Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B5/00—Visible signalling systems, e.g. visible personal calling systems or remote indication of seats occupied
  • G08B5/22—Visible signalling systems, e.g. visible personal calling systems or remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
  • G08B5/36—Visible signalling systems, e.g. visible personal calling systems or remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
  • H02G3/22—Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L5/00—Devices for use where pipes, cables or protective tubing pass through walls or partitions
  • F16L5/02—Sealing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G1/00—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G15/00—Cable fittings
  • H02G15/013—Sealing means for cable inlets
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
  • H02G3/02—Details
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L5/00—Devices for use where pipes, cables or protective tubing pass through walls or partitions
  • F16L5/02—Sealing
  • F16L5/08—Sealing by means of axial screws compressing a ring or sleeve
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L5/00—Devices for use where pipes, cables or protective tubing pass through walls or partitions
  • F16L5/02—Sealing
  • F16L5/14—Sealing for double-walled or multi-channel pipes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G2200/00—Indexing scheme relating to installation of electric cables or lines covered by H02G
  • H02G2200/20—Identification of installed cables

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to the field of sealed installations of cables, pipes or wires, and more particularly to equipment for guiding local users at such transits. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to a transit indicator device for use at or within a cable, pipe or wire transit, to a user guidance system for cable, pipe or wire transits where the system comprises a plurality of transit indicator devices being located at or within a respective transit, and to a method of guiding a local user at a cable, pipe or wire transit.
• Sealed installations of cables, pipes or wires are commonly used in many different environments, such as for cabinets, technical shelters, junction boxes and machines. They are used in a variety of different industries, such as automotive, telecom, power generation and distribution, as well as marine and offshore.
• the sealed installations serve to seal effectively against fluid, gas, fire, rodents, termites, dust, moisture, etc., and may involve cables for electricity, communication, computers, etc., pipes for different gases or liquids such as water, compressed air, hydraulic fluid and cooking gas, and wires for load retention.
• a transit which may also be referred to as a lead- through, is made up of one or more transit elements, typically a plurality of different transit elements which upon installation at a site are assembled into a sealed installation of one or more cables, pipes or wires.
• One commonly used transit type has an essentially rectangular frame, inside of which a number of modules are arranged to receive cables, pipes or wires.
• the modules are made of an elastic material, such as rubber or plastics, and are thus compressible and moreover adaptable to different outer diameters of the cables, pipes or wires.
• the modules are typically arranged side by side in one or more rows together with some kind of compression unit.
• the compression unit is placed between the frame and the modules in such a way that when the compression unit is expanded, the compressible modules will be compressed around the cables, wires or pipes.
• the term “cable” will be mainly used in this document, but it should be construed broadly and a person skilled in the art will realise that it normally also covers pipes or wires, or is an equivalent thereof.
• Transit has an essentially cylindrical form and is to be received in a sleeve, also known as a pipe sleeve, in a wall or an opening in a wall.
• a sleeve also known as a pipe sleeve
• the transit is adapted to fit snugly into the sleeve or the opening of the wall in which it is received, and the transit is adaptable to the actual mounting dimension.
• the mounting dimension is dictated by the inner diameter of the sleeve or the opening.
• the transit has a cylindrical compressible body, which is compressed axially between fittings at the opposite ends of the compressible body. By the axial compression, the cylindrical body will expand radially both inwards and outwards.
• the cables received may have different outer diameters, and, thus, the module is adaptable to cables having different outer diameters.
• a combined frame and compressible module may constitute the only, single transit element of the transit and therefore in effect constitute the transit as such.
• Other types of transits are also known in the technical field, as the skilled person is well aware of per se.
• Local users may appear at a transit at different occasions and for different purposes.
• a technically qualified local user or a team of such users
• a local user or a team of such users
• a first aspect of the present invention therefore is a transit indicator device for use at or within a cable, pipe or wire transit having one or more transit elements for forming a sealed installation of one or more cables, pipes or wires.
• the transit indicator device comprises a communication interface to a communication network, and a visual indicator unit.
• the transit indicator device also comprises a controller which is operatively connected with the communication interface and the visual indicator unit.
• the controller is configured to receive a remote instruction from the communication network via the communication interface and in response cause the visual indicator unit to provide a visual indication for guiding a local user (or a team of such users) at the transit.
• the visual indicator unit may, for instance, comprise a multi-color LED indicator being adapted to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user by generating light of a certain color among a plurality of available colors.
