WO2011144947A1

WO2011144947A1 - An entry control accountability system for displaying firefighting status on an electronic control board and a digital pressure gauge

Info

Publication number: WO2011144947A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/050965
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony W. Pickett; Steven Thurgood
Original assignee: Scott Health & Safety Limited
Priority date: 2010-05-21
Filing date: 2011-05-23
Publication date: 2011-11-24
Also published as: CN203355160U; DE212011100096U1

Abstract

An entry control accountability system includes an electronic control board having a board display for displaying a status of firefighting parameters, wherein each parameter is represented by a parameter symbol having a first color. The system further includes a digital pressure gauge carried by a firefighter, wherein the gauge includes a gauge display wherein the board display and the gauge display each simultaneously display the parameter symbol.

Description

AN ENTRY CONTROL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING FIREFIGHTING STATUS ON AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL BOARD AND A DIGITAL

PRESSURE GAUGE

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 1 19(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/347,037 filed on May 21 , 2010 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and to which this application claims the benefit of priority.

This invention relates to entiy control accountability system, and more particularly, to an entiy control accountability system having an electronic control board and a digital pressure gauge which each simultaneously display a status of firefighting parameters.

An electronic monitor is frequently used to monitor multiple firefighters during large or small scale incidents. In particular, the monitor may be used to check the status of several parameters such as tank pressure for a firefighter's self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), time to whistle, temperature and others. The monitor may also enable communications between the firefighter and personnel monitoring the firefighters such as an entry control officer. A danger faced by firefighters is inadequate communications, particularly while wearing breathing apparatus during a fire or other emergency. In particular, the monitoring equipment used by the fuefighters and entiy control officer may have user interfaces which are relatively difficult to comprehend and use during emergency situations.

An entry control accountability system for firefighting is disclosed. The system includes an electronic control board having a board display for displaying a status of firefighting parameters, wherein each parameter is represented by a parameter symbol having a first color. The system further includes a digital pressure gauge carried by a firefighter, wherein the gauge includes a gauge display wherein the board display and the gauge display each simultaneously display the parameter symbol.

Figs, la-le depict displays for operating a digital pressure gauge.

Figs. 2a-2e depict displays for operating an entiy control board in relation to pressure monitoring. Fig. 2f depicts a display for operating the entiy control board in relation to an entry control officer initiated withdrawal.

Fig. 2g depicts a display for operating the entiy control board in relation to a voluntary withdrawal.

Fig. 2h depicts a display for operating the entiy control board in relation to a panic alarm.

Fig. 2i depicts a display for operating the entiy control board in relation to a man down alarm.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled" and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, "connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. In the description below, like reference numerals and labels are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of Figs, 1a-2i.

Referring to Figs, 1a-le, a digital pressure gauge 10 which is part of an entiy control accountability system is shown. In use, the gauge 10 is worn by a firefighter. The gauge provides gauge display 22 for displaying cylinder pressure, time to whistle, battery power indication and temperature and other parameters. Referring to Figs. 2a-2i, a tallyboard or entiy control board 30 which is also part of the entry control accountability system is shown. In use, the board is located away from the scene of a fire or other emergency event and is monitored by entiy control officer (ECO). The board 30 includes a board display 32 for displaying various screens for indicating the status of firefighting personnel, preferably up to 12 personnel, for pressure, time to whistle, time of whistle, elapsed time and alarm status and other parameters. The gauge 22 and board 32 displays may be light emitting diode displays (LED), liquid ciystal displays (LCD), thin film transistor displays (TFT) or other type of display or combination thereof. The gauge 10 and board 30 communicate with each other via a communication system. In one embodiment, the gauge 10 and board 30 communicate in real time. The gauge 22 and board 32 displays each simultaneously display substantially similar icons or symbols each associated with a status of a parameter. Further, a change in status of a selected parameter, such as pressure, is depicted by a change in color in the symbol for the parameter. Thus, the screens displayed on the gauge 22 and board 32 displays provide a clear indication of all the data at the same time and change color dependent on the status of selected parameters. It is understood that the gauge 22 and board 32 displays may be readily adapted to display symbols other than those depicted in Figs. la-2i as desired. Additionally, the location of the symbols within the display of either the entiy control board 30 or gauge display 22, color of the symbols, and measurement values for color change of the symbols may be modified as needed by local fire commands.

The board display 32 also displays battery power levels of multiple batteries independently used for power. In particular, the board 30 and/or gauge 10 may include two independent batteries although only one is needed for power. Using two independent batteries provides the ability to use the board 30 indefinitely by changing one battery at a time. The board 30 has the ability to monitor personnel that are in alarm that are not logged onto the board 30.

Referring to Figs, la-le, operation of the gauge 10 will now be described. In Fig. la, the gauge 10 is turned on by pressing and holding button 12 for predetermined period of time, such as three seconds. The gauge display 22 then displays tank pressure 14 (shown in bar pressure units) within a tank symbol 15 which is illuminated in a first color 17 such as green. The gauge display also depicts time to whistle (in minutes) 16 alongside a depiction of a whistle, remaining battery charge depicted as a battery symbol 18 and ambient temperature 20. Referring to Fig. 1 b, a color of the tank symbol 15 changes from the first tank color 17 to a second tank color 24 such as orange in the gauge display 22 as tank pressure 14 decreases below approximately 100 bar. Time to whistle 16 is updated to reflect current usage requirements and provides the user with a more accurate indication of the time left until critical tank pressure is reached if the user maintains their current level of activity.

Referring to Fig. lc, when tank pressure 14 reaches approximately 55 bar a background of the display 22 turns to a first display color 26 such as red and buzzer 28 emits a constant tone to alert the user that they must exit the incident.

