CA2018109A1 - Locator system, in particular for underground mining - Google Patents
Locator system, in particular for underground miningInfo
- Publication number
- CA2018109A1 CA2018109A1 CA002018109A CA2018109A CA2018109A1 CA 2018109 A1 CA2018109 A1 CA 2018109A1 CA 002018109 A CA002018109 A CA 002018109A CA 2018109 A CA2018109 A CA 2018109A CA 2018109 A1 CA2018109 A1 CA 2018109A1
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- Prior art keywords
- transmitter
- locating
- accordance
- locator system
- remote switching
- Prior art date
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Links
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 title abstract description 11
- 230000001702 transmitter Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 238000001208 nuclear magnetic resonance pulse sequence Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 229910000859 α-Fe Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000003321 amplification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003199 nucleic acid amplification method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 208000003443 Unconsciousness Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007812 deficiency Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
- A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
- A62B99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B29/00—Apparatus for mountaineering
- A63B29/02—Mountain guy-ropes or accessories, e.g. avalanche ropes; Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons
- A63B29/021—Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16P—SAFETY DEVICES IN GENERAL; SAFETY DEVICES FOR PRESSES
- F16P3/00—Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body
- F16P3/12—Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine
- F16P3/14—Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
- F16P3/147—Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G01S13/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
- G01S13/74—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
- G01S13/76—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems wherein pulse-type signals are transmitted
- G01S13/767—Responders; Transponders
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Pulmonology (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Emergency Management (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
- Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A locator system, in particular for underground mining, with a locator trans-mitter (1), to be carried by a person to be located, and a locator receiver (2), to be carried by a searching person or the like, where electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter (1) are received by the locating receiver (2) and are evaluated in accordance with locator technology, where the locating transmitter (1) can be switched on when required and at the right time can be switched off again, can be used even more safely and flexibly in that additionally a remote switching transmitter (6) is provided, in that the locating transmitter (1) is also designed as a receiver of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter (6), in that the locating transmitter (1) is in the receive mode when not in use and in that the trans-mit mode is only triggered when electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter (6) are received.
A locator system, in particular for underground mining, with a locator trans-mitter (1), to be carried by a person to be located, and a locator receiver (2), to be carried by a searching person or the like, where electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter (1) are received by the locating receiver (2) and are evaluated in accordance with locator technology, where the locating transmitter (1) can be switched on when required and at the right time can be switched off again, can be used even more safely and flexibly in that additionally a remote switching transmitter (6) is provided, in that the locating transmitter (1) is also designed as a receiver of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter (6), in that the locating transmitter (1) is in the receive mode when not in use and in that the trans-mit mode is only triggered when electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter (6) are received.
Description
20~8~09 LOCATOR SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR FOR UNDERGROUND MINING
Field of Invention The invention relates to a locator system, in particular for underground mining,with a locating transmitter to be carried by a person whose location is to be determined, and a locating receiver to be carried by a searcher or a searching team, where electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter are received by the locating receiver and evaluated in accordance with locator technology and where the locating transmitter can be switched on when required and switchedoff agaln at the right time.
Background of Invention The known locator system on which the invention is based is intended for under-ground mining and has as a first compondent a locating transmitter carried by the person to be located, in this case built into the housing of the wet batteryof the head lamp, for example. The locating transmitter emits electromagnetic waves of a set frequency, preferably of a frequency specific to the particular locating transmitter. As a rule this is done by the locating transmitter only after it has been manually switched on or, if it is automatically switched on, when the person carrying the locating transmitter falls or when an explosion occurs, as a result of which a set pressure level is exceeded. The electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter can also be coded in the form of pulsesequences, so that it is possible to distinguish a plurality of locating trans-mitters from each other. Normal design details of the known locating transmitterinclude the use of dry and/or wet batteries and an intrinsically safe construction.
The location receiver of the known locator system is in the form of a portable device and can, for example, be carried by a mine rescuer on a strap slung around the neck or over the shoulder. The locating receiver usefully also has an intrinsically safe construction and has an appropriate antenna usable as 2018~9 direction-finding antenna. Besides the direction, it is also possible to determine the distance of a locating transmitter by means of trigonometric two-point locating.
The known locator system discussed above is not, however, sufficiently safe in its functioning, because the locating transmitter often is not switched on in case of accident or, if it is switched on, its dry or wet battery is exhausted after a comparatively short period of time, so that the locating transmitter, even though switched on, does not emit a locator signal when the mine rescuers finally begin to approach the accident site. Furthermore, its design and construction do not permit the locator system to be used in a sufficiently flexible manner.
