Page 17 - Osprey Binder

4.0 Technical Description and Operation

The rig is made up of a static framework of an aluminium cage (Photo 1) which holds
the safety cell upright in a position which can be accessed by drivers and the
operators to allow a test driver to enter the cockpit as in entering a race boat. This
cell is seated in a horizontal plane on a support which allows it to rotate through 180
degrees, thus enabling the cell to move from above the water surface to being
upside down and completely immersed.

The cage is supported at each longitudinal end with buoyancy chambers (Photo 1) to
allow the rig to be held in a safe configuration throughout tests. The structure of the
cage is of sufficient stiffness to resist deformation to ensure freedom of rotation of
the cell thus eliminating a possible hazard of stopping the cell being returned to the
vertical swiftly in the case of a drive trapped in the cell.

Once seated in the cockpit the operators will ensure that the harness restraint is
fitted and fastened as it would be in a race boat. The steering wheel is removable
and in this case would be fitted to the steering rod as in the race boat. the canopy
(lid) can then be lowered into position and fastened in a suitable manner.

Once the driver is in position the rig can now be operated to allow the safety cell to
be rotated in the vertical plane until it is 180 degrees from upright such that the cell is
now upturned and beneath the water surface. Attached to the holding frame and
safety cell is a system of ropes and pulleys that enables the operators to forcibly pull
on the cell until it is immersed completely. On completion of the "escape" another set
of ropes can elevate the cell back to its original position.

In order to facilitate swift immersion, large holes are cut in the walls of the cell to
allow water to ingress and also to egress without hindrance. (Photo 2)

The test drivers may complete up to 3 tests;

a) Without air and clear vision;

b) With air and clear vision;

c) With air and blacked out vision.

HMS/03/150216/Issue 1 Page 8