Intelligent life raft rack

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of ship emergency equipment, in particular to an intelligent life raft rack. The life raft rack comprises a life raft main body, a rack body installed on a deck to carry the life raft main body, an automatic release assembly installed on the rack body to control the life raft main body to be separated from the rack body, and a sensor assembly arranged on the rack body to detect required detection information. The life raft rack can solve the technical problems of low intelligence level, slow emergency release response and inconvenient daily maintenance of the existing life raft and rack, realizes full intelligent management and control of the ship lifesaving equipment, and improves the success rate of ship lifesaving in distress.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of marine emergency equipment technology, and in particular to an intelligent life raft. Background Technology

[0002] Life rafts are core life-saving equipment legally mandated for ships, serving as the final line of defense for the safety of crew and passengers during ship distress evacuation scenarios. Currently, ships are generally equipped with traditional passive life rafts and their associated storage racks, and the structural design and functional implementation of these devices have long followed a relatively fixed technical approach.

[0003] Specifically, existing life rafts and their storage racks only provide basic mechanical storage. The life rafts themselves can only be released manually, lacking real-time monitoring of their own parameters (such as internal air pressure, mooring tension, and mast integrity). They also cannot actively monitor potential hazards in the surrounding waters (such as heel angle, ship sinking rate, and surface fires). In distress, they heavily rely on crew judgment and manual operation, resulting in delayed release responses and difficulty in handling sudden maritime accidents. Secondly, the storage rack structure is relatively simple, lacking both rapid release mechanisms and stable protective structures to withstand wave impacts. In rough seas, they are susceptible to direct impact from swells, leading to damage or accidental release. Thirdly, existing life rafts lack autonomous positioning and the ability to actively send distress signals after detaching from the mother ship. During drifting, rescue forces struggle to conduct rapid and accurate searches, prolonging the waiting time for rescue. Fourth, routine equipment condition checks rely entirely on manual periodic inspections, resulting in low maintenance efficiency. Furthermore, oversights during inspections can lead to unforeseen problems such as equipment aging, insufficient air pressure, or component corrosion, making it impossible to ensure that life-saving equipment is always readily available in emergency situations. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an intelligent life raft or rack that can solve the technical problems of low intelligence level, slow emergency release response, and inconvenient daily maintenance of existing life rafts and racks, realize fully intelligent control of ship life-saving equipment, and improve the success rate of ship rescue in distress.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides the following technical solution: A smart life raft includes: The main body of the life raft; The frame, installed on the deck, supports the main body of the life raft; An automatic release assembly, mounted on the frame, controls the detachment of the life raft body from the frame; and, A sensor assembly is mounted on the frame to detect the required information.

[0006] Understandably, by installing sensor components on the frame, the life raft rack gains the ability to perceive potential hazards in the external environment in real time, completely changing the passive mode of traditional life raft racks that only have a simple mechanical storage function. The data processing unit controls the automatic release component to perform the release action according to the detection information of the sensor components, without the need for manual on-site operation. It can respond quickly at the first moment of distress, significantly shortening the release time of the life raft from standby to water entry. Through the hinged joint structure between the support and release parts in the automatic release component and the angle adjustment function of the righting component, even if the ship is in a large tilt state or is hit by severe waves when in distress, the release part can still adjust to the optimal deployment angle according to the hull attitude data detected by the sensor components, ensuring that the main body of the life raft can smoothly slide off the frame.

[0007] In one embodiment, the automatic release assembly includes a support and a release part, the release part being hinged to the support, and a space for mounting the life raft body is formed between the release part and the support. When the release part is flipped toward the side away from the life raft body, the life raft body detaches from the support.

[0008] In one embodiment, a binding assembly is included, which is fitted onto the outside of the life raft body and includes binding straps and an automatic release buckle. One end of the binding strap is connected to the support part, and the other end is connected to the release part through the automatic release buckle, so as to connect the life raft body to the frame.

[0009] In one embodiment, a righting assembly is included, mounted on the frame, the righting assembly driving the release part to rotate on the support part to adjust the angle between the release part and the deck, and the side wall of the life raft body abuts against the side wall of the release part.

[0010] In one embodiment, the life raft body is provided with a positioning unit, an audible and visual distress signaling unit, and / or an emergency communication unit.

[0011] In one embodiment, an impact-resistant cushioning pad is provided on the outer side of the life raft body, and the impact-resistant cushioning pad abuts against the automatic release component.

[0012] In one embodiment, the sensor assembly includes a tilt sensor, a water level sensor, a wave intensity sensor, and / or a hull distress receiver unit.

