WO2006103473A1

WO2006103473A1 - Vehicle safety system

Info

Publication number: WO2006103473A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/001221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colin William Hutchinson
Original assignee: Airtek Safety Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-01
Filing date: 2006-04-03
Publication date: 2006-10-05
Also published as: EP1877143A1; GB0506672D0

Abstract

Vehicle safety apparatus compres pump means (21) and bag means (10, 12, 15) inflatable thereby to cushion a person falling thereon, the bag means comprising a plurality of bags (10, 12, 15) coupled together by valves controllable to isolate or interconnect the chambers such that the bag means can be adjusted to a desired plan shape. The bag means comprise a bag having include internal bracing for shape control, and internal dividers dividing it into segments and valve means for controllably coupling the segments together. The coupled bags are covered. Alarm means indicate over- and/or under-pressure. The bag means comprise two corner bags (10), a transverse bag (12) joining them, and for each side, a chain of side bags (15) joined to a respective corner bag, and 2 further comer bags and a further transverse bag (Fig. 2G), for use if the lorry consists of a trailer with a detachable cab. The side bag chains each include a bag having an asymmetrical internal divider which can be opened or sealed, so that that the bag can be configured to 3 different lengths. The bags have raised edges or parapets, to minimize the chance of a worker falling off them. The corner bags have parapets along their 2 outer sides, and the side and transverse bags have parapets along their outer sides, and lower parapets (14) along their inner sides.

Description

Vehicle Safety System

The present invention relates to vehicle safety systems, and more particularly to safety systems for protecting workers working at loading and unloading vehicles.

Many loads are carried on commercial flat-bed vehicles. The bed of such a vehicle is typically around 1250 mm above ground level, and the load may easily be say 2000 mm high, so that the top of the load can be 3000 mm or more above ground level. Workers often need to reach and move about on top of the load.

The load may consist of a large number of elements of various shapes and sizes, and the top surface of the load will be constantly varying as the various elements are loaded or unloaded. Further, the surfaces of the load elements may be sloping or awkward, and may be slippery.

There is therefore a danger that workers may slip and fall off the load while they are working on it, resulting in falls of up to 3000 mm or more onto surfaces which are typically hard (eg concrete).

With current concerns for safety, it is therefore desirable, and indeed it may become mandatory, for some means to be provided for preventing such falls or protecting workers suffering such falls.

One method which has been proposed for achieving such protection is to provide some form of railing or caging around the sides of the lorry bed.

We have realized that such railing or caging is inconvenient to use. It is inconvenient to erect and disassemble. Also, it is awkward to use, since it has to extend to above the maximum possible height of the load. It therefore restricts access to the load, particularly when, during loading or unloading, the height of the load is small. It also cages in the workers, so escape means have to be provided in the caging.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved form of vehicle safety apparatus for use during loading and unloading of vehicles, particularly flatbed vehicles.

According to the invention there is provided vehicle safety apparatus com- prising pump means and bag means inflatable thereby to cushion a person falling thereon, the bag means comprising a plurality of bags coupled together by valves controllable to isolate or interconnect the chambers such that the bag means can be adjusted to a desired plan shape

The bag means preferably comprises a bag having internal dividers dividing it into segments and valve means for controllably coupling the segments together. Cover means may be provided for covering the coupled bags. The bag means may include internal bracing for shape control. Alarm means may be provided for indicating over- and/or under-pressure.

Preferably the bag means comprise two comer bags, a transverse bag joining them, and for each side, a chain of side bags joined to a respective comer bag. This enables 3 sides of the lorry bed to be protected (the fourth side, the front end of the bed, is bounded by the rear of the lorry cab, so workers cannot fall off there). Optionally, the bag means may include 2 further corner bags and a further transverse bag, for use if the lorry consists of a trailer with a detachable cab.

The bags are preferably as large as practicable, subject to the condition that they should be small enough (in weight) for a single person to be able to handle and move them about. The bags may be deployed around all 3 (or, if appropriate, 4) side of the lorry bed if the lorry is on a free-standing area. However, bags may be omitted along the appropriate sides if the lorry is against a wall or loading bay.

Preferably the side bag chains each include a bag having an asymmetrical internal divider which can be opened or sealed, so that the bag can be configured to 3 different lengths.

Preferably the bags have raised edges or parapets, to minimize the chance of a worker falling off them. The corner bags have parapets along their 2 outer sides; the side and transverse bags have parapets along their outer sides, and preferably also lower parapets along their inner sides.

A variety of proposals have been made in the past for inflated safety cushions. Thus DE 23 02 248, Kutschera shows a life-saving inflatable cushion for saving people jumping from buildings, with a pressure-regulating valve, which may comprise a central compartment with a surrounding tube. FR 2 277 600. Dupeyroux shows an inflatable bag with compartments, for catching people jumping from heights and for providing flotation. US 5 150 767, Miller/Air Cruisers shows an impact cushion with internal chambers and controlled gas flow between the chambers on impact, again for saving people jumping from buildings.

All of these devices are intended primarily for use when people are expected to jump from buildings, typically when there is a fire. The device will be brought to the scene by the emergency service and deployed appropriately.

Because of the likely high impact forces involved, the bags can be multi- chambered with valves coupling the chambers to allow controlled air flow between the chambers in response to a person landing on the bag. Proposals have also been made for inflated safety means for permanent use in connection with buildings under construction or repair, primarily for use inside buildings but also optionally around their perimeters. JP 03-47376, Nakata proposes the use of relatively high pressure bags of fixed sizes. EP 0 983 776, Airmat (Airtek) proposes the use of bags of adjustable shape which may be linked together.

The general purpose of the present invention is to provide safety of a different kind, and more specifically passive safety for people working at the loading and unloading of lorries. Although it might be possible to provide an array of bags of the above types, the effectiveness would be limited.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of safety apparatus embodying the invention and various mod- ifications thereof, given by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figs. IA and IB show corner and side bags respectively; and

Figs. 2 A to 2F show various configurations of lorry, loading bays and buildings, and bags.

Fig. IA shows a corner bag 10, with a raised outer portion or parapet 11 along the two outer sides. Fig. IB shows an end bag 12, with a raised outer parapet 13 along its outer side and a smaller parapet 14 along its inner side. The side bags are similar to the end bag.

Fig. 2A shows a lorry 20 with 2 corner bags 10, an end bag 12, and two chains of side bags 15 around the lorry. (The lorry is shown shaded, to distinguish it from the bags.) The bags are mechanically coupled together. The bags are also pneumatically connected together by connections 21. A pump 22 is connected to one of the bags, so all the bags are thereby inflated. Fig. 2B shows the bag arrangement when the lorry is parked alongside a wall or extended loading platform 30; Fig. 2C shows the arrangement when parked alongside the end of such a loading platform 31; Fig. 2D, the arrangement with an end loading platform 32; Fig. 2E₅ for a side and restricted end loading platform 33; Fig. 2F, for a side and unrestricted end loading platform 34; and Fig. 2G shows the arrangement for a separated trailer.

A ground sheet of protective material may first be laid over the area around the lorry, to protect the bags from damage (eg abrasion) from roughnesses on the ground, articles on the ground, small projections through the ground, etc, and the bag is laid out on the ground in the deflated condition. Alternatively, the bags may be made with suitably strengthened material on their under surfaces.

The bag has a height of around 800 mm when inflated. (This height is chosen to provide adequate thickness of the bag, while being not significantly higher than the bed of the trailer.) If a worker working on the lorry in the region above the bag should accidentally fall, they will land on the bag, which will cushion their fall and reduce or prevent injury. The bag will typically be inflated to a pressure of a few psi (20 kPa), preferably 1-2 psi (20-40 kPa). This is somewhat greater than required to ensure virtually no injury to a worker falling from a height of a few metres and landing flat (prone or supine), and should largely ensure safety for workers falling awkwardly (eg at awkward angles or head first).

