Abstract An oceanographic buoy having a self-sustaining power supply includes an elongate framework provided with a flotation section and a ballasting section predetermined to maintain the buoy in a vertical position. A pressure chamber carried on the buoy is fed water by a plurality of equaldistantly, circumferentially disposed pumping assemblies and passes the water, under pressure, to a hydroelectric transducer driving a transmitter. The transmitter relays information, representative of a monitored phenomena, or, merely radiates high energy electromagnetic signals enabling the precise location of the buoy by a remotely disposed tracking station. High reliability stems from the overall simplicity of the oceanographic buoy which is primarily dependent on the configuration and orientation of the several pumping assemblies that individually require a minimum amount of sealing and linkage elements.
An oceanographic buoy according to claim 1 in which said elongate framework is configured to present a minimal lateral resistance to surface waves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
An oceanographic buoy according to claim 2 further including ocean monitoring devices carried by said elongate framework coupled to the responsive means to radiate signals representative of monitored phenomena.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An oceanographic buoy according to claim 3 further including means for radiating said automatic radiation being substantially coaxially disposed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An oceanographic buoy according to claim 4 further including an annular bracket carried on said buoying section enclosing a filtered duct supporting all said pumping assemblies and feeding water to all the intake orifices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An oceanographic buoy according to claim 5 in which each said float is a barrel-shaped cylinder and said traverse bore is coaxially disposed and said follower is essentially a tripod-shaped truss having its apex secured to the upward facing surface of each said barrel-shaped cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 in which said hydroelectric transducer is a water turbine driving electrical generator, the responsive means is a radio transmitter, and the radiating means is an antennaflasher combination.