CN112955616A

CN112955616A - Pneumatic emergency device with hose support and tarpaulin

Info

Publication number: CN112955616A
Application number: CN201980072542.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·格恩尼希; W·施尼克
Original assignee: White SRO
Current assignee: White SRO; Vetter GmbH
Priority date: 2018-10-30
Filing date: 2019-10-30
Publication date: 2021-06-11
Also published as: EP3874102A1; JP7223846B2; WO2020089266A1; JP2022506558A; KR20210076968A; EP3874102B1

Abstract

A pneumatic emergency device in the form of a jumping cushion, rescue tent or emergency pool basin comprising: a) a hose support (20) having inflatable tubes (22, 24) connected to each other; b) a tarpaulin (28) which is carried by the hose support (20), and c) a detection device (32) for the air pressure, which has a compressed air sensor (36) which is connected to the interior region (26) of the hose support (20) and an optical and/or acoustic indicator unit (34) which is connected to the compressed air sensor and which is arranged in a subregion of the emergency device which is not covered by the tarpaulin (28) and faces the user, which is in particular firmly connected to the hose support (20).

Description

Pneumatic emergency device with hose support and tarpaulin

The present invention relates to an emergency device or apparatus having a pneumatic hose support and a tarpaulin carried by the hose support. The invention also relates to a method for monitoring the air pressure in such a pneumatic emergency device, in particular in a hose support. Emergency devices are understood here to be jumping cushions (safety cushions), rescue tents or emergency basins. The hose support provides a structure for carrying. The watertight oil arrangement is arranged for at least partially enclosing the hose support. It is carried by the hose support. In the case of a jumping cushion, it constitutes mainly the area (area) to which a person can jump. At the request of the rescue tent, the tarpaulin forms at least the roof and usually also the walls. In the case of an emergency basin, it forms a fluid-tight lining of the basin.

With regard to the prior art of rescue tents, reference is made to DE 10029897 a1, DE 19842911 a1 and DE 19842887 a 1. With regard to the prior art of pneumatic jump rescue devices (also referred to as jump cushions), reference is made to DE 10324138B 4, DE 3937399 a1, DE 3516676 a1, DE 10029193B 4 and DIN 14151. The emergency basin is also pneumatic, known as capture container and capture basin, which are provided by the applicant. Shower tents and the like also belong to rescue tents, see US 4171595 a.

Emergency devices of the type described here are provided in particular for disaster input (disaster relief). In such an investment, the conditions necessary for rescue at a disaster site to be rescued in the shortest time are addressed. Emergency devices with inflatable hose holders have proven to be very effective here. The advantages are that: they can be constructed anywhere and they are quickly available for use. For example, a rescue tent may be set up within 3 minutes, and a jump cushion with a rescue height of 16m may be set up within about 30 seconds. Heretofore, in the packed state, it occupies only a (small) portion of the space occupied in the inflated state.

In the case of a rescue investment, pneumatic emergency devices are usually set up by professionals, particularly firefighters, and then handed over to other rescuers, such as doctors, investments (managers or the like, the latter being users, but often not knowing the specific emergency device.

The hose support is similarly a skeleton constructed of pipes connected to each other and communicating with the inner space thereof. Generally, all inner spaces are connected to each other, which is advantageous. For static emergency devices, sufficient air pressure must be present in the hose support. If the air pressure in the hose cradle drops, which often occurs slowly, this may lead to problems with the stability of the entire device. Dangerous fluids, for example, caught (received ) in the emergency basin may escape, and the roof of the rescue tent may be bent. The invention recognizes that it is necessary to give a warning sufficiently early, from which it is clear that the hose support becomes unstable due to a drop in air pressure, in particular has to be refilled. The warning must be such that: on the one hand, it comes early enough before the stability deteriorates and, on the other hand, the current user of the emergency device immediately understands the warning so that he can seek assistance to the specialist, with the aid of the compressed air source, to bring the hose support back to the necessary internal pressure. As long as the internal pressure in the hose bracket is within the specified pressure range, no indication is basically required, but an indication may be advantageous. An indication is necessary if the air pressure is below the specified pressure range. A warning is then required.

