GB2137385A

GB2137385A - Vehicle fire and/or intruder detection system

Info

Publication number: GB2137385A
Application number: GB08309082A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Spencer Todd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-31
Filing date: 1983-03-31
Publication date: 1984-10-03
Also published as: GB2137385B

Abstract

Fire and/or intruder detectors in a vehicle operate remote alarms via radio telemetry. A vehicle power supply 20A is connected via isolate controls and switches to an intruder detector 22, a wheel housing fire detection system 23, a gaseous fire extinguishing system for tyres 24, an engine compartment fire detection system 25, a gaseous extinguishing system for the engine compartment 26, a fire detection system for the passenger compartment 27 and a gaseous extinguishing system for the passenger compartment 28. The detectors are connected to the driving cab control and indicator panel 29, and to a short range radio transmitter 30 having a modulation encoder (A,B,C and D) for each of the four detection devices. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle fire and/or intruder detection system This invention relates to a vehicle fire and/or intruder detection system.

It is accepted practice to have a fire or intruder detection system in which detection devices are connected by wiring to a control panel which provides power to the detectors and operates bells or other devices on receipt of such a signal.

There are however situations where wiring between detectors and control equipment simply cannot be used. In the protection of vehicles such as container lorries, buses, railway rolling stock etc., the benefits of automatic detection within the vehicle are of little significance when there are passengers in the vehicle because the passengers are likely to give early warning of a fire. However when the buses, lorries or railway rolling stock are parked at night or are left empty for long periods there does arise a problem of an undetected fire in one vehicle causing a conflagration of all the other vehicles. The use of sprinkler systems or conventional detector systems within the building in such a situation is clearly not effective as they would operate at too late a stage i.e. after fire has broken out on the vehicle.

Furthermore a detector which merely gave warning within the vehicle in these situations is not likely to be of much value.

The signal requires to be relayed to a remote point such as a manned office or control room or the fire brigade or police.

It is an objective of this invention to provide a vehicle fire detection and/or intruder detection system which is useful and usable in situations such as that outlined above where it will be impractical to have wire extending from the vehicle to a remote alarm system such as in an office building or watchmans hut.

Broadly in accordance with the invention there is a vehicle fire detection and/or intruder detection system comprising a number of detection devices at strategic points in or on the vehicle and a system of radio telemetry by which the detection systems operate a remote alarm system.

The vehicle may for example be a bus or coach or lorry or it may be a rail vehicle, either a passenger or goods vehicle.

In appropriate circumstances the detection system may provide an alarm, it may as desired operate a fire extinguishing system. For instance in goods vehicles the alarm may be remote in the sense of being in the cab of the vehicle or in the towing vehicle of a train of vehicles or it may be more remote. For instance being in the watchmen's hut or an office block close to the area where the vehicles are normally parked.

For example, in the case of a fleet of buses the alarm system could be in the security control centre of a large garage where the buses are parked overnight or in a watchmen's office if the buses are parked overnight in a large open area. The alarm signal may be automatically relayed to a more remote location e.g. a fire brigade control or a commercially operated alarm station by conventional means over Post Office lines.

The fire or intruder detectors may be in the passenger or goods compartment of a vehicle.

Alternatively or in addition there may be detectors in or associated with the tyres of a vehicle and/or in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

The detection system may be connected through a control on ignition (particularly in the case of petrol engines) or on fuel supply cut-off (particularly in the case of diesel engines) so that the system may be brought into action automatically when the engine is stopped.

Each detector may have its own integral power supply in the form of a battery incorporated with the detector. To save current on the dry batteries used integrally with the detectors there may be a changeover switch by which the vehicle battery can be used to supply the power to the detectors unless the vehicle battery is isolated.

Thus the basic requirements of a system in accordance with this invention are that there should be one or more detectors located in or on the vehicle adapted to operate a small transmitter sending radio frequency signals to a remote alarm point where the signals will be received and operate an alarm or set in motion a system to alert the police or fire brigade etc.

The system may be provided with test controls to enable the system to be monitored and monitoring for line faults could also be provided for using standard circuitry.

Fire extinguishing systems (for example Halon systems) may optionally be provided although they would normally only be used for engine compartments and perhaps tyres in passenger carrying vehicles In goods vehicles the systems might be provided throughout the vehicle.

