EP3441141A1 - Combination of at least one control unit and one or more security cabinets - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is the combination of at least one control unit (6) and one or more safety cabinets. The respective safety cabinet and / or a place of installation of the safety cabinet is equipped with at least one sensor (3, 4, 5). Corresponding sensor signals are transmitted to the control unit (6) for processing there. According to the invention, the control unit (6) additionally transmits at least the sensor signals to a superordinate database (7), which enables a defined number of users secure access to the sensor signals as data and / or to the control unit (6).

Description

The invention relates to the combination of at least one control unit and one or more safety cabinets, wherein the respective safety cabinet and / or a place of installation of the safety cabinet is equipped with at least one sensor and corresponding sensor signals are transmitted to the control unit for local processing.

Safety cabinets as well as general fire protection cabinets are typically used to contain hazardous substances such as liquid and combustible chemicals. However, it is also possible, for example, to store gas cylinders or solid hazardous substances in the interior. In order to protect the hazardous substances from any external sources of fire, the safety cabinets or fire protection cabinets have a predetermined fire resistance, which corresponds to different fire resistance periods. In fact, the fire safes in question are usually classified according to the regulation DIN EN 14470. A total of four stages of fire resistance periods of 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and finally 90 minutes are distinguished, as exemplified in the utility model DE 20 2014 101 935 U1 the applicant is described.

In the generic state of the art according to the DE 20 2017 102 432 U1 a safety cabinet is explained, which is equipped with at least one arranged in the cabinet body sensor. The sensor signals are evaluated by a control unit. When exceeding at least one threshold value and / or a limit value of temporal gradients, a closing signal is derived from the sensor signals and converted to the door closure.

In addition, in the context of the representation according to the local Fig. 4 also describes the possibility to monitor several safety cabinets by means of a control unit. For this purpose, the respective sensors of the relevant safety cabinet are coupled to the control unit. The control unit itself can apply a door closing mechanism within the scope of the known teaching and controls it in the presence of a closing signal to the effect that an associated cabinet door or several cabinet doors are closed.

The state of the art has proven itself in principle as far as the combination of at least one control unit and one or more safety cabinets and their monitoring is concerned. As a consequence of this, potential sources of danger can be immediately identified and responded to. However, in practice nowadays, additional requirements arise, for example, such that remote monitoring of the respective safety cabinet is often desired for perfect functionality. In addition, long-term observations are increasingly required. This is where the invention starts.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a combination of at least one control unit and one or more safety cabinets in such a way that it is also possible to monitor remotely and, in addition, to make long-term observations.

To solve this technical problem, a generic combination of at least one control unit and one or more safety cabinets in the invention is characterized in that the control unit additionally forwards at least the sensor signals to a superordinate database which allows a defined number of users secure access to the sensor signals as data and / or to the control unit.

In the context of the invention, therefore, the one or the several control units provide first and unchanged as in the prior art after the DE 20 2017 102 432 U1 ensuring that the individual safety cabinets are monitored and that their sensor signals are collected in the control unit and, if necessary, evaluated. That is, the control unit can locally and still ensure that, for example, in case of fire with the help of the control unit, a door closing mechanism for the relevant safety cabinet is acted upon in such a way that the safety cabinet is closed. In addition, the control unit can ensure that, for example, an exhaust air control intensified or the amount of discharged air is increased.

Irrespective of this and in addition, the control unit forwards the sensor signals in question and at least these sensor signals to the higher-level database as data. In this way, a defined number of users a secure access to the sensor signals is enabled respectively generally the data within the database. These are at least the sensor signals. Mostly, however, additional data are stored in the database, namely so-called security-related data, which will be explained in more detail below.

These all data, that is, the sensor signals and the security cabinet relevant data, can now also by an authorized user with access to the parent database, for example, outside a Building and theoretically be queried at virtually any location on earth. In addition, this approach allows not only a kind of remote monitoring of the relevant safety cabinet, but also a remote control. Because the authorized user is provided by the parent database and any access to the control unit available. As a result, for example, a user located at a remote location can generally access a local control unit and control it in order, for example, to close a cabinet door of an opened safety cabinet. That is, with the help of the parent database, the individual safety cabinets can be both telemonitored and, if necessary, remotely controlled.

