US3886612A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Man overboard package
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1974-08-29
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1994-08-29
Abstract
Abstract Life saving equipment is rocket propelled into the wake of a ship from a shipboard launcher which houses a line having the life saving equipment connected thereto. A pyro delay cutter and spring device within a container which houses the equipment cooperate to jettison the equipment at a specific time interval after launch and at a position substantially remote from the ship.
Inventors
- 👤 David R Schnirel
- 👤 William T Zimmerman
- 👤 Birger E Barsell
- 👤 Charles M Christensen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:29
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B12/00; F42B12/02; F42B12/36; F42B12/56; F42B12/68; B; B63; B63C; B63C9/00; B63C9/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for carrying life-saving equipment from a launcher to a selected target comprising: a rocket motor; a container open at one end and closed at another end; said container connected to said rocket motor at said another end; life-saving equipment housed within said container; anchoring means between said life saving equipment and said open end, said anchoring means being attached to said lifesaving equipment; means for urging said life-saving equipment out of said container; releasable means for holding said life-saving means in said container; a length of buoyant line fRee at one end stored in said launcher and connected to said life-saving equipment at the other end thereof; and life saving rings connected to said buoyant line at intervals therealong.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for carrying life-saving equipment from a launcher to a selected target comprising: a rocket motor; a container open at one end and closed at another end; said container connected to said rocket motor at said another end; life-saving equipment housed within said container; anchoring means between said life saving equipment and said open end, said anchoring means being attached to said lifesaving equipment; means for urging said life-saving equipment out of said container; releasable means for holding said life-saving means in said container; a length of buoyant line fRee at one end stored in said launcher and connected to said life-saving equipment at the other end thereof; and life saving rings connected to said buoyant line at intervals therealong.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for carrying life-saving equipment from a launcher to a selected target comprising: a rocket motor; a container open at one end and closed at another end; said container connected to said rocket motor at said another end; life-saving equipment housed within said container; anchoring means between said life saving equipment and said open end, said anchoring means being attached to said lifesaving equipment; means for urging said life-saving equipment out of said container; releasable means for holding said life-saving means in said container; a length of buoyant line fRee at one end stored in said launcher and connected to said life-saving equipment at the other end thereof; and life saving rings connected to said buoyant line at intervals therealong.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for carrying life-saving equipment from a launcher to a selected target comprising: a rocket motor; a container open at one end and closed at another end; said container connected to said rocket motor at said another end; life-saving equipment housed within said container; anchoring means between said life saving equipment and said open end, said anchoring means being attached to said lifesaving equipment; means for urging said life-saving equipment out of said container; releasable means for holding said life-saving means in said container; a length of buoyant line fRee at one end stored in said launcher and connected to said life-saving equipment at the other end thereof; and life saving rings connected to said buoyant line at intervals therealong.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container at said another end is closed by: a. a female boss member mounted therein; and b. a plate welded to an end of said female boss member within said container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for urging said lifesaving equipment out of said container is: a. a spring secured within said container. b. said spring secured at one end to said plate and at another end to a forward bulkhead.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: a. a rod threaded at both ends is mounted on the central axis of said container and extends substantially the length of the container; b. a forward end of said rod extends through a centrally located aperture in said plate and is secured therein by means of a fastener; c. said spring surrounds said rod; d. said forward bulkhead is slideably mounted on said rod; and e. said forward bulkhead and said plate combine to form a spring chamber and compress said spring to form said means for urging.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
126 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: a. said forward bulkhead and a central bulkhead combine to form an equipment chamber; b. said equipment chamber is within said container and adjacent said spring chamber; c. said forward bulkhead and said central bulkhead are slideably mounted on said rod, through centrally located apertures therein; d. a hollow tube is slideably mounted around said rod and spaces said forward bulkhead from said central bulkhead to form said equipment chamber; and e. said tube is positioned relative to said forward bulkhead, said central bulkhead and said rod by a forward cylindrical top hat support mounted on said forward bulkhead within said equipment chamber and by a central cylindrical top hat support mounted on said central bulkhead within said equipment chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: a. signal survival gear is slideably mounted surrounding said hollow tube and adjacent said forward bulkhead within said equipment chamber; b. a life raft is slideably mounted surrounding said hollow tube and adjacent said central bulkhead within said equipment chamber; and c. said signal survival gear and said life raft substantially fill said equipment chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: a. a lanyard activates an inflating mechanism for said life raft; b. said lanyard is secured at one end to said forward bulkhead within said equipment chamber; and c. said lanyard is secured at said other end to said inflating mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said life raft is secured to said signal survival gear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: a. said central bulkhead combines with an aft bulkhead to form an anchor means chamber; b. said aft bulkhead is slideably mounted on said rod by means of a central located aperture. c. said aft bulkhead is spaced from said central bulkhead by at least two tubular spacers; and d. said anchor means chamber is adjacent said equipment chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: a. said anchor means is a drogue chute; b. said drogue chute is secured to said life raft by means of a chute line; and c. said chute line passes through a cut out protion of said central bulkhead.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: a. a cutter is slideably mounted on said rod adjacent said aft bulkhead and externally of said chute chamber; b. said cutter is positioned on said rod by a clevis; c. said clevis being in threaded relation with said rod; d. said cutter being secured to said aft bulkhead by means of a bolting arrangement with a screw foot; and e. said cutter, said spacers and said tube combining with said forward bulkhead, said central bulkhead, said after bulkhead And said plate to compress said spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said cutter comprises: a. a cylindrical body portion; b. said cylindrical body portion having a forward chamber; c. said forward chamber being adapted to receive a barrel; d. a central bore in said cylindrical body portion is adjacent said forward chamber and is adapted to receive fuse material; e. a rear bore is in said cylindrical body portion adjacent said central bore; and f. said rear bore is to receive an initiator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: a. said barrel is mounted in said forward bore at a rearward barrel end; b. said rearward barrel end is adapted to receive an explosive cartridge; c. a rear cartridge face is adjacent said central bore; and d. a forward cartridge face is adjacent a cartridge base of a cutting edge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein: a. a cutting head said cutting edge is adjacent said rod; and b. said cutter is mounted on said rod through an aperture in said barrel formed diametrically of the longitudinal extent of the barrel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein: a. said launcher has a frangible cover adjacent said rocket motor at a launching end of said launcher; and b. said launcher has an enlarged line containing end at another end of said launcher.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: a. said line containing end holds a line; b. one end of said line is secured to said launcher; c. another end of said line is secured to said raft; d. said line passes through said anchor means chamber to said raft by means of a cutout portion in said aft bulkhead, and a cutout portion in said central bulkhead.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein: a. said launcher includes a stop adjacent said line containing end and within said launcher; b. said stop abutting said container adjacent said the cutter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2496479A
Cited
US3496580A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |