JP2003511312A - Alarm system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A system for alerting a driver (8) of a vehicle (2) towing an aircraft (1) is provided with four transmitters (9a to 9d). Is carried by an observer located near the nose, nose, and wing tips of the aircraft. A receiver (4) and a siren (7) are located inside the vehicle (2). The siren (7) is operatively associated with the receiver. The system allows the activation of the transmitter (9a, 9b, 9c or 9d) to send an alarm signal to the receiver (4), which triggers the siren (7).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an alarm system and method, and more particularly to a driver (driving vehicle) of a towing vehicle (vehicle or the like) in which a towed vehicle, such as an aircraft, may collide with another object. System and method for sending an alert to a person).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tow tractors are commonly used when maneuvering (engineering operations) an aircraft in a hangar or in a limited space of an airfield. An observer, usually located near each tip of the aircraft, alerts the driver of the towing tractor of the potential for the aircraft to collide with stationary structures such as hangar walls or other objects. Generally, horns, horns, or whistles (air horns)
Is used by the observer to alert the tractor driver about the impending collision. Unfortunately, tractor tractors are powered by diesels and are so noisy that often the driver of the tractor cannot hear the warning signal.
As a result, despite the use of this alarm system, aircraft damage values of thousands of points occur regularly. It is also known that an observer sends an alarm to a tractor driver using a semaphore (flag signal). This again causes problems, and it is unavoidable that the tractor driver is watching the towing aircraft very carefully, and thus can easily miss the semaphore signal.

The object of the present invention is to provide an alarm system and method that is more reliable than known systems and methods.

The present invention provides a method for sending an alert to an operator controlling the movement of an object, the method placing each transmitter at multiple locations near the tip of the object. , Each transmitter shall be adapted to transmit an alarm signal, the operator shall be provided with a receiver linked to an audio alarm device, and when the tip of the object approaches an obstruction. Activating a transmitter to trigger an alarm signal sent by the transmitter subsequent to receipt by the receiver to trigger the alarm device.

Conveniently, the receiver is linked to a plurality of visible alarm devices,
Each of which is associated with a respective one of the transmitters such that actuation of a given transmitter will trigger the corresponding visible device and audio alarm device. .

The present invention also provides a system for sending an alert to an operator controlling the movement of an object, the system comprising a plurality of transmitters, a receiver and an audio alerting device linked to the receiver. The transmitter is placed near the tip of the object when in use, and the receiver and audio alarm device are placed near the operator so that activation of a transmitter sends an alarm signal. A system in which this signal triggers the audio alerting device following reception by a receiver.

[0007] Preferably, the system further comprises a plurality of visible alarm devices linked to the receivers, each visible alarm device being associated with a respective one of the transmitters, The system is such that actuation of a given transmitter will cause a corresponding visual and audio alarm trigger.

Each transmitter sends an alarm signal with different properties. Preferably, the receiver is
Each alert signal should trigger an audio alert device, and a given alert signal should only activate each one of the visual alert devices.

In a preferred embodiment, the transmitter and receiver operate at radio frequencies, each transmitter is adapted to send an alarm signal and a respective digital code at a predetermined frequency, and the receivers are plural. Channels, each of which corresponds to a respective digital code. Conveniently there are four transmitters operating at 418MHz,
The receiver is a 4-channel receiver. The audio alarm device may be a siren and the visible alarm device may be a light emitting diode (LED).

The present invention further provides a method of alerting a driver towing an aircraft, wherein an operator located near the nose, tail and wing tip of the aircraft has their respective transmitters located. So that each transmitter is adapted to send a respective alarm signal, and the towing vehicle is provided with a receiver linked to an audio alarm device located inside the towing vehicle, A method comprising activating a transmitter when an obstruction approaches the tip of the aircraft such that an alarm signal sent by the transmitter triggers the audio alarm device following reception by a receiver. is there.

Still further, the present invention provides a system for alerting a driver of a vehicle towing an aircraft, the system being adapted to be carried by an operator located near the nose, tail and wing tips of the aircraft. A transmitter, a receiver located inside the vehicle, and an audio alerting device, the audio alerting device being operatively associated with the receiver, the system providing an alert signal for activation of a transmitter. To the receiver,
Therefore, it is a system designed to trigger an audio alarm device.

[0012] Further comprising four visible alarm devices placed inside the vehicle,
The visible alarms are located near a nose, a stern, and a wing tip, respectively, representing an aircraft, and these representations are located inside the vehicle, and the system is Of the transmitter of the system is adapted to trigger the corresponding visible and audio alarms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The appendix is the only view showing an aircraft, a towing tractor and an alarm system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the aircraft 1 is connected to a towing vehicle (tractor) 2 by a tow line 3. The 4-channel receiver operates at 418 MHz, which is provided on the dashboard 2 of the tractor 2, the upper surface of which bears a representation 5 representative of the aircraft 1, respectively. LED's (light emitting diodes) 6a to 6d are placed on the nose, tail and wing tip of this expression, respectively. Siren 7 is tractor 2
It is placed near the driver 8 in the car.

