Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of rescue equipment, in particular to apparatus for deploying rescue equipment from a building or vessel.

Background to the Invention

In emergency situations it can be necessary to evacuate people from a building or vessel to a location of safety. For instance it may be necessary to evacuate people from a building if there is an internal fire, or it may be necessary to evacuate passengers from a ship in the event of an imminent capsize or sinking. It may also be necessary to enable quick access to a building or vessel for emergency services, or in the event of a passenger falling overboard.

Prior art rescue ladder systems are an example of apparatus' for deploying rescue equipment, particularly from naval vessels. In CN106458298 there is provided a housing containing a rope ladder, the housing being mounted onto a bulkhead of a ship above a porthole or other window. A user can pull open a hatch in the bottom of the housing, in order to gain access to the rope ladder inside, or alternatively the listing of the ship (in the event of imminent capsize) triggers a counterweight to force open the hatch, letting the ladder fall under gravity through the bottom of the housing. This prior art apparatus must be installed protruding from an outboard side of a ship, owing to the need for a vertical drop beneath the hatch in the housing. This makes the prior art an obstacle for other ropes or lines hanging overboard and increases risk of snagging. Such prior art apparatus' are also difficult to gain access to for servicing and maintenance, and are visually obtrusive.

Therefore it is an aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus for deploying rescue equipment from a building or vessel that mitigates these issues. Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for deploying rescue equipment, comprising: a housing for containing a rescue equipment and having an opening through which the rescue equipment can be deployed; and pushing means for pushing a rescue equipment through the opening in the housing; wherein the apparatus further comprises: an inner moveable panel arranged adjacent the pushing means, the inner moveable panel being configured to slide within the housing towards the opening by action of the pushing means, such that in use a rescue equipment located within the housing can be deployed. The inner moveable panel transfers the force generated by the pushing means uniformly across the spatial extent of a rescue equipment. This allows a rescue equipment to be deployed more reliably from the housing, in particular when being pushed from the housing in a substantially horizontal direction.

In use the apparatus of the invention does not rely on gravity to deploy rescue equipment from the housing. Instead a rescue equipment is pushed or urged from the housing. Therefore the apparatus can be installed in an unobtrusive manner, for instance into a wall of a building underneath a window, or behind an outward facing side of a vessel (for instance the hull of a ship above a porthole or window). Only the opening of the housing needs to remain visible, with a rescue equipment being pushed horizontally through the opening to deploy it from the apparatus. The apparatus mitigates the problem of snagging associated with the prior art, and is also more readily accessible for servicing and maintenance. For instance rescue apparatus protruding from the side of a naval vessel 20- 30m above the water line is difficult to access and can snag on lifeboats as they are lowered from above.

A 'vessel' in this context may be a ship, aircraft, train or other vehicle. The term 'rescue equipment' includes ladders, ropes, cables or slides that allow persons to depart or access a building or vessel in an emergency, but also includes life buoys and other flotation devices that may be deployed to assist a person or persons in the event of emergency. The housing is intended to contain a rescue equipment prior to deployment. The rescue equipment, if a ladder or rope for instance, may be attached to the housing, such that once deployed, it hangs from the housing. The housing may be shaped according to the rescue equipment it is containing, for instance the size of the housing may be different if containing 5m rope ladders or 30m rope ladders. The housing comprises an opening. The opening being an aperture in a side of the housing, through which the rescue equipment can pass. The term opening may be in an 'outboard' side of the housing that faces in the same direction as the outboard side of the vessel to which the housing is to be attached, such that the rescue equipment is deployed substantially horizontally through the opening, rather than vertically through a hatch as per the prior art. The opening may be implemented by removal of a side of the housing completely, or by a hinged panel that opens and closes under the force of the means for pushing a rescue equipment. Alternatively a detachable panel may be provided that shears off or shatters when the rescue equipment is urged against it by the pushing means and inner moveable panel.

The pushing means urges a rescue equipment from the housing, through the opening in the housing. This is in contrast to the prior art where deployment of rescue equipment is solely dependent on a gravitational effect. Providing a pushing means enables a rescue equipment to be deployed horizontally out of the housing, enabling the housing to be located on a , building or vessel in an unobtrusive location. The pushing means is an automatic device, or system of devices, and is intended to be at least partially contained within the housing. The pushing means may be initiated by a user at the location of the housing or may be initiated remotely therefrom.

