IL146736A

IL146736A - Locking system for means of transportation

Info

Publication number: IL146736A
Application number: IL14673601A
Authority: IL
Inventors: Ofer Katz
Original assignee: Magal Security Systems Ltd; Ofer Katz
Priority date: 2001-11-25
Filing date: 2001-11-25
Publication date: 2006-04-10
Also published as: WO2003046679A2; AU2002353469A1; WO2003046679A3

Description

LOCKING SYSTEM FOR MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION Eitan, Pearl, Latzer & Cohen-Zedek P-4708-IL Locking System for Means of Transportation Field of Invention The present invention refers to a locking and warning system in general, and in particular to a system for locking means of transportation, such as aircraft while on the ground, yachts anchored in a marina, or trucks parked in a parking lot, and for warning of an intrusion into these transportation means, or of these means having been moved.

Background of the Invention Means of transportation, such as aircraft, yachts or trucks, remain for a considerable duration of time in a static state of parking at known and fixed parking sites (e.g. - an aircraft is parked in the parking area of an airfield, a yacht is anchored at a pier in the marina, or a truck is parked in a truck parking lot).

All these means of transportation have one feature in common: They can be stolen and used for terror attacks. Acts of terror by crashing a kidnapped airplane into a sensitive target have been proven to be an absolutely likely possibility in light of the events of September 11, 2001 (crashing of kidnapped airplanes into the Twin Towers in New York and into the Pentagon in Washington). An aircraft being flown and directed to its target by a kidnapper, who possesses flying qualifications, has been defined as an "intelligent bomb" of the terrorists.

Another possibility, which had been suggested, was that terrorists might attempt to steal an airplane parked on the ground, and to take off in it for a crash act of terror, as said - a scenario that became more real. And this in light of the expected rise in safety means during the flight, as well as before the flight, when performing a pre-control of the passengers prior to take-off. As a result thereof, an improvement is expected, which will make it difficult for the terrorists to seize control over an airplane in flight.

Considered from this aspect, opportunity makes the thief. The development of aviation gave rise to a wide distribution of aircraft and airfields. In many airfields, airplanes are parked with fuel tanks filled and practically ready for take off. All that is needed is a pilot, and it has been proven, as said, that there may well exist the possibility of a terrorist being capable of acting as a pilot. Many of the airplanes are light aircraft, among them airplanes for dusting purposes, which could be used by terrorists for dispersing chemical or bacteriological matters. The airplanes are scattered over airfields, part of which are in remote locations and without any peripheral guarding.

Sometimes, the airplanes are tied to the ground (for example - the wings are tied to the ground at anchoring points fixed in advance to protect the airplane against gusts of wind), or the cockpit of the plane is locked, or starting the engine of the plane requires turning of a fitting key (as in a car). However, this concerns simple means of tying and locking, which are easy to disconnect, break or circumvent.

Consequently, at the time before the present invention, it was possible, for example, to intrude into a light aircraft parked on a remote landing strip, and to move it to the take-off runway, to start up the engine of the airplane and to take off, undisturbed. All this, with relative ease and without any warning of the theft occurrence. Similar scenarios might take place as the result of a boat being stolen from a marina and directed to cause a collision, or as the result of a truck being stolen from a parking lot.

At the same time, in various other fields, the protection and warning technologies have since been improved. Thus, for example, in the field of vehicle protection, locking devices are known which make it difficult to intrude into the vehicle, or at least, require considerable time for it (e.g. - locks adapted to lock the steering wheel of the car or the gearshift lever, or a device for locking the wheels of the vehicle - the so-called "Denver Shoe").

Another example, in the field of security for containers, the tempers proof seal technology is known for the locking of containers. In addition to the physical difficulty involved in breaking the seal, the seal also allows an indication of the fact of the container having been opened in the course of its transportation (at the time when the container arrived in the port and the seal apparently remained "closed" as before). It concerns a wireless electronic seal, which, from the time it has been locked, enables reading of data transmitted from it. Such a seal technology is described, for example, in the Internet site www.hiqtek.com.

The present invention, as it is described hereunder, adopts the protection and warning technologies pointed out by us hereinabove, and integrates them into a comprehensive warning system and into a device for locking means of transportation, such as an airplane while on the ground, a yacht anchored in a marina, or a truck in parking lot.

Summary of the Invention One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide physical locking of means of transportation, for example - physical locking of the airplane while being parked on the ground.

