Wireless water activated lights

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12140454-B2
Application number	US-202217850801-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2022
Priority date	Apr 1, 2022
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a water activated transmitter assembly configured to provide a signal to a wireless light assembly when the water activated transmitter assembly is exposed to water. A water emergency device system is also disclosed, which comprises the water activated transmitter assembly and the wireless light assembly coupled to a water flotation device. A method of manufacture of the water activated transmitter assembly is also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A water activated transmitter assembly, comprising:
a casing;
a cap coupled to the casing to form a cavity;
a signal transmitter disposed within the cavity;
a battery disposed within the cavity, wherein the battery is disposed distally to the signal transmitter and biased away from the signal transmitter by a spring;
a pusher block disposed within the cavity distal to the battery; and
a hygroscopic block disposed within the cavity and distal to the pusher block.

2. The water activated transmitter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises an opening configured to fluidly couple the hygroscopic block with an ambient environment outside the casing.

3. The water activated transmitter assembly of claim 2 , wherein the water activated transmitter assembly further comprises an O-ring disposed within the cavity and in contact with the pusher block.

4. The water activated transmitter assembly of claim 3 , wherein the signal transmitter is configured to transmit an output signal.

5. The water activated transmitter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the output signal comprises a low frequency RF signal.

6. The water activated transmitter assembly of claim 5 , wherein the hygroscopic block comprises a dry compressed towel, a dry compressed cloth, and/or a dry sponge material.

7. The water activated transmitter assembly of claim 6 , wherein the hygroscopic block is configured to expand with an expansion force and urge the battery to move proximally toward the signal transmitter.

8. The water activated transmitter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the expansion force is double the spring force.

9. A water emergency device system, comprising:
a water flotation device;
a water activated transmitter assembly coupled to the water flotation device, wherein the water activated transmitter assembly comprises:
a casing;
a cap coupled to the casing to form a cavity;
a signal transmitter disposed within the cavity;
a battery disposed within the cavity, wherein the battery is disposed distally to the signal transmitter and biased away from the signal transmitter by a spring;
a pusher block disposed within the cavity distal to the battery; and
a hygroscopic block disposed within the cavity and distal to the pusher block a wireless light assembly coupled to the water flotation device.

10. The water emergency device system of claim 9 , wherein the wireless light assembly comprises:
a light; and
a battery control unit coupled to the light.

11. The water emergency device system of claim 10 , wherein the battery control unit comprises:
a signal receiver;
a processor, in communication with the signal receiver and a switch; and
a light battery, in communication with the switch and the light.

12. The water emergency device system of claim 11 , wherein the signal transmitter is configured to transmit an output signal and the signal receiver is configured to receive the output signal from the signal transmitter.

13. The water emergency device system of claim 12 , wherein the output signal comprises a low frequency RF signal.

14. The water emergency device system of claim 13 , wherein the water flotation device is a raft.

15. The water emergency device system of claim 14 , wherein the cap can comprise an opening configured to fluidly couple the hygroscopic block with an ambient environment.

16. The water emergency device system of claim 15 , wherein the water activated transmitter assembly further comprises an O-ring disposed within the cavity and in contact with the pusher block.

17. The water emergency device system of claim 16 , wherein the hygroscopic block comprises a dry compressed towel.

18. The water emergency device system of claim 17 , wherein the hygroscopic block is configured to expand with an expansion force and urge the battery to move proximally toward the signal transmitter.

19. A method of manufacture for a water activated transmitter assembly, the steps comprising:
disposing a hygroscopic block in a cap;
coupling a pusher block to the hygroscopic block;
coupling a battery to the pusher block;
coupling a spring to the pusher block;
coupling a signal transmitter to a casing; and
coupling the casing to the cap.

20. The method of manufacture of claim 19 , further comprising disposing an O-ring between the cap and the casing.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Shivappa Chethana
• Shivalinga Vinod Kumar

Classifications

• B63C9/21

  Boats, rafts, buoys or the like, characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights, reflectors (B63C9/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B63C9/20

  characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights (arrangement or adaptation of signalling or lighting devices for ships or other waterborne vessels B63B45/00) · CPC title

• G01D5/02 Primary

  using mechanical means · CPC title

• B63C9/01 Primary

  Air-sea rescue devices, i.e. equipment carried by, and capable of being dropped from, an aircraft (inflatable vessels B63B7/00; inflatable buoys B63B22/22) · CPC title