The inner moveable panel is a member positioned within the housing adjacent the pushing means. Where a rescue equipment is present, the inner moveable panel can be considered to be located between the pushing means and the rescue equipment. The inner moveable panel may be a planar element that partly or fully spans the cross section of the housing. The inner moveable panel may however be a different shape in order to more fully engage with both the pushing means and the rescue equipment. The inner moveable panel may be attached or detached from the pushing means. The inner moveable panel is arranged to slide within the housing (for instance on runners). Initially the inner moveable panel may abut both the pushing means (and if present the rescue equipment), then upon activation of the pushing means, slide towards the opening of the housing thereby urging a rescue equipment towards the opening as well. The inner moveable panel may itself be urged from the housing following deployment of a rescue equipment, however preferably end stops are provided within the housing near the opening to retain the inner moveable panel therein.

In preferred embodiments of the invention the pushing means comprises an inflatable bladder and inflation means for inflating the bladder. The bladder may be inflatable with a liquid or gas, but preferably is inflatable with gas. The inflating means may be a gas canister or air generator, providing rapid inflation of the bladder. The use of an inflatable bladder means that when the bladder is not in use, it occupies a relatively small amount of space within the housing. Furthermore a bladder being inflated by a gas canister is relatively lightweight in comparison to other means, such as a hydraulic arm, which could also provide means for pushing. The inflatable bladder may be formed from silicone, providing a stretchable bladder material, or may be a stowed airbag. The inflation means may be replaceable (for instance once used a gas canister could be replaced, the bladder re-stowed, and the apparatus thereby reusable).

In even more preferred embodiments of the invention the apparatus further comprises an on-board power source for powering the inflation means. Provision of an on-board power source allows the apparatus to be self-contained. The apparatus can thus be used on a variety of different buildings or vessels. Furthermore in the event of an emergency, power to the building or vessel may be lost, but the apparatus for deploying rescue equipment can still be functional. The on-board power source may be in the form of a thermal battery, a lead acid battery, an alkaline battery, but preferably comprises a lithium battery. Lithium ion batteries are lighter than lead acid batteries, and offer a greater power density, enabling the apparatus to be operated for a longer period of time, for similar weight/space constraints. Even more preferably the batteries are rechargeable, such that when installed on a building or vessel the batteries are charged from a power source on board or provided to the building or vessel through use of a charging circuit. The batteries then provide a back-up power source during an emergency when power may be lost. In some preferred embodiments it mav be suitable to use a solenoid to activate the inflation means. In these embodiments capacitive means may be incorporated into the on-board power source, to provide the peak power necessary to ensure rapid triggering of the solenoid.

Some embodiments of the invention further comprise means for remotely initiating the pushing means. Remote initiation enables a user to activate the deployment of rescue equipment without being proximal to the apparatus. For instance a Captain of a naval vessel may wish to deploy all rescue equipment simultaneously in the event of imminent capsize or sinking. This may be facilitated by providing each of the apparatus of the invention on-board the vessel with an electrical interface wired to a switch available to the Captain. Alternatively, and more preferably, the apparatus may comprise an antenna and receiver as a means for remotely initiating. These embodiments of the apparatus facilitate wireless initiation, and therefore are easier to install onto a vessel. Furthermore wireless initiation would allow rescue personnel, remote to the vessel itself, to initiate the deployment of rescue equipment.

Certain embodiments of the invention further comprise means for sealing the opening in the housing, the means for sealing being attached to the housing such that it is separable from the opening by action of the pushing means. The means for sealing covers the opening when the apparatus is not in use. This ensures that a rescue equipment is contained and therefore will not fall out of the housing during normal activities of the building or vessel. The means for sealing must however be overcome or removed automatically during use of the apparatus. The means for sealing is therefore such that the sealing action is overcome by the pushing means, urging the rescue equipment through the opening. The means for sealing may therefore be a lightweight plastic or thin glass panel attached to the housing, to cover the opening, but breakable by action of the rescue equipment being urged against it. More preferable is that the means for sealing is a panel completely separable from the housing, or attached to the housing using a hinge (for instance a piano hinge). A hinged panel can rotate about the hinge as a rescue equipment is urged against it, thereby separating the panel from covering the opening, enabling the rescue equipment to be deployed. In some embodiments of the invention the hinge, the housing, or both, are formed from carbon fibre material. Carbon fibre hinges are less likely to corrode than metal hinges such as stainless steel, and therefore are more suitable for maritime environments. A carbon fibre housing is more lightweight than a metallic (for instance stainless steel) housing, whilst also offering excellent corrosion resistance.