In accordance with said example of locking transportation means, such as an airplane, it concerns, according to the present invention, the application of a locking device, which does not necessitate any physical tying of the airplane parked in the airfield, to anchoring posts fixed in the ground. In other words, the application of the present invention does not required fixed anchors, (which are usually located in the parking area of the airplanes for tying the wings, to protect against gusts of wind, as aforesaid).

Furthermore, a protection device, which will be according to the present invention, is a mobile, of compact size and relatively lightweight, feature which enable mobility of the device inside the means of transportation itself. Thus, according to the aforesaid example of locking means of transportation, such as an airplane, the pilot, after landing, will dismantle the locking device from its place inside the airplane and lock the airplane at the place where he parked the airplane. Before take off, he will release the device and store it inside the airplane.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a comprehensive warning system, which will allow a sufficient margin of time between the time the warning of an intrusion attempt is received and the physical intrusion into the locking device itself. The physical intrusion into the device is difficult in itself, and therefore, the warning transmitted to the system, into which the intrude locking device is integrated, is given from and about the time of starting the effort to break into the locking device.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide locking and warning as aforesaid, and this without the need for physical tying of the locking device to sensitive components of the means of transportation. Thus, according to said example of locking transportation means such as an airplane, the use of a locking device according to the present invention does not necessitate connecting it to an avionics related component of the planes, for example - to the propeller of a light airplane, where any bump to it could create a safety - aviation failure.

The present invention achieves these objectives by means of a system comprising a means for locking, which is adjusted upon locking, to physically engaged component in the means of transportation to be locked (e.g. - a light airplane, a yacht, a truck). A wireless electronic seal is mounted into the means for locking and is integrated therein upon being locked, so that it will be stimulatable for transmitting after the means for locking will have been connected to the component of the means of transportation, as said.

According to the invention, at least one wireless data reader is placed at a known point relatively to the site where the means of transportation is likely to park (in accordance with the examples pointed out by us hereinabove, - the parking area in the airfield, the pier in the marina, or the truck parking lot). The wireless data reader is adjusted to receive transmission from the wireless electronic seal mounted in said means for locking. A control center is linked to the wireless data reader for decoding and analyzing the transmission received from the wireless electronic seal, which are read by the wireless data reader. In this manner, the system will give an indication of the location of the means of transportation in relation to the point where the wireless data reader is located, and an indication of the locking status of the means for locking.

In one preferred configuration of the present invention, the system is applied for the locking of a means of transportation of the type of a light airplane when parked in the parking area of an airfield. The device for locking is in the configuration of a mobile "Denver Shoe"; adjusted to be mounted on the wheel of the airplane, and a mobile remote control unit enabling the activation and de-activation of the wireless electronic seal in encoded communication.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for locking a means of transportation during parking is embodied in the invention, while, according to the example of application of the present invention for locking a light airplane during parking, the method comprises the parking of the airplane at the site, the location of which is known as concerns the wireless data reader, locking of the airplane by way of a physical engagement between means for locking and a non-avionics component of the airplane (e.g. - a wheel), and activation of the wireless electronic seal mounted in the means for locking, so that it will be stimulatable for transmitting to the wireless data reader, in the event of an intrusion into the means for locking, or the removal thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures, in which: Figure No. 1 is an illustration of the application of a system according to the present invention, for the purpose of locking airplanes during their parking in a parking area of an airfield.

Figure No. 2 is a schematic illustration of an example of means for locking according to the present invention, an example in the "Denver Shoe" configuration for the locking of a wheel component, the "Shoe" being illustrated in an "open" position - before being mounted on the wheel.

Figure No. 2a is a schematic illustration of the means for locking, which is illustrated in Figure No. 2, in a "closed" position, but before locking.

Figure No. 2b is a schematic illustration of the means for locking, which is illustrated in Figures 2 - 2a, in a locked position.

Figure No. 2c is a schematic illustration of the means for locking, which is illustrated in Figures Nos. 2 and 2a, in a "closed" position, but before locking, with a mobile remote control device lying also on the "Shoe".

Figure No. 3 is a schematic illustration of another example of means for locking device according to the present invention, an example in the configuration of a lock with a cable.

Figure No. 4 is a schematic illustration of a further application configuration of the present invention, where the system is not integrated into a peripheral system, but is activated as an autonomous-individual system.

Detailed Description of Embodiments Referring to Figure No. 1, this Figure is an illustration of an application of System 10 according to the present invention, for the locking of light airplanes 30, 30', 30", while parked in the parking area 40 of an airfield. It will be emphasized and understood by any person skilled in the art that the invention is described in respect of means of transportation of the type of light airplanes, as said, however, it is suitable for application for the locking of means of transportation of other types, as well (as aforesaid - yachts in a marina, trucks in a parking lot, and similar).

