US3947907A — Remote controlled scuttling buoy

Claim 1

Independent Claim 259 words

A scuttling valve for admitting water to a submersible buoy or for releasing air from said buoy comprising: a. a support plate adapted to be secured to an opening in said buoy, said support plate having an opening for passing said water or air, said opening serving as a valve seat; b. an open cage means mounted on said support plate and surrounding said valve seat opening for providing free passageways, said cage being positioned with an exterior portion outside said buoy, and an interior portion inside said buoy; c. a valve plug adapted to close said valve seat opening of (b), said plug fixedly mounted on a guide member which is arranged perpendicularly to said plug and valve seat and extends on both sides of said supporting plate of (a), said guide member being positioned by a valve guide secured to the exterior portion of said cage; d. a fixed reaction plate mounted on the interior portion of said cage and having an opening for accepting and guiding the interior extending portion of said guide member of (c); e. a spring means positioned between said reaction plate and said valve plug for resisting movement of said valve plug toward said reaction plate and for urging said valve plug against said valve seat; f. a movable lift plate mounted perpendicularly on the interior end of said guide member and parallel to said reaction plate of (d); g. a valve plug operator for positioning the movable valve plug relative to the valve seat by acting against the movable lift plate.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 259 words

A scuttling valve for admitting water to a submersible buoy or for releasing air from said buoy comprising: a. a support plate adapted to be secured to an opening in said buoy, said support plate having an opening for passing said water or air, said opening serving as a valve seat; b. an open cage means mounted on said support plate and surrounding said valve seat opening for providing free passageways, said cage being positioned with an exterior portion outside said buoy, and an interior portion inside said buoy; c. a valve plug adapted to close said valve seat opening of (b), said plug fixedly mounted on a guide member which is arranged perpendicularly to said plug and valve seat and extends on both sides of said supporting plate of (a), said guide member being positioned by a valve guide secured to the exterior portion of said cage; d. a fixed reaction plate mounted on the interior portion of said cage and having an opening for accepting and guiding the interior extending portion of said guide member of (c); e. a spring means positioned between said reaction plate and said valve plug for resisting movement of said valve plug toward said reaction plate and for urging said valve plug against said valve seat; f. a movable lift plate mounted perpendicularly on the interior end of said guide member and parallel to said reaction plate of (d); g. a valve plug operator for positioning the movable valve plug relative to the valve seat by acting against the movable lift plate.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 44 words

The scuttling valve of claim 1 wherein said valve plug operator comprises an inflatable air reservoir positioned between said movable lift plate and said fixed reaction plate whereby said lift plate can be moved away from said reaction plate by inflating said air reservoir.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The scuttling valve of claim 1 wherein said spring means is a helical spring.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The scuttling valve of claim 2 wherein said air reservoir is inflated by air supply means communicating with said reservoir.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 228 words

A remote controlled self-scuttling mooring buoy comprising: a. a hollow body member having a plurality of compartments therein; b. a plurality of scuttling valves mounted on said body member for admitting water to said compartments and for releasing air therefrom, each of said valves including a support member including an opening and serving as a valve seat, valve plug means for closing said opening, a fixed reaction member and bias means positioned between said reaction member and said valve plug means for normally maintaining said valve plug means against said valve seat for closing said opening, and expandible means coacting with said valve plug means for positioning said valve plug means with respect to said opening in opposition to said bias; c. mooring hook means for mooring engagement with a mooring line for securing a vessel to said buoy, said mooring hook means responsive to a signal for movement between a first position for securing said mooring line to said buoy and a second position in which it is adapted to release said mooring line from said mooring hook means; d. receiving means for receiving a signal and commanding a response to said signal; e. actuating means responsive to said receiving means for releasing said mooring line from said mooring hook means and opening said scuttling valves, thereby freeing said vessel from said buoy and sinking said buoy.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 228 words

A remote controlled self-scuttling mooring buoy comprising: a. a hollow body member having a plurality of compartments therein; b. a plurality of scuttling valves mounted on said body member for admitting water to said compartments and for releasing air therefrom, each of said valves including a support member including an opening and serving as a valve seat, valve plug means for closing said opening, a fixed reaction member and bias means positioned between said reaction member and said valve plug means for normally maintaining said valve plug means against said valve seat for closing said opening, and expandible means coacting with said valve plug means for positioning said valve plug means with respect to said opening in opposition to said bias; c. mooring hook means for mooring engagement with a mooring line for securing a vessel to said buoy, said mooring hook means responsive to a signal for movement between a first position for securing said mooring line to said buoy and a second position in which it is adapted to release said mooring line from said mooring hook means; d. receiving means for receiving a signal and commanding a response to said signal; e. actuating means responsive to said receiving means for releasing said mooring line from said mooring hook means and opening said scuttling valves, thereby freeing said vessel from said buoy and sinking said buoy.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The buoy of claim 5 wherein said receiving means comprises a radio receiver for receiving a command signal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

The buoy of claim 5 wherein said actuating means comprises pressurized air containers adapted to supply air under pressure to said mooring hook means and said scuttling valves when said receiving means commands a response from said mooring hook means and said scuttling valves.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 41 words

The buoy of claim 5 wherein said mooring hook means comprises a hook for receiving and securing said mooring line from said vessel and said hook releasing said mooring line when said actuating means which comprises an air-operated actuator is activated.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The buoy of claim 5 wherein said scuttling valves are adapted to open by said actuating means which comprises an air-operated actuator.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The buoy of claim 9 wherein said scuttling valves are constructed so as to provide for manual admission of pressurized air to said air-operated actuator.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-04-06	1979-10-06	1980-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-04-06	1983-10-06	1984-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-04-06	1987-10-06	1988-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Remote controlled scuttling buoy

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