GB2466503A

GB2466503A - Personnel protection equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2466503A
Application number: GB0823477A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ben Marshall; James Alexander Nilsen Yorkshades
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-24
Filing date: 2008-12-24
Publication date: 2010-06-30
Also published as: GB0823477D0

Abstract

A personnel protection device comprises a handheld portable radio adapted to be worn externally on the user's clothing and to be releasably attached thereto. The radio is housed in a spark-resistant and substantially waterproof casing and incorporates means 19, 21 to detect, and to warn the user as to the presence of, odourless hazardous gases in the environment. It also incorporates means to transmit the user's positional location to a position tracking station throughout the time that the radio is in use and accompanying the user. The device may have visual alarm strobes 12, 13 and audio alarm speakers 15, 16 which may assist in finding the user when the alarm is triggered. The device may also include a display 18 for displaying warning messages, a communications speaker 14 and microphone 22 for audio communications; and may further include a man overboard sensor 23. The device may use the Global Positioning System (GPS) in order to determine its location and may transmit an alarm activating signal to the position tracking station supervisor when the user's alarm is triggered.

Description

PERSONNEL PfOTECTION EQUIPMfIfl

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to personnel protection equipment (PPE) and is specifically concerned with a site radio adapted to be worn externally of a user's clothing and to be readily attachable to and detachable from it.

Background

Adequate personnel protection of site workers in hazardous environments is a welL-known problem. Such environments for example comprise offshore installations (such as oil and/or gas rigs) onshore refineries, ship workers at sea or in dry dock, fishing vessels, supply vessels, exploration vessels and petrochemical installations.

These known hazardous environments offer differing kinds of danger to workers operating within them. Some of these dangers are exclusive to a particular environment. More generally the danger avoidance requirements may cross over different industries. Man Overboard (MOB) protection systems will coincide with the need for spark resistance and for hazardous gas detection in the environment in which offshore oil and/or gas rig workers operate.

Gas detection already exists in a fixed location form by way of sensors on ceilings and walls. Gases such as hydrogen sulphide (HZS) or so-called natural gas (pre-processed gas) have no odour and are normally undetectable by human sensors. These gases are dangerous if a hun-ian is exposed to them unduly and HZS in particular can kilt quickly without being detectable by smell or sight. Whilst fixed location sensors will respond to, and will trigger a generally audible and/or visual alarm as a result of, a sufficient build-up of gas cloud in the vicinity of the sensor, this can come too late to save any user continuing to operate in the hazardous environment and will not necessarily generate a signal visibLe and/or audible immediately by a remotely Located site supervisor; only in the immediate vicinity.

MOB technology as conventionally embodied has other drawbacks. A user falling overboard may generate an alarm on his person but, if he falls into the sea for example, he then relies on immediate visual spotting of his location by colleagues. Those exposed to any risk of falling into dams, rivers, or lakes are Less at risk in the latter two of these situations but in the former they can quickly be swept from sight and any audible aLarm extinguished by the water engulfing them.

The need to carry conventionally separate and special-purpose MOB technology is a burden in itself because staff moving around such environments as discussed above4 whilst wanting protection, will not want to be unduly encumbered in their operations.

There are other hazardous environments which the conventionally thinking researcher would not necessarily associate with the ones discussed so far, There have for instance been increasingly frequent reports of late years of workers falling into grain silos and being submerged and suffocated because such workers traditionally have no alarm-generating equipment on them. They are simply not normally expected to fall into the grain pile beneath them. But even when they are shovelling, say, a grain pile which is around and above them (as distinct from working and balancing themselves above such a pile) the pile can shift without warning and enguLf them quickly.

Here again there is conventionally no way of sounding an alarm and, even if one were to be sounded, the difficulties of quickly and precisely locating a submerged worker in such an instance need no expansion. If he or she is not Located virtually instantaneously then death by suffocation is almost inevitable.