Summary of Invention It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome deficiencies in the pror art, such as indicated above.
Another object of the invention is to provide a locator system of the general type described above which can be used more safely and flexibly, compared with the known devices.
These objects are attained in the locator system of the invention by the additional provision of a remote switching transmitter, in that the locating transmitter is also provided as a receiver of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter, in that the locating transmitter is in the receive mode when not in use and in that the transmit mode is only triggered when electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter are re-ceived. Therefore an additional system element is used in the locator system in accordance with the invention, namely the remote switching transmitter, which is used to activate the locating transmitter of the person to be located only in case of need, i.e. to switch it to the transmit mode. For this purpose the locating transmitter itself is also embodied as a receiver, so that it can re-ceive the electromagnetic waves sent out by the remote switching transmitter, which my also by coded in the manner previously described.
20181~9 As soon as the locating transmitter has received the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the remote switching transmitter, the transmit mode is switched on so that the locating receiver carried, for example by the mine rescuer, can receive the electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter. This results in the locating transmitter being actually switched on only when it is necessary, namley when for example buried persons are to be located by the use of an appropriate remote switching transmitter. The assured turning on of the locating transmitter thereby takes place independently of any action of the person carrying the locating transmitter, even when for example the former is unconscious. Also, the locating transmitter is switched on only if it makes sense from the point of view of locator technology, namely only if a locating receiver is in the vicinity. For this purpose the range of the remote switching transmitter must of course be adapted approximately to the range of the locatingtransmitter. In this way it is assured that the locating transmitter does not operate uselessly, using up precious electric energy from the battery, but operates only if and when it makes sense from the point of view of locator technology.
To exclude as much as possible the effects of interference which are present in great variety in underground mining, which is an example for the use of the locator system of the invention, the respectively emitted electromagnetic waves should be coded in a certain way, for example limited to set carrier frequencies and/or coded for set pulse sequences.
There are a number of construction possibilities the locator system according to the invention. In this connection certain variations are possible for improvements which will be evident from the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention by means of the drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the locator system in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the locating transmitter used in the locator system in accordance with the invention, Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the mechanical design of an example of such a locating transmitter, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a remote switching transmitter used in the locator system in accordance with the invention.
Detailed Description of Embodiments Fig. l shows the basic structure of the locator system in accordance with the invention, which is particularly suitable for use in underground mining, for example for locating and saving buried miners. It is intended to describe the invention further by means of this example. However, regardless of this it should be noted that the locator system in accordance with the invention can also be used under other circumstances, for example for locating people caught by avalanches or the like. The locator system according to the invention can also be used within the scope of protective devices for people, for example to provide automatic shut-off at certain locations on conveyors for people, to trigger a safety shut-off in the area of machinery when people approach, etc.
, The locator system shown schematically in Fig. l first encompasses a locating transmitter l, to be carried by the person to be located, and a locating re-ceiver 2, to be carried or otherwise disposed on or transported by the searchingperson or party. As indicated in Fig. l, electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter 1, in coded form if desired, are received by the locating receiver 2 and evaluated by it in accordance with locator technology. This can by done with the aid of analog displays 3, acoustical signals outputs 4, digitaldisplays 5 and by means of several other evaluation techniques. The locating transmitter can be switched on when needed and, of course, can be switched off at the appropriate time.
Field of Invention The invention relates to a locator system, in particular for underground mining,with a locating transmitter to be carried by a person whose location is to be determined, and a locating receiver to be carried by a searcher or a searching team, where electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter are received by the locating receiver and evaluated in accordance with locator technology and where the locating transmitter can be switched on when required and switchedoff agaln at the right time.
Background of Invention The known locator system on which the invention is based is intended for under-ground mining and has as a first compondent a locating transmitter carried by the person to be located, in this case built into the housing of the wet batteryof the head lamp, for example. The locating transmitter emits electromagnetic waves of a set frequency, preferably of a frequency specific to the particular locating transmitter. As a rule this is done by the locating transmitter only after it has been manually switched on or, if it is automatically switched on, when the person carrying the locating transmitter falls or when an explosion occurs, as a result of which a set pressure level is exceeded. The electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter can also be coded in the form of pulsesequences, so that it is possible to distinguish a plurality of locating trans-mitters from each other. Normal design details of the known locating transmitterinclude the use of dry and/or wet batteries and an intrinsically safe construction.
The location receiver of the known locator system is in the form of a portable device and can, for example, be carried by a mine rescuer on a strap slung around the neck or over the shoulder. The locating receiver usefully also has an intrinsically safe construction and has an appropriate antenna usable as 2018~9 direction-finding antenna. Besides the direction, it is also possible to determine the distance of a locating transmitter by means of trigonometric two-point locating.