This essentially involves less leakage. The larger leakage is already known during the construction of the emergency device, and a professional is usually still present at that time. Preferably, a leak is a leak which becomes noticeable only after 1 hour, preferably only after 3 hours, the internal pressure being below the specified pressure range and the stability being compromised. In the case of a jump cushion, a loss of compressed air occurs due to the short-time release of the overpressure valve when jumping into the jump cushion.

The object of the invention is therefore to develop previously known emergency devices in such a way that, in the case of particularly slow pressure losses, an easily recognizable and understandable warning is issued which indicates to the user of the emergency device that refilling with air is necessary.

This object is achieved by a pneumatic emergency device, which is composed of the following components: a) a hose support for a jumping cushion, a rescue tent or an emergency basin having inflatable tubes connected to each other; b) a tarpaulin carried by the hose bracket; and c) an air pressure detection device having a compressed air sensor connected to the interior of the hose support and an optical and/or acoustic indicator unit connected to the compressed air sensor, which optical and/or acoustic indicator unit is arranged in a subregion of the emergency device, which subregion is not covered by a waterproof tarpaulin and faces the user, in particular is fixedly (firmly) connected to the hose support.

The warning is given by the indicating unit. Typically, the warning is a flat red light. The warning is particularly noticeable when the light is blinking. The warning can also be made acoustically only or together with the acoustic signal. The warning preferably has the meaning of a written message, for example "air pressure too low", from which even an inexperienced user can immediately recognize the signal.

The advantage of the invention is that the hose support does not have to be permanently connected to the compressed air source. The compressed air source needs to be brought (supplied) to the hose cradle only in case of emergency, refilling usually takes only a few minutes, and then the compressed air source can be taken out again and be ready for other use. Thus, a separate source of compressed air is not required for each pneumatic emergency device. Compressed gas cylinders can be used as a source of compressed air, which are often already included in packaged emergency devices, which are suitable for use, for example, in jumping cushions. Manual or, in particular, electric compressors can also be used as a compressed air source. They have the advantage that the amount of compressed air available for them is not limited.

Advantageously, the detection device is spatially separated from an access (access) to the interior space of the hose support, which access (access) is provided for filling the hose support, which is for example a valve or a corresponding air inlet.

The detection device, in particular the indicator unit thereof, is arranged at the hose support such that the indicator unit is well visible to a user of the hose support. To this end, the indicator unit is preferably arranged at a certain height above the floor, most likely at the height of the eyes of the user, whenever possible. It is preferably fastened at the vertically extending tube of the hose bracket. It is not covered by the tarpaulin and should always remain outside the tarpaulin even if the tarpaulin moves. If necessary, the tarpaulin has corresponding recesses or fenestrations. In the case of a rescue tent, the indicating unit preferably faces the inner space of the rescue tent. In the case of a jumping cushion, it is preferably located in the region of the side faces and oriented outwards. The indicator unit may also be mechanically connected to the tarpaulin instead of the hose bracket. In this case, the rest of the detection device is also arranged at the hose support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for monitoring the air pressure in a hose support of a pneumatic emergency device. This object is achieved by the features of claim 12.

In this way, the internal pressure in the hose support is monitored. An alarm is issued to prompt the user to refill the air pressure. The air pressure may be sensed continuously in step a), but it is sufficient to sense the air pressure only at relatively long time intervals, e.g. once every minute or once every 10 minutes. The air pressure sensor produces a measured value, which is preferably an electrical measured value. If this is not the case, it is converted into an electrical measurement. The electrical measurement is evaluated above or below a threshold value for the internal pressure in the hose cradle (also referred to as critical pressure). This threshold is typically in the range of the lower limit of the air pressure range for which the hose bracket is designed. The air pressure range is predetermined by the manufacturer. Preferably, the threshold is slightly below this limit or below the manufacturer specified lower operating pressure, for example below 10% thereof or possibly below 30% thereof. If the measured value is below this value, a warning is given. For this purpose, an electrical command is generated, which may be a voltage signal or a digital signal, and which triggers an alarm.

