GB2400712A - A radar safety system for detecting workmen within a danger area - Google Patents

A radar safety system for detecting workmen within a danger area Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2400712A
GB2400712A GB0404568A GB0404568A GB2400712A GB 2400712 A GB2400712 A GB 2400712A GB 0404568 A GB0404568 A GB 0404568A GB 0404568 A GB0404568 A GB 0404568A GB 2400712 A GB2400712 A GB 2400712A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sensed
safety system
construction apparatus
signal
sensing means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0404568A
Other versions
GB0404568D0 (en
Inventor
Mervyn George Edward Brodie
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB0404568D0 publication Critical patent/GB0404568D0/en
Publication of GB2400712A publication Critical patent/GB2400712A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
    • E02F9/24—Safety devices, e.g. for preventing overload
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/02—Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S13/04—Systems determining presence of a target
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
    • G08B21/0205—Specific application combined with child monitoring using a transmitter-receiver system
    • G08B21/0213—System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R2021/0065—Type of vehicles
    • B60R2021/0074—Utility vehicles
    • B60R2021/0081—Working vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/01—Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents
    • B60R2021/01122—Prevention of malfunction
    • B60R2021/01184—Fault detection or diagnostic circuits
    • B60R2021/01197—Warning devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/34—Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/88—Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G01S13/886—Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications for alarm systems

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
  • Component Parts Of Construction Machinery (AREA)

Abstract

A safety system (10) includes sensing means in the form of a transceiver unit (20) and an output unit (30), and sensed means in the form of a radar signal deflector (100) attached to a high visibility jacket (110). The transceiver unit (20) and the output unit (30) are fitted to a mechanical digger (40). The transceiver unit (20) is operable to emit a radar signal, to receive reflected portions of that radar signal and to cause the output unit (30) to emit a warning signal upon receiving such reflected portions. The radar signal deflector (100) is arranged to reflect at least part of a radar signal incident thereon. Thus, the system (10) can be arranged such that the output unit (30) emits a warning signal when a person wearing the high visibility safety jacket (110) strays close to the mechanical digger (40).