• the visual indicator unit may, for instance, comprise a set of LED indicators, each LED indicator being capable of indicating a respective color, and at least one of the LED indicators being adapted to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user by generating light of its respective color.
• the visual indicator unit may, for instance, comprise a display screen being adapted to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user by rendering graphical information on the display screen.
• a second aspect of the present invention is a user guidance system for cable, pipe or wire transits of a type which has one or more transit elements to form a sealed installation of one or more cables, pipes or wires.
• the user guidance system comprises a communication network, and a computer resource which is connectable to the communication network.
• the user guidance system further comprises a plurality of transit indicator devices in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.
• Each transit indicator device is connectable to the communication network and is located at or within a respective transit.
• the computer resource of the user guidance system is configured to receive a command from an authorized user, and in response send a remote instruction to one or more of the plurality of transit indicator devices over the communication network. This will cause said one or more transit indicator devices to provide a visual indication for guiding a local user (or a team of such users) at the respective transit(s) where said one or more transit indicator devices is/are located.
• the user guidance system may be used for a variety of purposes.
• the remote instruction may be adapted to cause selective visual indication by a certain transit indicator device at a certain transit, preferably such that the selective visual indication is provided only by the certain transit indicator device at the certain transit and not by any other transit indicator devices at any other transits.
• Such selective visual indication may, for instance, be used to facilitate for the local user to locate the correct certain transit for installation, service, repair, maintenance, upgrade or inspection.
• the remote instruction may be adapted to cause selective visual indication by a subset of transit indicator devices at a subset of the transits.
• Such selective visual indication by the subset of transit indicator devices may, for instance, be used to facilitate for the local user to know how to route cables, pipes or wires between transits in the subset of the transits. It may also be used in order to facilitate for the local user to locate a correct group of transits which have a common need for installation, service, repair, maintenance, upgrade or inspection.
• the remote instruction may be adapted to cause visual indication by all transit indicator device at all transits.
• One reason for this may be to provide an alert in situations of emergency, or to indicate a sudden need for attention to all transits.
• Each transit indicator device in the user guidance system according to the second aspect may have any or all of the features as described in this document for the transit indicator device according to the first aspect.
• a third aspect of the present invention is a method of guiding a local user at a cable, pipe or wire transit having one or more transit elements to form a sealed installation of one or more cables, pipes or wires.
• the method comprises the following steps:
• a computer resource receives a command from an authorized user.
• the computer resource sends a remote instruction over a communication network to a transit indicator device located at or within the transit.
• the transit indicator device then provides a visual indication for guiding the local user (or a team of such users) at the transit.
• the method according to the third aspect may have any or all of the functional features as described in this document for the transit indicator device according to the first aspect, and/or the user guidance system according to the second aspect. Still other aspects and features of the invention and its embodiments are defined by the appended patent claims and are further explained, together with problems solved and advantages obtained, in the detailed description section as well as in the drawings.
• Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a transit comprising a plurality of different transit elements which upon installation at a site have been assembled into a sealed installation of a plurality of cables.
• Figure 2A is a schematic isometric view of a first type of transit element in the form of an essentially rectangular frame.
• Figure 2B is a schematic isometric view of a second type of transit element in the form of a compressible module.
• Figure 2C is a schematic isometric view of a third type of transit element in the form of a stayplate.
• Figure 2D is a schematic isometric view of a fourth type of transit element in the form of a wedge or compression unit.
• Figure 2E is a schematic isometric view of a fifth type of transit element in the form of a wedge clip.
• Figure 3 is a schematic isometric view of a more complex transit.
• Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of the transit indicator device according to one embodiment.
• Figures 5A, 5B and 5C are schematic illustrations of a user guidance system for cable, pipe or wire transits according to some embodiments.
• Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a composition of a remote instruction according to one embodiment.
• Figures 7A and 7B illustrate different exemplifying use cases.
• Figures 8A, 8B and 8C are schematic isometric, side and front views, respectively, of a transit indicator device according to one embodiment.
• Figures 9A, 9B and 9C are schematic isometric, side and front views, respectively, of a transit indicator device according to another embodiment.
• Figures 10A, 10B and 10C are schematic isometric views of a transit indicator device according to still another embodiment.
• FIG 11 is a schematic flowchart diagram illustrating a method according to the invention. Detailed Description
• Figure 1 schematically illustrates a transit 1, also known as a lead-through, comprising a plurality of different transit elements 10, 20, 30, 40, 42 which upon installation at a site have been assembled into a sealed installation of a plurality of cables 2.