The bag is not intended to be perfectly air-tight. Further, it will be liable to be damaged, eg by heavy and/or pointed tools or other articles which may be dropped on it. After the bag has been inflated, therefore, the air pump 11 will normally be kept running permanently, to maintain the inflation of the bag. It may be desirable to control the pressure in the bag. This may be done by manu- ally reducing the pump speed and power once the bag reaches the intended pres- sure, by providing a pressure relief valve which limits the pressure, or by providing a pressure sensor which controls the pump.

The width of the bags is preferably around 2 m (or 6 feet); the maximum length is preferably around 7 m (or 24 feet). The corner bags may be 2 m square, with the end bag being 2.5 m (8 feet) long, matching the width of a standard lorry. The corner bags may alternatively be somewhat longer than 2 m, so that they extend part way along the side of the lorry. Additional side bags of say 3 m length may also be provided, to accommodate lorries longer than 7 m. Such an additional side bag may be provided with an internal partition, so that it length can be adjusted as desired. The partition is preferably placed asymmetrically, say at 1 in, so that depending on which part of it is connected to the adjacent bag and whether the valves in the partition are open or closed, it can be extended to 1, 2, or 3 m.

The bags should have a roughly rectangular cross-section when inflated. To prevent the top (and bottom) surfaces of the bag from bulging greatly, the bag is preferably provided with internal bracing elements connected between the top and bottom surfaces.

The internal vertical bracing elements in the bag will keep its upper surface reasonably flat. This will also keep the lower surface reasonably flat. The flatness of the lower surface is not so important as the flatness of the upper surface, but both surfaces should be reasonably flat, to reduce bounce when a worker falls on the bag. These bracing elements may be in the form of sheet material (with holes cut out so that air can move freely in each segment), or straps or rope-like ties. Horizontal bracing elements can similarly be provided in one or both directions to hold the sides of the segments reasonably flat in the vertical plane. It is the outside walls of the outermost inflated segments of the bag whose bulging may need to be controlled or limited; the shape of the divisions between inflated segments inside the bag are not of particular interest (and will tend to be flat anyway).

It is desirable for the outer parts of the top of the bag to be slightly higher than the main body of its upper surface. This can be achieved by making the outer vertical sides of the bag slightly higher than the internal bracings.

To couple bags together, it is desirable to provide the bags with mechanical coupling means so that they may be attached to each other along the top and bottom edges, and also with pneumatic coupling means so that they form a common pneumatic space. The mechanical coupling means may have any convenient form, typically consisting of male and female elements such as such as hooks and eyes, or may comprise short straps and buckles.

As stated above, it may be desirable to provide a cover sheet over the bag.

This will protect the bag itself to a considerable extent from damage from articles dropped on it. It will also effectively seal any slight gaps between coupled bags, and also the gaps between segments of a bag if an intermediate segment is kept deflated as described above. Fixing means may be provided for fixing the cover in place; such fixing means may be similar to the coupling hooks for coupling bags together, or the coupling hooks may also be used as cover fixing means. As an alternative to a single large cover, cover strips may be used which can be fixed along the joins between bags or across uninflated segments. For such cover strips, the fixing means may be of the hook and eye material type.

Fixing means for fixing the bags together are also provided, and may comprise a row of fixing elements along the edges of the bags where they meet each other, for coupling bags together and/or fixing a cover sheet over the bag or bags. The fixing means may be of the spring hook type, so that they can be safely linked together but can easily be unlinked manually when desired. Similar fixing means may be provided along the top and bottom of a bag opposite internal walls, so that uninflated segments can be mechanically held collapsed and empty.