All this is achieved in that the one or more locally available control units pass on the particularly relevant sensor signals to the parent database, which in turn provides respective authorized users with a corresponding data query and also a remote control of the locally available control unit. This only applies to a defined number of users, ie those users who are authorized to view the data stored in the database and also to be able to perform corresponding control functions at the remote control unit.

For this purpose, at least once a manufacturer control unit and a customer control unit are provided. Both control units allow an authorized user secure access to the sensor signals in the database or the data generally in the database. In the simplest case, the manufacturer's control unit is a computer or, in general, a computer of the manufacturer of the respective security cabinet, while the customer's control unit is a computer or generally a computer at the customer, so called the erector of the security cabinet concerned.

The customer control unit and / or the manufacturer control unit are typically equipped with a device for checking the access authorization of the user. That is, an accessing user can only access the data in the database if he has first verified his authorization at the access authorization checker. For this purpose, the user's access authorization device typically operates with a user-defined access code, a user-specific property or a user-specific key. The user-specific property may be a user's fingerprint, eye iris, or other characteristic features of the user.

That is, the user in question must first prove his authorization to the access authorization checker. This can be done via the various options described above. If the user's access authorization facility affirms his authorization and, consequently, the user belongs to the defined number of users for access to the parent database, the user in question is granted secure access to the data within the database. In addition, the user in question can access and apply the control unit of the associated safety cabinet via the database.

The data in question within the database are, in addition to the sensor signals, typically additional safety-related data. These safety related data include, for example Year of construction of the relevant safety cabinet, the date of the last maintenance, the place of installation, the manufacturer, etc. In addition, information about the stored goods can also be stored in the database in the context of this safety-related data. This means that information about the respective hazardous substance, the storage quantity etc. can be stored here. In this way, not only a type of cabinet cadastre but also a hazardous material register can be mapped and stored in the database.

Within the scope of the cabinet cadastre, the database contains information in particular about the location of the respective security cabinet, for example taking into account the geographical location, the associated building, the projectile, the room with the installation site, etc. With the help of the hazardous materials register, potential sources of danger can then be identified become. In addition, it is possible to record additional additional security cabinets in the database. This also applies to safety cabinets without an additional sensor. As a result, a comprehensive cabinet cadastre and also hazardous materials register is available, for example, for a company across locations. The safety-related data in question are typically fed into the database with the aid of the manufacturer control unit and / or the customer control unit.

The sensor signals can now be evaluated in conjunction with the safety-related data taken together with regard to potential hazards and displayed on the control unit. Alternatively or additionally, a corresponding alarm signal can be displayed on the respective control unit and / or an additional alarm device. If, for example, elevated temperatures, abnormal gas evolution, etc. occur in the area or inside of a safety cabinet, this will result in In general, to the already mentioned alarm signal, which is displayed on the relevant control unit and / or the alarm device.

Moreover, the sensor signals and the safety cabinet relevant data can be stored within the database taking into account a period of time predetermined by the control unit. That is, with the help of the manufacturer control unit and / or the customer control unit, a period of time can be specified within which the sensor signals and the safety cabinet relevant data can be stored within the database and consequently also evaluated.

For the transmission of the data from the control unit to the database and / or from the respective control unit to the database, the invention generally recommends an encryption. In this way, the previously mentioned secure access to the sensor signals and / or the control unit is made possible and can be virtually excluded any manipulation from the outside. That is, the secure access to the sensor signals as data and thus the data as a whole in the database as well as the access to the control unit is carried out secured, that is, tamper-proof. This can be achieved by an example of encryption.

The sensor signals in or on the respective safety cabinet or at the installation location of the safety cabinet are examples of so-called status signals. The sensor is designed as a status sensor in this case. Examples of such status sensors are not restricting a temperature sensor, a smoke, gas or vapor sensor or a leakage sensor. With the help of the temperature sensor, the temperature can be detected in the interior of the relevant safety cabinet to the effect, for example, if a fire is forming. Like a temperature sensor likes working at the installation site of the safety cabinet, which reacts to an external source of fire.

In addition, a possible and unnatural smoke, gas or vapor development in the interior of the safety cabinet or at the installation site can be detected via the alternatively usable smoke, gas or steam sensors. Comparably works a leakage sensor, which measures any leaks stored in the safety cabinet liquid containers and transmitted to the control unit.