The known locator system discussed above is not, however, sufficiently safe in its functioning, because the locating transmitter often is not switched on in case of accident or, if it is switched on, its dry or wet battery is exhausted after a comparatively short period of time, so that the locating transmitter, even though switched on, does not emit a locator signal when the mine rescuers finally begin to approach the accident site. Furthermore, its design and construction do not permit the locator system to be used in a sufficiently flexible manner.
Summary of Invention It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome deficiencies in the pror art, such as indicated above.
Another object of the invention is to provide a locator system of the general type described above which can be used more safely and flexibly, compared with the known devices.
These objects are attained in the locator system of the invention by the additional provision of a remote switching transmitter, in that the locating transmitter is also provided as a receiver of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter, in that the locating transmitter is in the receive mode when not in use and in that the transmit mode is only triggered when electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter are re-ceived. Therefore an additional system element is used in the locator system in accordance with the invention, namely the remote switching transmitter, which is used to activate the locating transmitter of the person to be located only in case of need, i.e. to switch it to the transmit mode. For this purpose the locating transmitter itself is also embodied as a receiver, so that it can re-ceive the electromagnetic waves sent out by the remote switching transmitter, which my also by coded in the manner previously described.
20181~9 As soon as the locating transmitter has received the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the remote switching transmitter, the transmit mode is switched on so that the locating receiver carried, for example by the mine rescuer, can receive the electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter. This results in the locating transmitter being actually switched on only when it is necessary, namley when for example buried persons are to be located by the use of an appropriate remote switching transmitter. The assured turning on of the locating transmitter thereby takes place independently of any action of the person carrying the locating transmitter, even when for example the former is unconscious. Also, the locating transmitter is switched on only if it makes sense from the point of view of locator technology, namely only if a locating receiver is in the vicinity. For this purpose the range of the remote switching transmitter must of course be adapted approximately to the range of the locatingtransmitter. In this way it is assured that the locating transmitter does not operate uselessly, using up precious electric energy from the battery, but operates only if and when it makes sense from the point of view of locator technology.
To exclude as much as possible the effects of interference which are present in great variety in underground mining, which is an example for the use of the locator system of the invention, the respectively emitted electromagnetic waves should be coded in a certain way, for example limited to set carrier frequencies and/or coded for set pulse sequences.
There are a number of construction possibilities the locator system according to the invention. In this connection certain variations are possible for improvements which will be evident from the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention by means of the drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the locator system in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the locating transmitter used in the locator system in accordance with the invention, Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the mechanical design of an example of such a locating transmitter, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a remote switching transmitter used in the locator system in accordance with the invention.
Detailed Description of Embodiments Fig. l shows the basic structure of the locator system in accordance with the invention, which is particularly suitable for use in underground mining, for example for locating and saving buried miners. It is intended to describe the invention further by means of this example. However, regardless of this it should be noted that the locator system in accordance with the invention can also be used under other circumstances, for example for locating people caught by avalanches or the like. The locator system according to the invention can also be used within the scope of protective devices for people, for example to provide automatic shut-off at certain locations on conveyors for people, to trigger a safety shut-off in the area of machinery when people approach, etc.
, The locator system shown schematically in Fig. l first encompasses a locating transmitter l, to be carried by the person to be located, and a locating re-ceiver 2, to be carried or otherwise disposed on or transported by the searchingperson or party. As indicated in Fig. l, electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter 1, in coded form if desired, are received by the locating receiver 2 and evaluated by it in accordance with locator technology. This can by done with the aid of analog displays 3, acoustical signals outputs 4, digitaldisplays 5 and by means of several other evaluation techniques. The locating transmitter can be switched on when needed and, of course, can be switched off at the appropriate time.
2~)18109 The central idea of the invention lies in that in addition to the locating transmitter 1 and the locating receiver 2 a third part of the system is pro-vided, namely a remote switching transmitter 6. The locating transmitter 1 is also designed as a receiver for electromagnetic waves, again also of a particular frequency or coded in a particular form, emitted by the remote switching trans-mitter 6. In the non-operational state, the locating transmitter 1 is in the receiving mode in which it can receive the electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter 6.
The locating transmitter 1 is only switched into the transmitting mode upon receiving the electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter 6.