Preferably, the electrical measurements sensed successively over a period of time can be read out after they have been stored in the memory. They can also be used to determine changes in air pressure over time. In this way, a prediction may be made as to when the threshold is reached. It may be indicated that the threshold value is reached within a certain time (for example 1 hour) and that the user should take corresponding precautions, whereby refilling with pressure is possible at the latest.

The compressed air sensor is preferably arranged within the tube of the hose bracket or in or at (on) the outer wall of the tube of the hose bracket. In the first case, the sensor is located in the inner space of the tube, only its connection lines, preferably electrical connection lines, are led through the wall of the tube. In the second case, the sensor itself is inserted into the wall. In both cases the air pressure can be sensed directly. However, the air pressure may also be sensed indirectly, for example by strain of the material forming the tube. In this case, for example, the strain sensor may be fastened to the outer wall of the tube, and the air pressure is sensed therethrough.

The indicator unit does not have to be connected to a hose support or tarpaulin, but such a connection is advantageous. Advantageously, the indicating unit or the detecting device is firmly connected to the tube of the hose support.

In a preferred development, the display unit has a display or a display area which emits light in at least one color, preferably in red. This is used for warning. Preferably, it can also emit light in at least one other color, for example, alternatively also in green. This can be used to give a signal indicating a normal state. In this case, the user does not have to perform any operation.

The optical signal preferably has letters and/or contains an acoustic warning, not only a warning tone, but a substantial notification. In this way, the user may be informed of a text message.

Overpressure in the hose cradle may occur. This may be caused, for example, by insolation or jumping into a jump cushion. The hose support is equipped with an overpressure valve which automatically releases the pressure when an allowable upper limit pressure value is exceeded.

Embodiments of the invention will be further explained and described below with reference to the drawings, which are not to be construed as limiting. They serve for a better understanding of the invention. Shown in the attached drawings:

figure 1 is a perspective view partly in section of a part of a pneumatic emergency device in the form of a rescue tent,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a corner region of the jump cushion, an

Fig. 3 shows a schematic circuit arrangement, in particular for a detection device.

Fig. 1 shows a hose support 20, of which only the vertical tubes 22 and the horizontal tubes 24 are shown here. The two

tubes

22, 24 are mechanically connected to each other and have a common interior space 26. According to the prior art, this interior can be accessed via an opening, not shown here, so that air can be filled into the interior 26. And air can be exhausted from the interior space. According to the prior art, the

tubes

20, 24 are made of a rubberized material that is initially a flat rail. The material is glued and usually vulcanized.

In a manner known from the prior art, the hose bracket 20 carries a tarpaulin 28. For the embodiment according to fig. 1 relating to a rescue tent, the tarpaulin 28 is outside the hose bracket 20. Thus, the interior area 30 of the rescue tent is located on the right side of fig. 1.

The design of the emergency basin can also be explained with reference to fig. 1. In this case, the hose support 20 is on the outside and the tarpaulin 28 is on the inside, which forms a basin or lining supported by the outside hose support 20.

In the part of the rescue tent shown in fig. 1, the detection device 32 is fastened at the vertical tube 22 at a height above the vertical tube 22, which corresponds approximately to the eye height of a person. It faces the interior region 30. It is oriented substantially parallel to the tarpaulin 28. It consists of an indicator unit 34 and a compressed air sensor 36, which is covered by the indicator unit 34 and is therefore originally invisible and is therefore shown in dashed lines. Both are firmly connected to each other and are also firmly held at the tube 22. The vertical tube 22 is located between the detection device 32 and the tarpaulin 28. The latter not covering the detection means 32.