The driver should not be required to set the fire system. The detection system could be brought into action automatically by operation of a micro-switch in the fuel cut-off control or in the ignition system.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows a detection circuit which may form the standard unit detector for use in the detection system in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a comprehensive in-vehicle system in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 is a block diagram of a remote receiver and alarm system for use with the detection system of this invention.

The detection circuit shown in Figure 1 comprises a standard fire or intruder detector 10 supplied with a standard voltage across terminals 11 and 12 by means of a dry battery 13 although as stated above alternatives may be provided by which the dry battery may be isolated from the detector and the detector made to operate on the vehicle battery.

The detector may operate any or all of a number of devices including a monitor 14warning lamps 15 and a Halon release 16. There may also be a fault buzzer 17 and a radio transmitter is connected to the detector at 18.

An alarm relay 19 is provided which, when the detector 10 operates so shorting the lines, will close switches Al to A5 so as to operate the warning systems radio transmitter etc.

Fault relay 20 is also provided which operates on loss of monitoring current through the end of line resistor to indicate a fault in the system so as to close switch F1 and operate fault buzzer 17.

When the detector operates it not only sets off the warning lamp buzzer and Halon release (if fitted) but also causes the radio transmitter to send out a signal which operates a remote warning system.

There may be a number of these detectors located at strategic points in a vehicle. A very comprehen sivesystem is shown in Figure 2 and it will be appreciated that not all of the features of Figure 2 would necessarily be included in any particular installation. In Figure 2 the block 20A represents a vehicle power supply connected via vehicle master isolate control 21 to the detection system. There are shown four different detectors connected via isolate controls and micro-switches to the vehicle power supply.The detectors are an intruder detector 22, a wheel housing fire detection system 23, a gaseous fire extinguishing system for tyres 24, an engine compartment fire detection system 25, a gaseous extinguishing system for the engine compartment 26, a fire detection system for the passenger compartment 27 and a gaseous extinguishing system for the passenger compartment 28.

Each of the detectors illustrated is connected to the driving cab control and indicator panel 29 and also to a short range radio transmitter 30. The transmitter 30 has a modulation encoder (A,B,C and D) for each of the four detection devices provided.

The intruder detector 22 is connected to the vehicle power supply via vehicle master isolate control and a micro-switch 31 in the fuel cut-off control or in the ignition key circuit, and then via a system control switch 32. Across the intruder detector 22 is a test switch 33.

Similarly the wheel housing fire detection system 23 is connected via an isolate control 34 and the vehicle master isolate control 21 to the vehicle power supply. It is provided with a test switch 35 and is also connected via isolate control 36 to the gaseous extinguishing system 24 for which there may additionally be a manual control 37 located in the drivers cab.

The engine compartment fire detection system 25 also has an isolate control 38 and test switch 39 and is connected via a second isolate control 40 to the gaseous extinguishing system 26 for the engine compartment. This also has a manual control 41.

The passenger compartment fire detection system 27 has its own integral batteries 42 and a battery monitoring circuit 43, the batteries providing current via relay 44, manual control switch 45 and a micro-switch 46 in the fuel cut-off control or ignition key circuit.

The passengerfire detection system also has a test switch 47 and is connected via an isolate control 48 to the gasous extinguishing system 28. This also has a manual control 49.

The relay 44 is provided so as to connect either the integral batteries 42 to the passenger compartment fire detection system 27 or to connect the vehicle power supply to this detection system when the vehicle power supply 21 is closed.

The driving cab control and indicator panel 29 shows the system status, alarm conditions, and fault conditions (on systems with fault monitoring). There is also an integral sounder which indicates audibly any alarm/fault condition.

Optionally there may be provision for all alarm conditions to cause a general sounder on the vehicle to operate (e.g. vehicle reversing warning sounder) and hazard warning lights to flash.

When the vehicle is on the road the isolate control 21 is closed and only certain of the systems may be operated if required. For instance the engine compartment fire detection system may be brought into operation by closing isolate control 38 and the wheel housing fire detection system 23 may be brought into operation by closing isolate control 34. The other systems may not be required and indeed would not be used when there are passengers in the vehicle.