System 10 comprises means for locking, each of which are adjusted upon locking, to physically engage a component in light airplanes 30, 30', 30". According to the illustrated example (and as will be explained in respect of Figures 2 - 2c), the device for locking is in the configuration of a "Denver Shoe" 50 (see the enlarged section of the illustration), and the component in airplanes, to which it is adapted to connect physically upon locking, is a wheel of the relevant airplane (in the enlarged section of the illustration - wheel 60 in airplane 30).

According to the illustrated example, a security fence 70 (not being part of the invention) fences the parking lot 40, on its posts, on which a second component of the system, being the subject of the invention, - a wireless data reader 80 - is mounted. In the illustrated example, it concerns two wireless data readers 81 and 82, who are located at a distance from one another and are adjusted to receive a communication in known ranges (marked 81' and 82'). Placing of the wireless data readers in such a configuration creates, in fact, cells covering the parking area 40.

According to the illustrated example, a data line in the configuration of a cable 90 connects between the wireless data readers 81 and 82 to a remote control center 100. A control center 100 may be located as part of the control tower of the airfield and integrated into a ground traffic control system of the airfield. Cable 90 transmits the transmission data received in the wireless data reader (in the illustrated example - 81 and 82), in a communication that could be a digital data communication, for example - RS 485.

Referring again to the enlarged section of the illustration, the means for locking integrates into its structure a wireless electronic seal 110, or in another terminology known in the art - a wireless lock. On locking the shoe 50 onto wheel 60, the transmitter comprised in the wireless electronic seal 110 is set. Upon being set, it will be stimulatable to the transmission of indications to the wireless data reader 82, being in the reception radius cell 82', in which the airplane 30 was parked.

As we will see in the following, the indications which will be transmitted, will enable the control center 100 to provide information on the airplane 30 being in the parking area 40 or leaving it (while the means for locking is still set), and on the locking position of shoe 50.

Referring to Figure No. 2, the figure is a schematic illustration of an example of means for locking according to the present invention. The illustrated example is similar to the configuration of the "Denver Shoe" 50 for locking a wheel component 60, which was illustrated in the enlarged section of Figure 1.

The "Denver Shoe" 50 is illustrated in "open" position - prior to being mounted on the wheel 60 (which is not illustrated). The Shoe is designed in a typical and known structure of several arms 200, which are adapted to embrace the wheel on mounting. One of the arms - 210 - is movable in such a manner as to allow the mounting of the shoe onto the wheel. In the illustrated example, the movable arm 210 rotates around an axis (not illustrated). As will be understood by any person skilled in the art, "shoe" 50 could be manufactured with a telescopically movable arm, and not just with a rotating arm, as illustrated in the example.

Comprised in the basis 220 of the shoe 50 is a lock (not shown), for locking the movable arm 210 in a manner known and familiar to any person skilled in the art. An extractable key 230 is used for locking and opening the lock, thereby enabling the fixation and release of movable arm 210.

In the illustrated example, a rail 240 is mounted onto the movable arm 210. Mounted inside the rail 240, and in a manner allowing shifting to the length of the rail 240, is one sliding assembly of wireless electronic seal 110 - assembly 250. Mounted on basis 220 is a second assembly - a static assembly of a wireless electronic seal 110 - assembly 260. The assemblies are mounted in a relatively specific location, which we will explain in the following.

Referring to Figure No. 2a, this is a schematic illustration of the means for locking 50, which is illustrated in Figure No. 2, in a "closed" position, but before locking. In the position in which the device is illustrated (for illustration purposes without the wheel which it is designed to embrace in mounting), with a rotation of the movable arm 210 to the position of wheel embracing, the movable arm 210, and mounted on it the rail 240 and the sliding assembly 250 of the wireless electronic seal 110, is placed opposite the static assembly 260 of the wireless electronic seal 110. The extractable key 230 of the lock is placed between these.

Referring to Figure No. 2b, this figure is a schematic illustration of the means for locking device 50, which is illustrated in Figure No. 2 - 2a, in a locked position, and physically embracing wheel 60.

To lock shoe 50 onto wheel 60, the lock comprised in the basis 220 of the shoe 50 is locked, and the key 230 is removed. Thereafter, the sliding assembly 250 of the wireless electronic seal 110 is moved along rail 240, to connect to the static assembly 260 of the wireless electronic seal 110. Thus, in this configuration which is derived directly from the conceptual relative location of the different components, wireless electronic seal 110 is geometrically and therefore -physically, blocking the access to the lock opening (after extracting the key 230).