The jump cushion shown in fig. 2 has a receiving surface 38 which is formed by the tarpaulin 28. The tarpaulin 28 is also formed with four sides. The inner region 30 is not used. The detection means 32 is arranged on one side of the tarpaulin 28, which is next to the vertical tube 22. In practical tests, it has been found to be advantageous to arrange the compressed air sensor 36 as far as possible from the receiving surface 38, in particular in the lower horizontal tube 24, as can be seen for example in fig. 2, in the lower tube 24 near the ground. When a person collides against the capture surface 38, the pressure in the

tubes

22, 24 in the vicinity of the capture surface 38 rises suddenly, which may cause the compressed air sensor 36 to break. The indicator unit 34 may be arranged in the vicinity of the compressed air sensor 36 arranged in this way, or may also be arranged in a higher level.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the indication unit 34. In this illustration, the compressed air sensor 36 is arranged in a wall 40 of the tube of the hose bracket 20. This wall 40 does not belong to the indicating unit 34. Alternatively, the compressed air sensor 36 is located inside the tube and only its electrical connection wires 42 pass through the wall 40. Alternatively, a strain gauge is affixed to the surface of the tube and the air pressure is determined from its signal.

The indicator unit 34 has a comparator COM 44, on the input side of which comparator COM 44 there is an electrical measurement value provided by the compressed air sensor 36 with respect to the pressure in the interior space 26. The comparator 44 evaluates the electrical measurement. In the comparator 44, the level of the measured value is compared with a predefined, adjustable reference value. This corresponds to a lower compressed air value at which the hose support 20 has become unstable or threatens to become unstable. This lower compressed air value is predetermined by the manufacturer. The output of the comparator 44 remains passive as long as the electrical measurement value for pressure is higher than the reference value. The control section CON 46, which is connected on the input side with the output (section) of the comparator 44 and controls the indicating unit 34, is inactive (inactive). The display DIS 48 connected to the output (unit) of the control unit 46 is not shown. Nor is any acoustic signal given through the speaker 50, the speaker 50 is also connected to the output (section) of the control section 46.

Alternatively, the indication can also be made in a state corresponding to normal conditions, preferably not acoustically but only by means of the display 48. The display can, for example, emit green light, in particular permanently.

The display 48 is preferably provided with light emitting diodes arranged in a (flat) plane. Fonts can be produced by controlling a single diode. Each diode has three RGB light emission colors that can be separately controlled; or each pixel is provided with three separate diodes: red, yellow and blue, which can also be controlled individually.

If the electrical measurement value relating to the pressure is lower than the reference value, an electrical command is sent by the comparator 44 to the control portion 46, which command causes the display 48 to emit a red color. Instead, it flashes additionally. Fonts, such as "stress" or "compressed air refill" may also be output. The acoustic signal may be given via a loudspeaker 50. Here, it may also be a voice signal, for example, about a message indicated in the display 48.

It is possible to determine a second, lower reference value, which corresponds to a pressure in the hose support 20 at which the stability of the hose support 20 is already critical and it is imperative that the air be refilled in a short time. For this purpose, a corresponding optical signal and also a corresponding acoustic signal can be assigned.

It is also possible to store the respective electrical measured values together with the associated times in a memory of the control unit 46 and to determine from the stored measured values whether a time dependency (time dependency) exists. For example, in the case of very small leaks, the pressure drops very slowly. This situation can be identified when the measurement values are tracked over a long period of time. Such circuits are prior art and may be used herein for emergency devices.

It is also possible to retrofit already used emergency devices. All such emergency devices have a ventilation in which the detection device 32 can be arranged, however in particular the compressed air sensor 36 of such a detection device 32. Applicant's emergency device has internal threads where it can be tightened.

A pneumatic emergency device in the form of a jumping cushion, rescue tent or emergency basin is composed of: a hose support 20 having interconnected,

inflatable tubes

22, 24; a tarpaulin 28 carried by the hose bracket 20; and a detection device 32 of the air pressure, the detection device 32 having a compressed air sensor 36 connected to the inner region 26 of the hose support 20, and an optical and/or acoustic indication unit 34 connected to the compressed air sensor, the indication unit 34 being arranged at a sub-region of the emergency device not covered by the tarpaulin 28 and facing the user, and being in particular firmly connected to the hose support 20.

Terms such as "substantially", "preferably" and "analogue" and possibly an imprecise statement that may be understood are intended to be understood in such a way that deviations from normal values may be plus or minus five percent, preferably plus or minus two percent, and especially plus or minus one percent of normal values. The applicant reserves the right to combine in any way any feature or sub-feature in the claims and/or any feature or sub-feature from the sentence in the specification with other features, sub-features or sub-features, which are also outside the features of the claims. The applicant further reserves the right to delete any features and sub-features.