Referring to Fig. Id, once the user has safely exited the incident, the gauge 10 can be turned off by holding down button 12 for approximately three seconds, The gauge 10 will also automatically turn off if a pressure sensor does not detect any pressure for longer than approximately five minutes.

Referring to Fig. le, a rear view of the gauge 10 is shown, The gauge 10 may also include a rechargeable battery which may be charged using a charging connector 28. The connector 28 may also be used to download data logged for accountability purposes.

Referring to Figs. 2a-2e, operation of the board 30 in relation to pressure monitoring will be described. Referring to Fig. 2a, a portion of the board 30 and board display 32 is shown. An ECO writes a current tank pressure for a user and the time of entry taken from a clock display 34 on the tally key 36 and inserts the tally key 36 into an uppermost slot of the board 30 and adjacent to display board 32. The ECO then uses a calculator dial 38 to calculate the estimated time of whistle and writes the estimated time of whistle in a relevant location 40.

Referring to Fig. 2b, an enlarged view of the board display 32 is shown. The display board 32 illuminates and displays the elapsed time 42 (in minutes) since the tally key 36 was removed from a personal alert safety system unit. By way of example, the personal alert safety system unit may be a Personal Alert Safety System/ Automatic Distress Signal Umt sold by Scott Safety, a unit of Tyco. Other items displayed by board display 32 include tank pressure 14 (shown in bar pressure units) within the tank symbol 15 which is illuminated in the first color 17 as previously described, the time to whistle (in minutes) 16 alongside a depiction of a whistle, time of whistle 48 and strength of the signal 50 being received by the personal alert safety system unit.

Referring to Fig. 2c, as tank pressure decreases below approximately 100 bar the color of the tank symbol 15 changes from the first tank color 17 (such as green) to the second tank color 24 (such as orange). Time to whistle 16 is updated to reflect current usage requirements and gives the user a more accurate indication of the time left until critical tank pressure is reached if the user maintains their current level of activity.

Referring to Fig, 2d, when tank pressure 14 reaches approximately 55 bar a background of the board display 32 turns to the first display color 26 such as red and a buzzer 52 emits a constant tone and the relevant evacuate button 54 flashes in a suitable color such as red to alert the ECO that users must exit the incident. It should be noted that the actual time of whistle might be different to the estimated time of whistle written on the board.

Referring to Fig. 2e, once the ECO has acknowledged the situation by pressing the relevant evacuate button the buzzer 52 is silenced and the button 54 changes to a constant green illumination.

Referring to Fig. 2f, operation of the board 30 in relation to an ECO initiated withdrawal will be described. Although the user has not reached the actual time of whistle 16 and/or the estimated time of whistle 40, the ECO may be concerned for safety of the users and wants them to withdraw from the incident. By pressing the relevant evacuate button 54 an evacuate signal is sent to the personal alert safety system unit for a user. While awaiting the automated response from the personal alert safety system unit the relevant evacuate button 54 shows a constant red illumination. When the tally board receives the automated response from the users personal alert safety system unit the relevant evacuate button 54 changes to a constant orange illumination. When the user manually acknowledges the evacuate signal (by pressing buttons on their personal alert safety system unit) the relevant evacuate button 54 changes to a constant green illumination.

Referring to Fig. 2g, operation of the board 30 in relation to voluntary withdrawal will now be described. Although the user has not reached the actual time of whistle 48 they want to inform the ECO that they are withdrawing voluntarily from the incident. Tins is done by pressing buttons on their personal alert safety system unit and causes a 'voluntary withdrawal' symbol 56 to be displayed on the screen adjacent to the tally key 36 for the user.

Referring to Fig. 2h, operation of the board 30 in relation to a panic alarm will now be described. Although the user has not reached the actual time of whistle 48 they want to inform the ECO that they are in difficulty and need assistance. This is done by pressing buttons on their personal alert safety system unit and causes a 'panic alarm' symbol 58 to be displayed on the screen adjacent to the tally key 36 for the user.

Referring to Fig. 2i, operation of the board 30 in relation to a man down alarm will now be described. The personal alert safety system unit for the user detects that there has not been any movement from the user and activates the automatic man down alarm and causes the 'man down' symbol 60 to be displayed on the screen adjacent to the tally key 36 for the user.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An entiy control accountability system for an electronic monitoring system used in firefighting, comprising:

an electronic control board having a board display for displaying a status of firefighting parameters, wherein each parameter is represented by a parameter symbol having a first color; and

a digital pressure gauge wherein the gauge includes a gauge display wherein the board display and the gauge display each simultaneously display the parameter symbol.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the parameter symbol represents a tank pressure of a self-contained breathing apparatus,

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the parameter symbol is a depiction of a pressure tank.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a firefighting parameter displayed on the digital pressure gauge is time to wliistle.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control board and the digital pressure gauge communicate with each other in real time.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a firefighting parameter displayed on the electronic control board is time of whistle.

7. An entiy contiol accountability system for an electronic monitoring system used in firefighting, comprising: an electronic control board having a board display for displaying a status of firefighting parameters, wherein each parameter is represented by a parameter symbol having a first color; and

a digital pressure gauge wherein the gauge includes a gauge display wherein the board display and the gauge display each simultaneously display a change status of a parameter by changing a color of the parameter symbol to second color.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the parameter symbol represents a tank pressure of a self-contained breathing apparatus.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first color is green and the second color is orange when the tank pressure is below approximately 100 bars.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein a background of the gauge display turns red in color when the tank pressure is below approximately 55 bars.

1 1. The system according to claim 10, wherein the digital pressure gauge further emits a tone.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein the parameter symbol is a depiction of a pressure tank.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein a firefighting parameter displayed on the digital pressure gauge is time to whistle.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein a firefighting parameter displayed on the electronic control board is time of whistle. The system according to claim 7, further including a parameter symbol for indicating down.