Therefore the electromagnetic waves required for locating the transmitter 1 are only emitted by the locating transmitter 1 at that time, and consequently the high enery consumption connected with the transmitting operation of the locating transmitter 1 starts only at that time. In this way the locating transmitter 1 therefore operates only if and when it makes sense from the point of view of locator technology, regardless of any manipulation by the person to be located. Only small amounts of energy are required by the locating transmitter 1 for receiving the electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter 6. Accordingly it is desirable to construct the locating transmitter 6. Accordingly it is desirable to construct the locating trans-mitter 1 in such a way that in the receiving mode it requires only minimal operational current, preferably cnly a few ~LA.
As already indicated in Fig. 1, the range of the remote switching transmitter 6 according to the invention should be adapted to the range of the locating trans-mitter 1, constructed as a receiver and transmitter in accordance with the invention. The range naturally is also influenced by conditions in the surround-ings, in particular by electromagnetic disturbances from other devices, so that a certain variation range is the result. It should be possible to settle, for example, for a range of the remote switching transmitter 6 of 20 to 25 m, with interfering devices turned off, and a range of approximately 20 m for the loca-ting transmitter 1, also with interfering devices turned off, when used in underground mining.
20~81()9 For reasons of energy consumption it is desirable that the locating transmitter 1 automatically stops the transmitting mode after a fixed, pre-determined amount of time after the transmitting mode is started. The length of active time in the transmitting mode is of course dependent on the respective purpose. Active time between 3 and 50 min., preferably between 15 and 30 min., have been shown to be useful in underground mining.
The locating transmitter 1 can be operated in such a way that it transmits over a set transmitting frequency in the transmitting mode, but receives a different frequency in the receiving mode. With an appropriate distance between the two frequencies both modes can operate simultaneously, even if there is only one transmitting and receiving antenna, so that the receiving mode is retained even though the transmitting mode is turned on. This has the advantage that additionally arriving remove switching signals continuously re-activate the locating transmitter 1 or maintain the transmitting mode past the actual switch-off period. However, it is simpler from the point of view of switching technology to actually provide a switch-over of the locating transmitter 1 from the re-ceiving mode to the transmitting mode and vice versa, i.e. not to operate simultaneously in both modes.
Furthermore it is desirable to also provide that the locating transmitter 1 of the invention can be manually switched off or, if required, also manually switched on. But care chould be taken that the locating transmitter cannot be switched on or off accidentally so as not to jeopardize the advantages achieved in accordance with the invention, e.g. the battery serving advantage.
It is important that the locating transmitter 1 is not accidentally switched on by electromagnetic interference fields present in underground mining, i.e.
that is designed to be as safe as possible from interferences. The coding steps described above are recommended for this.
The block diagram of the locating transmitter 1 used in the locator system in accordance with the invention, shown in Fig. 2, discloses a transmitting and receiving antenna 7, for example a ferrite antenna or a dipole antenna, and a selective amplifier 8 for the intended remote switching frequency, placed 2`0181(~
downstream of the selective amplifier 8 and both are in positive feedback via an amplifying control 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a pulse generator 11 is placed downstream of the detector-transformer 9 which, in turn, is followed by a pulse sequence detector 12 in the switching sequence. A timing pulse gene-rator 13 for selecting the active time in the receiving mode is connected on the one side of the output of the pulse sequence detector 12 and a state memory 14 on the other. Finally, a transmitting pulse generator 15, connected to the output side of the transmitting and receiving antenna 7, follows the state memory 14.
Also shown is a battery 16 provided for the intrinsically safe voltage supply of the locating transmitter 1.
In the receiving mode, the remote switching frequency emitted by the remote switching transmitter 6 is received by means of the transmitting and receiving antenna 7. The signals received are forwarded to the selective amplifier 8, which amplifies only those having the pre-selected frequency. Amplification is controlled depending on the control signal of the automatic amplification control 10. In the downstream detector-transformer 9 the carrier frequency signals are transformed into d.c. pulses, actually to a certain set signal level. In the downstream pulse generator the distorted pulses of the pulse sequence from the detector-transformer 9 are transformed into rectangular pulses which are optimal in accordance with evaluation technology. The pulse sequence detector 12 recognizes the correctly coded pulse sequence. When the correct pulse sequence arrives, the state memory 14 is switched to the active state, which corresponds to switching on the transmission mode. The timing pulse generator 13 turns off the state memory 14 at the end of the pre-selected active time, so that the transmitting mode is turned off. In the transmitting mode, the transmitting pulse generator 15 is activated by the state memory 14 and emits, via the transmitting and receiving antenna 7, the locator frequency which preferably is different from the remote switching frequency. Indicated by an arrow on the state memory 14 is the external, manually performable possibility for resetting the state memory 14, i.e. to shut off the trans-mission mode.