In the different figures, functionally equivalent parts are always provided with the same reference numerals, so that they are generally described only once.

List of reference numerals

20 hose support

22 vertical pipe

24 horizontal pipe

2620 internal space

28 waterproof tarpaulin

30 inner region

32 detection device

34 indicating unit

36 compressed air sensor

38 receiving surface

40 wall

42 connecting line

44 comparator COM

46 control part CON

48 display

50 speakers.

Claims

1. A pneumatic emergency device in the form of a jumping cushion, a rescue tent or an emergency pool basin, comprising: a) a hose support (20) having tubes (22, 24) connected to one another that can be inflated; b) a tarpaulin (28) carried by the hose support (20), and c) a detection device (32) for the air pressure, which has a compressed air sensor (36) connected to the interior region (26) of the hose support (20) and an optical and/or acoustic indicator unit (34) connected to the compressed air sensor, which indicator unit is arranged in a subregion of the emergency device which is not covered by the tarpaulin (28) and faces the user, and which is in particular firmly connected to the hose support (20).

2. Emergency device according to claim 1, characterized in that the compressed air sensor (36) is arranged within the tube (22) of the hose bracket (20), or in the outer wall of the tube (22) of the hose bracket (20), or at the outer wall of the tube (22) of the hose bracket (20).

3. Emergency device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only the indicating unit (34) of the detection device (32) or the detection device (32) is firmly connected with the tube (22) of the hose bracket (20) or with the tarpaulin (28).

4. Emergency device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the indicating unit (34) generates only optical signals.

5. Emergency device according to claim 4, characterised in that the indication unit (34) has a display (48) which is illuminated at least in red, preferably instead of red also in green.

6. Emergency device according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the display area has a size of at least 4cm²Preferably at least 10cm²The area of (a).

7. Emergency device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the optical signal has letters, in particular contains text messages.

8. Emergency device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure sensor (36) generates an electrical pressure signal and in that the pressure sensor (36) and the indicating unit (34) are connected to one another, preferably only by an electrical connection line (42), wherein the electrical connection line (42) is preferably flexible.

9. Emergency device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection means (32) consist solely of the pressure sensor (36) and the indicator unit (34).

10. Emergency device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the indicator unit (34) is fastened at the hose bracket (20) and/or at the tarpaulin (28).

11. Emergency device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emergency device is configured as a jump cushion having a receiving surface (38) and in that the pressure sensor (36) is arranged as far as possible apart from the receiving surface (38), in particular in a lower horizontal tube (24).

12. A method for monitoring air pressure in a pneumatic emergency device, the pneumatic emergency device comprising: a) a hose bracket (20) for a jumping cushion, a rescue tent or an emergency basin, having inflatable tubes (22, 24) connected to each other; b) a tarpaulin (28) carried by the hose support (20), and c) a detection device (32) for the air pressure, which has a compressed air sensor (36) connected to the inner region (30) of the hose support (20) and an optical and/or acoustic indicator unit (34) connected to the compressed air sensor, which indicator unit is arranged in a subregion of the emergency device which is not covered by the tarpaulin (28) and faces the user, which indicator unit is in particular firmly connected to the hose support (20), the method having the following steps:

a) -sensing the air pressure in the hose cradle (20) by means of the pressure sensor (36) and converting a pressure value into an electrical measurement value as long as the pressure value is not already an electrical measurement value,

b) evaluating the electrical measurement, the electrical measurement being above or below a critical pressure value, and when the electrical signal is below the critical pressure value,

c) -generating an electrical instruction instructing the indication unit (34) to give an optical and/or acoustic signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein in step a), the air pressure is sensed all the time or at certain time intervals.

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that in step b) the electrical measurement values are evaluated always or at certain time intervals.

15. Method according to any of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that an acoustic signal is given, which comprises an audible substantive indication, such as "air pressure refill" and/or emits an optical signal comprising a readable substantive indication, such as "compressed air refill".