Referring to Figure No. 2c, this is a schematic illustration of the means for locking 50, which is illustrated in Figures Nos. 2 and 2a, in a "closed" position, but before locking, with a mobile remote control device 270 lying also on the "Shoe" 50. A mobile remote control device 270 is used to remotely set or activate the wireless electronic seal 110, and to de-activate it by encoded transmission.

As described above, the wireless electronic seal technology in itself has been known and familiar for a long time. On connecting the assemblies to one another, and on activating the system, the wireless electronic seal (or "lock") is stimulated to transmit at any time when somebody attempts to break the seal (as long as it is not de-activated by the remote control).

As will be understood by any person skilled in the art, there is no limitation to combined and integrate additional sensors into the wireless electronic seal. For example - arms 200 of the shoe 50 can be wired by conductive wires, so that any attempt to bend or break the arms, will also result in stimulating the wireless electronic seal 110 to transmit warning indications.

Furthermore, it will be understood by any person skilled in the art that a system according to the present invention will not necessitate only a means for locking being in the "Denver Shoe' configuration, as described in Figures 2 - 2c hereinabove.

Referring to Figure No. 3, the Figure is a schematic illustration of a further example of means for locking according to the present invention, an example in the configuration of a lock 300 with a cable 320. Cable 320 can be comprised of an electric conductor 322, twisted into a steel cables 324, being linked to the wireless electronic seal 310, so that the conductor 322 being caused to react to an intrusion attempt, stimulates the wireless electronic seal 310 into transmitting. In another configuration, the cable can be comprised of an optical fiber interwoven into a steel cable being linked to the wireless electronic seal, so that the fiber being caused to react to an intrusion attempt stimulates the wireless electronic seal into transmitting.

Anyhow, it is clear therefore that the system is not restricted only to an application with means of transportation on wheels. Also a locking device such as the one illustrated in Figure No. 3 can lock a boat anchoring at a pier in a marina (for example - by tying the steering wheel with cable 320 to another component of the boat body).

Referring to Figure No. 4, this is a schematic illustration of a further application configuration of the present invention, where the system 410 is not integrated into the peripheral system, but is activated as an autonomous -individual system. In this configuration, a wireless data reader 480 is connected to a further component in the system - a cellular dialing modem 499. Thus, the cellular telephone 499' of the owner of the means of transportation, or someone on his behalf, accompanied by the cellular dialing modem 499, is used as the control center of the system, which receives indications in the event of an attempt to open or break the wireless lock 411 or removal of the lock out of the wireless data reader 480 receiving range 480'.

Moreover, from the aforesaid description and the accompanying figures, it arises that the application of the present invention embodies a method of locking a parked means of transportation, a method which comprises the parking of the means of transportation in a site the location of which is known as concerns the wireless data reader (see in Figure 1 parking of airplane 30 in the parking area 40, being within the receiving range 82' of the wireless data reader 82, or in Figure 4, the airplane 430 being within the receiving range 480' of the wireless data reader 480, left on the airplane).

The method furthermore comprises the locking of the means of transportation by way of a physical engagement of a device - means for locking, to a component in the means of transportation (see, in Figures 1 and 2 - 2c, the physical connection to a wheel component 60, and likewise also in the configuration, which is illustrated in Figure 4).

The method furthermore comprises the activation of a wireless electronic seal, which is mounted in the means for locking, so that it will be possible to stimulate it into transmitting to the wireless data reader, in the event of an intrusion into the aforesaid means for locking or giving an indication (non-reception), in the event of it being moved away from the wireless data reader (see, in Figures 1 and 2 - 2c, the locking of wheel 60 and the activation of the wireless electronic seal 110 by means of an encoded remote control device 270, and likewise in the configuration illustrated in Figure 4).

Consequently, a system according to the invention, or any system which will apply the method embodied therein, will enable receiving a warning in a control center in any event of - an attempt to open or break the lock; sawing of the lock or its arms (in case of a locking device in the "Denver Shoe" configuration with wiring of sensors in the arms), or cutting of the cable (in case of a locking device in the configuration of a lock with a cable); bending of the arms (in case of a locking device in the "Denver Shoe" configuration with wiring of sensors in the arms); moving the wireless electronic seal or "lock" outside the range of the cell of the wireless data reader in which the wireless electronic seal is activated; an attempt to move the means of transportation with the wireless electronic seal activated on it outside the range of the cell of the wireless data reader, in which the wireless electronic seal is activated; as well as - in case of demolition of the wireless data reader or of the device of transmission from it (e.g. cutting of communication cable etc.).