Description

24007 1 2 "A Safety System" This invention relates to a safety system for
use on a construction site. This invention further relates to sensing means for fitting to construction apparatus, to construction apparatus, to sensed means for fitting to a high visibility jacket and to a high visibility jacket.
The use of construction apparatus, such as mechanical diggers, excavators and dump trucks on construction sites is widespread. When using such apparatus, care must be taken to avoid injury to bystanders that may result from one or more of the bystanders coming into accidental contact with the apparatus. To avoid injury, high visibility jackets and protective hard hats are often worn by bystanders on constructions sites. However, even with the provision of such safety clothing, injuries resulting from accidental contact between construction apparatus and bystanders still occur.
It is an object of this invention to address this problem.
According to an aspect of this invention, there is provided a safety system for use on a construction site, the system including sensing means for mounting on construction apparatus and sensed means for placing about the body of a bystander to the construction apparatus, the sensing means and the sensed means being arranged such that the sensing means is operable to sense when the sensed means is within a danger zone around the construction apparatus and to provide a warning signal indicative of this. s
The sensing means may be operable to emit a signal, which the sensed means is operable to at least partially reflect, the sensing means being further operable to sensed the reflected signal and thereby to ascertain to proximity of the sensed means to the sensing means.
The sensed means may be arranged to emit a signal which the sensing means is operable to sense and thereby to ascertain the proximity of the sensed means to the sensing means.
The signal emitted by the sensing means or the sensed means may be, for example, a radar signal or a radio signal.
The warning signal may be an audio and/or visual signal emitted by audio and/or visual output means of the sensing means and communicated to the operator and/or the bystander. The warning signal may be a control signal to control means of the construction apparatus, the control means being responsive to receipt of the control signal to suspend operation of the construction apparatus.
A sensing part of the sensing means is preferably mountable outside an operator cabin of the construction apparatus, for example on a rear body portion or on a digging or excavating arm of the construction apparatus. The sensing part may be embodied by a transceiver unit.
A warning signal emitting part of the sensing means is preferably mountable inside an operator cabin of the construction apparatus such that a warning signal emitted thereby is readily perceivable by the operator. The warning signal emitting part may be embodied by an output unit.
The sensed means is preferably for attaching to or placing within a jacket.
Preferably the jacket is a high visibility safety jacket.
According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided sensed means for fitting to a high visibility safety jacket, the sensed means being as defined above.
According to a further aspect of this invention, there is provided sensing means for fitting to construction apparatus, the sensing means being as defined above.
According to a still further aspect of this invention there is provided a high visibility safety jacket including sensed means as defined above. s
According to a yet further aspect of this invention, there is provided construction apparatus including sensing means as deemed above.
The construction apparatus may be, for example, a mechanical digger, an excavator, a dump truck, a forklift truck, or a telescopic handler.
Application of the safety system defined above may not, however, be confined to construction apparatus. Instead, the safety system may be applied to other industrial environments where there are industrial hazards such as, for example, sites having manufacturing machinery thereon, wherein the sensing means may be mounted on or adjacent that machinery.
A specific embodiment of this invention is now described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a diagrammatic representation of a safety system in the context of a s construction site; and Figure 2 is a detailed schematic view of components of the safety system.
Figure 1 shows a safety system 10 for a construction site. The system 10 includes sensing means in the form of a transceiver unit 20 and an output unit 30. The transceiver unit 20 and the output unit 30 are fitted to a mechanical digger 40, with the output unit 30 being positioned inside an operator cabin of the digger 40 and the transceiver unit 20 being attached to the outside, and on the rear, of the digger 40.
The system 10 also includes sensed means in the form of a radar signal deflector 100 arranged to reflect at least part of a radar signal that is incident thereupon. The deflector 100 is attached to a high visibility safety jacket 110 by a known releasable attachment mechanism, which in this embodiment is provided by cooperating strips of hook-and-look type fasteners. Although not shown, a respective one of the strips is fixedly attached to each of the deflector and the jacket 110. The jacket 110 is worn by a bystander 120 to the digger 40 on the construction site.
Figure 2 shows the part of the system 10 that is on and in the digger 40, that is to say the transceiver unit 20 and the output unit 30, in more detail and also shows the radar signal deflector 100.
The transceiver unit 20 includes a radar transceiver 22 operable to emit a radar signal and to receive reflected portions of that radar signal. Inputs to and outputs from the radar transceiver 22 are connected to an inputloutput interface of the transceiver unit 20.
The output unit 30 includes audio output means in the form of a buzzer 32, visual output means in the form of a lamp 34 and processing and control means in the form of a microprocessor 36. Outputs of the microprocessor 36 are connected to inputs of each of the buzzer 32 and the lamp 34. Inputs to and other outputs from the microprocessor 36 are connected to an input/output interface of the output unit 30.
The input/output interface of the transceiver unit 20 is connected to the input/output unit of the output unit 30 by electrical wires 25 routed inside the digger 40.
The microprocessor 36 is arranged to provide electrical control signals to the radar transceiver 22 of the transceiver unit 20 along the wires 25 and thereby t to control operation of the radar transceiver 22. The microprocessor 36 is also arranged to receive electrical signals from the radar transceiver 22 along the wires 25 and to control operation of the buzzer 32 and the lamp 34, based upon those signals. s
In operation of the system, the bystander 120 on the construction site is issued with the radar signal deflector 100, which is then attached to the high visibility jacket 110 worn by the bystander 120. Attachment is by way of the cooperating strips of hook-and-look type fasteners.
The output unit 30 of the system 10 operates such that the microprocessor 36 sends control signals to the radar transceiver 22, via the wires 25, to cause the radar transceiver 22 to emit a radar signal and to sense reflected portions of that radar signal. Upon sensing reflected portions of the radar signal, the radar transceiver 22 sends electrical signals indicative of the sensed reflected portions along the wires 25 to the control unit 30 to be received by the microprocessor 36. The microprocessor 36 operates on these signals to determine if any of the reflected portions of the radar signal are being reflected by the radar signal deflector 100. It is envisaged that the microprocessor is pre-programmed with the radar signature of the radar signal deflector 100 and that this signature is unique to or substantially unique to radar signal deflectors such as that 100 for use with this system 100. Upon determining that at least some of the reflected portions of the radar signal have been so reflected by the radar signal deflector 100, the microprocessor 36 determines the proximity of the deflector 100 to the radar transceiver 22, and hence to the rear to the digger 40, by the characteristics of the signal from the radar transceiver 22 indicative of the reflected portions of the radar signal sensed thereby. If the deflector 100 is determined to be within a distance from the transceiver unit 20 that marks the radius of an unsafe area or "danger zone" extending around the digger 40, the microprocessor causes the buzzer 32 to sound and the lamp 34 to illuminate.
The sounding buzzer 32 and the illuminated lamp 34 alert the operator of the digger 40 to the presence of the bystander 120 within the danger zone around the digger 40. The operator can then suspend operation of the digger 40.
If the microprocessor 36 determines from the characteristics of the signal indicative of the sensed reflected portions of the radar signal that the deflector is not within the danger zone, the microprocessor 36 operates such that the buzzer 32 is not sounded and the lamp 34 is not illuminated. Under such conditions, the operator of the digger 40 continues to operate the digger 40 in a normal fashion.
In an alternative embodiment that is not shown, it is envisaged that the digger would be provided with exterior warning means in the form of another buzzer and/or another light. The other buzzer and light would be operated together with the first-mentioned buzzer 32 and light 34 to warn the bystander that he has entered the danger zone. s

Claims (21)