The apparatus can be provided onto a building or vessel. Preferred embodiments comprise rescue equipment within the housing, and different rescue equipment may be provided within the housing according to intended location of use. This enables the apparatus to be complete upon installation onto a building or vessel, and furthermore enables the rescue equipment to be tailored to the housing of the apparatus and vice versa during manufacture. The rescue equipment is preferably a rescue ladder attached to the housing and deployable therefrom through the opening in the housing. The rescue ladder is intended to be flexible such that is can be coiled inside the housing and unfurled during deployment. The rescue ladder may be a rope ladder but preferably is a lightweight (for instance carbon fibre) wire ladder.

In some embodiments comprising rescue equipment, the rescue equipment may have a complex shape, for instance a coiled rope or a life-ring. A planar inner moveable panel may suitably be used to assist the urging of such equipment from the housing, however it is preferable that an inner moveable panel conformal to the rescue equipment is used. This may comprise a scoop-like inner moveable panel or a curved inner moveable panel conformal to, for instance, the life ring. This ensures that the pushing effect of the pushing means is effectively transferred to the rescue equipment.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of installing onto a building or vessel, apparatus for deploying rescue equipment, the method comprising the steps of: providing the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention; and positioning the apparatus onto a building or vessel such that the opening is substantially in the plane of an outboard side of the building or vessel, such that in use the rescue equipment can be deployed from the housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the outboard side. An outboard side of a building or vessel is an outward facing side of the building or vessel. It may be the side of the hull of a naval vessel, for instance. Apparatus of the first aspect of the invention is positioned onto a building or vessel such that the opening of the housing is substantially in the same geometrical plane as the outboard side i.e. the panel of the housing having the outboard opening is substantially flush with the outboard side. The positioning may be such that the housing of the apparatus is positioned on the deck of a naval vessel, but with the opening substantially flush with the outboard side, for instance. Alternatively the positioning may be such that the housing is mounted into the outboard side with the opening substantially flush therewith. The second aspect of the invention achieves an installation of the apparatus that is unobtrusive and less prone to snagging, owing to the housing not protruding from the building or vessel when the apparatus is not being used. Such an installation has not been achievable with the prior art, owing to the requirement for rescue equipment to exit from the bottom of the housing, under the sole influence of gravity.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure la shows an illustration of a prior art apparatus for deploying rescue equipment; Figure lb shows an illustration of a prior art apparatus for deploying rescue equipment in use on a naval vessel;

Figure 2a shows an illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention with a rescue ladder stowed;

Figure 2b shows an illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention with a rescue ladder being deployed;

Figure 2c shows an illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention in a fully deployed configuration; and

Figure 3 shows an illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention in use on a naval vessel. Detailed Description

Figure la shows an illustration of a prior art apparatus 10 for deploying rescue equipment. The apparatus 10 consists of a housing 11 containing a rope ladder 12. The housing 11 has a hatch 13 in a downward facing side through which rope ladder 12 will fall when hatch 13 is manually opened. Figure lb shows an illustration of the prior art apparatus 10 installed onto a naval vessel 14. The apparatus 10 is attached to an outboard side 15 of vessel 14, such that apparatus 10 protrudes outwardly from vessel 14. Rope ladder 12 has unfurled under the influence of gravity from the under-side of apparatus 10, to provide an escape route to a platform 16 at sea level 17.

Figure 2a shows an illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention 20 with a rescue ladder 23 stowed within a housing 21. Means for sealing an outward opening (not visible) of the housing is shown as a panel 22 attached to outwardly facing side 26. Panel 22 is detachably attached to housing 21. Pushing means for pushing the rescue ladder 23 from the housing is provided as an inflatable bladder 24 and inflation means for inflating the bladder (not visible) is present within back box 25. The inflation means comprises a compressed gas cylinder. Also present is an inner moveable panel 27 that can be urged from its position by bladder 24 to push against ladder 23. The housing 21 is formed from carbon fibre to provide a lightweight housing that is suitable for maritime conditions (i.e. will not corrode). The rescue ladder 23 is a lightweight wire ladder. An antenna and receiver are also provided within back box 25 as a means for initiating the apparatus. The receiver is powered by an on-board power supply (not visible) within back box 25. The on-board power supply comprises lithium batteries and a capacitor. The capacitor provides sufficient instantaneous power to trigger a solenoid valve to initiate the inflation means 24 (for instance by triggering a protractor to pierce an air canister). The on-board power supply also comprises a charging circuit electrically connectable to a power source on-board a vessel. The inventor has shown in an embodiment that a 3.5 Ampere hour battery would provide 100 hours of battery backup time for the receiver should electrical power from the vessel become unavailable.