20181~19 Fig. 3 illustrates the exterior structure of an example of a locating trans-mitter 1 of the type under discussion. A housing 17 is shown which, in respect to pressure and shock resistance, should fulfill the requirements made for miners' lamps and mine wet batteries. At the same time, this housing 17 should be as lightweight as possible so that it is easy to carry the location trans-mitter 1, Two switch-off contacts 18 can be seen on the front of the housing 17,which are individually provided on the exterior of the housing 17. The locating transmitter 1 can be switched off, i.e. switched from its transmitting mode, by electrically short-circuiting the switch-off contacts 18 with any electri-cally conductive object. This is a very simple solution which, however, has very well proven itself in actual use, because undesired operation by accident is extremely rare. Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows an optical operation display 19 in the housing 17, in this case in the form of an LED. Finally, the housing has two terminals 20 of the battery 16.
The remote switching transmitter 6, shown in Fig. 1 and described in detail by means of a block diagram in Fig. 4, also should be designed as a portable device, in particular it should be easily portable by a searcher, for example a mine rescuer. Usefully, the remote switching transmitter 6 has a great range for locating purposes and a correspondingly high transmission output. Not shown here in detail is that the remote switching transmitter has a folding dipole antenna for large distances, particularly distances of 20 m or more, and/or a ferrite antenna (shown in Fig.1) for lesser distances, particularly up to 6 m. Values of approximately 10 W are useful for the output of the remote switching transmitter 6 over a long range.
Because the transmitting antenna, for example the ferrite antenna 21, of the remote switching transmitter 6 has direction-dependent characteristics, it is desirable in use to activate the remote switching transmitter 6 three times in a row to remotely activate the locating transmitter 1, during which the main plane of the transmission lobe of the antenna of the remote switching trans-mitter 6 is pivoted by 90. In this way it is assured that all possible re-ceiving planes of the locatin transmitter 1 have been covered.
Not shown in Fig. 1 is another possibility, where the remote switching trans-mitter 6 has a short range, particularly a range of less that 4 m, and corres-pondingly less transmission output. Such a system is desirable, for example, in the context of asafety system for people on a personnel conveyor or the like. In this case it is desirable to assign an alarm receiver to the remote switching transmitter 6 (not shown). The remote switching transmitter 6 having a low output and the alarm receiver, provided as needed, are stationary devices which have been permanently placed in selected locations, for example in connec-tion with underground mining, and which are activated by an approaching person carrying an appropriate locating transmitter 1 or which themselves first activate the locating transmitter 1.
Fig. 4, in a block diagram, illustrates the circuit design of an example of a remote switching transmitter 6. In this example, the remote switching trans-mitter 6 has a pulse sequence generator 22, a tunable carrier frequency oscillator 23, a gate circuit 24, an output amplifier 25, an antenna tuner 26 and the previously mentioned antenna, for example a ferrite antenna 21. Further-more shown are a voltage stabilizer 27, a battery as voltage source 28 and a current measuring circuit 29 with the possibility of an analog measuring de-vice 30 and a digital LED 31, by means of which optimal tuning of the antenna 21becomes possible.
To be able to tune the remote switching transmitter 1 to the plurality of locating transmittes 6 with differing carrier frequencies or pulse sequence frequencies, it is desirable to ensure that the carrier frequency oscillator 23 can be wobbled over the entire transmiting frequency range. This can be done with different speeds which are adapted to the respective uses.
For example, the pulse sequence gernerator 22 of the remote switching trans-mitter 6 can operate in a 1:15 cycle, with a pulse sequence in the first cycle and 15 pause cycles. The carrier frequency oscillator 23 generates the carrier frequency. It can be wobbled over the transmission frequency range. The gate circuit 24 allows the carrier frequency to pass in the ranges determined by the pulse sequence generator 22. The pulses emitted by the gate circuit 24 are g '.
amplified in the output amplifier 25. The output circuit can be tuned to the different usable antenna types - folding dipole antenna, ferrite antenna or the like - by means of the antenna tuner 26. Tuning control is made possible by the circuits 29, 30, 31. The voltage stabilizer 27 stabilizes the supply voltage in order to eliminate interference from this end.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and therefore such adaptations and modifications are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
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The locating transmitter 1 is only switched into the transmitting mode upon receiving the electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter 6.