[0013] In one embodiment, an inflation start unit is included, which is connected to the inflation port of the life raft body.

[0014] In one embodiment, a data processing unit is included, which is signal-connected to the sensor assembly and the automatic release assembly, processes the information detected by the sensor assembly, and controls the automatic release assembly to perform corresponding actions.

[0015] In one embodiment, the data processing unit includes a data processing module, a fault self-testing module, and a preset threshold database. The data processing module analyzes the data collected by the sensor component, and the fault self-testing module performs a self-test on the sensor component.

[0016] Compared to existing technologies, a new intelligent life raft frame, by incorporating sensor components on its frame, enables real-time perception of external environmental hazards, completely transforming the passive mode of traditional life raft frames that merely provide mechanical storage. The data processing unit controls the automatic release component to perform the release action based on the detection information from the sensor components, eliminating the need for manual on-site operation. This allows for a rapid response in the event of an emergency, significantly shortening the release time from standby to water entry. Through the hinged connection between the support and release components in the automatic release component, and the angle adjustment function of the righting component, even if the vessel is significantly tilted or subjected to severe wave impacts during an emergency, the release component can still adjust to the optimal deployment angle based on the hull attitude data detected by the sensor components, ensuring the life raft smoothly slides off the frame. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an intelligent life raft provided in this application.

[0019] Figure 2 A side view of an intelligent life raft frame provided in this application.

[0020] The component labels are as follows: 1. Life raft body; 2. Frame; 3. Deck; 4. Automatic release assembly; 41. Support; 42. Release assembly; 5. Sensor assembly; 51. Tilt sensor; 52. Water level sensor; 53. Wave intensity sensor; 6. Laying assembly; 61. Laying straps; 62. Automatic release buckle; 7. Righting assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0022] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application's specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0023] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0024] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0026] Life rafts are core life-saving equipment legally mandated for ships, serving as the final line of defense for the safety of crew and passengers during ship distress evacuation scenarios. Currently, ships are generally equipped with traditional passive life rafts and their associated storage racks, and the structural design and functional implementation of these devices have long followed a relatively fixed technical approach.

[0027] Specifically, existing life rafts and their storage racks only provide basic mechanical storage. The life rafts themselves can only be released manually, lacking real-time monitoring of their own parameters (such as internal air pressure, mooring tension, and mast integrity). They also cannot actively monitor potential hazards in the surrounding waters (such as heel angle, ship sinking rate, and surface fires). In distress, they heavily rely on crew judgment and manual operation, resulting in delayed release responses and difficulty in handling sudden maritime accidents. Secondly, the storage rack structure is relatively simple, lacking both rapid release mechanisms and stable protective structures to withstand wave impacts. In rough seas, they are susceptible to direct impact from swells, leading to damage or accidental release. Thirdly, existing life rafts lack autonomous positioning and the ability to actively send distress signals after detaching from the mother ship. During drifting, rescue forces struggle to conduct rapid and accurate searches, prolonging the waiting time for rescue. Fourth, routine equipment condition checks rely entirely on manual periodic inspections, resulting in low maintenance efficiency. Furthermore, oversights during inspections can lead to unforeseen problems such as equipment aging, insufficient air pressure, or component corrosion, making it impossible to ensure that life-saving equipment is always readily available in emergency situations.

[0028] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an intelligent life raft or rack that can solve the technical problems of low intelligence level, slow emergency release response, and inconvenient daily maintenance of existing life rafts and racks, realize fully intelligent control of ship life-saving equipment, and improve the success rate of ship rescue in distress.

[0029] Please see Figures 1 to 2 This application provides an intelligent life raft frame including a life raft body 1 and a frame 2. The life raft body 1 is releasably snapped onto the frame 2 by an automatic release component 4, and the frame 2 is also provided with a sensor component 5 for detecting the required detection information.

[0030] In one specific embodiment, the life raft body 1 adopts a high-strength foldable inflatable structure design. The life raft body 1 is constructed as an integrated functional platform. Specifically, in its stowed state, the life raft body 1 folds into a compact cylindrical package. In alternative embodiments, depending on the internal capacity of the raft, the life raft body 1 can also be elliptical or rectangular, adapting to the layout requirements of different ship deck spaces. The exterior of the life raft body 1 is tightly covered with a special protective cover made of a high-strength composite fabric material that is resistant to aging and ultraviolet radiation, specifically nylon or polyester fiber substrates coated with polyurethane. Through the selection of the above materials, the protective cover can effectively resist sunlight exposure, salt spray corrosion, and wind and rain erosion under long-term open-air navigation conditions, preventing the protective cover itself from aging and cracking, thus providing long-term reliable physical protection for the raft body in its folded state.

