GB2599069A

GB2599069A - Digital inspection tag and system

Info

Publication number: GB2599069A
Application number: GB2011575.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: O'driscoll Ronan; Daniels Ashley; Morgan Carl
Original assignee: Ronan Odriscoll
Current assignee: Ronan Odriscoll
Priority date: 2020-07-27
Filing date: 2020-07-27
Publication date: 2022-03-30
Also published as: GB202011575D0

Abstract

A safety and monitoring system for monitoring equipment, the system having at least one safety tag 100 to be attached to an item of equipment, and a central data hub and associated app in wireless communication with the at least one safety tag. The at least one safety tag has a microcontroller, memory and wireless communication device, the microcontroller being programable by the app to store information relating to the status of the equipment and times for required safety inspection, this information in turn being transmitted to the central data hub by the safety tag. The tag may include at least one display screen 120 to display information stored by the tag such as safety inspection data and time left until the next inspection of the equipment is required. The app may trigger a light and/or alarm 121 of the tag when a safety inspection has failed or the time until the next inspection has lapsed. The app and/or central data hub may reset the information and instructions held on the tag. The system may comprise a plurality of tags, each for use with a different type of equipment.

Description

Digital Inspection Tag and System [001] The present invention relates to a digital/electronic tags used for logging inspections. More specifically the invention relates to a digital/electronic tag used for inspections on construction sites etc with an associated app that facilitates the recording and monitoring of inspections. Even more specifically the invention relates to a digital/electronic tag used for logging and monitoring temporary works inspections on a construction site.

Background of the Invention

[002] Construction sites are busy places with a large amount of specialist equipment which if not installed, kept, and used correctly can be extremely dangerous. Currently safety critical items of equipment on construction sites are inspected prior to use or removal to ensure everything is in place and satisfactory before use of the equipment and work progresses.

[003] In the UR,-these items are traditionally referred to as Temporary Works in line with the British Standard definition of Temporary Woks defined in B55971: 2019 "Code of practice for temporary works procedures and the permissible stress design of falscwork" as "(those) parts of the works that allow or enable construction of, protect, support or provide access to, the permanent works and which might or might not renmin in place at the completion of the works". Examples of temporary works include, but are not limited to: Earthworks -trenches, excavations, temporary slopes and stockpiles. Structures -formwork, falsework, propping, facade retention, needling, shoring, edge protection, scaffolding, temporary bridges, site hoarding and sigraage, site fencing, cofferdams.

Equipment/plant foundations -tower crane bases, supports, anchors and ties for construction hoists and mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs), groundworks to provide suitable locations for plant erection, e.g. mobile cranes and piling rigs etc. [004] Depending on the equipment being inspected this can dictate the variety of ways of informing the site teams this inspection has been undertaken and is satisfactory. Regularly the inspections are recorded in the site office and verbally instructed to the site teams, also in other instances there is a physical tag written and placed on/by the equipment to indicate the inspection has been completed. These methods are highly susceptible to human error. People can forget which equipment has passed the inspection and is ready to use, or the tags can be out of date etc, this can cause delays in the work and in the worst-case scenario, endanger people's lives.

[0051 It is an object of the current invention to provide a visible inspection tag that can be electronically updated to indicate an inspection has been completed, and from this inspection the tag can highlight if the inspected item is fit for use or not, and also recording all the inspection information to a central location (server/cloud etc.).

Statement of Invention

[0061 According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a safety and monitoring system for monitoring equipment, comprising: At least one safety tag to be attached to an item of equipment; A central data hub and associated app in wireless communication with the at least one safety tag. Wherein the at least one safety tag comprises: a microcontroller, memory and a wireless communication device, the rnicrocontroller being programable by the app to store information relating to the status of the equipment and times for required safety inspection, this information in turn being transmitted to the central data hub by the safety tag.

[007] An embodiment of an aspect, wherein the at least one tag stores identifying data about the equipment it is attached to, safety inspection data, and time left until the next inspection of the equipment is required.

[008] An embodiment of an aspect, wherein the at least one tag further comprises at least one display screen to display the information stored by the tag.

[9] An embodiment of an aspect, wherein the at least one tag further comprises a warning light, which flashes when the app instructs the tag that the safety 10 inspection has failed or the time until next inspection has lapsed.

[10] An embodiment of an aspect, wherein the at least one tag further comprises an audible alarm, which makes a noise when the app instructs the tag that the safety inspection has failed or the time until next inspection has lapsed.

[11] An embodiment of an aspect, wherein the app and/or central data hub can reset the information and instructions and information held on the at least one tag.

[12] An embodiment of an aspect, wherein the app and/or central data hub can 20 trigger the light and/or alarm of the at least one tag.

[13] An embodiment of an aspect, comprising a plurality of safety tags.

[14] An embodiment of an aspect, where each of the plurality of safety tags can 25 be associated with a different type of equipment.

Brief Description of the drawings

[15] The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings: [16] Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the invention; [0171 Figure 2 depicts a cross section of an embodiment of the invention; [18] Figure 3 depicts an exploded view of an embodiment of the Tvention.

Detailed Description

[19] The first and main objective of the present invention is to improve the safety of construction sites and the like, close second is to improve site efficiency by providing clear and correct inspection information in a central location and across the site.

[20] To ensure safety, the tag of the present invention provides a very visible indication of suitable inspections being completed, this data also being sent to an 15 app linked to the one or more tags. This allows creation of any variety of check lists for an inspector to follow to ensure a suitable and satisfactory inspection of the key items of the equipment in the most efficient way possible. die embodiment is also in line with the British standard BS5975 code of practise for temporary-works procedures and the permissible stress design of falsework.