Alarm means may be provided for indicating loss of pressure in the bag. To avoid the complications of electronic sensing, a whistle may be used, in conjunction with a pressure valve which closes if the pressure exceeds the lower safe limit. This may be connected in series with a control valve which can only be opened slowly. When the bag is being inflated, the control valve will be closed. The control valve will be manually opened when the bag is fully inflated; as the control valve opens, so the pressure at its outlet will rise slowly, and the whistle will sound briefly before the pressure rises to the point at which the pressure valve closes. This will prevent the whistle from sounding continuously while the bag is being inflated, but will provide a check on the operation of the alarm. (The alarm may be checked at any time by closing and re-opening the control valve.) Similar alarm means may be provided for indicating excessive pressure.

The internal wall or walls of a bag may be made of the same material as the outer walls of the bag. The internal walls may include valves, which can conveniently be around 100 to 150 mm in diameter. One or more valves may be provided between each pair of adjacent segments. Each valve may consist of a screw-threaded neck and a cap which can be screwed onto the neck to close the valve or unscrewed and removed from the neck to open the valve. A cord preferably attaches the cap to the neck, so that the cap cannot become lost in the bag segment when the valve is opened. The segment adjacent to the valve has a slot 26 in its surface as shown. This slot has a zip or the like to keep it normally closed, but can be opened to allow an operator access to the valve to open or close it.

The internal braces may also conveniently be made of the same material as the outer walls of the bag, with a suitable number of holes in them to ensure that there is no significant restriction on the distribution of air throughout the segment. These braces can also control the bulging at the ends of the segments. The braces can run in any convenient combination of ways, ie horizontally lengthwise and/or crosswise and/or vertically, or diagonally as well if appropriate. Such braces can conveniently be of the cord or strap type, passing through suitable holes in the internal walls is required.

Valves are provided at suitable points around the periphery of the bags. One of these valves may be used as the air inlet from the pump. Others may be used to couple the bags together, using short lengths of connecting hose similar to the hose from the pump. These outer valves may also be used to deflate the bag when it is being removed from the room. Any slots in the bags may also be used for this purpose, and further similar slots (not shown) may be provided if desired.

The valves may be of any convenient form, such as male and female press fit connectors, bayonet type connectors, all male press fit connectors with separate short double female coupling elements (or vice versa), etc. External valves which are not used to couple two bags together or as feed valves must of course be closed off. This can be done by providing stop elements which can be attached to the valves, or by providing internal flaps in the bags which can be used to close off the valves similarly to the internal valves.

Claims

1 Vehicle safety apparatus comprising pump means (21) and bag means (10, 12, 15) inflatable thereby to cushion a person falling thereon, the bag means comprising a plurality of bags (10, 12, 15) coupled together by valves controllable to isolate or interconnect the chambers such that the bag means can be adjusted to a desired plan shape.

2 Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the bag means comprises a bag having internal dividers dividing it into segments and valve means for controllably coupling the segments together.

3 Apparatus according to either previous claim characterized by means for covering the coupled bags.

4 Apparatus according to any previous claim characterized in that the bag means include internal bracing for shape control.

5 Apparatus according to any previous claim characterized by alarm means for indicating over- and/or under-pressure.

6 Apparatus according to any previous claim characterized in that the bag means comprise two corner bags (10), a transverse bag (12) joining them, and for each side, a chain of side bags (15) joined to a respective corner bag.

7 Apparatus according to any previous claim characterized in that the bag means include 2 further corner bags and a further transverse bag (Fig. 2G), for use if the lorry consists of a trailer with a detachable cab. 8 Apparatus according to any previous claim characterized in that the side bag chains each include a bag having an asymmetrical internal divider which can be opened or sealed, so that that the bag can be configured to 3 different lengths.

9 Apparatus according to any previous claim characterized in that the bags have raised edges or parapets, to minimize the chance of a worker falling off them.

10 Apparatus according to claim 8 characterized in that the corner bags (Fig. IA) have parapets (11) along their 2 outer sides, and the side and transverse bags (Fig. IB) have parapets (13) along their outer sides.

11 Apparatus according to claim 9 characterized in that the side and transverse bags also have lower parapets (14) along their inner sides.

12 A method of protecting workers on vehicles, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

13 Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features specifically disclosed herein within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).