[0031] Furthermore, the life raft body 1 is pre-installed with a high-pressure gas cylinder and an inflation valve connected to the cylinder's valve port. This high-pressure gas cylinder is filled with industrial-grade safety compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen, serving as the gas source power for switching the life raft body 1 from its stowed state to its deployed state. In this embodiment, the number of high-pressure gas cylinders can be adapted to the rated capacity of the life raft body 1. For example, a single gas cylinder can be configured for a life raft with a rated capacity of 6 people; while for large life rafts with a rated capacity of 15 people or more, two or more gas cylinders can be configured in parallel to ensure that the inflation rate meets the rapid deployment requirements in emergency situations.

[0032] Simultaneously, the raft body in its folded state is tightly folded according to a pre-designed folding pattern. Based on the pre-planned spatial arrangement of each independent air chamber and the routing of connecting pipes after inflation, it is ensured that each air chamber expands sequentially during inflation, avoiding localized bulging or chamber torsion due to misalignment during folding. Through this tight compaction and pre-designed folding pattern, the volume of the life raft body 1 in its uninflated state is minimized, facilitating storage in the limited space of the ship's deck 3 and adapting it for installation on the frame 2.

[0033] Furthermore, the center of gravity of the life raft body 1 is configured to be essentially aligned with its geometric center. To achieve this coaxial or point-to-point alignment of the center of gravity and geometric center, fine adjustments can be made during the folding and compaction of the life raft body 1 by adjusting the securing points of the high-pressure gas cylinders inside the raft, or by adding counterweights to the bottom of the raft. This alignment of the center of gravity with the geometric center ensures that the life raft body 1 maintains a stable descent posture when it detaches from the frame 2 upon receiving a release command, i.e., it falls in a basically horizontal posture without drooping at one end or tipping over. This effectively ensures that the life raft body 1 floats upright upon contact with the water surface, providing a stable foundation for those in distress to board the raft.

[0034] In the above embodiments of this application, the life raft body 1 also integrates intelligent functional units. Specifically, the life raft body 1 is internally equipped with a Beidou positioning unit, an audio-visual distress signaling unit, and an emergency communication unit.

[0035] The BeiDou positioning unit is used to collect the latitude and longitude coordinates of the current location of the life raft body 1 in real time. This BeiDou positioning unit is compatible with receiving B1I and B1C frequency signals of the BeiDou satellite navigation system, and its positioning accuracy can reach within 3 meters in open water environments.

[0036] Once the life raft body 1 detaches from the support structure 2 and floats on the sea surface after the vessel is in distress, the BeiDou positioning unit immediately powers on and continuously outputs high-precision location data at preset time intervals. The audible and visual distress signal unit is configured to automatically activate after the life raft body 1 enters the water, and it includes an optical warning subunit and an acoustic warning subunit. The audible and visual distress signal unit can adopt a combination of LED warning lights and a high-decibel buzzer. The emergency communication unit is connected to the BeiDou positioning unit and the audible and visual distress signal unit, and transmits location information and the status information of the passengers to the shore rescue center and the vessel control platform via a remote communication module. Through the coordinated work of the BeiDou positioning unit and the emergency communication unit, rescue forces can obtain the precise drift trajectory of the life raft body 1 the moment it detaches from the mother ship, significantly shortening the "target search" time window in traditional search and rescue.

[0037] More specifically, in this embodiment, since the life raft body 1 adopts a foldable inflatable structure, it lacks a rigid surface for independently installing electronic equipment when in its stored state. Therefore, the BeiDou positioning unit and the emergency communication unit are integrated into a waterproof sealed box. This waterproof sealed box is made of engineering plastic or lightweight aluminum alloy, with O-rings at the joints, achieving an overall protection level of IP67 or higher. The waterproof sealed box is fixedly installed at the center of the top of the life raft body 1 in its stored state using cable ties 61 or bolts. This fixed position ensures that after the life raft body 1 is inflated and unfolded, the waterproof sealed box is located at the highest point of the inflated raft roof or central float, thus avoiding the risk of short circuits to the electronic units caused by seawater immersion. Simultaneously, it allows the BeiDou antenna to obtain the maximum range of sky visibility, improving the quality of satellite signal reception.

[0038] The sound and light distress unit adopts a combination structure of LED warning lights and a high-decibel buzzer. The LED warning lights are preferably high-brightness omnidirectional LED light arrays, whose strobe light signals have extremely strong penetrating power at night or in low-visibility sea conditions; the output sound pressure level of the high-decibel buzzer is not less than 120 decibels, which can effectively cover environmental background noise such as wave crashing and wind noise.

