Automated distress locator transmission system

• US 8,687,375 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mansueto B. Callao, Rafael Q. Uy
• Original Assignee: Mansueto B. Callao, Rafael Q. Uy
• Inventors: Uy, Rafael Q., Callao, Mansueto B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, BINH BACH THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/383,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20120113575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 361/754, 361/679.38, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727, 441/10, 441/11, 441/16, 441/17
• US Class Current: 361/754
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automated distress locator transmitter assembly adapted to be installed on transportation means such as aircrafts and the like comprising: a base member having a primary enclosure downwardly formed from the surface thereof and defining a first peripheral flange thereon; a secondary enclosure having a second peripheral flange formed at the upper portion thereof, said secondary enclosure being enclosed within said primary enclosure and being provided with an ejector means; a locator transmitter member being provided within said secondary enclosure and secured on said ejector means; an associated cover being provided on said secondary enclosure, said associated cover being secured on said second peripheral flange; and means to secure and automatically detached said associated cover from said second peripheral flange to release and eject said locator transmitter member to a substantial distance away from said second enclosure at a predetermined switching command.

Claims

1. An automated distress locator transmitter assembly adapted to be installed on transportation means such as aircrafts and the like comprising:

a base member having a primary enclosure downwardly formed from the surface thereof and defining a first peripheral flange thereon;

a secondary enclosure having a second peripheral flange formed at the upper portion thereof, said secondary enclosure being enclosed within said primary enclosure and being provided with an ejector means;

a locator transmitter member being provided within said secondary enclosure and secured on said ejector means;

an associated cover being provided on said secondary enclosure, said associated cover being secured on said second peripheral flange; and

means to secure and automatically detached said associated cover from said second peripheral flange to release and eject said locator transmitter member to a substantial distance away from said second enclosure at a predetermined switching command, wherein said means to secure and automatically detached said associated cover from said second peripheral flange comprising a plurality of spaced apart explosive bolts connecting said associated cover along said second peripheral flange and an automatic command switch operably connected to said explosive bolts, said command switch being calibrated to activate and detonate said explosive bolts at a predetermined switching command.

2. The automated distress locator transmitter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said automatic command switch is a first G-Switch with a predetermined switching command calibrated to activate and detonate said explosive bolts at a minimum “

g-force”

magnitude of 2.3 G in the forward direction along the flight path with at least 1 meter per second reverse velocity.

3. The automated distress locator transmitter assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a redundant command switch to automatically detach said associated cover from said second peripheral flange in case said command switch fails to activate and detonate said explosive bolts.

4. The automated distress locator transmitter assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein said redundant command switch is a depth switch sensor provided on said second enclosure and operably connected to said explosive bolts, said depth switch sensor having a predetermined switching command calibrated to activate and detonate said explosive bolts at a sea level depth of at least 6 meters.

5. The automated distress locator transmitter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said locator transmitter member comprising a main body having top wall, bottom wall and sidewalls and a central compartment being formed thereon;

a power source being provided on said compartment;

a locator transmitter being provided on said central compartment of said main body, said transmitter being electronically connected to said power source; and

means to activate said locator transmitter.

6. The automated distress locator transmitter assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said locator transmitter member further comprising floatation means to allow said transmitter member to float at sea when ejected from said secondary enclosure.

7. The automated distress locator transmitter assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein said floatation means comprising a plurality of spaced apart wing stabilizers provided on said main body, each said wing stabilizers being formed by a longitudinal planar body pivotally secured at the top wall of said locator transmitter member.

8. The automated distress locator transmitter assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said locator transmitter comprising a transmitter module and at least one GPS antenna operably connected to said transmitter module.

9. The automated distress locator transmitter assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means to activate said locator transmitter comprising a second G-switch connected to said locator transmitter and is activated simultaneously with said first G-switch at a predetermined switching command.

10. The automated distress locator assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein said second G-switch having a predetermined switching command to activate said locator transmitter simultaneously with the detonation of said explosive bolts at a minimum “

g-force”

magnitude of 2.3 G in the forward direction along the flight path with at least 1 meter per second reverse velocity.

11. The automated distress locator assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means to activate said locator transmitter comprising a water conductivity switch provided on said locator transmitter member to act as a redundant switch ready to be activated upon submersion of said locator transmitter member at sea.

12. The automated distress locator assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means to activate said locator transmitter comprising a manual switch acting as a redundant switch provided on the top wall of said man body, said manual switch is operably connected to said locator transmitter.

13. A distress locator device adapted to be installed on transportation means such as aircrafts and the like comprising:

a main body having a top wall, a bottom wall and sidewalls and a central compartment being formed thereon;

a power source being provided on said central compartment;

a locator transmitter being provided on said central compartment of said main body, said locator transmitter being electronically connected to said power source, said locator transmitter comprising a transmitter module and at least one GPS antenna operably connected to said transmitter module;

a floatation means comprising a plurality of spaced apart wing stabilizers provided at the sidewalls of said main body, each said wing stabilizers being formed by a longitudinal planar body pivotally secured at the top wall of said locator transmitter member; and

means to activate said locator transmitter, said locator transmitter comprising a water conductivity switch is provided on said locator transmitter member to act as a redundant switch ready to be activated upon submersion of said locator transmitter member at sea.

14. The automated distress locator device in accordance with claim 13, wherein said means to activate said locator transmitter comprising a G-switch connected to said locator transmitter and is activated simultaneously with the corresponding G-switch of an enclosure adapted to house said locator transmitter and release said locator transmitter at a predetermined switching command.

15. The automated distress locator assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein said G-switch having a predetermined switching command to activate said locator transmitter simultaneously with its release from said enclosure at a minimum “

g-force”

magnitude of 2.3 G in the forward direction along the flight path with at least 1 meter per second reverse velocity.

16. The automated distress locator assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein said means to activate said locator transmitter comprising a manual switch acting as a redundant switch provided on the top wall of said man body, said manual switch is operably connected to said locator transmitter.