It will be appreciated by persons who are skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described above. Rather the scope of the present invention is only defined by the claims, which follow.

Claims

P-4708-IL Claims

1. A warning system for locking a parked means of transportation, comprising means for locking, which is physically engageable upon locking, to a component of said means of transportation, and a wireless electronic seal mounted on said means for locking, and being integratable therein upon sealing, and at least one wireless data reader, located at a known point in respect of the site in which said a wireless electronic seal is mountable, and adapted to receive a transmission from said wireless electronic seal, and a control center, which is linked to said wireless data reader, for decoding an analyzing of transmissions received from said wireless electronic seal, and thereby, providing indications on said wireless electronic seal being in proximity to said point, and on the locking status of said means for locking.

2. A warning system for locking a parked means of transportation according to claim 1, wherein said means of transportation being a light airplane.

3. A warning system for locking a parked a parked means of transportation airplane in accordance with any of the claims 1 - 2, wherein said means for locking is in a "Denver Shoe" configuration, P-4708-IL and the component in the airplane, to which said means for locking is physically engaeable upon locking, is a wheel of said airplane.

4. A warning system for locking a parked means of transportation according to any of the claims 1- 2, wherein said means for locking is in the configuration of a lock with a cable.

5. A warning system for locking a parked means of transportation according to claim 4 wherein said cable is comprising at least one electric conductor, interwoven into a steel cable, which is linked to said wireless electronic seal, thereby the reaction of said conductor to an intrusion attempt stimulates said wireless electronic seal into transmitting.

6. A warning system for locking a parked means of transportation according to claims 4 wherein said cable is comprising at least one optical fiber, interwoven into a steel cable, which is linked to said wireless electronic seal, so that the reaction of said fiber to an intrusion attempt stimulates said wireless electronic seal into transmitting.

7. A warning system for locking a parked means of transportation according to any of the claims 1 - 6, wherein said means for locking, comprising, in addition, a mechanical lock, which is operatable by an extractable key, and said mechanical lock is located in relation to said wireless electronic seal, so that upon locking of said wireless electronic seal, opening of said wireless electronic seal is required to allow access to the keyhole of said lock. P-4708-IL

8. A warning system for locking a parked means of transportation according to any of the claims 1 -7, comprising, in addition, a remote control device to activate or de-activate said wireless electronic seal.

9. A warning system for locking a parked airplane according to claim 2 wherein said known point in respect of the site, in which the site in which said a wireless electronic seal is mountable, is along a fence protecting said airplane parking area.

10. A warning system for locking a parked means of transportation according to any of the claims 1 - 9, wherein the linking between said control center to said wireless data reader is by means of a communication cable transmitting data in RS 485 type of data communication.

11. A warning system for locking a parked means of transportation according to claim 1 , wherein said control center comprising a cellular communication modem adapted to transmit transmission received from said wireless data reader.

12. A method for locking a parked means of transportation, comprising parking of said means of transportation in a site the location of which is known in respect of a wireless data reader, and locking of the said means of transportation by way of physical engaging of a means for locking to a component in said means of transportation, and P-4708-IL activation of a wireless electronic seal being mounted in said means for locking, thereby enabling said wireless electronic seal to transmit to said wireless data reader, in the event of an intrusion into said means for locking, or moving it away from said wireless data reader.

13. The method for the locking of a parked means of transportation according to claim 12, wherein said means of transportation being a light airplane.

14. The method for the locking of a parked means of transportation according to any of the claims 12 - 13, wherein said activation of said wireless electronic seal preformed by an encoded remote control device.

15. A warning system for the locking of a parked means of transportation, according to any of the claims 1 - 11 , substantially as described hereinabove.

16. A warning system for the locking of a parked means of transportation, according to any of the claims 1- 11 , substantially as illustrated in any of the figures.

17. A method for the locking of a parked means of transportation, according to any of the claims 12 - 14, substantially as described hereinabove.

18. A method for the locking of a parked means of transportation, according to any of the claims 12 - 14, substantially as illustrated in any of the figures. P-4708-IL For the Applicant Maty Barzam, Adv. Eitan, Pearl, Latzer & Cohen-Zeaek Lawyers, Patent Attorneys & Notaries P - 4708 - IL israel\magal\nwin^n\Vpa\!m)O.doc (mb)