US2310017A - Emergency transmitter - Google Patents

Description

' Feb. 2; 1943. H. B. CANON ET AL EMERGENCY TRANSMITTER Filed ma 5, 1941 '2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 2, 1943. H. B. CANON ETAL EMERGENCY TRANSMITTER Filed May 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 2, 1943 2,310,017 F ICE EMERGENCY TRAN SMITTER Hartman B. Canon, Deerfield, and Joseph L. Swallow, Lombard, 111., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to Wells-Gardner & Co.,

Chicago,

111., a. corporation of Illinois, and one-half to Gard-Well Co., Inc., Chicago, 111.,- a corporation of Illinois Application May 5, 1941, Serial No. 391,818

13 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a radio transmitter for use on land and in water, to transmit signals for indicating its location.

An important object of the invention is in the provision of a portable transmitter having an extensible antenna and a bottom wheel support adapting it to be readily moved about when not in use and the antenna extended when a signal is to be discharged.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of an emergency transmitter having a closed floatation casing and an extensible ballast to hold the casing in predetermined upright position even though dropped into the water.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of anchoring, ballast tripping means and antenna extending means in connection with the transmitter for automatically placing these parts in operation if the transmitter is dropped from an aeroplane.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of an emergency transmitter comprising a battery, radio transmitting means actuated by the battery, and variable controlling and indicating means all housed in a watertight closed container adapted to float in a predetermined position so that a transmitting antenna may be extended above the surface of the water, and a stabilizing ballast may be extended below the container tending to hold the transmitter in position to keep the antenna above the surface of the water.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent from the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an emergency transmitter in accordance with this invention in compact condition ready for shipment;

Fig. 2 illustrates the transmitter with the antenna partly extended and the ballast tripping mechanism ready for use;

Fig. 3 shows the transmitter in a floatation position with the antenna and ballast fully extended;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the upper end of the container showing the location and supporting means for the transmitting apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a plan section taken on the line 5-5 of Fi 4;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the transmitter;

Fig. 7 is a view partly in section of an antenna loading coil;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9, which is a view similar to Fig. 1, shows a modification with certainof the exterior features shown in section.

This transmitter is intended to be located at any place either on land or in the water to transmit a signal for indicating its location and for range finding by triangulation in accordance with the signal transmitted. It is particularly designed and intended to be carried by ships, aeroplanes and airships from which it may be dropped into the water, or with a parachute attached, it may be dropped slowly over the land. When thus employed, it may indicate the location of a wreck, an iceberg, a. broken tow, and for range finding, if dropped with an attached parachute, it may indicate the location of a fort, an armed force, or any desired position which may thereupon be determined by methods of triangulation for directing gun fire and the like.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a metal casing or container it closed at the bottom and open at the top is fitted or partially filled at the bottom with a battery ll leaving a central opening l2. A top plate 13 closes the upper end of the casing, and an interposed gasket M makes a fluid tight connection therefor, the top being held tightly in place by a number of fastening screws l5 inserted about the periphery thereof. I

In the top of the container above the battery is a plate [6 supported by bars I! and lock nuts [8 which hold the plate at a fixed distance from the cover l3. Supported above and below the plate I6 are various condensers, relays, tubes and other apparatus which constitute the radio transmitting means, the specific construction and arrangement of which forms no part of the present invention except that it be sumcient to transmit a radio signal either continuously or intermittently and receiving power from the battery ll through current leads [9 extending to the radio apparatus.

At the center of plate I6 is an opening 20 and the radio transmitting apparatus is so disposed that there is no central obstruction in line with this opening 20 either above or below the plate. The object of this is to provide an unobstructed free central space for receiving a telescoping antenna 2| composed of a number of sections housed within the container but extensible to several times the height of the container. Secured to the cover plate [3 and surrounding the outermost antenna section is a base insulator 22 which holds the antenna free from contact with the cover as it passes therethrough.

Attached to one of the telescoping sections 2| is an antenna loading coil 23 which is moved outwardly from the container as the sections are extended, but rests against the insulator 22 in its collapsed position. This loading coil preferthumb screw 28 extending outside of the loading coil for rotating it in either direction. The rack is maintained in engagement with the pinion by a spring 28a which also completes an electrical connection with the coil 25 through the rack 26 to the upper end of the antenna, and the lower end of the coil is connected to a meter 29 set into the cover l3 and observable from the top thereof so that the adjustment of the loading coil may be easily effected and seen from the outside of the container.

