US2070818A - Lifesaving jacket with automatic electric lighting unit - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1937 I e. A. F. WINCKLER 2,070,813

LIFESAVING JACKET WITH AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LIGHTING UNIT Original Filed Feb. 9, 1934 fm/enoc' flttorney l is? Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED. STATES mssvme .mcxar wrrn su'rom'nc,

.amc'rmc ucn'mzc UNIT Gunnar A. F. Winckler, Worcester, Mesa, as'signor to Winckler Engineering Laboratories Incorporated; Boston, Masa, a corporation Massachusetts Application February 9, 1934, Serial No. 710,412

Renewed June 9, 1936 '1 claim. (on. 240-04) The invention relates to a lite-jacket in combination with an automatic sea water link electrical generator. to be used more particularly under emergency conditions in marine disasters for 6 eating persons in the darkness of the night. who have been forced intothe water, voluntarily or otherwise. I I The invention consists of a life-jacket provided with an automatic lighting generator, lightl0 ing unit suitably secured in a pocket in the lifesaving Jacket which will automatically light when thrown into the waters of the salt seas to locate the person in distress.

The invention further consists of a device for g removably securing the generator and lamp in position in the pocket to facilitate the varying conditions. V

The invention further consists of the detail constructionoi the lighting unit adapted to suit the requirements of the lite-saving jacket and to facilitate .its operation.

The generator consists of a zinc outer casing which serves as a negative pole iorthe generator and also supports the depending structure which forms a complete lighting unithaving a concentric generating positive pole of maximum polarization area with tree space between the two poles to allow the electrolytic action to generate a constant current to automatically light'the lamp when needed.

The invention further consists of converting the lighting unit' into a torch after it has been removed from the water and the jacket This is accomplished by placing absorbing material, such as cloth in the free space between the poles which will hold suiiicient electrolytic fluid to maintain the light tor a considerable length oi. time.

The object of the invention is to provide an automatic lighting unit for life-savingjackets to eliminate thedanger in marine disasters of losing people in the darkness of the night.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic lighting unit for lite-saving jackets which is-not dependent on the conscious mental condition of the user.

Referring to the ilgures:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the lite-saving jacket with the lamp and generator in position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the'same.

50 Fig. 3 is an elevation 01 the lamp and'generator partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the generating unit taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a full size cross-section of the generat- 55 ing unit taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 3.

. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing an elevation oithe generating unit and the lamp-globe secured in position to the lite jacket.

Fig. 7 is a plan view 01 the jacket broken away with the globe in section.

. m. a is a side elevation oi. the lower end or the generating unit broken away, showing the electrolytic absorbing material between the positive and negative poles.

Pig. 9 is a cross-section taken on the line 9-9. 5

Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing this illustrates the new automatic lighting unit It. for lite-saving jackets. The life jacket is indicated by the numeral Ii which is provided with a plurality of 10 cork floats I2 secured between two layers of cloth i3 and 14 forming the jacket to support it when thrown into the waters of the salt seas. r a

In the back of the jacket i I between two layers of cloth is formed a pocket I! open atone end 15 and provided with a bottom on the lower end for removably supporting the generator. To hold the unit in position in the jacket. the upper edges of the pocket l8 are formed into a choke H, which automatically closes in around the lamp globe l8 and the top of the generating unit iii.

The lower slope of the globe i8 and the larger size of the top of the generating unit form a hold- V ing groove i9 which allows the unit to be placed in position under special stress. 25

The automatic choke l1 consists of sewing flexible material onboth sides of the inside edges of the unit.- The rubber band grips the unit and holds it in position. With suflicient force the generating unit can be pulled out 01' the choke ii 40 necessity requires it. a e

The generating unit I0 is provided with an outer casing made of zinc which serves as a negative pole of the generator. i-Concentric with the casing Ills a positive pole 23 having a free space 24 between them to allow both poles to be immersed in the electrolytic fluid when the jacket is placed in the waters of the salt seas.

