GB2473860A

GB2473860A - Accident mitigation system

Info

Publication number: GB2473860A
Application number: GB0916928A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael William Anthony Cartwright; Andrew Robert Archer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-25
Filing date: 2009-09-25
Publication date: 2011-03-30
Also published as: GB0916928D0

Abstract

An accident mitigation system comprising a tag 12, a transmitter 2 for transmitting a signal and a receiver 4 mounted on a vehicle or other machine. The tag 12 is detected by the receiver 4 when the receiver 4 receives the signal from the tag 12 and the tag 12 is within a distance from the receiver 4. The tag may be secured to a high visibility jacket or safety helmet. The system is used on construction, railway or warehouse sites in which accidents involving machinery may occur.

Description

Accident Mitigation System The invention relates to an accident mitigation system.

When operating heavy plant machinery, such as on a railway or construction site, there is a risk that a worker could be injured by the machines. Accidents may also occur in a warehouse or factory environment where machines can also be hazardous. The present invention seeks to mitigate the occurrence of accidents caused by such machines.

Electronic article surveillance is well known in retail security. Tags are affixed to items in a store and when an item with a tag is passed within range of a receiver, the receiver will identify the tag and sound an alarm if the item is being removed from the store without the store owner's permission. There are a number of different systems, including using use of radio frequency identification tags. The tag may be an active tag and can contain a battery and transmit signals which can be received by a receiver, or it can be a passive tag which can reflect a signal from a transmitter to be received by a receiver. Battery assisted passive tags are also known which become active when triggered by a signal. Electronic article surveillance systems can also comprise magnetic tags, and make use of microwaves and other frequencies as signals.

Sensor technology is also known to aid avalanche searches. Mountaineers may wear a passive or an active, tag which can be detected by a searcher in the event of an avalanche.

The present invention employs proximity sensor technology to mitigate accidents caused by machines. The innovative use of the technology provides a way of monitoring a region in which an accident could occur. The system can readily be employed in existing machines and on existing sites and all workers can easily and cheaply be provided with a tag.

The present invention provides an accident mitigation system comprising a tag, a transmitter for transmitting a signal, and a receiver, wherein the tag is detected by the receiver when the receiver receives the signal from the tag and the tag is within a distance of the receiver, wherein in use the receiver is mounted on a machine.

The present invention also provides a method of detecting an object or person for mitigating accidents comprising the steps of providing a tag, a transmitter for transmitting a signal and a receiver for receiving the signal mounted on a machine, the receiver detecting the tag when the receiver receives the signal from the tag when the tag is within a distance of the receiver.

The present invention further provides a tag as an accident mitigation device for an accident mitigation system, the accident mitigation system comprising a transmitter for transmitting a signal and a receiver, wherein the tag is detected by the receiver when the receiver receives the signal from the tag and the tag is within a distance of the receiver and the receiver is mounted on a machine in use.

Mounting the receiver on a machine provides a way of monitoring a region in proximity to the machine. If a tag comes within the monitored region in which the receiver can receive signals from the transmitter, either reflected from the tag or emitted from a transmitter mounted on the tag, the presence of the tag in the region can become known.

The transmitter may be mounted on the machine in use. In this way, the tag need not be an active tag and the tag can simply reflect the signal emitted by the transmitter on the machine. The receiver detects the tag when the tag is within a distance in which the signal reflected or emitted by the tag can be received. The transmitter may alternatively be mounted externally to the machine in a region of the machine, such as on a floor of a warehouse.

The machine be a vehicle. A vehicle comprises means which allow it to move with respect to a ground surface in use. For this purpose, the machine may comprise wheels or rail bogies. Alternatively, the machine may not be a vehicle, being stationary with respect to a ground surface in use, for example, a vat in which chemicals are stirred in a factory. Such machines can still cause injury to a person and it may be desirable to detect a tag when it comes within a distance of the machine.

The machine may be one of a crane, a digger, a forklift truck, a bulldozer and a dump truck. The machine may also be a warehouse vehicle.

The machine may comprise rail bogies. Rail bogies enable the machine to be mounted on a railway.

The machine may comprise an attachment, such as a trailer, a large grab bucket or a scrap box. A receiver may be mounted on the attachment and a transmitter may be mounted on the attachment to enable a region around the attachment to be monitored.

The present invention also provides a tag as an accident mitigation device for an accident mitigation system, wherein the tag can be detected by a receiver when the receiver receives a signal and the receiver is mounted on a machine.

The tag may be secured to an item of high visibility clothing, such as a high visibility jacket. The tag is secured in that it is fixedly attached to the jacket and cannot be readily removed. It may be sewn into a pocket of the jacket or incorporated in a jacket liner.

More than one tag can be provided. With more tags in a garment, it may be more likely that a person will be detected by a receiver. For example, two tags could be provided in the jacket anns, two on the jacket front and two on the jacket back. The tag may be secured in trousers with, for example, two tags in each trouser leg at the front and two tags in each leg at the back. The tag or tags may alternatively be provided and secured in a bard helmet, or in protective footwear. In the case of a hard hat, the tag could be moulded integrally with the hard helmet. It may be provided in a pocket provided on the hard helmet.