[021] Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the device 100, it has a brightly coloured high visibility outer casing 110 and large display screens 120, clearly indicating the category of the equipment and how long is left until its next inspection is due. 'there is also a warning light and/or alarm 121. The warning light/alarm activates when the tagged equipment is not approved for use, either because it has failed an inspection, or because it is overdue an inspection.

[022] The tag 100 is fully programmable with the associated app to allow a check list to be created for the inspector. This list states what is required to be inspected, etc. Each of the app check list items is to be confirmed as acceptable or not acceptable by the inspector. The inspector will approach the tag and scan it with an electronic device such as a smartphonc etc, this will bring up the details on the electronic device of the inspection and equipment on the app for the inspector to complete the inspection. Once completed the tag will be scanned again and the details of the inspection will update the tag to ensure it displays everything is satisfactory or not depending on the inspection outcome recorded on the app. The tag 100 has screens 120 to show the days left until a further inspection is required and record information as required such as the Category of Temporary Works (If temporary works on a construction site), the Loading Class (if scaffold). The data for the screens can be altered by changing the title on the tag next to the screen. The premium tag will also have a light that will flash red and an audible noise if the date of inspection had been exceeded or if the inspection was not satisfactory. The tag 100 will also have a facility to allow remote control of the tag and to allow a master user of the app to remotely turn the tag red and set it in alarm if required or also if required to reset the tag.

[023] In an alternate embodiment there is no facility for a master user to remotely set the tag. There will be no screens, no light and no audible alarm. The tag will be scanned by the inspector to use with an electronic device and access the app the same as all the other but there will also be an insert card to physically record the inspection on site. The app data will be the same for all the embodiments.

[024] The app itself is used to create the checklist for the inspection and is fully customisable for any type of inspection and the data from this app can be linked to other management software and the data can also be exported to a spreadsheet format for use as required.

10251 The tag(s) and app allow suitable management of equipment being inspected and a dearly auditable inspection process where currently there is nothing in the industry to do this. It will ensure safety and target inspectors focus where required by highlighting items in the check list. The tag combined with the app will ensure a visible indication of suitable inspections of equipment to all users on site.

[0261 The tag is a minimum IF 67 weather proof rated. Figure 2 depicts a cross section of the tag 100. There is the casing 110, the screens 120, alarm/light 121, printed circuit board 122, and power supply 123 which will be discussed in more detail below. As can be seen in figure 2 the casing 110 is split in two halves, a front half 111 and a rear half 112. Both halves have respective flanges 113, 114 which secure together using snap fit connection 115. Bottom half 112 also has a perimeter lip 116 which engages with perimeter notch 117 of the front half 111.

Bottom half 112 further comprises a perimeter groove 118 which holds sealing member 119 which rises into the underside of the front half 111 and compliments its internal contours. This lip 116 and notch 117 connection as well as the grove 118 and seal 119, seal the internal electronics of the tag 100 against water and dust as well as making it easier to align the two halves before snapping them together via snap fit 115.

[0271 Figure 3 depicts an exploded view of the tag 100. Moving from left to right of figure 3: There is the front casing 111 as discussed above; seal 119, preferably made from tubber, but can be made from any known suitable material; an acrylic cover insert held within the front cover 111 and seal 119; display screens 120, preferably 1,CI) screens, but can be any suitable known electronic display; alarm light and buzzer 121; PCB and associated electronic components 122, these may include, but not limited to, microcontroller, wireless communication device etc.; battery 123 connected to the PCB, preferably a lithium polymer battery, but any suitable known battery can be used, preferably the battery connects to the PCB via a small jST connector; wireless charging coil 124 stuck to the back of and connected to the battery 123; and rear casing 112.

[028] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. The description is intended to enable a skilled person to make the invention, not to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1 A safety and monitoring system for monitoring equipment, comprising: At least one safety tag to be attached to an item of equipment; A central data hub and associated app in wireless communication with the at least one safety tag; Wherein the at least one safety tag comprises: a microcontroller, memory and a wireless communication device, the microcontroller being programable by the app to store information relating to the status of the equipment and times for required safety inspection, this information in turn being transmitted to the central data hub by the safety tag. 2. 3. 4.
A safety and monitoring system according either one of claims 2 or 3 wherein the at least one tag further comprises a waiting light, which flashes when the app instructs the tag that the safety inspection has failed or the time until next inspection has lapsed.
A safety and monitoring system according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the at least one tag further comprises an audible alarm, which makes a noise when the app instructs the tag that the safety inspection has failed or the time until next inspection has lapsed.
A safety and monitoring system according to claim 1 where-in the at least one tag stores identifying data about the equipment it is attached to, safety inspection data, and time left until the next inspection of the equipment is required.
A safety and monitoring system according to claim 2 wherein the at least one tag further comprises at least one display screen to display the information stored by the tag.
6. A safety and monitoring system according to any of claims 4 to 5 wherein the app and/or central data hub can reset the information and instructions and information held on the at least one tag.
7. A safety and monitoring system according to any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the app and/or central data hub can trigger the light and/or alarm of the at least one tag.
8. A safety and monitoring system according to any preceding claim comprising a plurality of safety tags.
9 A safety and monitoring system according to claim 8, where each of the plurality of safety tags can be associated with a different type of equipment.