Releasable Float Assembly for Precision Control

Introduction

Please see terms and conditions

Abstract
Claims

A magnetic release assembly includes a housing defining a cavity, a permanent electromagnet positioned within the cavity, and a microcontroller electronically coupled with the permanent electromagnet. The microcontroller is configured to selectively provide power to the permanent electromagnet. A timer board is in communication with the microcontroller. A power source is electronically coupled with the microcontroller, the permanent electromagnet, and the timer board. The microcontroller is configured to provide power to the permanent electromagnet in response to an alarm from the timer board.

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic release assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a cavity;

a permanent electromagnet positioned within the cavity;

a microcontroller electronically coupled with the permanent electromagnet and configured to selectively provide power to the permanent electromagnet;

a timer board in communication with the microcontroller; and

a power source electronically coupled with the microcontroller, the permanent electromagnet, and the timer board, wherein the microcontroller is configured to provide power to the permanent electromagnet in response to an alarm from the timer board.

2. The magnetic release assembly of claim 1, wherein the power source includes:

a battery;

a charging board operably coupled with the battery;

a diode electronically coupled with the charging board;

a relay electronically coupled with at least one of the diode and the charging board; and

a charging pole operably coupled with the charging board, the diode, and the relay, wherein the charging pole moves the relay to provide power to the charging board when power is supplied to the charging pole.

3. The magnetic release assembly of claim 2, wherein the power source further includes a converter electronically coupled with the microcontroller and the battery.

4. The magnetic release assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a reed switch electronically coupled with the power source and the microcontroller, wherein the reed switch is movable between a neutral state and an open state and power flows through the reed switch in the neutral state.

5. The magnetic release assembly of claim 4, wherein the reed switch is positioned proximate a wall of the housing and is configured to be moved from the neutral state and the open state when a magnet is positioned proximate the wall.

6. The magnetic release assembly of claim 5, wherein the reed switch is configured to act as a reset button and as an off switch.

7. A releasable float assembly comprising:

an apparatus coupled with a float, wherein the float is configured to be buoyant;

a magnetic release assembly coupled with the apparatus, the magnetic release assembly including:

a permanent electromagnet configured to be selective engaged with the float;

a microcontroller operably coupled with the permanent electromagnet;

a timer board in communication with the microcontroller; and

a power source configured to selectively power the microcontroller, the timer board, and the permanent electromagnet.

8. The releasable float assembly of claim 7, wherein the float includes a disc configured to be selective engaged with the permanent electromagnet.

9. The releasable float assembly of claim 7, further including an application stored on a user device, wherein the application is configured to be in wireless communication with a processor of the microcontroller.

10. The releasable float assembly of claim 9, wherein the application is configured to calculate a time interval and communicate the time interval to the microcontroller.

11. The releasable float assembly of claim 10, wherein the microcontroller is configured to communicate the time interval to the timer board, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate in a lower power mode.

12. The releasable float assembly of claim 11, wherein the timer board is configured to provide an alarm to the microcontroller that the time interval has elapsed.

13. The releasable float assembly of claim 12, wherein the magnetic release assembly includes a relay positioned between the permanent electromagnet and the power source, and further wherein the microcontroller is configured to close the relay to provide power to the permanent electromagnet in response to the alarm.

14. The releasable float assembly of claim 7, wherein the power source includes:

a charging board operably coupled with one or more batteries;

a diode electronically coupled with the charging board;

a relay electronically coupled with at least one of the diode and the charging board; and

15. The releasable float assembly of claim 14, wherein the power source includes a converter electronically coupled with the microcontroller and the one or more batteries.

16. A method of programming a releasable float assembly comprising steps of:

downloading an application to a user device;

selecting a button to set up a new UMR device;

searching for a UMR device;

entering a release date and time; and

selecting a launch button to save information regarding a selected UMR device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting a button to set up a new UMR device further includes opening the application to a main page.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein searching for a UMR device further includes continuing to select a search button until a list displays the searched for UMR device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting a launch button further includes the application storing the current date and time, the release date and time, and the current GPS coordinates within the application.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising a step of:

placing the UMR device for later retrieval.

Title

Releasable float assembly and method of operating

Inventor(s)

Kamal S. Ali, Ali Abu-El Humos, James C. Addy, Michael P. Cameron, Md Mohiuddin Hasan

Assignee(s)

Jackson State University

Patent #

20220402578

Patent Date

December 22, 2022