The Problem to be Splved The problem to be solved therefore is how to design and provide personnel protection equipment which takes into account, and provides readily achievable solutions to, these disparate requirements when the conventional approach would be to address at best only the known crossover requirements (thereby ignoring the requirement of the river worker, the grain worker, and so on) and at worst applying only the sole-purpose solution (self-evidently inadequate even in that single-problem-evident environment).

The Solution According to the invention this problem is solved by providing personnel protection equipment comprising a hand-held portable radio adapted to be worn, in use, externally on the user's dothing and to be releasabty attached thereto, characterised by the following combination of features i) that the radio is housed in a casing which is spark-resistant and preferably substantially waterproof, ii) that the radio optionally incorporates means to detect, and to warn the user as to the presence of, any gas in the environment surrounding the user which is normally not detectable as to odour by humans, and iii) that the radio incorporates means to transmit the user's positionaL Location to a position-tracking station throughout the time the radio is activated for use and accompanying the user.

Such a radio combines truly broad-scope crossover environment thinking with the need of the user not to be unduly encumbered in his or her operations. Conventional technology provides at best only assorted and uncoordinated equipment which would solve neither requirement. The applications of the invention are cLearly numerous and the invention lends itself immediately to eco-friendly construction as it minimises the bulk, component numbers, and energy needed in wearing and operating it.

Preferred Subsidiary Features of the Invention In a first preferred subsidiary aspect the invention provides equipment characterised by the feature that the gas detecting means is adapted to transmit to a position-tracking station the location of a potentially hazardous gas environment when such is detected.

In a second preferred subsidiary aspect the invention provides equipment characterised by the feature that audio and/or visuaL alarm generators are incorporated into the radio which, as well as warning the user, will aLso transmit an alarm-activating signal to the position-tracking station supervisor.

In a further preferred subsidiary aspect the invention provides equipment characterised by the feature that the radio uses a digitally based system for its communication signals.

In a specific subsidiary aspect the invention provides personnel protection equipment comprising a radio substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or drawings.

The Described_and Illustrated Embodiment This East preferred subsidiary aspect of the invention is embodied in a safety site radio, designed to be used in the same fashion as a traditional radio (i.e. carried and worn ecternally on the user's clothing whilst providing day-to-day two-way communication with a supervisor) and this will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The Accompanying Drawiqg In these drawings: Figure 1 shows in diagrammatic perspective the location of the radio, in use, on a wearer's upper body clothing; Figure 2, drawn to an enlarged perspective, shows the principal externally visible features of the radio; and Figure 3 is a block circuit diagram showing the essential internal operating components and interlinked layout of the radio.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Figure 1 shows the upper body portion, only, of a site worker wearing the conventional PPE of hard hat, safety glasses, and overalls to the external surface of which a radio, embodying the invention, is adapted to the releasably attached during use.

The radio contains all the necessary sensors and alarms, as well as embodying its two-way communication facilities, which the worker needs as PPE functioning equipment. As Figure 2 shows in detail, it includes a flexible signal-receiving and signal-transmitting aerial 11 and two visual alarm strobes 12, 13 on its uppermost (in use) end surface.

Along one elongate side surface of the radio there is a speaker grille 14 for the audio communications facility and two failsafe audio alarm speakers 15, 16 respectively together with a conventional attachment 1 7 for a lanyard.

The front (in use) user-facing surface of the radio features a digital display screen 18, a gas detector inlet 99 and a second detector inlet 21 specifically for the detection of a secondary or tertiary gas, for example EQS, C02, CO or hydrogen, any or all of which could be hazardous in appropriate circumstances. A microphone 22 is provided into which the user can speak and an MOB sensor 23 completes the visible features.

The radio is housed as Figure 2 shows within a generally rectangular plan casing and this casing is water resistant to an extent necessary to repel squalls, showers and the like in operative use, but also to resist any ingress of water if the user falls overboard into a heavy sea. The MOB sensor, on contact with the water, activates audible and visible alarms both in the immediate vicinity of the radio and also transmits each of those signals to the supervisor of a position-tracking station remote from the user.

All necessary warning messages can be displayed on the digital display screen 18 and cd'S facilities are buiLt within the radio as will be more fully explained with reference to Figure 3.