1. A safety system for use on a construction site, the system including sensing means for mounting on construction apparatus and sensed means for placing about the body of a bystander to the construction apparatus, the sensing means and the sensed means being arranged such that the sensing means is operable to sense when the sensed means is within a danger zone around the construction apparatus and to provide a warning signal indicative of this.
2. A safety system according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means is operable to emit a signal, which the sensed means is operable to at least partially reflect, the sensing means being further operable to sense the reflected signal and thereby to ascertain the proximity of the sensed means to the sensmg means.
3. A safety system according to claim 1, wherein the sensed means is arranged to emit a signal which the sensing means is operable to sense and thereby to ascertain the proximity of the sensed means to the sensing means.
4. A safety system according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the signal emitted by the sensing means or the sensed means is a radar signal or a radio signal.
5. A safety system according to any preceding claim, wherein the warning signal is an audio and/or visual signal emitted by audio and/or visual output means of the sensing means and communicated to the operator and/or the bystander.
6. A safety system according to any preceding claim, wherein the warning signal is a control signal to control means of the construction apparatus, the control means being responsive to receipt of the control signal to suspend operation of the construction apparatus.
7. A safety system according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensing means has a sensing part that is mountable outside an operator cabin of the construction apparatus.
8. A safety system according to claim 7, wherein the sensing part is mountable on a rear body portion or on a digging or excavating arm of the construction apparatus.
9. A safety system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the sensing part is embodied by a transeceiver unit.
10. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensing means has a warning signal-emitting part that is mountable inside an operator cabin of the construction apparatus such that a warning signal emitted thereby is readily perceivable by the operator.
11. A safety system according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensed means is for attaching to or placing within a jacket.
12. A safety system according to claim 11, wherein the jacket is a high visibility safety jacket.
13. Sensed means as defined in any preceding claim and arranged for fitting to a high visibility safety jacket.
14. Sensed means as defined in any preceding claim and arranged for fitting to construction apparatus.
15. A high visibility safety jacket including sensed means as defined in any preceding claim.
16. Construction apparatus including sensing means as defined in any preceding claim.
17. A safety system substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings and/or as shown in those drawings.
18. Sensed means substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings and/or as shown in those drawings.
19. Sensing means substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings and/or as shown in those drawings.
20. A high visibility jacket substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings and/or as shown in those drawings.
21. Construction apparatus substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings and/or as shown in those drawings.
GB0404568A 2003-02-28 2004-03-01 A radar safety system for detecting workmen within a danger area Withdrawn GB2400712A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0304654A GB0304654D0 (en) 2003-02-28 2003-02-28 A safety system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0404568D0 GB0404568D0 (en) 2004-04-07
GB2400712A true GB2400712A (en) 2004-10-20

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GB0304654A Ceased GB0304654D0 (en) 2003-02-28 2003-02-28 A safety system
GB0404568A Withdrawn GB2400712A (en) 2003-02-28 2004-03-01 A radar safety system for detecting workmen within a danger area

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0304654A Ceased GB0304654D0 (en) 2003-02-28 2003-02-28 A safety system

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2451671A (en) * 2007-08-08 2009-02-11 Ian Kerrigan Vehicle mounted pedestrian detection system
EP2354316A1 (en) * 2010-02-05 2011-08-10 Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG Piste maintenance vehicle
US20230030999A1 (en) * 2021-07-27 2023-02-02 Zachary Paul Liollio Construction Vehicle Safety Mechanism
GB2595747B (en) * 2020-06-02 2024-03-27 Hastec Rail Ltd Anti-collision apparatus for on track plant

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4017908A (en) * 1975-11-03 1977-04-19 Murnane Edward L Rescue garment
JPH10142321A (en) * 1996-11-14 1998-05-29 Komatsu Ltd Millimetric wave radar-loaded vehicle
GB2349793A (en) * 1997-12-19 2000-11-15 Ifco Entpr Inc An echo-ranging electronic boundary system
US6374413B1 (en) * 2000-08-14 2002-04-23 Terence Magee Radar reflective garment
US6400308B1 (en) * 1998-02-20 2002-06-04 Amerigon Inc. High performance vehicle radar system

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4017908A (en) * 1975-11-03 1977-04-19 Murnane Edward L Rescue garment
JPH10142321A (en) * 1996-11-14 1998-05-29 Komatsu Ltd Millimetric wave radar-loaded vehicle
GB2349793A (en) * 1997-12-19 2000-11-15 Ifco Entpr Inc An echo-ranging electronic boundary system
US6400308B1 (en) * 1998-02-20 2002-06-04 Amerigon Inc. High performance vehicle radar system
US6374413B1 (en) * 2000-08-14 2002-04-23 Terence Magee Radar reflective garment

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2451671A (en) * 2007-08-08 2009-02-11 Ian Kerrigan Vehicle mounted pedestrian detection system
EP2354316A1 (en) * 2010-02-05 2011-08-10 Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG Piste maintenance vehicle
GB2595747B (en) * 2020-06-02 2024-03-27 Hastec Rail Ltd Anti-collision apparatus for on track plant
US20230030999A1 (en) * 2021-07-27 2023-02-02 Zachary Paul Liollio Construction Vehicle Safety Mechanism
US11732443B2 (en) * 2021-07-27 2023-08-22 Zachary Paul Liollio Construction vehicle safety mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0304654D0 (en) 2003-04-02
GB0404568D0 (en) 2004-04-07

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)