[0039] The LED warning light and high-decibel buzzer are prominently positioned on the top of the life raft body 1. Specifically, they can be fixed to the top cover of the aforementioned waterproof sealing box, or installed via a separate lifting bracket at the highest crossbar of the life raft body 1 after inflation. This prominent placement ensures that the light radiation path and sound wave propagation path of the audible and visual distress signal unit are not obstructed by the raft's own structure when the life raft body 1 is floating on the sea surface. The signal transmission distance of this audible and visual distress signal unit is no less than 5 nautical miles. Under standard atmospheric conditions, passing ships and search and rescue aircraft within a 5-nautical-mile range can clearly receive the audible and visual distress signal emitted by the life raft body 1. This increases the likelihood of distressed personnel being spotted by passing ships in a wide sea area, further improving the success rate of rescue.

[0040] Furthermore, the power supply lines for the Beidou positioning unit, emergency communication unit, and audible and visual distress signal unit are all independent of the inflation structure of the life raft body 1. That is, these electronic units are independently powered by a built-in disposable lithium battery pack, which is also encapsulated inside the aforementioned waterproof sealed box and equipped with a low-power sleep mode. Before the life raft body 1 is released, each electronic unit is in a microampere-level standby state. Only when the life raft body 1 detaches from the frame 2 and triggers the water ingress sensor switch does each unit switch from sleep mode to full-power operating mode. This design effectively extends the battery pack's lifespan in storage while ensuring that each functional unit can quickly start up in a very short time during an emergency, meeting the actual life-saving needs for rapid response.

[0041] The automatic release component 4 is an actuator that enables the life raft body 1 to quickly and controllably detach from the frame 2 in an emergency. It mainly includes a support part 41, a release part 42, a binding component 6, and a righting component 7.

[0042] In this embodiment, the support part 41 is integrally welded from high-strength marine steel, and its bottom is provided with a mounting base. It is fixedly installed on a preset reinforced position on the ship's deck 3 by welding or high-strength bolt fasteners. Through the above-mentioned fixed connection method, it is ensured that the support part 41 maintains a stable connection state under the combined action of long-term ship navigation vibration, wave impact, and the gravity load of the life raft body 1, without loosening or displacement. The support part 41 is preferably constructed as a U-shaped or portal frame-shaped support structure, with the support arms on both sides of its top extending upwards to provide a stable support base for the subsequent hinged installation of the release part 42.

[0043] The release part 42 is rotatably mounted on the support part 41. Specifically, the bottom or middle region of the release part 42 is hinged between the top two support arms of the support part 41 via a pivot. The pivot extends horizontally, allowing the release part 42 to rotate relative to the support part 41 around the pivot.

[0044] In this embodiment, the release part 42 is also made of high-strength marine steel. Its side facing the life raft body 1 is constructed as an arc-shaped or V-shaped support surface that conforms to the outer contour of the life raft body 1, increasing the contact area with the side wall of the life raft body 1 and preventing damage to the raft body due to localized stress concentration. Through the aforementioned hinged installation method, the release part 42 and the support part 41 together enclose a limiting space for accommodating and installing the life raft body 1. The opening size of this limiting space is adapted to the external dimensions of the life raft body 1, ensuring that the life raft body 1 is reliably constrained within this space when in its stored state.

[0045] When the life raft body 1 needs to be released, the release part 42 is driven to flip outward toward the side opposite to the life raft body 1, that is, the top of the release part 42 rotates around the pivot toward the outer side of the ship or toward the outer side of the deck 3. As the release part 42 flips, the opening of the aforementioned limiting space gradually expands, and the life raft body 1 loses the lateral restraint of the release part 42, smoothly sliding off or detaching from the support part 41 under its own gravity, thereby achieving the separation of the life raft body 1 from the frame 2. Through the above-mentioned flipping release mechanism, the problem of release failure caused by the life raft getting stuck in the fixed frame 2 in the prior art is avoided.