Therefore the electromagnetic waves required for locating the transmitter 1 are only emitted by the locating transmitter 1 at that time, and consequently the high enery consumption connected with the transmitting operation of the locating transmitter 1 starts only at that time. In this way the locating transmitter 1 therefore operates only if and when it makes sense from the point of view of locator technology, regardless of any manipulation by the person to be located. Only small amounts of energy are required by the locating transmitter 1 for receiving the electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter 6. Accordingly it is desirable to construct the locating transmitter 6. Accordingly it is desirable to construct the locating trans-mitter 1 in such a way that in the receiving mode it requires only minimal operational current, preferably cnly a few ~LA.
As already indicated in Fig. 1, the range of the remote switching transmitter 6 according to the invention should be adapted to the range of the locating trans-mitter 1, constructed as a receiver and transmitter in accordance with the invention. The range naturally is also influenced by conditions in the surround-ings, in particular by electromagnetic disturbances from other devices, so that a certain variation range is the result. It should be possible to settle, for example, for a range of the remote switching transmitter 6 of 20 to 25 m, with interfering devices turned off, and a range of approximately 20 m for the loca-ting transmitter 1, also with interfering devices turned off, when used in underground mining.
20~81()9 For reasons of energy consumption it is desirable that the locating transmitter 1 automatically stops the transmitting mode after a fixed, pre-determined amount of time after the transmitting mode is started. The length of active time in the transmitting mode is of course dependent on the respective purpose. Active time between 3 and 50 min., preferably between 15 and 30 min., have been shown to be useful in underground mining.
The locating transmitter 1 can be operated in such a way that it transmits over a set transmitting frequency in the transmitting mode, but receives a different frequency in the receiving mode. With an appropriate distance between the two frequencies both modes can operate simultaneously, even if there is only one transmitting and receiving antenna, so that the receiving mode is retained even though the transmitting mode is turned on. This has the advantage that additionally arriving remove switching signals continuously re-activate the locating transmitter 1 or maintain the transmitting mode past the actual switch-off period. However, it is simpler from the point of view of switching technology to actually provide a switch-over of the locating transmitter 1 from the re-ceiving mode to the transmitting mode and vice versa, i.e. not to operate simultaneously in both modes.
Furthermore it is desirable to also provide that the locating transmitter 1 of the invention can be manually switched off or, if required, also manually switched on. But care chould be taken that the locating transmitter cannot be switched on or off accidentally so as not to jeopardize the advantages achieved in accordance with the invention, e.g. the battery serving advantage.
It is important that the locating transmitter 1 is not accidentally switched on by electromagnetic interference fields present in underground mining, i.e.
that is designed to be as safe as possible from interferences. The coding steps described above are recommended for this.
The block diagram of the locating transmitter 1 used in the locator system in accordance with the invention, shown in Fig. 2, discloses a transmitting and receiving antenna 7, for example a ferrite antenna or a dipole antenna, and a selective amplifier 8 for the intended remote switching frequency, placed 2`0181(~
downstream of the selective amplifier 8 and both are in positive feedback via an amplifying control 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a pulse generator 11 is placed downstream of the detector-transformer 9 which, in turn, is followed by a pulse sequence detector 12 in the switching sequence. A timing pulse gene-rator 13 for selecting the active time in the receiving mode is connected on the one side of the output of the pulse sequence detector 12 and a state memory 14 on the other. Finally, a transmitting pulse generator 15, connected to the output side of the transmitting and receiving antenna 7, follows the state memory 14.
Also shown is a battery 16 provided for the intrinsically safe voltage supply of the locating transmitter 1.
In the receiving mode, the remote switching frequency emitted by the remote switching transmitter 6 is received by means of the transmitting and receiving antenna 7. The signals received are forwarded to the selective amplifier 8, which amplifies only those having the pre-selected frequency. Amplification is controlled depending on the control signal of the automatic amplification control 10. In the downstream detector-transformer 9 the carrier frequency signals are transformed into d.c. pulses, actually to a certain set signal level. In the downstream pulse generator the distorted pulses of the pulse sequence from the detector-transformer 9 are transformed into rectangular pulses which are optimal in accordance with evaluation technology. The pulse sequence detector 12 recognizes the correctly coded pulse sequence. When the correct pulse sequence arrives, the state memory 14 is switched to the active state, which corresponds to switching on the transmission mode. The timing pulse generator 13 turns off the state memory 14 at the end of the pre-selected active time, so that the transmitting mode is turned off. In the transmitting mode, the transmitting pulse generator 15 is activated by the state memory 14 and emits, via the transmitting and receiving antenna 7, the locator frequency which preferably is different from the remote switching frequency. Indicated by an arrow on the state memory 14 is the external, manually performable possibility for resetting the state memory 14, i.e. to shut off the trans-mission mode.