Alternatively or additionally, the sensor signals may also be so-called consumption signals. In this case, the sensor is designed as a consumption sensor. Typical consumption sensors are exemplary and also not restrictive, such as a filling quantity sensor, an exhaust air sensor or even a weight sensor. With the help of a filling sensor, for example, the respective filling quantity of a chemical can be detected in a storage container inside the safety cabinet and transmitted to the control unit. Changes in the filling quantity can then be used to deduce the consumption of the relevant chemical. With the aid of the exhaust air sensor, the amount of exhaust air discharged from the inside of a safety cabinet can normally be detected. The amount of exhaust air determines how high the demand for supply air is and how large the amount of air consumed is in each individual case. Finally, the weight sensor can be used to detect consumption levels of chemicals.

Another alternative or additional possibility is that the sensor signals are designed as operating signals and the associated sensor as an operating sensor. Examples of such operating sensors are a door closing sensor, an exhaust air quantity sensor or an actuation sensor to, for example an output unit. Of course, in this case as well, the enumeration is not meant to be limiting. With the help of the door closing sensor it can be determined, for example, whether a compulsory cabinet door is closed or open on a cabinet body of the safety cabinet. The exhaust air quantity sensor emits a sensor signal, which documents the basic mode of operation of the exhaust air control and optionally also reflects the amount of exhaust air.

In this case, the invention is based on the recognition that safety cabinets usually have forced ventilation, so that the exhaust air and a proper exhaust air flow is of particular importance. The presence of the exhaust air flow can now be monitored using the exhaust air quantity sensor as an operating sensor. Finally, the actuation sensor on, for example, an output unit is an operating sensor. Such an actuation sensor detects, for example, an output unit, whether a chemical discharge takes place or not. Here, the invention is based on the recognition that often the delivery of chemicals inside a safety cabinet takes place or can take place. With the help of the actuation sensor can now determine whether an associated dispensing unit for the respective chemical is in operation or not.

For safety reasons, the database is usually provided at a location spaced from the safety cabinets and the control unit. In addition, the database is connected to the control unit by data technology. As a rule, the safety cabinets and the control unit can be found, for example, in a building or possibly distributed on a company premises. In contrast, the database is provided at a remote location, which may be in another city, another country, or even on another continent.

For data-technical connection of the control unit with the database, the invention usually resorts to a computer network, which works wirelessly and / or wired or can work. In this context, the database is typically a so-called data cloud in the computer network. Such a data cloud describes a memory that is provided by an external IT infrastructure via, for example, the Internet. The storage space is deliberately not provided in this case either in the control unit for the safety cabinets or in the individual control units. As a result, the data stored in the database or data cloud data are protected particularly effective and are also accessible to the authorized user from anywhere. The additional and external IT infrastructure also allows remote control of the local control unit with the help of the control units concerned and using the computer network, as previously described.

As a result, the combination of at least one control unit and one or more safety cabinets is made available, which goes far beyond simple monitoring of the relevant safety cabinet on the basis of sensor signals. Because the fact that the sensor signals are additionally present in the parent database, namely taking into account a predetermined period of time and beyond safety cabinet relevant data are present, a user can gain a comprehensive overview of the security cabinet of interest about the relevant control unit. For example, it is possible to monitor the door-closing sensor as an operating sensor at practically any location on earth and to determine whether a safety cabinet connected to the database is closed or not. Even a remote control of relevant cabinet door from the said location is possible. For the control unit is connected via the database to the local control unit via the computer network. Such remote monitoring and remote control of safety cabinets in this consequence and form is so far unique.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment. The single FIGURE shows the combination according to the invention of at least one control unit and one or more safety cabinets.

In the single figure three safety cabinets are shown in the embodiment and not limiting. The respective safety cabinet has a cabinet body 1 and two cabinet doors 2 pivotally connected to the cabinet body 1. The cabinet doors 2 can be connected to a locking mechanism not expressly shown, with the help of the cabinet doors 2 remotely controlled or automatically closed in case of fire. In addition, it can be seen even more sensors 3, 4, 5. The sensors 3 are each status sensors 3, specifically respective temperature sensors 3 inside the cabinet body 1. With the help of the relevant temperature sensor 3, the temperature can be monitored inside the cabinet body 1 become. If, due to the chemicals stored in the interior of the cabinet body 1, a fire occurs in the example, the temperature sensor 3 reports an increased temperature to a control unit 6 evaluating the sensor signals. The remaining sensors 4, 5 are also connected to the control unit 6.

