USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Wesley A Andrew

Peder M Hansen

Elwin W Seeley

John G Hoffman

Curtis E Shields

Robert Hamilton

Harry O Hindlin

An inflatable liferaft improves disaster victims' chances of survival, pacularly in cold waters. Three inflatable ribs support a layered canopy from the sides of the raft to assure protection from the elements. A highly reflective coating or an equivalent space-blanket type material is provided on the inside of the canopy to help keep the occupants warm and act as a radar reflector. The inflatable ribs also aerodynamically shape the raft to stabilize it in high wind states and while being towed through the air by a rescue helicopter. A hoisting harness cradles the bottom and sides of the raft and is connected to an enlarged hoisting eye located overhead or floating on the water to assure an unassisted, reliable engagement by a helicopter-born hook. After the hook has engaged the hoisting eye and as the harness lifts the raft from the water, a number of covers located along the bottom of the raft's hemispherical ballasting chamber are pulled from their respective openings to allow the rapid dumping of ballast water. Thusly relieved of this load, the helicopter can rapidly transport the survivors to a medical facility. Because the liferaft is plucked from the water intact, the incapacitated have a better chance of survival and the others along with the rescue team are not exposed further to cold water or the helicopter's downwash.

Helicopter extractable cold weather/water liferaft

Method and apparatus for detecting tunnels, voids or other anomalies bene an area of the earth's surface wherein an oscillator couples a current into two conductors laid parallel to each other to generate two magnetic fields in the earth beneath the area. The magnetic field is measured along a line midway between the two horizontal conductors to detect for an increase in the measured field which is an indication of the presence of an anomaly.

Method for rapidly detecting subterranean tunnels by detecting a

Improved method and apparatus for detecting anomalies beneath an area of earth's surface wherein an oscillator couples a current into two conductors laid parallel to each other to generate two magnetic fields in the earth beneath the area. The magnetic field is measured along a line midway between the two horizontal conductors to detect for an increase in the measured field which is an indication of the presence of an anomaly.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Wesley A Andrew