[0046] The support section 41 is also equipped with an anti-impact buffer pad. This anti-impact buffer pad is a protective structure designed for the complex vibration environment that occurs long-term during ship navigation. Specifically, the anti-impact buffer pad is fitted onto the part of the release section 42 that contacts the life raft body 1, i.e., on the arc-shaped support surface of the release section 42 facing the life raft body 1. Through this fitting arrangement, the anti-impact buffer pad is sandwiched between the rigid release section 42 and the life raft body 1, creating an elastic isolation layer between them. When the ship encounters severe sea conditions and experiences violent turbulence or when waves directly impact the frame 2, this elastic isolation layer can absorb and dissipate impact energy through its own deformation, thereby effectively attenuating the vibration amplitude and impact load transmitted to the life raft body 1. This significantly reduces the potential damage risks caused by rigid contact, such as wear on the protective cover of the life raft body 1, misalignment of internal folds, or loosening of high-pressure gas cylinder fasteners.

[0047] The shock-absorbing pad is made of high-quality rubber material that is resistant to seawater corrosion and ozone aging, specifically neoprene rubber or EPDM rubber. This material has moderate hardness and excellent resilience, and is not prone to permanent compression deformation under long-term pressure, thus maintaining an effective cushioning thickness for a long time. The shock-absorbing pad is cut according to the specific contour of the arc-shaped support surface of the release part 42. After molding, it maintains a highly consistent matching shape with the arc-shaped structure of the release part 42, that is, it has a contoured arc-shaped sheet structure. Through the above-mentioned contoured cutting and matching setting, it is ensured that there is no relative sliding between the shock-absorbing pad and the release part 42, while maximizing the contact area between the pad and the side wall of the life raft body 1, avoiding excessive local pressure.

[0048] Furthermore, the surface of the impact-absorbing buffer pad is also pressed with anti-slip texture. This anti-slip texture is preferably a wavy or serrated raised texture, with a texture depth configured to 3mm. By setting the aforementioned anti-slip texture, on the one hand, the coefficient of friction between the impact-absorbing buffer pad and the outer protective cover of the life raft body 1 is increased, making it less prone to longitudinal or circumferential movement after the life raft body 1 is secured to the frame 2, further improving the locking reliability of the securing assembly 6; on the other hand, when the buffer pad is deformed under pressure, the grooves in the anti-slip texture provide space for minute deformation, helping to further improve the energy absorption efficiency of the buffer pad.

[0049] To reliably secure the life raft body 1 within the aforementioned limiting space and prevent accidental loosening during normal navigation and turbulence, this application also includes a lashing assembly 6. The lashing assembly 6 is fitted entirely onto the outside of the life raft body 1 and is used to secure and lock the life raft body 1 to the frame 2. Specifically, the lashing assembly 6 mainly includes lashing straps 61 and automatic release buckles 62.

[0050] The binding strap 61 is made of high-strength synthetic fiber braided strap or metal composite braided strap, possessing excellent tensile strength and resistance to seawater corrosion. In one embodiment, one end of the binding strap 61 is fixedly connected to the side wall or support arm of the support part 41, the strap body of the binding strap 61 spans the top outer surface of the life raft body 1, and its other end extends past the life raft body 1 to the side where the release part 42 is located. An automatic release buckle 62 is disposed between the other end of the binding strap 61 and the release part 42.

[0051] Specifically, the fixed end of the automatic release buckle 62 is installed on the outer wall of the release part 42, and the movable end of the automatic release buckle 62 is releasably engaged with the end of the strapping strap 61. In the normal storage state, the strapping strap 61 is locked to the release part 42 through the automatic release buckle 62, thereby tightly pressing the life raft body 1 within the limiting space between the support part 41 and the release part 42. The automatic release buckle 62 can adopt an electrically controlled spring-return hook structure, which has an internal locking tongue driven by an electromagnet or a micro motor. After receiving a release electrical signal, the locking tongue quickly retracts, releasing the engagement with the end of the strapping strap 61. The strapping strap 61 then automatically springs open under its own elastic restoring force or the expansion thrust of the life raft body 1, completing the unlocking action.

[0052] Furthermore, the automatic release buckles 62 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the release part 42, that is, there is one automatic release buckle 62 on each of the left and right sides of the release part 42, which corresponds to the two binding straps 61 one-to-one. This symmetrical arrangement ensures that the life raft body 1 is subjected to balanced force in the locked state, preventing the life raft body 1 from tilting or shifting due to excessive locking force on one side. Simultaneously, at the moment of release, the buckles on both sides unlock simultaneously, avoiding the situation where the life raft body 1 tilts and jams due to one side unlocking first. The control terminal of the automatic release buckle 62 is electrically connected to the intelligent control module via a control signal line to receive release commands from the intelligent control module.