A tag may be secured to a stationary object in use. This is an object within the region in which the machine is operable which may be hit by part of the machine if the machine operator does not see the object. Since the object comprises a tag, the object can be detected when the machine is in proximity to the object. The tags may be provided both on stationary objects and in high visibility jackets.

Furthermore, the accident mitigation system may comprise a prevention means for taking action to reduce the risk of an accident occurring. Upon detection of a tag by the receiver, a machine operation can thus be altered or an alarm can be sounded to mitigate the occurrence of an accident. In other words, in response to the receiver detecting the tag, an event may be afterwards caused to occur which reduces the chance of an accident involving the machine occurring. The event may be any action which helps reduce the chances of an accident with the machine occurring, in which accident the machine could damage a person or object. A region in proximity to a machine is no longer just monitored, provision of the prevention means ensures the region is protected too.

Not all machines have a person as an operator at all times and some can be pre-programmed to carry out certain operations. In the case of the machine having an operator, there may be one or more blind spots around the machine which are regions which the machine operator cannot visibly see from the operating position. The receiver and tag combination provides a way of allowing the blind spot to be monitored, and furthermore protected if an accident prevention means is present. For pre-programmed machines without an operator, dangerous operating regions around the machine may not be in supervised view and a person who walks too close to the machine may be at risk of being hurt by the machine.

The prevention means may comprise an alarm for mounting in a region of an operating position of the machine, wherein the alarm is activated upon detection of the tag by the receiver. The alarm may be mounted, for example, in a cab of the machine. Crucially the alarm is provided in a location such that a machine operator will be aware if the alarm is activated. The machine carries out an event, an alarm, which alerts the operator t to the presence of a person or object within a distance of the machine. The operator can then take action to stop the machine. The alarm may be a visual alarm, such as a flashing light. It may alternatively, or in addition, be an audible alarm. An alarm may, additionally or alternatively, be broadcast across a site on which the machine is being used to notify others, including say a person wearing the detected tag, that a tag has been detected by a receiver. This action may help reduce the risk of an accident occurring.

If the receiver detects a tag a signal may alternatively or additionally be sent to a central switchboard to notify a site manager that a tag has been detected. Advantageously, any potential hazards on the site can be monitored and brought to the awareness of a site manager.

The prevention means may comprise alert means for sending an alert signal to a solenoid of the machine to stop a function of the machine upon detection of the tag. An aspect of the machine can thereby be stopped when said receiver detects presence of the tag. The solenoid may be a drive solenoid if the machine is a vehicle such that motion of the machine can be stopped if a tag is detected. Alternatively, the solenoid may be a functions solenoid and connected to circuitry which an independent function of the machine, for example moving a crane arm. The respective function solenoids can be notified by an alert signal from at least one receiver to stop operation of the particular function when said receiver detects presence of a tag. This would say stop the crane arm from moving if a tag were to be detected.

The distance within which the tag is detected by the receiver may advantageously not be greater than three feet from the machine. The receiver or a number of receivers can be arranged such that site personnel can be within a moderate distance from the machine but if they are within three feet of the machine, the receiver will detect the tag. It may be safe practice to have a no-go area for site personnel within three foot of the machine.

If the drive solenoid cuts power to the engine when the tag is detected, a machine in the form of a vehicle travelling at a regulated worksite speed of five miles per hour will stop before travelling three feet.

The receiver and the transmitter if provided on the machine may be powered by the power supply of the machine.

The system may make use of electromagnetic waves or radio frequency waves to detect the tag.

The machine may comprise an override means. This prevents the signal from being transmitted or processed. temporarily if an operator desires not to monitor the region around the receiver. The override means may simply be a switch which cuts power to the transmitter andlor receiver, or it may be a switch which is opened to prevent a signal received by the receiver from being processed. The switch may be key operated meaning an operator may require a physical key to unlock and activate the override means, or the key may be in another form which restricts access to activating the override means, such as a keypad on which an unlocking code must be entered to activate the override means. The override means may selectively disable the prevention means. Therefore, if a person wearing a tag needed to be near the receiver, the override means could be used to disable the prevention means e.g. a switch could be opened preventing a signal being sent to an audio alann, which would otherwise sound when the signal was detected. An external light may be provided with the override means to show whether the system is in an operational or override state.

