GB2340870A

GB2340870A - Assembly for monitoring, control and protection of remotely located assets

Info

Publication number: GB2340870A
Application number: GB9818574A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Humphry Robert Evatt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-08-27
Filing date: 1998-08-27
Publication date: 2000-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-27
Also published as: GB9818574D0; GB2340870B

Abstract

An assembly providing monitoring, control and protection of remote assets via public or private telephone networks is located at the asset for control either by a computer via a modem or directly by an operator with a telephone. The assembly has a control output device, such as a lock mechanism for a roadside cabinet, arranged so that stored electrical energy is only required to provide sufficient energy to release a trigger 2 (e.g. via a solenoid 3) to actuate the mechanism. The majority of the energy required for unlocking is supplied by mechanical energy stored in a spring 1 which drives a plunger 5 (normally restrained by the trigger 2) to retract a bolt 7. The assembly may be arranged so as to draw no energy from the telephone network until the remote asset is called via the telephone network.

Description

2340870 IMPROVEMENTS TO APPARATUS FOR MONITORING, CONTROL AND PROTECTION

OF REMOTELY LOCATED ASSETS This invention relates to improvements to methods of monitoring, control and protection of remotely located assets via public or private telephone networks.

In particular it relates to methods of reducing the electrical energy supply requirements for actuation of control outputs such as locks, via public or private telephone networks; and by providing a means of converting such electrical energy from telephone lines as may still be required in a manner consistent with the requirements of control and actuation operations and with international telephony regulations.

Monitoring of access to remote assets, for example roadside telecommunications cross-connection cabinets provides useful management information on the status of locks and other asset data which assists in providing protection for those assets. Remote control of access may be difficult if there is not, local to the remote asset, a suitably powerful electrical device such as a motor to operate locks or other control output devices.

Present methods of supplying power for opening and closing locks or operating other control output devices typically require a local power supply or disconnection of the normal telephone connections and connection of a special power supply to the telephone wires by means of dedicated power supply and control equipment within the the local telephone exchange.

Presently the equipment at the lock or output control devices typically includes electricrnotors with switches and controls for reversing the direction of movement to perform opening and closing using the same motor. Such arrangements are expensive, complex, require hard-wired installation at telephone exchanges and may be unreliable.

The present invention requires no local electrical power supply nor special equipment at the exchanges to deliver the power to the control output device, nor hard-wired connections of the telephone wires to such exchange equipment nor electric motors. Also the telephone wires remain in normal telephony modes throughout.

In the present invention control of the system is typically provided by a control computer situated at a location remote from the control and monitoring assemblies and connected to them by means of a modem at the computer and a normal telephony network- Control can also be applied by a human operator using a telephone communicating with the control computer and thence to the control and monitoring assemblies, or by communicating directly to a control and monitoring assembly via the telephone network.

The present invention seeks to reduce the amount of electrical energy required to operate a control output by substituting a part of the energy requirement by stored mechanical energy in a spring set by a human operator, thus simplifying the control and monitoring assembly mechanical design.

11 also seeks to derive the very small residual power required from the telephone line 1 and in one embodiment also partly from a small battery. In the latter case this requires no current whatsoever to be drawn from the telephone line until a ringing tone is received, thus ensuring conformance to telephony regulations. In this case the control and storage circuit are designed to appear, to the telephone line, similar to a telephone bell and designed to store part the a.c. current normally available to a bell, for later use in operating the control output.

Additionally the assembly is provided with features enabling the lock to be unlocked remotely in the event of electrical failure of parts of the assembly, and to test locally the correct function of the assembly.

Additionally the assembly is provided with features enabling the status or condition of the assembly to be detected and reported, such as unauthorised access or incorrect closure by an authorised engineer.

According to the present invention an actuator of a control output such as a lock is provided with a trigger mechanism which permits a human operator to set the actuator.

Where the control output device is a lock, when the actuator is set the bolt of the lock is placed into a locked position such that the door may be closed and will remain in the locked condition until the trigger of the actuator is released.

Locking of the asset such as a cabinet is performed without use of electrical energy, by closing the door, having placed the lock into the set condition.

Operation of the trigger of the actuator causes the bolt of a lock to be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position using stored mechanical energy, for example in a spring.