20181~19 Fig. 3 illustrates the exterior structure of an example of a locating trans-mitter 1 of the type under discussion. A housing 17 is shown which, in respect to pressure and shock resistance, should fulfill the requirements made for miners' lamps and mine wet batteries. At the same time, this housing 17 should be as lightweight as possible so that it is easy to carry the location trans-mitter 1, Two switch-off contacts 18 can be seen on the front of the housing 17,which are individually provided on the exterior of the housing 17. The locating transmitter 1 can be switched off, i.e. switched from its transmitting mode, by electrically short-circuiting the switch-off contacts 18 with any electri-cally conductive object. This is a very simple solution which, however, has very well proven itself in actual use, because undesired operation by accident is extremely rare. Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows an optical operation display 19 in the housing 17, in this case in the form of an LED. Finally, the housing has two terminals 20 of the battery 16.
The remote switching transmitter 6, shown in Fig. 1 and described in detail by means of a block diagram in Fig. 4, also should be designed as a portable device, in particular it should be easily portable by a searcher, for example a mine rescuer. Usefully, the remote switching transmitter 6 has a great range for locating purposes and a correspondingly high transmission output. Not shown here in detail is that the remote switching transmitter has a folding dipole antenna for large distances, particularly distances of 20 m or more, and/or a ferrite antenna (shown in Fig.1) for lesser distances, particularly up to 6 m. Values of approximately 10 W are useful for the output of the remote switching transmitter 6 over a long range.
Because the transmitting antenna, for example the ferrite antenna 21, of the remote switching transmitter 6 has direction-dependent characteristics, it is desirable in use to activate the remote switching transmitter 6 three times in a row to remotely activate the locating transmitter 1, during which the main plane of the transmission lobe of the antenna of the remote switching trans-mitter 6 is pivoted by 90. In this way it is assured that all possible re-ceiving planes of the locatin transmitter 1 have been covered.
Not shown in Fig. 1 is another possibility, where the remote switching trans-mitter 6 has a short range, particularly a range of less that 4 m, and corres-pondingly less transmission output. Such a system is desirable, for example, in the context of asafety system for people on a personnel conveyor or the like. In this case it is desirable to assign an alarm receiver to the remote switching transmitter 6 (not shown). The remote switching transmitter 6 having a low output and the alarm receiver, provided as needed, are stationary devices which have been permanently placed in selected locations, for example in connec-tion with underground mining, and which are activated by an approaching person carrying an appropriate locating transmitter 1 or which themselves first activate the locating transmitter 1.
Fig. 4, in a block diagram, illustrates the circuit design of an example of a remote switching transmitter 6. In this example, the remote switching trans-mitter 6 has a pulse sequence generator 22, a tunable carrier frequency oscillator 23, a gate circuit 24, an output amplifier 25, an antenna tuner 26 and the previously mentioned antenna, for example a ferrite antenna 21. Further-more shown are a voltage stabilizer 27, a battery as voltage source 28 and a current measuring circuit 29 with the possibility of an analog measuring de-vice 30 and a digital LED 31, by means of which optimal tuning of the antenna 21becomes possible.
To be able to tune the remote switching transmitter 1 to the plurality of locating transmittes 6 with differing carrier frequencies or pulse sequence frequencies, it is desirable to ensure that the carrier frequency oscillator 23 can be wobbled over the entire transmiting frequency range. This can be done with different speeds which are adapted to the respective uses.
For example, the pulse sequence gernerator 22 of the remote switching trans-mitter 6 can operate in a 1:15 cycle, with a pulse sequence in the first cycle and 15 pause cycles. The carrier frequency oscillator 23 generates the carrier frequency. It can be wobbled over the transmission frequency range. The gate circuit 24 allows the carrier frequency to pass in the ranges determined by the pulse sequence generator 22. The pulses emitted by the gate circuit 24 are g '.
amplified in the output amplifier 25. The output circuit can be tuned to the different usable antenna types - folding dipole antenna, ferrite antenna or the like - by means of the antenna tuner 26. Tuning control is made possible by the circuits 29, 30, 31. The voltage stabilizer 27 stabilizes the supply voltage in order to eliminate interference from this end.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and therefore such adaptations and modifications are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
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.
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Claims (17)
1. A locator system having a locating transmitter to be carried by a person whose location is to be determined, and a locating receiver to be carried by a searcher or searching team who is searching, where electromagnetic waves emitted by the locating transmitter are received by the locating receiver and evaluated in accordance with locator technology and where the locating trans-mitter can be switched on when required and switched off again as desired, further comprising a remote switching transmitter (6), and wherein the locating transmitter (1) comprises a receiver of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter (6), the locating transmitter (1) is in the receive mode when not in use, and the transmit mode is only triggered when electromagnetic waves emitted by the remote switching transmitter (6) are re-ceived.
