GB2348081A

GB2348081A - Alarm apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2348081A
Application number: GB9905984A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley Peter Mcnally
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-17
Filing date: 1999-03-17
Publication date: 2000-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-17
Also published as: GB2348081B; GB9905984D0

Abstract

An alarm apparatus 10 located on a water borne vessel detects the transmission of a distress signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon and activates an audible and/or visual warning. The device allows the crew of a vessel to be warned that the emergency beacon may have been accidentally activated.

Description

AN ALARM APPARATS The present invention relates to an alarm apparats. More particularly, the present invention relates to an alarm apparats which, in use, is located on a water borne vessel and is actuated by the detection of a distress signal generated by an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB).

Emergency position indicating radio beacons are required to be fitted on all sea-going vessels over 300 gr. Tonnes Generally, an EPIRB is usually mounted in the uppermost part of a water bome vessel to facilitate the operational requirement of being able to float free from a stricken vessel.

In the event that an EPIRB breaks free from its mounting, it automatically begins to transmit a distress signal at a frequency of 406 Mhz, namely, the Internationally designated frequency protected for distress signals.

The distress signal generated by an EPIRB is detected by orbiting "COSPAS-SARSAT"satellites, which are in polar orbit, and"GEOS"weather satellites. Such satellites, in combination, can accurately locate the position of an activated EPIRB to within 2 to 5 kilometers anywhere in the world.

Additionally, and as the distress signal being transmitted is encoded with the vesse's identity, such satellites can also identify the vessel whose EPIRB has been activated.

On detection of a distress signal originating from an EPIRB, the satellites notify the rescue authorities of the location and identity of the vessel in distress, that is, so that the rescue authorities may take the appropriate action.

A major disadvantage of the EPIRB based system is that it may take some time after activation of an EPIRB before a"COSPAS-SARSAT"satellite, which actually determines the location of the activated EPIRB, actually passes over the area in which the EPIRB is located and hence, detect same.

Consequently, a considerable delay between activation of an EPIRB and the rescue authorities being notifie of same may be experienced as a result of the satellite constellation. In this connection, in certain areas, a delay of approximately 45 minutes may be experienced.

Furthermore, another major disadvantage associated with the use of EPIRB devices is that they will start transmitting their pre-programmed distress signal should they break free from their mountings, become waterlogged or malfunction in any way. In recent years, this has accounted for a substantial number of false alarms. In fact, research has established that false alarms account for about 98% of all EPIRB activation. This is compounded by the fact that the crew of the vessel concerne have no means of notifying them that the EPIRB on their vessel may have been accidentally activated, and by the fact that due to the location of an EPIRB on a vessel it is out of normal view of the vesse's crew and hence, difficult to see. In this connection, in most instances, first notification of the crew of a vessel that their EPIRB has been actuated occurs on receipt of a relayed distress call from the Maritime Co-ordination Centre, which may be too late, as by then, a full alert may have been initiated involving the Search and Rescue Services.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an alarm . apparatus which, in use, is located on a water borne vessel, the alarm apparats including : means for detecting a distress signal transmitted by an emergency position indicating radio beacon ; and alarm means which are actuated when the distress signal is detected.

It is believed that the present invention at least adresses the problems outlined bave. In particular, and once the alarm apparats in accordance with the present invention is actuated, the crew of a water borne vessel can perform the necessary checks to establish whether the EPIRB located on their water borne vessel has been accidentally activated. By doing so, and in the event of a false alarm, they can notify the appropriate authorities promptly, thereby avoiding the need for a search and rescue to be initiated. Additionally, and if the EPIRB on the vessel concerne has not been activated, this would enable the personnel on the vessel concerne to contact vessels in the surrounding area to establish whether their EPIRB has been activated and, if necessary, offer their assistance if same is required.

That is, and if a ship in the surrounding area whose EPIRB was activated was in trouble, a vessel with the alarm apparats of the present invention, which preferably has a detection area of 20-25 miles, would be notifie of such an event and would be able to be on site to provide assistance in less time than the search and rescue services. Moreover, this overcomes the problems associated with the time delay experienced by the detection of the distress signal by satellites and the subsequent notification of the rescue authorities.

In a preferred embodiment, the alarm apparatus would further Include a decoder which could decode the transmitted distress signal and hence, identify the vessels whose EPIRB has been activated. This has the avantage in that the vessel whose EPIRB has been activated, can be identifie in less time.

Further preferably, the alarm means are audible and/or visusl.

Further preferably, the alarm apparats in accordance with the present invention is housed within a waterproof housing.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an alarm apparats in accordance with the present invention ; and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of an alarm apparats in accordance with the present invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, an alarm apparats 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises an aerial 11 coupled to a 406. 25 MHz phase modulated receiver 12, which is connecte to an alarm 14, via an audio switch 13.

In the event of an EPIRB being activated, the signal is detected by the receiver 12 and the alarm 14 is activated. The alarm 14 may comprise a siren and/or flashing lights. The alarm apparats 10 is located on the bridge of a water bome vessel. That is, in an area where its actuation is likely to be notice.

With reference to Figure 2, an alarm apparats 1 osa in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention further inclues a signal decoder 16 connecte to the audio switch 13, which decodes the signal received by the phase modulated receiver 12, thereby enabling the identity of the water borne vessel whose EPIRB has been activated to be established.

Alarm 14 may comprise a siren and/or flashing lights and may be located on the bridge of a water borne vessel. That is, in an area where its actuation is likely to be notice. Furthermore, and as illustrated in Fig. 2 the alarm 14 may be connecte to external alarms 17, for example, a siren and/or flashing light ; the external alarms 17 being located in an area where its actuation is likely to be notice.

In a preferred embodiment, an alarm apparats 10 in accordance with the present invention is located in a water proof housing.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An alarm apparats which, in use, is located on a water borne vessel, the alarm apparats including means for detecting a distress signal being transmitted by an emergency position indicating radio beacon and alarm means which are actuated when ; hue distress signal is detected.
2. An alarm apparats as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distress signal detected is transmitted at a frequency of 406 MHz.
3. An alarm apparats as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the alarm apparats further comprises decoding means for decoding the distress signal thereby identifying the water borne vessel whose emergency position indicating radio beacon has been activated.
4. An alarm apparats as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alarm means are visual and/or audible alarm means.
5. An alarm apparats as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alarm apparatus is housed in a waterproof hous, ng.
6. An alarm apparats as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, when used on a water borne vessel to detect a distress signal transmitted by an emergency position indicating radio beacon.
7. An alarm apparats which, in use, is located on a water borne vessel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.