The transmitter and/or the receiver may comprise a fault alert means. If there should be a fault with the transmitter or receiver or associated circuitry, the fault alert means could for example emit a sound or a light to alert an operator to the fault.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention in which a person is standing at a first position which is too far from the receiver for a tag on the person to be detected by the receiver; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the first embodiment with a person standing at a second position which is close enough the receiver for a tag on the person to be detected by the receiver; Figure 3 is a plan view of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, illustrating a region within which a tag is detected by the receiver; Figure 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention comprising more than one receiver and showing the regions within which the tag is detected; Figure 5 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the invention in which a tag is mounted on a vehicle accessory; Figure 6 is a schematic view of a hard hat incorporating a tag; and Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating components of the transmitter and receiver system.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention in which a transmitter 2 and a receiver 4 are mounted to monitor a blind spot on a rear end of a machine 6. The transmitter emits electromagnetic waves. A person 8 wears a high visibility jacket 10 comprising a tag 12. The person 8 is standing at a first position which is too far from the machine 6 for the tag 12 to be detected by the receiver 4. The transmitter 2 and receiver 4 are encased in rubber.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 in which the person 8 is standing at a second position closer to the machine 6 than they are in Figure 1. The arm 40 shown in Figure 1 has however been omitted from show in Figure 2 in the interest of clarity. The tag 12 is sufficiently close to the transmitter 2 so as to receive the electromagnetic waves and the receiver detects the presence of the tag 12. When the receiver 4 first detects the tag 12, a signal is sent to a control panel 14 (see Figure 7), which sends a signal to the drive solenoid 16 to stop the machine from moving, preventing any forwards, reverse or sideways movement of the machine 6. The control panel 14 also sends a signal to a function solenoid 18 to stop movement of the arm 40 attached to the machine 6. The control panel is simpiy an electronics connection point such as a printed circuit board which ensures components of the system are connected and work together as required. The machine comprises rail bogies 44.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 7, the control panel 14 also triggers an audio alarm 20 and a visual alarm 22 in the cab 30 of the machine 6 when the receiver 4 detects presence of the tag 12. The machine operator is made aware that a person 8 is standing too close to the machine 6. The transmitter 2, receiver 4, control panel 14, audio alarm and visual alarm 22 are all powered by a power supply 24 of the vehicle 6. An inverter or converter 26 is provided to ensure the power supplied is in the correct form and voltage. A fuse box 28 is also provided with the power supply 24.

An override means 46 is positioned in a cab 30 of the machine 6 (see Figure 2). Here, the override means 46 is in the form of a switch associated with the receiver. The switch is opened when an operator wishes to override the system to prevent signals from the receiver being communicated. The override means 46 is operated by a key. An external light is provided with the override means to show whether the system is an operational or override state. The receiver still detects presence of a tag in a region near the machine but no consequences follow as a result of the tag being detected, e.g. audio alarm 20 is not activated.

A fault alert means 48 is provided in the cab 30. The fault alert means emits a light and a sound if a fault is detected with the receiver 4, the transmitter 2 or other parts of the system. The fault alert means is shown in Figure 7 as linked to a control panel 14 and the fault alert means is in electronic communication with all parts of the system which it is desirable to monitor for faults.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the first embodiment of the invention. The transmitter 2 and receiver 4 are mounted on a rear end of the machine 6. The line 32 shows the limits of a region in plan view outside the machine 6. If the tag 12 is located within the region, the receiver 4 will detect presence of the tag 12 whereas if the tag 12 is located outside the region, the receiver 4 will not detect the tag. Point A' is one side of the line 32 and outside the region whereas point B' is the other side of the line and inside the region.

The line 32 is merely schematic and does not place an geometrical constraints on the shape of the region.

A tag 12 is mounted to an object 36. In the vehicle position shown, the tag 12 is located outside the line 32. If the machine 6 moves such that the tag 12 is detected by the receiver 4, a signal will be sent to the drive solenoid 16 and the machine can be stopped from moving. The machine will stop before contacting the object 36 and an alarm will sound in the cab.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention in which a transmitter 2 and a receiver 4 are provided on each of the four sides of the machine 6.

Each receiver has a region in which the tag 12 will be detected and a region in which it will not be detected. The boundary between these regions is shown by the line 32 and lines 32 protect a region within 3 foot of the vehicle 6. Point A' is on one side of the line 32 and is not within a region in which a tag could be detected whereas point B' is on another side of the line. Point C' is in a region in which the tag 12 will be detected by more than one receiver 4. It will be appreciated that the lines 32 are merely schematic and of importance is that a region of within 3 feet of the machine is monitored. The transmitter 2 and receiver 4 are encased in rubber.

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of the invention in which a transmitter 102 and a receiver 104 are provided on a vehicle attachment 34 in the form of a trailer attached to a machine 6 in the form of a vehicle. When a person 8 comes within range of the receiver 104, an audio alarm 20 and a visual alarm 22 will be triggered in the cab 30 of the machine 6. A signal will also be sent to drive solenoid 16 to stop movement of the vehicle and vehicle attachment 34. The transmitter 102 and receiver 104 are encased in rubber.

Figure 6 is a schematic view showing a tag 12 attached to a hard hat 38. The hard hat 38 can be worn by a person on a construction site and a vehicle comprising a receiver will respond if the tag 12 comes within range of the receiver. The tag 12 is secured in the hardhat.

Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating components of the receiver and transmitter system. Aspects of this system have been discussed in relation to the embodiments of the invention described above.

The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described. Other arrangements and suitable materials will be apparent to a reader skilled in the art.