The sensor 4 is also a status sensor or temperature sensor 4, but in this case not inside the cabinet body 1 is arranged, but rather detects the temperature at the installation of the safety cabinet or more safety cabinets. For this purpose, the sensor or temperature sensor 4 may for example be attached to a wall or ceiling of a laboratory or generally a room in which the safety cabinets in question are placed. If there is an increased temperature in the room in question, this is again reflected by the sensor signals, which are transmitted to the control unit 6.

Finally, another sensor 5 is realized. This is a consumption sensor in the form of an exhaust air sensor 5. For the exhaust air sensor 5 is provided in the interior of an indicated in the single figure exhaust duct, by means of which each of the interior of the cabinet body 1 is vented. With the help of the exhaust air sensor 5 can now be determined whether ever an exhaust air flow is passed through the relevant safety cabinet and possibly also how large the exhaust air amount that passes through the exhaust pipe and is passed through the safety cabinet in total. From this it is possible to draw conclusions about air consumption. In addition to the correct function of the ventilation.

The control unit 6 can now evaluate the sensor signals of the individual sensors 3, 4, 5, for example, with regard to exceeding threshold values or even exceeding a limit value of temporal gradients, as illustrated in the starting point DE 20 2017 102 432 U1 will be described in detail. As a result, the locally existing control unit 6 ensures, for example, that the closing device for the cabinet doors 2 is acted upon in such a way that the cabinet doors 2 are closed, for example, in case of fire. In addition, in this case, the exhaust air control can be intensified, that is, the amount of discharged through the exhaust duct exhaust air.

In the context of the invention, the control unit 6 now additionally transmits the sensor signals of the individual sensors 3, 4, 5 to a superordinate database 7. In the present case this happens via a computer network 8, which is typically the Internet. The database 7 is designed in this context as a data cloud in the computer network 8 in question. About the database 7 has a defined and, of course, limited number of users secure access to the sensor signals and the control unit 6. In addition, the user in question in addition to the sensor signals or corresponding data stored in the database 7 further safety cabinet relevant data of the safety cabinets , as already described in the introduction.

The defined and limited number of users is represented or clearly illustrated in the illustrated exemplary embodiment in that two manufacturer control units 9 and two customer control units 10 are connected to the database 7 on the one hand. The control units 9, 10 are in each case computer units or computers which can again communicate with the database 7 via the computer network 8 or Internet.

In this way, the database 7 is initially provided once in a place spaced from the safety cabinets and the control unit 6 location. In addition, the data base 7 is connected to the control unit 6, namely via the computer network 8 or Internet. The manufacturer control unit 9 or the two manufacturer control units 9 are typically located at the manufacturer of the safety cabinet. In contrast, the customer control units 10 are found at the customer who has set up the security cabinets in question and would like to monitor. For this purpose, both the respective customer control unit 10 and the Manufacturer control unit 9 equipped with a device not explicitly shown for checking the access authorization of the user.

The device for checking the access authorization of the user works with a user-specific access code, user-specific properties or a user-specific key, as has already been described in the introduction. In this way, a user who wants to access the data within the database 7 via the relevant control unit 9, 10 must first authorize the control unit 9, 10 in question. This assumes that the user has a valid access code as described.

If the user is authorized and authorized, he can access the data in the database 7. This is typically not just the sensor signals of the sensors 3, 4, 5 in the example case. Instead, the database 7 contains, in addition to the sensor signals in question, additional safety-related data. These safety cabinet-relevant data are, for example, the year of manufacture of the safety cabinet, the date of the last maintenance, the installation site, the manufacturer etc. The sensor signals and the safety cabinet-relevant data can now be used to derive comprehensive information about the respective safety cabinet and the relevant control unit 9, 10 make visible.

Since the sensor signals and also the safety cabinet-relevant data are stored within the database 7 taking into account a time period predetermined by the control unit 9, 10, for example, long-term monitoring of the respective safety cabinet can be carried out. Thus, it is conceivable that the temperature profile of the respective temperature sensors 3, 4 is stored over days or weeks and monitored. The same applies to the respective amount of exhaust air, which is detected by means of the exhaust air sensor 5.