Release of the actuator to operate a control device such as a opening a lock is performed by using a very small amount of stored electrical energy via a control means and a solenoid and trigger.

The bolt and actuator of the lock are so arranged that after the unlocking operation the bolt remains in an unlocked position until the actuator is reset. Thus, if the human operator shuts the associated door without setting the actuator the door does not become locked, thus preventing the operator being accidentally locked out.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention will be illustrated by describing its use in the control of a remote lock associated with a cabinet door.

Referring to drawing FIG 1 the sequence of operations of the lock will now be described:

The lock may be mounted either on the door or on the body of the cabinet or door frame, with the tongue (11) of the bolt (7) oriented so as to permit locking to occur as the door is closed with the actuator (5) in the set position. Two or more locks may be 2 operated from the same control circuit, for example to secure a pair of doors.

FIG 1 shows the actuator (5) in the set position and the bolt of the lock in the locked position. This is the normal, locked condition.

The trigger (2) holds the actuator (5) in the set condition by means of a first weak spring (4). The bolt (7) of the lock is held in the locked position by a second weak spring (6).

An electrical impulse, using energy drawn from the telephone line and stored, for example in a capacitor via a relay, causes the plunger (3) of the solenoid (8) to be pulled to the right, thus withdrawing the trigger (2) from the actuator (5).

The actuator (5) is driven down by a strong spring (1) and engages the bolt (7) of the lock, moving it to the left against the third weak spring (6) beyond the datum line (9), thus unlocking the door.

The actuator (5) remains held in the unlocked position by the first strong spring (1) spring until reset by a human operator.

To reset the actuator the operator pulls the grip (10) of the actuator (5) against a strong spring (1) until the trigger (2) engages the actuator (5) in the set position.

The bolt (7) now moves to the right against the weak spring (6), putting the bolt (7) of the lock into the locked position.

Shutting the door causes the bolt (7) to move first to the left and then to the right, locking the door. The actuator and lock are now again in the set and locked positions respectively.

Referring to drawing FIG 2 the general operations of the control, electrical storage and actuator of an example will now be described in which as a source of electrical energy for the solenoid and controls the current drawn from.the telephone line in the off-hook condition is used:

FIG 2 shows telephone wires, typically from the public sWitched telephone network, normally carrying a voltage of about 50 volts dc. between them in the on-hook condition, are connected to a special power supply (12) and standard line interface circuit (17).

The power supply is designed to provide a high voltage (in this embodiment about 50v dc) to a capacitor (14) to permit energy storage for release through a relay (15) to a solenoid (16) to operate the opening mechanism of a lock (25).

The power supply also provides a low voltage to operate the line interface circuit (17), DTNE decoder (19), micro-controller (20) and digital inputs and outputs (2 1), These components permit the transmission and reception of control and data messages between a remote computer station and the assembly. The circuits are provided with safety isolation (13) and (19) in conformance to telephony regulations.

Switches (23) and (24) are read periodicOy by the rrdcro-controller and interpreted and 3 reported as necessary to provide the computer operator with information on the status of the assembly and associated locks or other control devices.

The EEPROM memory (22) permits storage of call out telephone numbers, security data, programs and other information as required by the operator. The microcontroller (20) may also be provided with non-volatile program memory.

The power supply may operate in a number of modes in order to collect energy most efficiently from the telephone wires. These, may include dc: trickle charge in the onhook condition, and ac charging during ringing tone (about 80 volts ac). An example of a circuit using the ringing tone is shown in FIG 3 and described below.

The power supply may also be provided with a simple input circuit feature, comprising diodes and associated components, such that in the event of reversal of the polarity of the 50v dc: supply by an engineer, the supply voltage is applied directly to the solenoid causing it to unlock the lock. This feature is of particular value in testing the lock assembly with the cabinet open, and in opening the cabinet remotely in the event of failure of the control or power supply when a telephone engineer may obtain access to the wires for this purpose at the local telephone exchange.

The control computer may be provided with means for polling each cabinet in turn to read the status of the assembly and control devices. the assembly may be programmed to dial out periodically with a test transmission- In the event of unauthorised access the control means is equipped to call one or more stored call-out numbers to report the event.

An engineer may obtain authorised access by, for example, calling the control computer and entering a Personal Identity Number, a code for the cabinet and a control command code. This may typically be done from a mobile phone local to the cabinet.