2. A locator system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locating trans-mitter (1) utilizes a small operational current of preferably only a few µA
in the receiving mode.
in the receiving mode.
3. A locator system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locating trans-mitter (1) comprises means for automatically turning off the transmission mode after a certain pre-determined amount of time after the transmission mode was turned on.
4. A locator system in accordance with claim 3, further comprising means for maintaining said locating transmitter switched on for approximately 3 to 50 min., preferably approximately 15 to 30 min., and then for switching said locating transmitter off.
5. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 comprising means for switching the locating transmitter (l) from the receiving mode into the sending mode and vice versa.
6. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 comprising manual switch means for switching the locating transmitter (1) wherein switching can be manually off and, if required, also manually on.
7. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the locating trans-mitter (1) has a transmitting and receiving antenna (7), for example a ferrite antenna, a selective amplifier (8) placed downstream of the transmitting and receiving antenna (7), a detector-transformer (9) placed downstream of the selective amplifier (8), optionally a pulse generator (11) placed downstream of the detector-transformer (9) a pulse sequence detector (12) downstream of said pulse generator, a timing pulse generator (13) downstream of the sequence detector (12), as well as a state memory (14) and a transmitting pulse ge-nerator (15), connected to the output side of the transmitting and receiving antenna (7).
8. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein two terminals (18) are provided on the exterior of a housing (17) of the locating transmitter (1) and by electrical short-circuiting of the terminals (18) with any elec-trically conducting object the locating transmitter (1) can be turned off.
9. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein an optical operating display (19) is provided on the housing (17) of the locating transmitter (1).
10. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the locator trans-mitter (1) is provided as a portable device, particularly one that can be carried by a searcher.
11. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the remote switching transmitter (6) has a large range and corresponding high transmission out-put, preferably a transmission output of approximately 10 W, for locating purposes.
12. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the remote switching transmitter (6) has a folding dipole antenna for large distances, particularly distances of 20 m or more, and a ferrite antenna for short distances, particularly distances up to 6 m.
13. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the remote switching transmitter (6) has a short range, particularly a range of less than 4 m, and a correspondingly lesser transmission output.
14. A locator system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising an alarm receiver associated with the remote switching transmitter (6).
15. A locator system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the remote switching transmitter (6) and, if required, the alarm receiver is/are stationary mounted on a conveyor belt or the like.
16. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the remote switching transmitter (6) has a pulse sequence generator (22), a tunable carrier fre-quency oscillator (23), a gate circuit (24), an output amplifier (25) and an antenna tuner (26).
17. A locator system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the carrier frequency oscillator (23) can be wobbled over the entire transmission frequency range.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP3917996.6 | 1989-06-02 | ||
| DE3917996 | 1989-06-02 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2018109A1 true CA2018109A1 (en) | 1990-12-02 |
Family
ID=6381914
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002018109A Abandoned CA2018109A1 (en) | 1989-06-02 | 1990-06-01 | Locator system, in particular for underground mining |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0400489A3 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2018109A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL9301542A (en) * | 1993-09-06 | 1995-04-03 | Nedap Nv | Safety device for manually operated electric or electro- mechanical equipment |
| US7245899B2 (en) * | 2004-12-13 | 2007-07-17 | Fredrik Carle | Portable rescue device and a method for locating such a device |
| RU2482896C1 (en) * | 2011-12-20 | 2013-05-27 | Открытое акционерное общество "Авангард" | Method of detection of location of buried biological objects or their remains and device for its implementation |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3123557A1 (en) * | 1981-06-13 | 1983-03-03 | Bergwerksverband Gmbh, 4300 Essen | Protective belt with marking |
| US4495496A (en) * | 1981-12-15 | 1985-01-22 | Johnson Engineering Corp. | Personnel monitoring and locating system |
| HUT43774A (en) * | 1986-05-15 | 1987-11-30 | Koezponti Banyaszati Fejleszte | Method and apparatus for automatic identification living beings and objects |
| DE3643236A1 (en) * | 1986-12-18 | 1988-07-07 | Ruhrkohle Ag | PERSONAL PROTECTION RADIO |
-
1990
- 1990-05-25 EP EP19900109919 patent/EP0400489A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1990-06-01 CA CA002018109A patent/CA2018109A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0400489A2 (en) | 1990-12-05 |
| EP0400489A3 (en) | 1991-10-23 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| FZDE | Dead |