The security cabinet-relevant data are generally fed into the database 7 with the aid of the manufacturer control unit 9 and / or the customer control unit 10. In addition, the sensor signals of the sensors 3, 4, 5 are evaluated in conjunction with the safety cabinet relevant data taken together with regard to possible sources of danger. This can be done, for example, such that the exceeding of a threshold value is detected in the temperature sensors 3, 4. From this it is possible to derive an alarm signal which not only takes into account the exceeding of the threshold value at the respective temperature sensor 3, but also the relevant safety cabinet or the several safety cabinets. As a consequence of this, the alarm signal not only provides general information about an imminent danger, but more specifically about the type of danger (too high temperature in the example case) and about the relevant safety cabinets or the safety cabinet concerned. Of course, the alarm signal can also be used to feed an additional and not separately shown alarm device. That is, the alarm signal may result in an audible and / or visual warning to the alarm device.

So that the data transmitted via the computer network 8 or Internet can not be manipulated by the control unit 6 to the database 7 or also by the respective control unit 9, 10 via the database 7 to the control unit 6, the invention recommends that the data in question be transmitted in encrypted form become. In this case, common encryption methods can be used.

In addition, it is possible to give the respective users at the relevant control unit 9, 10 different hierarchical access rights. This can easily be achieved via the facility for checking the access authorization. For example, it is conceivable that only a user with the highest hierarchical access authorization can feed the security-related data into the database 7. By contrast, an indication of the data in question within the database 7 is generally possible for all authorized users, including those with the lowest hierarchical access rights.

Users with a middle hierarchical access right can then edit and evaluate the data of the database 7, for example, download for graphical editing from the database 7 or otherwise how to process the data, for example in Excel spreadsheets, with the help of graphics programs, etc .. Anyway a hierarchical access right is defined for the respective user with the aid of the device for checking the access authorization of the user, so that not every user has full access to the data and, for example, only users with the highest hierarchical level can feed data into the database 7. In addition, you will typically give only the users with the highest hierarchy level the option to control the control unit 6 via the associated control unit 9, 10 and the computer network 8 or Internet, for example, such that it controls the locking device of an associated security cabinet. That is, only the user with the highest hierarchy level is generally able to access the control unit 6 starting from the control unit 9, 10.

Claims (15)

Combination of at least one control unit (6) and one or more safety cabinets, wherein the respective safety cabinet and / or installation location of the safety cabinet is equipped with at least one sensor (3, 4, 5) and corresponding sensor signals to the control unit (6) for processing there be transmitted, characterized in that the control unit (6) at least further passes the sensor signals to a parent database (7), which allows a defined number of users secure access to the sensor signals as data and / or on the control unit (6). Combination according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor signals as status signals and the associated sensor (3, 4) as a status sensor (3, 4), for example, temperature sensor (3, 4) smoke, gas or vapor sensor or as a leakage sensor is formed. Combination according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor signals as consumption signals and the associated sensor (5) is designed as a consumption sensor, for example, fill level sensor, exhaust air sensor (5) or weight sensor. Combination according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sensor signals as operating signals and the associated sensor as an operating sensor, for example, door closing sensor, exhaust air quantity sensor, actuation sensor is formed on, for example, an output unit. Combination according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the database (7) is provided at a location spaced from the safety cabinets and the control unit (6) and is connected to the control unit (6) in terms of data. Combination according to claim 5, characterized in that for the data connection a wireless and / or wired computer network (8) is used. Combination according to claim 6, characterized in that the database (7) is realized as a data cloud in the computer network (8). Combination according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one manufacturer control unit (9) and a customer control unit (10) are provided, which allow an authorized user secure access to the data in the database (7). Combination according to claim 8, characterized in that the customer control unit (10) and / or the manufacturer control unit (9) are equipped with a device for checking the access authorization of the user. A combination according to claim 9, characterized in that the means for checking the access authorization of the user works with a user-specific access code, user-specific properties such as a fingerprint, an eye iris and / or a user-specific key. Combination according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the database (7) in addition to the sensor signals includes additional safety cabinet relevant data, such as the year of the safety cabinet, the date of the last maintenance, the site, the manufacturer, etc .. Combination according to claim 11, characterized in that the security-related data with the help of the manufacturer control unit (9) and / or the customer control unit (10) are fed into the database (7). Combination according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the sensor signals taken together with the safety cabinet relevant data taken together with regard to potential hazards evaluated and displayed on the respective control unit (9, 10) and / or an additional alarm device. Combination according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the sensor signals and the safety cabinet-relevant data are stored within the database (7) taking into account a time period predetermined by the control unit (9, 10). Combination according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the data is transmitted in encrypted form from the control unit (6) to the database (7) and / or from the respective control unit (9, 10) to the database (7).

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