[0053] To address complex scenarios such as ship tilting and wave impacts in rough seas during distress, the automatic release assembly 4 of this application also includes a righting assembly 7. The righting assembly 7 is mounted on the frame 2, specifically positioned between the support portion 41 and the release portion 42. In this embodiment, the righting assembly 7 is preferably a righting drive assembly in the form of an electric push rod or a hydraulic strut. One end of the drive assembly is fixed to the base or support arm of the support portion 41 via a first hinge, and the other end, the movable telescopic end, is connected to the bottom or middle of the release portion 42 via a second hinge. The righting drive assembly is electrically connected to the intelligent control module to receive control commands and execute telescopic movements.

[0054] When the intelligent control module determines that the ship has a large tilt angle, to prevent the release of the life raft body 1 from being obstructed due to the inconsistency between the flipping direction of the release part 42 and the ship's tilt direction, the righting drive component first activates. Its movable end extends or retracts, driving the release part 42 to rotate around the axis of rotation relative to the support part 41 in the forward or reverse direction, thereby adjusting the angle between the release part 42 and the plane of the deck 3. Through the above angle adjustment, the sliding direction of the life raft body 1 after the release part 42 flips is optimally matched with the ship's tilt direction and the direction of wave impact, ensuring that the life raft body 1 can smoothly slide off the frame 2, avoiding the life raft body 1 getting stuck on the frame 2 or colliding with the hull structure due to improper angle.

[0055] Meanwhile, under normal storage conditions, the side wall of the life raft body 1 and the arc-shaped support side wall of the release part 42 remain in close contact. This contact relationship ensures that the life raft body 1 always moves synchronously with the release part 42 when the straightening component 7 drives the release part 42 to make angle fine adjustments, without relative sliding or shifting, thus ensuring the stability and safety of the life raft body 1 during angle adjustment.

[0056] In some embodiments, to enable real-time perception of the ship's own status and potential hazards in the surrounding environment, a sensor assembly 5 is installed on the frame 2. The sensor assembly 5 is used to detect various information required for lifesaving equipment and the ship's environment, including but not limited to ship attitude information, deck 3 flooding information, surrounding sea conditions information, and ship distress alarm information.

[0057] Specifically, sensor assembly 5 includes a tilt sensor 51. The tilt sensor 51 is used to monitor the changes in the ship's roll and pitch angles under wave action in real time. In this embodiment, the tilt sensor 51 uses a MEMS capacitive tilt measurement chip. The tilt sensor 51 is fixed to the bottom plate of the fixed base cavity of the support 41 in an embedded manner. This installation position is close to the plane of the deck 3, which can most accurately reflect the actual tilt state of the ship's deck 3 and avoid additional vibration errors introduced by installation on the ship's superstructure. The tilt sensor 51 completes the initial horizontal calibration during the installation and commissioning of the life raft and continuously outputs absolute angle data during subsequent operation.

[0058] The sensor assembly 5 also includes a water level sensor 52. The water level sensor 52 is used to sense the actual immersion depth of the ship's side or the edge of the deck 3. In this embodiment, the water level sensor 52 employs a capacitive or electrode-based liquid level detection principle. Its sensing probe is installed via a waterproof cable on the outer plating of the ship's side near the deck 3 or below the outer edge of a fixed base. The water level sensor 52 contains multiple sensing electrodes distributed vertically. When the seawater rises to different heights, the corresponding electrodes are activated, thereby outputting the corresponding water level signal. Through this configuration, the water level sensor 52 can accurately determine whether the ship is taking on water and the severity of the ingress, providing crucial information for the intelligent control module to identify potential hazards.

[0059] Sensor assembly 5 also includes a wave intensity sensor 53. The wave intensity sensor 53 is used to collect dynamic information about the sea conditions in the area where the ship is currently located. In this embodiment, the wave intensity sensor 53 is preferably an inertial measurement unit combining a triaxial accelerometer and a gyroscope, which is embedded in the outer top of the release unit 42 or on the top support arm of the support unit 41. This installation position is far from the shielding of the deck 3, allowing direct sensing of the impact frequency and amplitude of the waves on the hull. By analyzing the vibration spectrum and amplitude changes output by the triaxial accelerometer, the data processing unit can deduce the current wave intensity level, thereby adaptively adjusting the release timing and direction of the life raft in subsequent control logic.

[0060] Sensor component 5 also includes a hull distress signal receiving unit. This unit maintains a signal connection with the ship's main control system via a marine industrial Ethernet or CAN bus. This unit directly receives distress alarm signals from the main control system, including but not limited to ship fire alarms, engine room flooding alarms, main engine malfunction alarms, and ship capsizing warnings. Through this signal cascading with the main control system, sensor component 5 can acquire distress signals immediately upon encountering a sudden emergency, even before the crew has noticed or reached the scene, thus triggering the subsequent automatic release process and significantly reducing the response delay caused by the reliance on manual observation and judgment in traditional lifesaving equipment.

