The present invention relates to a "Rescue Capsule" for use in case of distresses at sea in pleasure boats, ships, submarine boats, rafts, air planes, helicopters and all kinds of other objects which may be transported on, under or above the sea. The rescue capsule is also intended to be used as a weather and wind shield for persons moving over snow and ice, for instance by means of snow scooters, both on land and on the sea. In the first place the invention relates to such a rescue capsule which is normally kept packed in a type of box and which is inflated automatically or by manual initiation in case of an accident. It is important that the capsule in question can be picked up from another ship, and in front of all from a helicopter.

PRIOR ART There are known many types of inflatable rescue capsules for the actual purpose, but most such capsules are disadvantageous in some respects, for instance that the capsule may happen to turn upside down when thrown out from ships or helicopters, and it is generally difficult to turn a capsule right from such upside down position; it is often difficult for a person lying in the sea to climb up a capsule since the capsule is often rather high; it may happen that the capsule is inflated to such low pressure that the capsule collapses at the centre thereof when a distressed person has entered the capsule; there are normally no seats in the capsule, and the distressed person therefore has to sit on the cold bottom of the capsule, often in plash water at the bottom of the capsule; it may be impossible to adjust the capsule so that the entrance thereof is on the shelter side; the known capsules often are formed with a tent roof which is non-transparent, and it is therefore difficult to see, for instance from a helicopter, if there is a distressed person in the capsule, etc. The US patents 2,970,324, 3,222,700 and 4,533,333 disclose rescue capsules of the general type according to the invention, but all said rescue capsules present one or more of the above mentioned lacks and disadvantages. In front of all, none of said priorly known rescue capsules is formed so as to make it possible to turn the capsule right if it happens to be placed upside down; they also have no simple and effective means for hook connecting wires etc. for making it possible to hoist the capsule with the

distressed person(s) up into a helicopter or onto a ship; supposing the capsule can be hoisted up to a helicopter or onto a ship at all there is a risque that the float body of the capsules slides out of the hoisting sling, or that the capsules becomes folded or collapses when it is tried to hoist same up; none of said priorly known capsules are formed with means for placing the capsule in a predetermined direction in relation to wind and waves; none of the capsules are formed with simple and effective means for making it easy to board the capsule from the sea.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The presently suggested rescue capsule is formed so as to solve all of the above mentioned problems:

- it can be inflated automatically or by manual operation,

- it is easy to board the capsule from the sea since the capsule is formed with a special and effective step ladder and grab handle,

- a sea drag anchor which is automatically let out when the capsule is launched foresees that the entrance opening of the capsule always is turned to the shelter side,

- the same sea anchor also foresees that the capsule automatically turns right if it happens to be launched upside down,

- it is formed with a self-bailing double bottom which foresees that eventually existing plash water is automatically drained,

- it is formed with transparent windows preventing the tendency of the distressed persons to become seasick, - the bottom and the back rests of the capsule are made of a heat reflecting material,

- it is formed with a radar reflector making it easy to detect the capsule from ships,

- it is formed with flash lights making it easy to detect the capsule from the air,

- it is formed so that it can easily be picked up by a helicopter without the need for surface water salvers to enter the sea,

- the sea anchor is relatively heavy and contains both a gas bottle for inflating the various elements of the capsule and a battery for the electric supply in the capsule,

- it is formed with means for automatically cut off the sea anchor when the capsule is hoisted by a helicopter or by hoisting means on a ship,

- it is formed so stable that it can be hoisted together with all distressed persons present in the capsule,

- a large number of distressed persons can be saved in a short period of time since said persons can remain in the capsule during the rescue operation.

THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS show an embodiment of a rescue capsule according to the invention and a number of technical features thereof. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rescue capsule as seen obliquely from above and partly from the shelter side, and figure 2 shows the same rescue capsule in a vertical cross section view. Figures 3, 4 and 5 are three different views illustrating how a capsule turns right if it happens to be launched upside down in the sea. Figure 6 shows a detail of the top of the capsule making it possible to hoist said capsule. Figure 7 shows an entrance step ladder for the capsule and the function thereof. Figure 8 shows a detail of a means for draining eventually existing plash water from the capsule, and figure 9 shows a detail of an apparatus for cutting off a sea anchor at the same time as a hoisting of the capsule from a helicopter of a ship has just been commenced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The rescue capsule shown in the drawings generally comprises a float body 1 or hull and a house body 2 both made of highly resistant hoses of an air tight material. Examples of suitable materials is hoses of mylar and polyester fabric which exteriorly and interiorly is covered with polyurethane. Both the float body 1 and the house body 2 is over a gas distribution means 3, provided centrally at the bottom of the rescue capsule, connected to a gas container (not shown) mounted in an outer container 4 for the capsule, which gas is adapted to inflate both parts 1 and 2. The rescue capsule can be made in several different sizes, for instance a type of capsule suited for 1 5-20 persons or another type suited for 6-8 persons. In both cases it is possible to make use of the same type of outer container, preferably such a conventional, cylindrical container which is presently used for rescue

capsules used to-day, and in such case a rescue capsule of the above mentioned large type can be accommodated in the capsule. In the case of the smaller type rescue capsule two capsules can be accommodated in the same container, whereby the capsules are mounted in opposite halves of the container. The container halves act as functional parts of the rescue capsules and are utilized as drag anchors 4 when the capsule is present in the sea. At the bottom of each container half 4 a battery is fixedly anchored, which battery is used for supply of current, for instance for flash light, emergency transmitter, inner light of the capsule and other electric equipment, and a gas container for inflation of the rescue capsule is likewise fixed mounted in the container halves. The gas can be CO ₂ or another known gas. The gas is supplied through a hose 5 from the gas container of the drag anchor 4 to the gas distributor 3 of the capsule. The conduit for the supply of current preferably can be arranged inside, or eventually outside the gas hose 5.

The float body 1 is composed of at least three closed, co-operating float rings 6, 7 and 8 having different diameters. The largest ring 6 is mounted closest to the center of the capsule, the intermediate large ring 7 is mounted between two rings 6, 8 and the smallest ring 8 is mounted outside said intermediate ring 7. The rings are arranged on different levels, namely such that the large inner ring 6 is located on the highest level and the two following rings 7 and 8, respectively, are arranged on a successively lower level, so that the outermost, small ring 8 is always located immersed in the sea irrespective how the capsule is loaded. The bottom of the rings are arranged on an imaginary arc 9 as indicate in figure 2. The rings are interconnected to form a solid unit. The rings can be circular, or they can be formed as rings having six or eight edges as shown in figure 1 . Inside the capsule there can also be a "seat ring" 1 0 on which the distressed person can be seated thereby avoiding sitting in plash water which can often be present on the bottom of the capsule. At the bottom the large inner ring 6 there is a bottom fabric 1 1 of a strong and tight material like a polyester fabric which is covered with polyurethane on both sides. The bottom fabric is welded to the ring 6 and provides a water sealed closure for the capsule. According to the invention the capsule can be formed with double bottom in that an intermediate bottom 1 2 is mounted on top of the seat ring 1 0, which intermediate bottom is fixed to the seat

ring 1 0, and preferably also the large inner float ring 6. As most clearly shown in figure 8 the intermediate bottom 1 2 can be formed with perforations 1 3 which, over a hose 1 4, is connected to a downwards operating non return valve 1 5 through which possible plash water existing on top of the intermediate bottom 1 2 can be drained. The non return valve prevents a penetration upwards of sea water. The persons in the capsule are sitting on the intermediate bottom 1 2 and can thereby keep themselves dry. The seat ring 1 1 and the intermediate bottom 1 2 preferably are formed with some type of self-heating covering so the persons in the capsule can also keep themselves warm. (For the sake of clearness the intermediate bottom 1 2 has been omitted in figure 1 .)

