MULARGIA ALESSANDRO (IT)
WO2017149411A1 | 2017-09-08 | |||
WO2010061159A1 | 2010-06-03 |
GB2459683A | 2009-11-04 | |||
GB2448476A | 2008-10-22 | |||
CN103381943A | 2013-11-06 |
Claims 1. System for controlling the flows of fluids in containers (1), characterized in that it comprises a container (1) provided with: x at least a pair of slots (2) with airtight seal, installed on the surface of said container (1), adapted to be irreversibly opened in the case of external pressure exerted that exceeds a specific pre-established value; said slots (2) are constituted by an external part (12) mounted on the external surface of the container (1) and by an internal part (11) mounted on the internal surface of the container (1); within said slots (2), a thin membrane (13) is positioned that is adapted to prevent the passage of water from the outside to the interior of the container (1) and the passage of air from the interior to the outside; upon exceeding a certain pre-established value of the external pressure, said thin membrane (13) is adapted to be irreversibly broken, allowing the exit of air from the container (1) and the passage of water to its interior, leading to the sinking of the container (1) itself; x a support (2.1) positioned inside the perimeter of each of said slots (2), stably adhering to the lateral surface (1.1) of the container (1), is adapted to ensure the impermeability; said support (2.1) is installed by means of any one coupling system (2.2) commonly found on the market; x a pair of protection grills (2.3), one placed on the external side and one on the internal side of each slot (2), adapted to protect the corresponding slot (2) from accidental impact and preventing extraneous objects from being stuck at its interior, compromising the operation thereof. 2. System for controlling the flows of fluids in containers (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that said container (1) is provided with a plurality of slots (2) freely arranged on its lateral surfaces (1.1), on its openable surface (1.2), on its cover (1.3) and on its base (1.4), arranged in a manner such that, whatever the position of the container (1) in the sea, at least a slot (2) is placed on the surface closest to the water surface. 3. System for controlling the flows of fluids in containers (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (2.1) of each slot (2) is constituted by any one natural or artificial polymer, adapted to resist mechanical stresses, chemical and weathering agents and adapted to be irreversibly fixed with the surface of the container (1) on which the slot (2) is installed, preferably the same type of plate will be used which constitutes the surfaces of the container (1). 4. System for controlling the flows of fluids in containers (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all the slots (2) installed on the same container (1) are connected to a pressure sensor (2.4) adapted to simultaneously open all said slots (2) at the moment in which an external pressure is detected that exceeds a specific tolerance threshold. 5. System for controlling the flows of fluids in hulls (3), characterized in that it is constituted by a hull (3) provided with: x at least a pair of slots (2) with airtight seal, installed on the surface of said hull (3), adapted to be irreversibly opened in the case of external pressure exerted that exceeds a specific pre-established value; said slots (2) being constituted by an external part (12) mounted on the external surface of the hull (3) and by an internal part (11) mounted on the internal surface of the hull (3); within said slots (2), a membrane (13) being positioned that is adapted to prevent the passage of water from the outside to the interior of the hull (3) and the passage of air from the interior to the outside; once a predetermined value of the external pressure has been exceeded, said membrane (13) being adapted to be irreversibly broken, allowing the exit of air from the hull (3) and the passage of water to its interior, leading to the sinking of the hull (3) itself; x a support (2.1) positioned within the perimeter of each of said slots (2), stably adhering to the lateral surface of the hull (3), adapted to ensure the impermeability thereof; said support (2.1) being installed by means of any one coupling system (2.2) that can be commonly found on the market; x a pair of protection grills (2.3), one placed on the external side and one on the internal side of each slot (2), adapted to protect the corresponding slot (2) from accidental impact and preventing extraneous objects from being stuck at its interior, compromising the operation thereof. 6. System for controlling the flows of fluids in hulls (3), according to claim 5, characterized in that said hull (3) is provided with a plurality of slots (2) freely arranged on its surface, arranged in a manner such that, whatever the position of the hull (3) in the sea, at least a slot (2) is placed at the free surface of the water, i.e. the float line of the hull (3). 7. System for controlling the flows of fluids in hulls (3), according to any one of the preceding claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the support (2.1) of each slot (2) is made of any natural or artificial polymer, adapted to resist mechanical stresses, chemical and weathering agents and adapted to be irreversibly fixed with the surface of the hull (3), and preferably the same polymer that constitutes the hull (3) will be used. 8. System for controlling the flows of fluids in containers (1) and hulls (3), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slots (2) comprise a membrane (13) made of saline material, adapted to be dissolved in case of prolonged and continuative contact with water, thus allowing the passage of water to the interior and exit of air, leading to the sinking of the container (1) or of the hull (3). 9. System for controlling the flows of fluids in hulls (3), according to any one of the preceding claims 5 to 8, characterized in that all the slots (2) installed on the same hull (3) are connected to at least an activation device (4) adapted to simultaneously make all said slots (2) take on said second open configuration; said activation device (4) being connected in a remote manner to a common control device (5) actuated by a user. 10. System for controlling the flows of fluids in containers and hulls, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coupling system (2.2) can be constituted by a welding, by a plurality of rivets or by any one glue that can be found on the market or by any other system adapted to irreversibly fix, in an airtight manner, the slot (2) with the relative support (2.1) to the surface of the container (1) or of the hull (3) and to maintain the impermeability and the resistance over time. |
Said slots 2, which may also obviously be present in a number greater than two, are capable of opening automati cally when they detect an external pressure that exceeds a certain tolerance threshold. The opening, which is irreversible, causes the entry of water and the exit of air from inside the container 1 or the hull 3 and causes it to sink rapidly.
With reference to FIG. 2, the six sides that make up a common ISO container 1 are shown. In this preferred embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, cylindrical slots 2 are used which are positioned at the four comers of the cover 1.3 and at the four comers of all lateral surfaces 1.1, both the two longitudinal ones and the one bottom transversal one. The only two surfaces on which slots 2 are not installed are the openable surface 1,2 and the base 1.4 of container 1. To be sure of the operation of the device, it is also possible to install double slots 2, i.e. consisting of two separate openings, capable of irreversibly opening when a pressure higher than a tolerance threshold is detected. In this way, in the event of failure of one of the two openings, for any reason, the operation of the slot 2 will be guaranteed by the opening of the other.
Said membrane 13, contained within said slots 2, can also be made in a saline version capable of melting and allowing the passage of water inside and the escape of air in the event of constant and prolonged contact with water, making the container 1 sink.
In the case of a container 1, which in normal conditions travels out of the water, it is possible to connect the opening of the slots 2 to a pressure sensor 2.4 which, when it detects an external pressure beyond the tolerance threshold, simultaneously and irreversibly opens all slots 2. Said pressure sensor 2,4 is not applicable to a hull 3 since the latter is always at least partially immersed in water. As shown in FIG. 3, the slots 2 of an automatic sinking sy stem applied to a hull 3 are connected to an activation device 4 which simultaneously and irreversibly opens all the slots 2 upon the remote command of a control device 5 operated by a user.
If the boat consists of more than one hull 3 (in the case of a catamaran or a trimaran) the control device 5 can be remotely connected to more than one activation device 4, each located in a different hull 3 and connected to the slots 2 relating to that hull 3. In this way, in the event of a naval disaster, after having rescued all the crew, it is possible to decide the sinking of the hull 3 or the hulls 3 of a boat, to avoid their wandering at sea from constituting a danger for navigation. Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variants that are obvious to a person skilled in the art can be made to the invention described so far, without thereby departing from the scope of protection provided by the appended claims.
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