Self-stabilizing buoy and deployment methods

摘要

A self-stabilizing buoy and deployment methods can include a main body and a cage that can be attached to the main body. A ballast can be slidably positioned within the cage so that the ballast moves from within said cage to outside of the cage when the buoy is deployed. The cage can be formed with at least one slot. The buoy can include a locking mechanism to fix the ballast at the distal end of cage after deployment, which can include a locking head that can be fixed to the ballast and inserted into the slot, and at least one flexible cantilevered arm that can extend from the cage into the slot at its distal end. As the buoy is deployed, the weight of the ballast can be sufficient to urge the locking head past the cantilevered arm to fix and lock the ballast during buoy deployment.

主权项

1. A buoy, comprising:
a main body; a cage attached to said main body, said cage having a proximal end and a distal end, said cage being formed with at least one slot; a ballast, said ballast moving from within said cage at said proximal end to outside of said cage at said distal end when said buoy is deployed; a locking mechanism for fixing said ballast at said distal end after said buoy is deployed, said locking mechanism further including a locking head fixed to said ballast and inserted into said at least one slot; and, said locking mechanism further including a means for locking said locking head at said distal end when said buoy is deployed.