Aircraft locating device

Abstract

An aircraft locating device for locating an aircraft that has crashed into a body of water. The aircraft locating device includes a housing having a base, one or more sidewalls, an upper wall, defining an interior volume, wherein at least one wall can be secured to an aircraft. The housing includes one or more openings removably covered by one or more gates that open when the housing is submerged in liquid. A plurality of buoyant objects are disposed in the interior volume of the housing, wherein the buoyant objects can be released therefrom when the gates are open, thereby leaving a visual trail in a body of water in order to allow emergency responders to identify where an aircraft may be located.

Claims

1. An aircraft locating device, comprising: a housing having a base, a sidewall, and an upper wall, defining a static structure forming an interior volume, wherein the housing is configured to be secured to an interior support surface of an aircraft; a plurality of buoyant objects freely disposed within said interior volume of said housing; an opening disposed on each of the base, the sidewall, and the upper wall of said housing, wherein each opening outwardly faces a unique direction, configured to receive said plurality of buoyant objects therethrough; a water soluble gate configured to dissolve when submerged in a body of water, wherein said water soluble gate covers said opening and is affixed to said housing, where upon dissolution of the water soluble gate, the plurality of buoyant objects continuously release from at least one opening.

2. The aircraft locating device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of buoyant objects are composed of foam.

3. The aircraft locating device of claim 1, wherein the water soluble gate is only disposed over each opening.

4. The aircraft locating device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the buoyant objects comprise the same size as one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the housing of the aircraft locating device.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the aircraft locating device.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the aircraft locating device wherein the buoyant objects are released from the housing.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the aircraft locating device in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the aircraft locating device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for locating a crashed aircraft or other vessel. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

(7) Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the housing of the aircraft locating device. The aircraft locating device 11 comprises a housing 12 and a plurality of buoyant objects stored within an interior volume of the housing 12. The illustrated housing 12 is configured to be secured to an aircraft or other vessel that travels over a body of water. For example, the housing 12 may be secured to an interior compartment of an aircraft. In alternate embodiments, the housing 12 is integral to the interior of an aircraft, such as forming a pocket within the aircraft. In the event that the aircraft crashes into a body of water, the buoyant materials are released from the housing 12 and leave a visual trail on the water for emergency responders to follow in order to locate the sinking aircraft.

(8) The housing comprises at least a rear wall and a front wall, forming an interior volume therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 12 comprises a base 16, one or more sidewalls 17, and an upper wall 18, defining an interior volume. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 12 comprises a substantially cube shape having a square cross section. However, in other embodiments, the housing 12 may comprise any suitable configuration that is able to store buoyant objects therein. At least one wall 16, 17, 18 of the housing 12 is adapted to be secured to a support surface an aircraft by any suitable fastener, such as screws.

(9) The housing 12 further comprises one or more openings 13 thereon, wherein the openings 13 allow buoyant objects stored within the interior volume of the housing 12 to escape from the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings 13 are circular in shape, however, alternate embodiments the openings 13 comprise any suitable shape, such as square, triangular, or rectangular shape. In other embodiments, the openings 13 may be disposed in any configuration and position on the housing 12. Preferably, an opening 13 is disposed on each of the sidewalls 17, the base 16, and the upper wall 18 in order to ensure at least one opening 13 is exposed in the event an aircraft crashes and one or more sides of the housing are covered by debris.

(10) Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown a cross sectional view of the aircraft locating device and a cross sectional view of the aircraft locating device wherein the buoyant objects are positioned for release from the housing, respectively. The aircraft locating device 11 further comprises a gate 14 disposed over each opening 13 of the housing 12. The gate 14 is adapted to removably cover the opening 13 in order to prevent the buoyant objects 15 from leaving the housing 12 prematurely. In the illustrated embodiment, the buoyant objects 15 are spherical in shape, wherein the buoyant objects 15 are adapted to fill the interior volume of the housing. However, the buoyant objects 15 can comprise any suitable shape adapted to fit through the opening 13 of the housing 12. In some embodiments, the buoyant objects 15 are brightly colored and reflective in order to allow emergency responders to easily view location thereof.

(11) The dimension of the opening 13 and the dimension of the buoyant objects 15 are factors that contribute to the rate of release of the buoyant objects 15 from the housing 12. The dimension of the buoyant objects 15 is adapted to allow the buoyant objects 15 to continually release from the housing 12 until the aircraft reaches its final resting position at the bottom of a body of water. The buoyant objects 15 can be composed of any suitable buoyant material, such as foam, wherein at least part of the buoyant object 15 floats above the water. Further, the material is adapted to be non-toxic in order to prevent damage to marine life within the body of water.

(12) Preferably, the gate 14 is adapted to open when submerged in liquid. In the illustrated embodiment, the gate 14 comprises a water soluble layer disposed over each opening 13, wherein the water soluble layer is adapted to dissolve when submerged in water. In other embodiments, the gate 14 can comprise any suitable removable covering disposed over an opening 13, wherein the gate 14 is water sensitive and adapted to uncover the opening 13 when submerged in water.

(13) The dimension of the water soluble layer is substantially the same dimension of the opening 13 in order to prevent buoyant objects 15 leaving therefrom. The water soluble layer is attached to the housing 12 by any suitable means, such as adhesive disposed between the water soluble layer and the perimeter of the opening 13. Any suitable water soluble material may be used, such as material derived from hydrolyzed vinyl acetate copolymer resins, wherein the material readily dissolves when submerged in water. Once the water soluble layer dissolves, the buoyant objects 15 are released through the openings 13 of the housing 12.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of the aircraft locating device in use. In operation, the housing of the aircraft locating device is secured to the interior of an aircraft 60 or other vessel adapted to travel over a body of water 61. In the event the aircraft 60 crashes into the body of water 61, the water soluble layers disposed over the openings of the housing will dissolve, thereby releasing the buoyant objects 15 positioned within the interior volume thereof. The buoyant objects 15 will rise to the surface of the body of water 61 as the aircraft 60 descends therebeneath. As each buoyant object 15 exits the housing, they will leave a visual trail on the surface of the water as the current from the body of water or other environmental factors, such as the wind, move the buoyant objects away from the aircraft 60. The visual trail of buoyant materials will allow emergency responders to follow the trail in order to locate the final resting position of the aircraft 60. In use, a plurality of aircraft locating devices are positioned throughout the interior of an aircraft 60 to ensure the release of the buoyant objects 15 regardless of where the aircraft 60 opens or separates after a crash.

(15) It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(16) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.