The house body 2 is formed by several highly resistant hoses, as mentioned above for instance by a polyester fabric which is covered with polyurethane on both sides thereof, which hoses can be formed as closed rings or hoses surrounding the capsule thereby forming both a set of supporting bottom beam hoses 1 6 and arc formed hoses 1 7 forming a wall and a roof. The house body can for instance comprise six, eight or more hoses 1 6-17 which are provided rotary spaced about a vertical axis so as to be evenly distributed round the capsule. At the top and at the bottom said rings or hoses are placed directly on top of each other, and at the top said rings are kept together, secured to each other, by means of a top securing means 1 8, which can be in the form of two metal plates which are screw connected to each other inside and outside the capsule, respectively, and by means of a similar bottom connection means 1 9. Between the plates of the bottom connection means there can be a gas distribution means 3 (not shown in detail) which is formed with several gas distribution conduits which are sealingly connected to each of the float rings 6, 7, 8 and 1 0 and to the hoses 1 7 of the house body, so that ail said parts become inflated at the same time as soon as an inflation operation is initiated as known per se. The hoses of the house body are introduced and secured between the innermost float ring 6 and the intermediate float ring 7, so as to extend round the large float ring 6.

The outer float rings 7 and 8 act both for stabilising the capsule and also for making it possible for persons in the sea to climb up and enter the capsule. To this end the outer rings 7 and 8 have less diameter than the innermost ring 6, so that persons in the sea can swim towards the opening

of the capsule and can pull themselves up into the capsule. For facilitating purposes the capsule also can be formed with grab handles 20 which with an inner-upper edge are secured to the float rings 7 and 8 and which with the outer edge thereof are hanging loosely. Preferably also the arc hoses 1 7, on both sides of the opening of the capsule, are formed with grab handles 21 provided a slight distance up from the float ring 7.

Between each pair of arc hoses there is a (not illustrated) transparent window wall. Some of the walls can be formed so that they can be opened, in the first at the the side of the capsule providing the entrance opening, in the illustrated case the opening 22. As will be explained more closely in the following said entrance opening will always place itself in a sheltered position, and this makes it easy to climb up the capsule and it prevents, to a great extent, waves to roll into the capsule. It is important that there are grab handles 20 and/or 21 close to said entrance opening 22. For facilitating an entering into the capsule it is formed with an entering step or ladder 23 at said entrance opening as most clearly shown in figure 7. Said step is made of solid plates of a suitable material, so that is it possible to set the feet on said step without the risque that the step collapses. The step is formed with a step bottom 24 and step sides 25 but is it open at the rear side, so that said step can act as a rudder or a centre board steering the capsule when it is driving over the sea. The step is secured to the lowermost float ring 8 only at the front edge 26 of the step. When a person tries to climb up into the capsule and puts his feet on the step bottom 24 said bottom is actuated by an obliquely downwards-inwards directed force, as indicated by the arrow in full lines in figure 7. The rear parts of the step thereby are supported against the intermediate float ring 7 thereby preventing the step from becoming folded rearwards (as is the case for instance with rope-ladders). When the person thereafter rises and bows inwards against the capsule the step will be folded rearwardly, as indicated with the dotted lines of figure 7, and the distressed person thereby can push his body supported by the step thereby climbing up into the capsule after he/she has grabbed any of the grab handles 20 and 21 , respectively.

As mentioned above one half, or in some cases both halves of the deposit container 4 for the packed rescue capsule is used as a drag anchor. At the bottom of the container half a gas bottle and a battery is mounted, and this gives the drag anchor the necessary operation weight. When the

container is thrown into the sea, or otherwise happens to enter the sea, the drag anchor 4 is released from the capsule and the gas/electric conduit 5 is let out. The gas immediately starts inflating both the float body 1 and the house body 2, and said parts are inflated to such high pressure as to provide a very solid unit which can be handling and can even be hoisted up by a direct engagement thereof at the top connection means.