The casing is spark resistant as well as being water resistant and the material of which it is comprised can be selected from known alternatives so as to be, for example, resilient (and hence shock resistant) to a degree. The deta its of the casing construction can be settled without inventive thought by the intended skilled addressee of this specification.

ic Figure 3 just referred to shows in a block diagrammatic form the circuit layout of the internal components of the radio. The microcontroller 1 interfaces with alt parts of the system, and provides a platform for the software 2 to run on. The proprietary software 2 controls the outputs depending on the inputs. It also handles priorities and schedules activities based on the status of the inputs.

The basic function of the radio is to allow vocal communication. When the user wishes to speak, by pressing the appropriate button on the keypad 5, vocal signals are converted into analogue electrical signals by the microphone 3. After amplification (preamplifier omitted for clarity) to a useable lever, the analogue signals are converted to digital values by the microcontroller's onboard analogue to digital converter. The software takes these values and processes them in real-time. Processing includes: * Adding redundancy to the transmitted values for recovery of weak signals at the receiver; * Audio compression; * Adding the radio's unique identifier value 2a; * Adding other information such as signal strength, emergency codes; * Collision detection with other radios.

After processing, the digital values are fed into the radio transmitter/receiver 12 (sometimes referred to as a modulator-demodulator or transceiver). These are then modulated to the correct carrier, or radio channel number (selectable through the keypad), and broadcast through the antenna.

When receiving through the antenna, the radio transmitter/receiver demodulates the signal to extract the information sent (speech). The information in its raw format is encoded. The software decodes this signal and attempts to correct any transmission errors. The digital values are then converted to an analogue signal by the microcontroller.

A common technique for this is PWM or Pulse Width Modulation, where a Lower frequency varying signal is approximated by switching on and off a binary signal at a very high frequency. The signal is then amplified (omitted for clarity) and reproduced on the loud-speaker 4.

There are two common types of gas detection element available. In this document they are referred to as Type I, 7, and Type II, 8.

Type I has two series elements which are reactive to a certain type of gas. One element is sealed, the other is exposed to the atmosphere (for temperature correction). An electrical current is supplied to the elements. Both wilt alter their electrical resistances equally when exposed to the test-gas, however the sealed element will not be exposed at any time. The difference in resistances is detectable as a voltage change. Through some simple interface circuitry (omitted for clarity), the voltage can be converted to a digital value and monitored by the software.

Type II elements use one or more integrated sources and detectors. Typically the source will emit some radiation periodically, and the detector will register it. When the test-gas is present, the radiation is absorbed, and the detector registers nothing. Either a given value of counts is given by the manufacturer, or a second sealed detector is used for comparison.

In either case, the microprocessor can monitor the detectors rate of absorption. The software will then check the counts over a given period to determine if the test-gas is present.

In both cases, Type I and Type II, if the test-gas is detected then the software will immediately begin transmitting an emergency signal (non-speech) to all radios. In this transmission the location of the Radio is also sent. The location is determined through the GPS receiver 11 which outputs a digital message which can then be relayed to the base station, The MOB, or Man Overboard detector 9, is a switch and circuit which detect immersion in water. If the MOB is triggered, the software irn mediately activates the strobe light 10 for ease of location, Again, the software transmits an emergency code with the location of the radio from GPS.

The entire system is battery powered 13.

Information and status is shown on the display 6, including * Unique SD; * Signal levels; * Battery charge remaining; * Gas levels; * Channel number; is * Emergency message; * GPS location.

The combination of features described make the radio new and inventive in its design and use for the reasons stated and expanded on throughout this specification. The need to carry separate MOB and personal gas detector technology is eradicated as is the addition of unwanted equipment that could hamper user operation I pragmatic circumstances. Sn any instance where an alarm has been raised and users are unaccounted for, the radio ensures that emergency services personnel can attend immediately the user's exact location without confusion or delay. All these aspects of modern PPE requirements are embodied in single hand-held sized radio which detects, and warns of, all dangers in the immediate proximity of the user.