The control means may be provided with a timer and so arranged that if the cabinet is incorrectly closed after authorised access it will auto- dial to the control computer, which may cause the engineer to be recalled by telephone to complete the closure.

Referring to drawing FIG 3 the operations of a control, electrical storage and actuator will now be described in which electrical energy storage during the ringing tone and a battery to maintain controller is used:

FIG 3 shows an actuator (30) and lock (25) which are activated by discharge of a storage capacitor (14) through a solenoid (16). The controller (20) is powered at an extremely small current in the stand by mode by a battery (33) associated with the wake up circuit (34) The contacts of the lock and door detectors (23 and 24) are normally open so that the wake-up circuit (34) draws minimal current. Closure of the door detector (24) and/or lock- detector (23) cause the wake-up circuit (J3)4) to power up the controller.

Thus the controller (20) wakes up if a door or lock contact is made, and can then assert loop connect and initiate a warning or status call.

4 An incoming call will also wake up the controller. It waits for two (or more) ring bursts while the solenoid capacitor (14) charges, and then asserts loop detect. The inverter (38) may be powered through the ringing rectifier (39) during this time.

Loop connect allows power to be taken from the line. lle inverter (38) behaves as a 6-8 volt zener diode in series with the loop and is designed so as to provide sufficient power to operate controller (20) and DTW decoder (19) and line interface communication functions (17).

The line reversal detector circuit (42) allows the capacitor (3 1) to be charged, and when charged the capacitor automatically operates the solenoid (16).

The transformers and opto-isolator components (43 to 47) ensure that isolation of all low power circuits is maintained.

Claims

1) A remote control and monitoring assembly comprising at least power supply means, electrical energy storage means, control means, actuator and control output device and data input means, wherein actuation of the control output device from a first, energised state to a second state is performed in response to a control command from a remote location using a small quantity of electrical energy to initiate the change of state, the remainder of the required energy being derived from a non-electrical source such as mechanical'energy.

2) A remote control and monitoring assembly as described in claim 1 wherein the required electrical energy is derived from the wires of a public or private telephone network during the on-hook condition at a rate sufficiently small as to avoid infringing allowed limits above which the assembly would be seen by the telephone exchange as being in the off- hook condition.

3) A remote control and monitoring assembly as described in claim 1 wherein the required electrical energy is derived in part from the wires of a public or private telephone network during the ringing tone condition and in part from a battery local to or a part of the assembly during the onhook condition.

4) A remote control and monitoring assembly as described in claim 3) in which the power supply is so arranged that the current drawn by the assembly from the telephone wires during the ringing tone condition is consistent with the current that would typically be drawn from the line by the bell of a telephone during the ringing tone condition- 5) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein mechanical energy for changing the state of the control device from said second state into said first, energised state is provided by a human operator causing a control output device to be moved mechanically against resilient means into the second, energised position and retained in this state by a part of an actuator in the form of a trigger.

6) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the electrical energy storage means includes a capacitor or a plurality of these.

7),A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the actuator is a solenoid- 6 8) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control output device is a lock mechartism.

9) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a lock mechanism has a bolt which is normally in the locked position but is free to move into the unlocked position against weak resilient means whereby closure of a door will cause a bolt to be first retracted and then released during closure, thus causing a door to become locked- 10) A remote control and morutoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means is capable of receiving and transmitting messages over telephone wires between the assembly and a remote location and of storing transmitted and locally detected data and commands, and capable of converting a command message into an electrical signal to operate the actuator to change the state of the control output device from the said second state back to said first state.

11) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the change of state of a lock from said first state to said second state is initiated by a solenoid operated by the control means in response to a local command such as a test or fault over-ride command.

12) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means is capable of detecting the state and/or change of state of control output means and of converting and transmitting these state and/or change of state conditions or derivatives thereof to a remote location via the telephone wires.

13) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control assembly can store data which may include telephone numbers, security data, assembly identity and security code and one or more time periods.

14) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim with a power supply and control assembly wherein one or more timers is used to detect and respond to events such as the actuator remaining in one condition, or a lock remaining unlocked, for a timed period.

7 15) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim with a power supply and control assembly wherein messages transmitted over the pair of telephone wires from the actuator assembly to a remote location include information on event and/or status conditions such as unauthorised access, faults or incorrect completion of service operations, as single events or at random or periodic intervals.

16) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which control commands may be issued automatically by a control computer via a modem and a telephony network.

17) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which control commands may be issued by a human operator with a telephone via a control computer, one or more modems and a telephony network.

18) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which control commands may be issued to the assembly by a human operator via a telephone and a telephony network- 19) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which control commands may be issued to the assembly by a human operator via a numeric or alpha-numeric pager and a telephony network.

20) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which a request for information on the status of input and output devices and of the control assembly may be received by that assembly over a telephone network from a control computer or human operator and transmitted to a remote location via a telephone network- 21) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which a control output device may be changed Erom said first state into said second state, by reversing the polarity of the telephone wires at the local telephone exchange or at test contacts within the assembly, so as to energise an actuator such as a solenoid, regardless of a fault condition within the control means.

8 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1) A remote control and monitoring assembly comprising at least power supply means, electrical energy storage means, control means, actuator and control output device and data input means, wherein actuation of the control output device from a first, energised state to a second state is performed in response to a control command from a remote location using a small quantity of electrical energy to initiate the change of state, this energy being derived from the wires of a public or private telephone network during the on-hook condition at a rate sufficiently small as to avoid infringing allowed limits above which the assembly would be seen by the telephone exchange as being in the off-hook condition, the remainder of the required energy being derived from a non-electrical source such as mechanical energy.

2) A remote control and morutoring assembly substantially as described in claim 1) in which the electrical energy is derived in part from the wires of a public or private telephone network during the ringing tone condition and in part from a battery local to or a part of the assembly during the on-hook condition.

3) A remote control and monitoring assembly as described in claim 2) in which the power supply is so arranged that the current drawn by the assembly from the telephone wires during the ringing tone condition is consistent with the current that would typically be drawn from the line by the bell of a telephone during the ringing tone condition.

4) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein mechanical energy for changing the state of the control device from said second state into said first, energised state is provided by a human operator causing a control output device to be moved mechanically against resilient means into the second, energised position and retained in this state by a part of an actuator in the form of a trigger.

5) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the electrical energy storage means includes a capacitor or a plurality of these.

6) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the actuator is a solenoid.

17 7) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control output device Is a lock mechanism.

8) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a lock mechanism has a bolt which is normally in the locked position but is free to move into the unlocked position against weak resilient means whereby closure of a door will cause a bolt to be first retracted and then released during closure, thus causing a door to become locked.

9) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means is capable of receiving and transmitting messages over telephone wires between the assembly and a remote location and of storing transmitted and locally detected data and commands, and capable of converting a command message into an electrical signal to operate the actuator to change the state of the control output device from the said second state back to said first state.

10) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the change of state of a lock from said first state to said second state is initiated by a solenoid operated by the control means in response to a local command such as a test or fault over-ride command.

11) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means is capable of detecting the state and/or change of state of control output means and of converting and transmitting these state and/or change of state conditions or derivatives thereof to a remote location via the telephone wires.

12) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control assembly can store data which may include telephone numbers, security data, assembly identity and security code and one or more time periods.

13) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim with a power supply and control assembly wherein one or more timers is used to detect and respond to events such as the actuator remaining in one condition, or a lock remaining unlocked, for a timed period.

14) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim with a power supply and control assembly wherein messages transmitted over the pair of telephone wires from the actuator assembly to a remote location include information on event and/or status conditions such as unauthorised access, faults or incorrect completion of service operations, as single events or at random or periodic intervals.

15) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which control commands may be issued automatically by a control computer via a modem and a telephony network.

16) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which control commands may be issued by a human operator with a telephone via a control computer, one or more modems and a telephony network.

17) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which control commands may be issued to the assembly by a human operator via a telephone and a telephony network.

18) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which control commands may be issued to the assembly by a human operator via a numeric or alpha-numeric pager and a telephony network.

19) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which a request for information on the status of input and output devices and of the control assembly may be received by that assembly over a telephone network from a control computer or human operator and transmitted to a remote location via a telephone network.

20) A remote control and monitoring assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which a control output device may be changed from said first state into said second state, by reversing the polarity of the telephone wires at the local telephone exchange or at test contacts within the assembly, so as to energise an actuator such as a solenoid, regardless of a fault condition within the control means.

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