Figure 2b shows an illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention 20 in ODeration. Inflatable bladder 24 has been inflated to fill a substantial portion of the housing 21. The inflated bladder 24 has urged against the inner moveable panel 27, itself urging against rescue ladder 23. Rescue ladder 23 has been forced against panel 22 causing it to separate from housing 21. Rescue ladder 23 has been deployed substantially horizontally from the housing 21 through opening 26.

Figure 2c shows an illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention 20 with rescue ladder 23 deployed. Inflatable bladder 24 has forced ladder 23 through opening 26 in housing 21. Ladder 23 remains attached to housing 21 at upper edge 28. The attachment being strong enough to support persons climbing the ladder 23 (for instance ladder 23 may be bolted to housing 21). Rescue ladder 23 after being urged from housing 21 substantially horizontally, has subsequently unfurled under gravity to the substantially vertical configuration shown in the figure.

Figure 3 shows an illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention 20 on a naval vessel 30. The apparatus 20 has been disposed onto vessel 30 such that the opening of the apparatus housing is substantially in the same geometrical plane as outboard side 32 of vessel 30. Rescue ladder 23 has been deployed substantially horizontally from apparatus 20, subsequently unfurling under gravity to the substantially vertical configuration shown in the figure. A passenger can now climb ladder 23 to safe platform 34 at sea level 35. The apparatus 20 does not protrude from the side of vessel 30 and is therefore less susceptible to snagging when compared to the prior art.

To operate the embodiment of the apparatus 20 a user transmits a wireless signal from a remote location. The wireless signal is received by antenna and receiver within back box 25. The receipt of the signal triggers a capacitor pre-charged by on-board lithium batteries, to discharge through a solenoid controlling a protractor that pierces a compressed gas cylinder allowing gas to flow into inflatable bladder 24 (alternatively a valve could be triggered to open and close). Inflatable bladder 24 inflates to fill a substantial volume within the housing 21 of the apparatus 20. The inflating bladder 24 urges against an inner movable panel 27, itself urging as a result, against the rescue ladder 23. The inner movable panel 27 ensures ladder 23 is pushed substantially uniformly across its spatial extent. The urging inside housing 21 creates a pressure against sealing panel 22, which eventually overcomes the attachment of panel 22 to housing 21. Panel 22 separates from housing 21 to reveal an opening 26 in housing 21. The rescue ladder 23 is pushed by the action of inflatable bladder 24, through opening 26 in a substantially horizontal direction. Once pushed out of housing 21, the rescue ladder 23 is able to unfurl under gravity to provide a substantially vertical ascent or descent route. The rescue ladder 23 is attached to an upper end of housing 21 by suitable means for supporting persons climbing the ladder (for instance a U-bolt may be used).

The means for sealing the opening of the housing has been described in the figures as comprising a detachable panel. The detachable panel may be non-permanently glued/adhered to the housing such that it can separate during use. However the means for sealing may be a panel permanently attached to the housing, but breakable upon action of the inflatable bladder or other means for pushing the rescue equipment. Alternatively the panel may be attached to the housing via a hinge, for instance a piano hinge attached to the upper end of the panel and the housing. The rescue ladder being urged against the panel would cause the panel to swing open, allowing the rescue ladder to be deployed. A hinged panel allows the housing to be reusable, as the means for sealing the outward opening would not be lost during use of the apparatus. Stainless steel hinges or carbon fibre hinges are suitable hinges for this role. Similarly, whilst a single on-board power source has been described, other configurations of the power source could also be used. The inventor has also shown that a four cell battery pack could be used with a DC to DC converter to power a means for initiating the apparatus (for instance an antenna and receiver) and a solenoid. A four cell configuration could provide a substantial back-up battery life, enabling the apparatus to be suitable for installation across many different vessels used in many different applications.

With respect to the dimensions of the apparatus, prior art housings are approximately 430mm x 240mm x 350mm In size. However the inventor has identified that, particularly for naval vessels, the length of rescue ladder varies according to the vessel type. For instance the boarding height (sea level to deck level) of a coastal tanker is 5m; an ocean tanker is 10m; a cruise liner is 15m; and for container ships the boarding height can be up to 22m. A single apparatus could be manufactured for general applicability, or alternatively the sizing of the housing may be tailored for the specific vessel i.e. a housing for a rescue ladder on a coastal tanker will be smaller than that for a container ship. Factored into the length of the rescue ladder may also be dynamic effects of the vessel when in use. For instance extra length may be required to cater for roll of a naval vessel. The means for attaching the ladder to the housing is not limited to that shown in the embodiments, for instance U-clamps, bolts, welds, or other means could equally be used.