In use, the receiver 4 receives signals from the four transmitters 9a to 9d, and the transmitters are carried (carried) by observers (observers) at the nose, tail and wing tip of the aircraft 1, respectively. ing. All transmitters 9a to 9d are 418 MHz
Transmit at the frequency of. In addition, each transmitter 9a-9d transmits its respective digital code at a frequency of 418 MHz. The receiver 4 has four channels, each of which can be triggered by a respective one of the digital codes transmitted by the transmitters 9a to 9d. Thus, when a driver operates an aircraft with special technology, if one of the observers needs it to warn the driver of the imminent collision, he will operate his transmitter 9a-9d. And generate an alarm signal received by the receiver. Related LEDs
6a to 6d are lit there and the siren 7 is triggered at the same time. The driver 8 then receives both the audible (audible) and visual (visual) alarm signals. Normally this would be the case, but if the driver 8 were looking at the rear of the tractor 2, he would hear the siren 7 and he would go around there to see which LEDs 6a-6d were lit. Look at the dashboard. In this way, the driver can determine which of the tips of the aircraft 1 is in danger of colliding with the object. And, therefore, a position to take action to operate the aircraft with special technology to keep it away from danger, or to stop the towing process, until it is satisfied that the warning collision danger is eliminated. There will be a driver in.

The process of matching the receiving channel to the transmitters 9a-9d is simply performed as part of the construction process. This relationship turns on / off during the life of the device.
It is maintained even if it is turned off. If the transmitters 9a to 9d are defective, the process required here again is simply to introduce a replacement transmitter in the receiving channel. This digital code recognition process is also complemented by simultaneous operation where there are multiple sets of devices with the same radio range nearby. That is, even if several objects are to be moved at the same time, one system transmitter cannot erroneously trigger the other receive channel to produce a spurious signal.

The transmitters 9a to 9d are designed such that they can only activate the receiver 4 and cannot deactivate it. As a result, if the observer has his transmitter 9a
Through 9d, even if it is activated for only 1 second, this does not allow the alarm in the tractor 2 to be falsely switched off under the assumption that the alarm signal is not noticed by the driver 8. . Similarly, the receiver 4 has a driver 8
Only the alarm signal can be canceled (the siren 7 and the associated LEDs 6a to 6d can be canceled). The receiver 4 and the transmitters 9a-9d are each powered by a rechargeable battery which can be recharged by the mains power supply.

It will be appreciated that the alarm system described herein may be modified in various ways. For example, it would be possible to replace the receiver 4 and the transmitters 9a to 9d operating at radio frequencies with frequencies from other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Also, the alert system of the present invention is not limited to tractors towing an aircraft, but alerts the operator of any device used to manipulate large objects with special techniques in a confined space. Can also be used for

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an aircraft, a tow tractor, and an alarm system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

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Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A method of sending an alarm to an operator controlling the movement of an object, wherein each transmitter is placed at a plurality of positions near the tip of the object, each transmitter transmitting an alarm signal. Adapting, providing the operator with a receiver linked to an audio alarm device, activating the transmitter when the tip of the object approaches an obstruction, and Triggering the alarm device following receipt by the receiver of the alarm signal sent. 2. The receiver is linked to a plurality of visible alarm devices, each of which is associated with a respective one of the transmitters, the operation of a given transmitter being associated with the corresponding visual indicator. Method according to claim 1, adapted to trigger a possible device and an audio alarm device. 3. A system for sending an alarm to an operator controlling the movement of an object, the system comprising a plurality of transmitters, a receiver, and an audio alarm device linked to the receivers. Is placed near the tip of the object when in use, and the receiver and the audio alarm are placed near the operator when in use, which causes the activation of some transmitter to send an alert signal and this signal is received. System for triggering the audio alarm device following receipt by the machine. 4. Further comprising a plurality of visible alarm devices linked to said receivers, each visible alarm device being associated with a respective one of said transmitters, said system being provided with 4. The system of claim 3 wherein actuation of said transmitters is adapted to cause triggering of corresponding visible and audio alarms. 5. A system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each transmitter sends an alarm signal of a different nature. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the receiver causes each alert signal to trigger an audio alert device and a given alert signal activates only one respective visible alert device. . 7. The transmitter and receiver operate at radio frequencies, each transmitter adapted to send an alarm signal and a respective digital code at a predetermined frequency,
7. A system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 in which the receiver has a plurality of channels, each of which corresponds to a respective digital code. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein there are four transmitters operating at 418 MHz and the receiver is a four channel receiver. 9. The system according to claim 3, wherein the audio alarm device is a siren. 10. The system according to claim 4 or any of claims 5 to 9 dependent on claim 4, wherein the visible alarm device is a light emitting diode (LED). 11. A method of sending an alert to a driver of a vehicle towing an aircraft, wherein each transmitter is located on an operator located near the nose, tail and wing tip of the aircraft, each transmitter comprising: The transmitters are adapted to send respective alarm signals, the receivers are provided with receivers linked to audio alarm devices located inside the towing vehicle, and the aircraft's Activating the transmitter when an obstruction is approaching near the tip, such that the alarm signal sent by the transmitter triggers the audio alarm device following reception by the receiver. 12. A system for alerting a driver of a vehicle towing an aircraft, the system comprising a plurality of transmissions adapted to be carried by an operator located near the nose, tail and wing tips of the aircraft. Machine, a receiver located inside the vehicle, and an audio alerting device, the audio alerting device being operatively associated with the receiver, the system having an activation of a transmitter receiving an alerting signal. System that is designed to be sent to a machine and trigger an audio alarm there. 13. A further four visible alarm devices located inside the vehicle, each of the nose, tail and wing tip representing an aircraft, respectively. Placed in close proximity, these representations are placed inside the vehicle such that activation of a given transmitter causes the corresponding visual and audio alarms to be triggered. System.