When the vehicle is parked at night and is left unattended the master vehicle isolate control switch 21 might be open but the manual switch-on control and isolate controls are all closed so that the detection system operates on the integral batteries and all of the systems may be brought into operation using these batteries. This ensures that any fire in any part of the vehicle or any intruder will automatically cause the alarm system to operate in the vehicle itself and also will cause the transmitter to transmit the appropriate signal to the receiver in the watchmen's hut or other location.

Parts of the system may be used without others.

For instance there may be simply an intruder detector and a passenger compartment fire detection system in a towed vehicle such as a passenger railway carriage.

Figure 3 shows the radio receiver and alarm system for installation in a building or watchmen's hut.

The radio frequency signal produced bythetrans- mitter on the vehicle is based in a common carrier frequency with coded modulations representing different sources (e.g. different vehicles and different detections within vehicles indicating various sources of fire or intruder).

The received signal reaches the radio receiver 50 which has a multi-channel decoder and the decoder separates out the intruder signals from fire signals.

Intruder alarms are operated such as indicator lamps on a panel 51, alarm bells 52, police alerting system 53 such as autodialerfor 999 call and acilliary functions 54.

Fire signals on line 56 may operate indicator lamps, sound bells and/or summon fire brigade.

Automatic closure of fire doors may also be effected.

A vehicle indicator 55 provides an indication as to which of a number of vehicles the alarm signal originates from.

The tyre fire detection system may be used independently of the radio link. Tyre detection may simply operate a warning in the driver's cab or elsewhere in the vehicle. The detector may be in the form of a coaxial cable running around the wheel housing, the coaxial cable providing a resistance, impedance or capacitance change, or cable shorting out on overheating so as to provide an alarm signal.

Claims

1. A vehicle fire detection and/or intruder detection system comprising a number of detection devices at strategic points in or on the vehicle and a system of radio telemetry by which the detection systems operate a remote alarm system.

2. A system according to claim 1 and in which the vehicle is a bus or coach.

3. A system according to claim 1 and in which the vehicle is a rail vehicle.

4. A system according to any preceding claim in which the alarm is in the cab of a vehicle or in the towing vehicle of a train of rail or road vehicles.

5. A system according to any of claims 1 to 3 and in which the alarm is completely remote from the vehicle.

6. A system according to claim 5 and in which the alarm is in a building close to the area where the vehicles are normally parked.

7. A system according to claim 6 in which the alarm is in a watchman's hut or a security control centre.

8. A system according to any preceding claim and which includes a fire extinguishing system on or in part of the vehicle operable by the same detection devices.

9. A system according to any preceding claim and in which means are provided to automatically relay the signal from the detectorto a remote location such as a fire brigade control centre or a commercially operated alarm station.

10. A system according to claim 9 and in which said means comprises conventional Post Office telephone lines.

11. A system according to any preceding claim in which said detectors are in the passenger or goods compartment of a vehicle.

12. A system according to any of claims 1 to 11 and in which there are detectors in or associated with the tyres of the vehicle and/or in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

13. A system according to any preceding claim in which the detection system is connected through a control on ignition or on fuel supply cut-off so that the system may be brought into action automatically when the engine is stopped.

14. A system according to any preceding claim and in which each detector has its own integral power supply in the form of a battery incorporated with the detector.

15. A system according to claim 14 and in which, to save current on the batteries used integrally with the detectors there is a changeover switch by which the vehicle battery can be used to supply the power to the detectors unless the vehicle battery is isolated.

16. A system according to any preceding claim and in which the system of radio telemetry comprises a small transmitter sending radio frequency signals to a said remote alarm where the signals will be received and operate an alarm and/or set in motion a system to alert the police or fire brigade.

17. A system according to any preceding claim provided with test controls to enable the system to be monitored.

18. A system according to any preceding claim in which monitoring for line faults is provided for using standard circuitry.

19. A system according to claim 1 and in which the radio telemetry system includes a transmitter on the vehicle which produces a radio frequency signal based in a common carrier frequency with coded modulations representing different sources such as different vehicles and different detections within vehicles indicating various sources of fire or intruder.

20. A system according to claim 19 and in which the radio telemetry system includes a radio receiver which has a multi-channel decoder and the decoder separates out the intruder signals from fire signals.

21. A system according to any preceding claims including intruder alarms and/or indicator lamps on a panel and/or alarm bells and/or a police alerting system such as autodialer for 999 call and ancillary functions.

22. A vehicle fire and/or intruder detection system substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.