[0061] This application also includes a data processing unit. The data processing unit is disposed inside the frame 2. In a specific embodiment, the data processing unit can be integrated and installed within the fixed base cavity of the support part 41, and is respectively signal-connected to the aforementioned sensor assembly 5 and automatic release assembly 4. The data processing unit is used to receive various detection information detected by the sensor assembly 5, comprehensively analyze and process the information according to preset logic, and control the opening and closing actions of the automatic release assembly 4 accordingly based on the processing results.

[0062] In this embodiment, the data processing unit specifically includes a data processing module, a fault self-diagnosis module, and a preset threshold database. The input terminals of the data processing module are connected to the tilt sensor 51, the water level sensor 52, the wave intensity sensor 53, and the hull distress receiving unit, respectively. The data processing module integrates a high-speed digital signal processor, which receives and analyzes the raw data collected by the above sensors in real time at a preset sampling frequency. The data processing module compares the real-time data with the safe threshold range stored in the preset threshold database one by one. When the tilt data exceeds the ship's safe heel angle threshold, or when the water level data exceeds the safe immersion depth threshold, or when the wave intensity data exceeds the allowable release sea state threshold, or when the hull distress receiving unit receives a distress alarm signal from the ship's main control system, the data processing module immediately outputs a trigger signal to the automatic release component 4, controls the righting drive component to adjust the angle of the release part 42, and then controls the automatic release latch 62 to perform the unlocking action.

[0063] The preset threshold database is a programmable storage unit that pre-stores multiple sets of safety threshold parameters based on different ship types, navigation conditions, and sea state levels. Before a ship is put into service, the preset threshold database can be initialized and configured according to the ship designer's specific safety standards. During use, it can also be remotely updated via the ship's control terminal to adapt to changes in sea state in different navigation areas and seasons.

[0064] The fault self-diagnosis module works in conjunction with the data processing module to periodically and automatically detect the operating status of each sensing unit in sensor assembly 5 and the data processing unit itself. The fault self-diagnosis module actively sends detection excitation signals to each sensor according to a preset self-diagnosis cycle and receives feedback response signals from each sensor to determine whether there are any abnormalities such as open circuits, short circuits, signal drift, or system crashes. For detected faults, the fault self-diagnosis module uploads the fault information to the ship's control terminal via a remote communication module and simultaneously issues audible and visual alarm signals in the bridge and engine room, prompting the crew to promptly repair or replace the faulty component.

[0065] Under normal navigation conditions, the device described in this application is in standby mode. At this time, the fault self-test module automatically starts according to a preset self-test cycle, performing system-level tests on each functional unit of the entire equipment. Specifically, the fault self-test module sequentially sends excitation signals to the tilt sensor 51, water level sensor 52, wave intensity sensor 53, the drive motor of the automatic release latch 62, the righting drive assembly, the Beidou positioning unit, and the audible and visual distress signal unit, and receives feedback. The test coverage includes the signal integrity of each sensor, the operational flexibility of each actuator, the voltage stability of the power supply unit, and the connection status of the communication link. After the test is completed, the fault self-test module encodes and summarizes the test results and uploads them to the ship's control terminal in real time via a remote communication module. Crew members can directly read the equipment status report from the bridge or engine room without having to manually check each component on-site. When any abnormality is detected in any component, the fault self-test module immediately triggers a local audible and visual alarm, and simultaneously displays the specific fault code and maintenance instructions on the ship's control terminal, ensuring that equipment faults are detected and resolved immediately, and that the lifesaving equipment is always in a readily available and qualified condition.

[0066] When a vessel encounters distress situations such as sudden tilting or flooding during navigation, the tilt sensor 51 and water level sensor 52 in sensor assembly 5 immediately respond, transmitting the distress data to the data processing unit in real time. Simultaneously, if the vessel's main control system in the bridge has issued a distress alarm signal, this signal is also transmitted synchronously through the hull distress receiving unit. Upon receiving the above data, the data processing module immediately compares the real-time detection values ​​with the safety thresholds stored in the preset threshold database. When any distress parameter is determined to exceed the safe range, the data processing module immediately identifies it as a distress situation and outputs an emergency trigger signal to the automatic release assembly 4.