Formed diametrically opposite each other are rectangular slots 25, 26, 21, and 28 which are filled with ground carbon 29 to increase the polarizing area of the positive pole. The groundcarbon is held in position by the cloth sleeve 30 forced over the positive pole member to prevent the carbon from being washed away, but it does allow the electrolytic fluid to pass through and in around the ground carbon. Rigidly se-- cured in the upper end of the positive pole is a lamp contact 3|. Secured to the upper end of the zinc negative pole casing i0 is lamp support and current conductor 32 made of wire having a plurality of helical convolutions forming the lamp socket 33 for the lamp 34.

The positive pole 23 and the globe H! are concentrically located in relation to the casing upper hole 38 which allows the sea water to enter freely.

When the generating unit is used with the lifejacket it does not generate current until it is immersed in an electrolytic fliiidsuch as sea water. Under normal conditions when the jacket is taken out of the fluid, the light goes out because no current is generated. To allow the gen-; erator to be used as a torch when it is removed from theelectrolyte, a novel means is provided for retaining the electrolytic fluid. This is accomplished by inserting fluid absorbing material,

such as cloth 39. between the poles as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The material will absorb sumcient electrolytic fluid to allow current to be generated for days and is a very eflicient means for serving as a torch or any practical purpose.

To allow the electrolytic fluid to saturate the cloth sufliciently, a plurality of holes 37 are ma chined in the casing or negative pole l8.

In operation and assembling of the device, a life jacket made of two layers oi. cloth l3 and I 4 is used as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The pocket l5, preferably in the back of the jacket, is made from two layers of cloth adapted to hold the generating unit after it-is secured in position by a flexible choke H which not only allows it to' be'placed in position, but also allows it to be removed at will. When the user wearing the jacket is forced into the waters of the salt. seas,

the generator is immersed in the electrolytic fluid which starts generating current, which in turn automatically lights the signalling light.

After a-person is rescued the electrolytic fluid,

held by the absorbent material, will permit the lamp to remain lighted and serves as a. torch;

The generator can be removed by a quick jerk.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is: 1. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea water link electrical generator having positive and negative poles operating in from the jacket saline solution when the generator is immersed energized thereby, a pocket in the jacket open I therein, a lamp carried by the generator to be at one end for removably supporting the generator. H

2. In a lite-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea water link electrical generator having positive and negative poles operating in saline solution when the generator is immersed therein, a lamp carried by the generator to'be energized thereby, a pocket in the jacket open at one end for removably supporting the generator, and means for holding the generator in position in the pocket.

3. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea water link electrical generator 7 having positive and negative-poles operating in saline solution when the generator is immersed therein, a lamp carried by the generator to be to the generator forming an annular ridge cooperating with the flexible choke member for holding the generatorin position in the pocket and allowing it to be removed by a quick jerk.

4. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea water link electrical generator having positive and negative poles operating-in saline solution when the generator is immersed therein, .a lamp carried by the generator to be energized thereby, a pocket in the jacket open at one end for removably supporting the generator, and means in relation to the pocket and the casing to permit the sea water to enter and, to immerse the generator poles.

5. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea water link electrical generator having positive and negative poles operating in saline solution when the generator is immersed therein, a lamp carried by the generator to be energized thereby, a pocket in the jacket open at one end for removably supporting the generator, cloth forming the pocket capable of having water pass through it, holes formed in the casing between the ends of the generator casing to allow the water to enter at the lower end and,

' the air to pass out at the upper end to permit the water'to enter the-generator casing.

6. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea water link electrical generator having positive and negative poles operating in saline solution when the generator is immersed therein, a lamp carried by the generator to be energized thereby, a pocket in the jacket open at one end for removably supporting the generator, cloth forming the pocket capable of having water pass through it, holes formed in the casing between the ends to allow the water to enter at the lower end and the air to pass out at the upper end to permit the water to flow freely into the generator casing, and means located between the poles and bottom of the casing to permit the lamp to remain lighted after th jacket is removed from the water. I

7. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea water link electrical generator having positive and negative poles operating in saline solution when the generator is, immersed therein, a lamp carried by the generator to be tween the said-poles, abottom -to the casing to prevent the water from running 01! to permit the lamp to remain lighted after the jacket leaves the comma A. r. wmcxma.

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