Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Buoy – With means to call buoy to surface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-10
2002-04-30
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Buoy
With means to call buoy to surface
C294S066100, C294S082300, C294S082330
Reexamination Certificate
active
06379202
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an underwater clamp-type release apparatus, and more particularly to an electrically controlled underwater clamp-type release apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
As referring to a prior art of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,013, FIG.
1
and
FIG. 2
are partial cross-sectional views of an underwater clamp-type release apparatus showing in closed state and open state respectively. As shown in FIG.
1
and
FIG. 2
, a release apparatus
24
has a clamp
36
that is positioned between two plates
56
and is pivotally connected at a pin
38
. The clamp
36
has a pair of clamp arms
62
. Each of the clamp arms has one end including a curve jaw
66
, a concave part
68
, and a clamped surface
70
for clamping and holding a working piece
22
. The other end of the clamp arm is contained in a coupling
48
(as will be depicted later) when the clamp arms are in closed state.
When a motor
50
is started, it drives a gear train having gear
74
and lead screw
76
. Consequently, the gear train makes the central shaft
58
of the release apparatus
24
push a plunger
46
to slide back and forth in a cylinder
44
wherein the plunger
46
has a plurality of water-tight-seal
72
. A coupling
48
having a recess
50
at the bottom surface thereof is fixed to the lower end of the central shaft
46
. A bottom plate having a recess
60
facing downward is attached to an end cap
34
as shown in FIG.
1
. When the clamp arms
62
are in closed state, the top ends of the clamp arms
62
are contained in the recess
50
of the coupling
48
. But when central shaft
58
together with the coupling
48
is driven to move up, the clamp arms
62
are broken away from the coupling
48
that in sequence cause the clamp
36
to open. Consequently, the clamp arms
62
are changed from the closed state to an open state to release a working piece
22
as shown in FIG.
2
.
Prior art's technology in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,013 as described above makes use of the motor
50
that can generate linear displacement at the output end. The motor
50
is coupled with a gear
74
that meshes and drives a lead screw
75
, and in sequence, makes the coupling
48
at the output end move up and down in order to control the closed and the open states of the clamp
36
. Therefore, a displacement space between the coupling
48
and the release apparatus
24
is necessary. But oftentimes, when the coupling
48
of the underwater clamp-type release apparatus
24
is pulled upward and going to be contained in the recess
60
, foreign objects such as shell fish in the sea may be clogged in the recess
60
. This will cause the coupling
48
to fail to be contained in the recess
60
under the end cap
34
. Consequently, the release apparatus
24
is unable to open the clamp arms
62
, and eventually, to release the working piece
22
.
Moreover, the opening of the prior art's clamp arms
62
relies on the motor
50
to drive the transmission of the meshing gear train
74
,
76
to make the coupling
48
(equivalent to a rotationally controlled block
140
as will be depicted later in the present invention) perform linear movement. When the coupling
48
touches the top ends
64
of the clamp arms
62
, the clamp arms
62
clamp the working piece
22
. But when the coupling
48
moves up to separate from the top ends
64
of the clamp arms
62
, the clamp
36
is released to open the clamp arms
62
. Since this kind of gear-and-lead screw meshing movement is very slow, the efficiency of the releasing work for the working piece
24
is significantly affected.
What is more, the overall structure, particularly the transmission mechanism
74
and
76
of the release apparatus
24
of the prior art is rather complicated. As a result, the required parts are a lot, thereby, not only it is inconvenient to operate but the maintenance is not easy and costly, consequently, the manufacturing cost and sale price are rather high.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to an improved underwater clamp-type release apparatus that can smoothly and efficiently complete a working piece releasing work without being interfered because of the clogging at the release mechanism of the foreign objects such as shellfish in bodies of water.
The invention is also directed to an improved underwater clamp-type release apparatus employing a “rotationally controlled block” to be turned only a 90-degree angle to be able to release a working piece. A microswitch is also employed to position the 90-degree turned “rotationally controlled block” and to switch off the power supply. This is not only positive in action, convenient in operation, but is also able to improve the working efficiency.
The invention is further directed to an improved underwater clamp-type release apparatus that is simple in design, facilitative in operation, and low cost in manufacturing.
The underwater clamp-type release apparatus of the invention has a main body and a release mechanism. The main body includes a housing, a motor stand, and a speed reducing gear motor while the release mechanism includes a base plate, a pair of clamp frames, a clamp, and a “rotationally controlled block”. The clamp is positioned between the two clamp frames and is pivotally connected to the clamp frames at a pin installed through the holes at the clamp and the clamp frames. The top end of the clamp has a concave part for clamping and holding the working piece. The “rotationally controlled block” includes a bottom block, and an annular wall wherein the size of the inner diameter of the annular wall can just fit to contain the second end of the pair of the clamp arms when they are closed, and wherein the annular wall includes two openings opposite each other (180-degree apart), and the total width of the second end of the clamp arms when they are closed can make them just pass the openings when the two clamp arms are tending to open. Therefore, when the “rotationally controlled block” is controlled to turn an angle of 90-degree, two clamp arms are aligned with the openings at the “rotationally controlled block” to be opened, and the working piece is released.
When an electrically controlled type of operation is employed for the release apparatus, a cable is passed through the penetrating hole at the bottom of the housing in the main body, and after the wiring work for installing switches and various devices is completed, the release apparatus is thrown into the sea, power is switched on to actuate the “speed reducing gear motor”, and until the apparatus is sunk into a predetermined set depth, the rotationally controlled block is turned an angle of 90°. And the clamp arms are aligned with the openings to be released from the “rotationally controlled block”, consequently, the working piece is released, in the meantime, the microswitch is propped up by the cam to position the camshaft and to switch off the power.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5022013 (1991-06-01), Dalton et al.
patent: 5513886 (1996-05-01), Cyr
Basinger Sherman
Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology
J.C. Patents
LandOfFree
Underwater clamp-type release apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Underwater clamp-type release apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Underwater clamp-type release apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2861764