Free fall oceanographic beacon

Claim 2

A free-fall ocean bottom marker comprising, in combination, a generally cylindrical buoyant member having one end body portion of reduced diameter; an acoustic reflector secured to said buoyant member at the greater diameter end portion thereof, said acoustic reflector being of conical shape and formed from open mesh material so as to stabilize said beacon as it falls within the ocean and restrict its free-fall velocity; an anchor; a pressure-operated latching means normally locking said anchor to said buoyant member at the reduced diameter portion thereof; a tether line having one end secured to said buoyant member and the other end secured to said anchor, said tether line being wound about the reduced diameter portion of said buoyant member when said marker beacon is in its standby condition whereby whenever said beacon is dropped free at the ocean surface said pressure-operated latching means unlocks said anchor from said buoyant member at a predetermined depth and said anchor thereafter falls free until said tether line Is unwound.

Claim 3

In an arrangement as defined in claim 1, a bottom-operated release mechanism adapted to unlock said anchor from said buoyant member when said anchor strikes the ocean bottom still locked to said buoyant member whereby whenever said pressure-operated latching means misfunctions and does not unlock said anchor at said predetermined depth said anchor is unlocked when it strikes the ocean bottom.

Claim 4

A free-fall beacon for marking a predetermined ocean bottom location comprising, in combination, a float, said float having a portion thereof which reflects acoustic energy impinging thereon; an anchor; a tether line having one end secured to said float and the other end to said anchor, said tether line being wound about a circumferential portion of said float when said beacon is in its standby condition ready for launching; a pressure-operated launching means normally locking said anchor to the bottom portion of said float, said launching means unlocking said anchor from said float when said beacon reaches a predetermined depth whereby said anchor thereafter separates from said float and falls free until said tether line is completely unwound from said float; said float thereafter being moored at a distance above the ocean floor determined by the length of said tether line; said pressure-operating latching means also being adapted to unlock said anchor from said float if said anchor strikes the ocean bottom and still is locked to said float whereby said float is deployed in the event said pressure-operating latching means malfunctions and does not unlock said anchor at said predetermined depth.

Claim 5

A free-fall beacon for marking a predetermined ocean bottom location comprising, in combination, a float, said float having a portion thereof which reflects acoustic energy impinging thereon; an anchor; a tether line having one end secured to said float and the other end to said anchor, said tether line being wound about a circumferential portion of said float when said beacon is in its standby condition ready for launching; a pressure-operated launching means normally locking said anchor to the bottom portion of said float, said launching means unlocking said anchor from said float when said beacon reaches a predetermined depth whereby said anchor thereafter separates from said float and falls free until said tether line is completely unwound from said float; said float thereafter being moored at a distance above the ocean floor determined by the length of said tether line; said pressure-operating latching means also being adapted to unlock said anchor from said float if said anchor strikes the ocean bottom and still is locked to said float whereby said float is deployed in the event said pressure-operating latching means malfunctions and does not unlock said anchor at said predetermined depth.

Claim 6

In an arrangement as defined in claim 3 wherein said portion of said float which reflects acoustic energy impinging thereon has a conical shape which stabilizes said beacon in its proper orientation as it falls within the ocean.

Claim 7

In an arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein said portion of said float which reflects acoustic energy impinging thereon is fabricated from open mesh material which restricts the free-fall velocity of said beacon so as to ensure the operation of said pressure-operated latching means.

Claim 8

In an arrangement as defined in claim 3 wherein said float accommodates an acoustic signal device for identifying the location of said beacon after it has been deployed.