[0067] Upon the issuance of the emergency trigger signal, the righting drive assembly activates first. Based on the real-time feedback from the tilt sensor 51 regarding the hull's tilt direction and angle, the righting drive assembly drives the release unit 42 to rotate around its axis relative to the support unit 41, adjusting the release unit 42 to the optimal deployment angle. This optimal angle ensures that the sliding direction of the life raft body 1 matches the ship's tilt direction and sea conditions, guaranteeing that the life raft body 1 will not collide with the ship's structure after detachment. Simultaneously with the righting drive assembly completing the angle adjustment, the control terminal of the automatic release buckle 62 receives an unlocking command from the data processing unit. The electric release drive unit activates, driving the locking tongue to retract, and the end of the strapping 61 immediately disengages from the automatic release buckle 62. Under its own weight, the life raft body 1 smoothly slides out along the arc-shaped support surface of the release unit 42, successfully detaching from the frame 2. During or after detachment, the high-pressure inflation cylinder inside the life raft body 1 is triggered, rapidly inflating the raft. The folded raft body unfolds orderly according to the preset folding pattern, forming a complete buoyancy-bearing structure on the sea surface.

[0068] Once the main body of the life raft enters the water, its built-in Beidou positioning unit, sound and light distress signaling unit, and emergency communication unit immediately switch from sleep mode to full-power working mode, respectively activating positioning, sound and light alarms, and data communication functions, and uploading accurate location information in real time to the shore rescue center and ship control platform via the remote communication module.

[0069] Specifically, in severe sea conditions, the wave intensity sensor 53 continuously monitors the frequency and amplitude of wave impacts. If a sudden change in the hull attitude or abnormal water flow around the frame 2 is detected due to the impact of a large wave, the data processing unit can dynamically adjust the output stroke of the righting drive component based on real-time data. This allows the angle of the release unit 42 to be finely adjusted within the gaps in the waves, preventing the life raft body 1 from colliding or getting stuck due to lateral wave impacts during release. Through this adaptive angle adjustment mechanism, it is ensured that the life raft body 1 can still quickly and safely enter the water even under high sea conditions, maximizing the precious time for the escape of those in distress.

[0070] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0071] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the patent protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An intelligent life raft frame, characterized in that, include: The main body of the life raft (1); The frame (2) is installed on the deck (3) to support the life raft body (1). An automatic release assembly (4) is installed on the frame (2) to control the detachment of the life raft body (1) from the frame (2); as well as, A sensor assembly (5) is mounted on the frame (2) to detect the required detection information.

2. The intelligent life raft frame according to claim 1, characterized in that, The automatic release assembly (4) includes a support (41) and a release (42). The release (42) is hinged to the support (41). A space for installing the life raft body (1) is formed between the release (42) and the support (41). When the release (42) flips toward the side away from the life raft body (1), the life raft body (1) disengages from the support (41).

3. The intelligent life raft frame according to claim 2, characterized in that, The life raft body (1) includes a binding assembly (6) which is fitted on the outside of the life raft body (1). The assembly includes a binding strap (61) and an automatic release buckle (62). One end of the binding strap (61) is connected to the support part (41), and the other end is connected to the release part (42) through the automatic release buckle (62) to connect the life raft body (1) to the frame (2).

4. The intelligent life raft frame according to claim 2, characterized in that, The system includes a righting assembly (7) installed on the frame (2). The righting assembly (7) drives the release part (42) to rotate on the support part (41) to adjust the angle between the release part (42) and the deck (3). The side wall of the life raft body (1) abuts against the side wall of the release part (42).

5. The intelligent life raft frame according to claim 1, characterized in that, The life raft body (1) is equipped with a positioning unit, an audio-visual distress signaling unit and / or an emergency communication unit.

6. The intelligent life raft frame according to claim 1, characterized in that, The frame (2) is provided with an impact-resistant buffer pad on the outside of the life raft body (1), and the impact-resistant buffer pad abuts against the life raft body (1).

7. The intelligent life raft frame according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor assembly (5) includes a tilt sensor (51), a water level sensor (52), a wave intensity sensor (53), and / or a hull distress receiving unit.

8. The intelligent life raft frame according to claim 1, characterized in that, It includes an inflation start unit connected to the inflation port of the life raft body (1).

9. The intelligent life raft frame according to claim 1, characterized in that, It includes a data processing unit that is signal-connected to the sensor assembly (5) and the automatic release assembly (4), processes the information detected by the sensor assembly (5), and controls the automatic release assembly (4) to perform actions accordingly.

10. The intelligent life raft frame according to claim 9, characterized in that, The data processing unit includes a data processing module, a fault self-testing module, and a preset threshold database. The data processing module analyzes the data collected by the sensor component (5), and the fault self-testing module performs a self-test on the sensor component (5).

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