such that increasing air-flow passively decreases a lift generating surface of said wing balloon.

17. The method of claim 16, and further comprising inflating the wing balloon with a lighter-than-air gas and thereby forming a flexible wing portion.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the flexible wing portion bends in response to increasing wind, and thereby decreases the lift generating surface of the wing balloon.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the lift generating surface of the wing balloon is decreased as a result of an inward movement of the flexible wing portion in response to increasing air velocity with respect to the wing balloon.