The container is preferably of greater height than its diameter so that it will tend to assume an upright position when placed in water, and normally the upper end will be above the surface of the water. When the antenna is extended, the loading coil 23 is raised above the top of the container to be removed as far as possible from rough water contact which might tend to affect the signal.

In order to provide additional stability in the Water, a weight 30 is mounted upon a plate 3| supported at opposite sides by telescopic bars 32 which collapse into tubes 33 fixed at opposite sides of the container. tubes are spring pressed latches 34 adapted to engage in notches 35 of the telescopic tubes for holding them in collapsed position and movable inwardly at their upper ends against their springs to release the tubes from such engagement.

If desired, a drag or anchor 36 may also be attached to the weight by means of a cable 31 of suitable length to engage the bottom.

At one side of the ballast plate 31 is a fixed leg or support 38, and at the opposite sides are rollers 39 together forming a three point support for holding the container in upright position, and the rollers providing a wheeling support for moving the container thereon when inclined, as the complete transmitter including the battery is of considerable weight. At opposite sides of the container are handles 45 to facilitate its movement, handling and wheeling, if desired.

At the top and projecting through the cover I3 is a spring pressed air valve stem 44 for adding pressure by means of an air pump, within the transmitter casing, if desired. This provides an easy and simple manner to determine whether the container is air or fluid tight so that it will not leak when placed in the water.

In order to automatically trip and extend the ballast and antenna, as for example, when discharging the transmitter from a height above the water, a pull cord 40 may be connected through eyes 4| at the upper ends of the Weight latches 34, and this may be connected by a loop 42 to the upper ball or ring 43 of the antenna. As this cord is tightened by temporarily holding the upper end during the movement of the transmitter either in air or in the water, the latches will be released allowing the extension of the ballast rods 32 and the antenna will be extended to its full height. The cord. which is not intended to support the container, will then be broken or disengaged or released allowing full and unobstructed use of the transmitter as a signal.

If the transmitter is dropped slowly from an aeroplane or airship by means of a parachute,

the signal may be given oil while descending as Near the bottom of the.

ends tapered from an intermediate portion of maximum diameter located at the immersion line near the upper end, thus reducing the tendency of the transmitter to tilt when it is floating. A pontoon 5| may also be attached to or around the casing adjacent the immersion line or the upper end to improve its flotation and stability.

Secured at opposite sides of the casing are hollow tubes 52, each serving as a cylinder for a plunger 53 slidable therein and connected to a bar 54 attached to the weight plate 31 at the lower end. The lower end of each tube 33 has a restricted bearing portion 55 through which the bar 54 passes, but engages the plunger 53 and limits the downward movement of the bar. The upper end of each tube is closed but has an inwardly opening check valve 56 near the top in communication with a chemical cartridge 51 which is activated by water entering through the valve 56 when the transmitter is first dropped into a body of water. When this takes place, the action of the water upon the chemical will immediately release gas to force the plunger 53 downwardly, the valve 56 preventing the escape of pressure, with a consequent quick lowering of the weight to a stabilizing position below the casing as also indicated in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 9, the fixed leg or support 38 and rollers 39 may be attached directly to the bottom of the casing, projecting below the weight 30 in its raised position. Other power actuated means may be used, such as a spring held by a latch near the top of the tube and released by a pull-cord 4E] as shown in Fig. 2 for insuring that the stabilizing weight is lowered as soon as the transmitter is dropped from a. height or discharged into the water.

Various other applications and uses may be made of this transmitter on land and sea, both in ordinary commercial lines and for war .purposes.

We claim:

1. In an emergency radio transmitter, a container, an antenna associated therewith and extensible to variable distances from the outside therefrom, radio signaling means within the container and connected to the antenna, and a loading coil electrically connected to the signaling means attached to one of the telescoping sections and movable away from the container when the antenna is extended,

2. In an emergency radio transmitter, a floatation container weighted at the bottom, an antenna telescoping in the container and extensible from the top, radio signaling means in the container and connected to the antenna, and a loading coil electrically connected to the signaling means attached to one of the telescog: sections and moved thereby above the immersion line of the container when the antenna is extended.

