Buoy lantern assembly employing hinged gimbal
US4736205A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 11, 1986 |
| Grant date | Apr 5, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 11, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B51/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Marine buoy lantern employs a heavily damped two-axis gimbal including an outer gimbal frame supported to the lantern housing by a pair of hinges and an inner gimbal member mounted to the outer gimbal frame by another pair of hinges. The hinges are made of plastic and respond very slowly to a torque applied thereto unlike gimbals employing bearings. The inner gimbal member supports the drum lens, flasher, lampchanger, and counterweights. The hinged gimbal cooperates with the counterweights immersed in a very viscous fluid to maintain the lantern vertically disposed notwithstanding angles of inclination of .+-.9.degree., or a total of 18.degree., of the marine buoy mounting the lantern atop thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.