The hose/conduit 5 from the drag anchor extends through an eyelet or loop which is secured to the bottom surface adjacent the outer edge of the capsule at a place which is opposed to the place of the entrance opening 22. Therefore, when the capsule, actuated by wind and sea waves, is forced in a direction which is marked with arrows of figures 2-5 the drag anchor will counteract such movement to the effect that the capsule automatically places itself with the entrance opening 22 towards the shelter side of the capsule. Also at calm weather the capsule will automatically roll over and place itself horizontally on the sea for the reason that the drag anchor, depending on its actuation of the capsule moves its centre of gravity past the centre of gravity of the capsule.

The connection of the hose 5 in the capsule also leads to the favourable effect that the capsule will automatically turn itself right, as illustrated in figures 3, 4 and 5. If the capsule happens to be launched upside down in the sea the hose 5 from the heavy drag anchor 4 will place itself over the outermost float ring 8 and turn the capsule up from a point between the float ring 8 and the bottom connection means 1 9 (figure 3), and as soon as the capsule has been turned past the centre of gravity the wind and the waves will force the capsule down (figure 4) until it has taken the desired horizontal position on the sea (figure 5). Depending on the action of wind and waves the capsule will drive away from the drag anchor 4. Thereby the step 23 acts as a front rudder holding the capsule on a steady route forwards. A distressed person therefore can climb up and enter the capsule from the opening side 22, and the capsule will thereby not swing in opposite directions.

For making it possible to rescue distressed persons by hoisting up the capsule it is formed, at the top securing means 1 8, with one or more hooks 28. For such relatively small capsuled which can carry 6-8 persons, and which can be saved by means of a helicopter, the top connection means 1 8 can be formed with several hooks which can be turned in different

direction, for instance four or six radially outwards facing hooks, as shown in the drawings. Said hooks preferably can be formed with barbs so that a salvation line or sling from the helicopter can not slide out of said hooks. A simple and effective way of salvating such a capsule is to let down a strong net from the helicopter and make the helicopter sweep over the sea with the net adjacent the sea level, whereby said net by time also sweeps over a capsule, whereby the net becomes hooked by one or more of the capsule hooks, whereupon the net together with the capsule and the distressed person(s) still present in the capsule can be hoisted onto the helicopter. It is quite possible for a helicopter to hoist a capsule having a total weight of

1000-1 500 kilogram, and this can be said to correspond to the total weight of the capsule having 6-8 persons placed therein. Alternatively, in particular in case of such heavy capsules that they can not be hoisted onto the helicopter, it is possible, using said net, to drag the capsule to the land or to a ship which can hoist the entire capsule with the distressed persons therein. Instead of, or completing said several hooks at the top connection means 1 8, the capsule can be formed with a single large hook or a loop of such type that it can lock a self engaging hook or hoisting loop therein which is let down from a ship. For reducing the weight of a capsule which is to be saved it is preferred to let free the heavy drag anchor with the battery and the gas bottle, and this can be made in that the hose 5 extends through a cutting means 29 at the bottom connection means 1 9. A type of such cutting means in shown in detail in figure 9, and it comprises, as evident, a stationary bottom carrier 30 and a knife 31 which is displaceable in said carrier and which knife, over a rope or wire 32 (see figure 1 ), is secured at the top connection means 1 8. The wire 32 ought to be rather slack and the wire should be of such length that the knife 31 when pulled upwards cuts off the hose 5 when the capsule is hoisted from the hooks 28 of the top connection means 1 8, and this is possible since the house arc hoses 1 7 are irrevocably subjected to a certain stretching.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 float body 1 7 arc hose

2 house body 1 8 top securing means

3 gas distributor 1 9 bottom securing means

4 outer container 20 grab handle

5 hose, wire 21 grab handle

6 float ring 22 opening

7 float ring 23 step

8 float ring 24 step bottom

9 (arc) 25 step sides seat ring 26 front edge 1 bottom fabric 27 loop intermediate bottom 28 hooks 3 perforations 29 cutting means hose 30 stationary carrier 5 non return valve 31 knife bottom hose part 32 cutting wire