3. In an emergency radio transmitter, an immersible container having a watertight closed top, an antenna telescoping in the container and extensible outwardly from the outside at the top, an adjustable loading'device carried by one of the antenna sections and moved by it away from the container when the antenna is extended,

the device being adjustable from the outside of the container, radio signaling means within the container electrically connected to the loading device, and indicating means in the container top in connection with the adjustable loading means and visible from the outside for showing the variations thereof.

, 4. An emergency radio transmitter comprising a floatation container, radio signaling means within the container, an antenna connected with the signaling means and extending at the top of the container, at floatation stabilizing means for the container comprising a weight at the bottom of the container movably mounted at the sides thereof, and means outside of the container for dropping the weight downwardly from the container.

5. In a transmitter, according to claim 4, a telescopic mounting at the outside of the container for the stabilizing Weight and latch means at the outside of the container for releasing the telescoping mounting to drop the weight relatively to the container.

6. An emergency radio transmitter comprising a floatation container, an antenna collapsing within the container and extensible at the top thereof, radio signaling means within the container connected to the antenna, an extensible stabilizing weight externally mounted at the bottom of the container, latch means for holding the weight in connection with the container, and means outside of the container for releasing the latch means to drop the weight and for also extending the antenna when the transmitter is dropped in the air and in the water.

'7. An emergency radio transmitter comprising a floatation container with an antenna extending upwardly therefrom, a mounting on the outside of the container having an extensible portion carrying a stabilizing weight, and releasable power means in connection with the mounting to force the weight quickly to a lower extended position,

8. In an emergency radio transmitter comprising a floatation container, an upwardly extending antenna, a stabilizing weight at the bottom of the container, a mounting on the outside of the container having extensible means connected to the weight to drop it below the container, and power means in connection with the mounting operable upon contact with water to release the extensible means and force the weight quickly to a predetermined lower position.

9. In an emergency radio transmitter comprising a floatation container, an antenna extending upwardly therefrom, a stabilizing weight, a mounting on the outside of the container comprising extensible means connected to the weight, pressure means in connection with the mountin operable upon contact with water to actuate the extensible means to force the weight quickly to a predetermined position below the container, and a valve in the pressure means to prevent the escape of pressure therefrom when activated by water admitted thereto.

10. In an emergency radio transmitter, a container, radio signaling means within the container, an extensible antenna exteriorly of the container in electrical connection with the signaling means therewithin, and a loading coil electrically connected between the antenna and the signaling means movable lengthwise with the antenna and toward and from the container.

11. An emergency radio transmitter comprising a container open at the top, a cover receivable over the container top and providing a closure therefor, means establishing a seal between the cover and the container when the cover is in operative position over the container top, means for securing the cover removably in closure position over the container top to assure maintenance of the seal, a battery within the container at the lower end thereof, a mounting plate within the container above the battery and in spaced relation thereto, means for fixedly supporting the mounting plate 'below the cover in spaced relation thereto, radio signaling means fixedly supported on opposite faces of the mounting plate and free of the cover above and the battery below and removable as a unit with the mounting plate when the cover is detached from the container, and an antenna extended from the cover and supported thereby and in electrical connection with the.

radio signaling means within the container.

12. An emergency radio transmitter comprising a container open at the top, a cover receivable over the container top and providing a closure therefor, means establishing a seal between the cover and the container when the cover is in operative position over the container top, means for securing the cover removably in closure position over the container top to assure maintenance of the seal, a battery within the container at the lower end thereof, a mounting plate within the container above the battery and in spaced relation thereto, means for fixedly supporting the mounting plate below the cover in spaced relation thereto, radio signaling means fixedly supported on opposite faces of the mounting plate and free of the cover above and the battery below and removable as a unit with the mounting plate when the cover is detached from the container, a base support afilxed to the cover extending beyond the upper face thereof and formed with an opening therein, an antenna receivable within the opening in the base support and supported thereby and extended upwardly from the cover, and an electrical connection between the radio signaling means and the antenna.

13. An emergency radio transmitter comprising a container open at the top, a cover receivable over the container top and providing a closure therefor, means establishing a seal between the cover and the container when the cover is in operative position over the container top, means for securing the cover removably in closure position over the container top to assure maintenance of the seal, a battery within the container at the lower end thereof, a mounting plate within the container above the battery and in spaced relation thereto, means for fixedly supporting the mounting plate below the cover in spaced relation thereto, radio signaling means fixedly sup- HARTMAN B. CANON.

JOSEPH L. SWALLOW.

Images