The radio is not intended as an absolute replacement for existing and approved methods of static hazard detection but as a means substantially to improve the levels of PPE and plant monitoring offered by an employer operating in potentially hazardous environments. It solves a long-recognised problem of how to improve user protection whilst not hampering day-to-day known and familiar operating habits and procedures. Indeed it will have no impact on the user's current working practices whilst vastly reducing the risks to which they are exposed. The embodiment described is intended to illustrate a basic format in which the radio can be made to function but is not intended to be representative of any final economicaLly viable design layout. For example, extra sensors in addition to those documented above, could be incorporated above. Extreme temperature (hot and cold) sensors are one such example. Others could sense any one or more of the presence of radioactivity, above a certain predetermined level (radioactive sources are widely used in instrumentation as well as the more immediatel9 apparent example of power generation); air quality or the Lack of it; and chemical, especially toxic chemical particle detection, the presence or absence of which is again a sensing feature on which the present application places particular emphasis in the context of the invention.

The scope of the invention is defined in the claims which now follow.

Claims

Claims 1. Personnel protection equipment comprising a hand-held portable radio adapted to be worn, in use, externally on the user's clothing and to be releasably attached thereto, characterised by the following combination of features i) that the radio is housed in a casing which is spark-resistant and preferably substantially waterproof, ii) that the radio optionally incorporates means to detect, and to warn the user as to the presence of, any gas in the envtronment surrounding the user which is normally not detectabLe as to odour by humans, and iii) that the radio incorporates means to transmit the user's positional location to a position-tracking station throughout the time the radio is activated for use and accompanying the user.
2. Equipment according to claim 1 and characterisd by the feature that the gas detecting means is adapted to transmit to a position-tracking station the location of a potentiaLly hazardous gas environment when such is detected.
3. Equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2 and characterised by the feature that audio and/or visual alarm generators are incorporated into the radio which, as welt as warning the user, will also transmit an alarm-activating signal to the position-tracking station supervisor.
4. Equipment according to any preceding claim characterised by the feature that the radio uses a digitally based system for its communication signals.
5. Personnel protection equipment comprising a radio substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: 1. Personnel protection equipment comprising a hand-held portable radio equipped with a radio transmitter and a radio receiver for allowing two way vocal communication with other radios, adapted to be worn, in use, externally on the user's clothing and to be releasabty attached thereto, wit!:i the following combination of features i) that the radio is housed in a casing which is spark-resistant and substantially waterproof, ii) that the radio incorporates means to detect, and to warn the user as to the presence of, any gas in the environment surrounding the user which is normally not detectable as to odour by humans, iii) that said radio transmitter is configured to the radio i-ncorporatcs means-to broadcast the user's positional location to a position-tracking station throughout the time the radio is activated for use and accompanying the user and is configured to broadcast emergency signaLs to one or more radios with which said radio is in communication if detection of a hazardous condition takes place.2. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein the equipment further comprises a Man Overboard detector.3. Equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the equipment further comprises a plurality of gas detectors.4. Equipment according to claim 3 wherein the equipment further comprises a second S'''. detector inlet, specifically for the detection of a secondary or tertiary gas.S.S...* * 25 5. Equipment according to claim 4, wherein the secondary gas is one chosen from a * selection comprising H2S. C02. CO or hydrogen.S
6. Eqiipment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the equipment further comprises strobe ligfrts.
7. Equipment according to any of the preceding claims and characterised by the feature that the gas detecting means is adapted to transmit to a position-tracking station the location of a potentially hazardous gas environment when such is detected.
8. Equipment according to any preceding claim and characterised by the feature that audio and/or visual alarm generators are incorporated into the radio which, as well as warning the user, wilt also transmit an alarm-activating signal to the position-tracking station supervisor.
9. Equipment according to any preceding claim characterised by the feature that the radio uses a digitally based system for its communication signals.
10. Personnel protection equipment comprising a radio substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or drawings. * * **S.S*S.S.. * S SS *S * * * * SS a.. * S. S S * * * ..SS