• the transit elements which make up a transit may be of different types and may exist as a single instance or as multiple instances, depending on implementation.
• the transit 1 comprises a frame 10, inside of which a plurality of compressible modules are arranged in different sizes and numbers (only three of the compressible modules being indicated as 20i, 20 2 and 203 in Figure 1).
• the frame 10 of the transit 1 is mounted by means of a packing, sealing or weld joint 12.
• a compressible module 20 is shown in Fig 2B.
• the compressible module 20 has a box-shaped body which is divided into two halves 22, 24.
• a number of layers 26 of elastic material are concentrically arranged in the body 22, 24 around a center core 28.
• the compressible module 20 may be adapted to securely engage a cable 2 among cables of different diameters.
• only two cables 2 are mounted in two respective modules 20; the remainder of the modules 20 in Figure 1 are currently not used for cable lead-through and therefore still have the respective cores 28 in place.
• a (main) transit element type (such as a compressible module 20) may in turn appear in different (sub) types, for instance differentiated by size (see modules 20 2 and 203 in Figure 1).
• Figure 2C illustrates a third type of transit element in the form of a stayplate 30 which, as is seen in Figure 1, is used to separate different rows of compressible modules 20 in the frame 10.
• FIG 2D illustrates a fourth type of transit element in the form of a wedge or compression unit 40.
• a fifth type of transit element in the form of a wedge clip 42 is seen in Figure 2E.
• the compression unit 40 is placed between the frame 10 and the modules 20 in such a way that when the compression unit is expanded, the compressible modules will be compressed around the cables 2 such that a sealed installation is achieved.
• its tightening members (bolts or screws) 41 will protrude far enough for the wedge clip 42 to be attached onto them.
• the wedge clip 42 may serve to prevent accidental loosening (de-expansion) of the compression unit 40.
• a transit indicator device as well as a user guidance system are provided in various embodiments which will now be described with reference to the remaining drawings.
• Embodiments of the transit indicator devices are indicated as 50, 50a-50n, 250, 350, 450 in the drawings, whereas the user guidance system is indicated as 2.
• the user guidance system 2 is for cable, pipe or wire transits la... ln of a type which has one or more transit elements to form a sealed installation of one or more cables 2, pipes or wires.
• Such transit elements may, for instance, be any or all of transit elements 10, 20, 30, 40 and 42 in Figures 1 and 2A-2E, or, for instance, a combined frame and compressible module 400 which will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 10A-10C.
• the user guidance system 2 comprises a communication network which is generally indicated as 60, and a computer resource 70 which is connectable to the communication network 60.
• the user guidance system 2 further comprises a plurality of transit indicator devices 50a-50n, each being connectable to the communication network 60 (or parts or extensions thereof) and each being located at or within a respective transit la-ln.
• Some of the transits may, for instance, be located at a same site 6, as can be seen for transits la and lb in Figure 5A. Others can be located outside of the site 6 (i.e. at another site), as can be seen for transit ln in Figure 5A.
• the computer resource 70 and the transit indicator devices 50a-50n are operably connected by the communication network 60, or parts or extensions thereof. Such parts or extensions are indicated as 60a-c, 61, 6la-n and 62 in this document.
• the communication network 60 and its parts or extensions 60a-c, 61, 6la-n and 62 may be mobile telecommunication network(s) (compliant with any commercially available mobile telecommunication standard, for instance (without limitation) GSM, UMTS, LTE, LTE +, LTE Advanced, D-AMPS, CDMA2000, FOMA and TD-SCDMA), wide area data network(s) (such as an IP based data network in the form of the Internet or a part thereof), local area network(s) (such as a WiFi/WLAN, Bluetooth or LAN network), industrial data bus(es) (such as ASI, CANbus, ProfiBus or Modbus), or low frequency wireless data communication technology (such as LoRa), including any combination thereof.
• GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
• the transit indicator devices 50a-50n connect to local area networks 60a, 60c via wireless links 6la-6ln, whereas the computer resource 70 connects to a wide area network 60b that the local area networks 60a, 60c are connected to in turn.
• all devices may be connected to one common wide area network 60 being, for instance, the Internet or a part of it.
• the computer resource 70 may, for instance, be implemented as a server computer, workstation computer, personal computer or laptop computer, having an operating system and being appropriately programmed to perform the functionalities described in this document, or as a cluster of such computer devices, or as a cloud computing service.
• the computer resource 70 may have an associated memory or storage 72, as is of course utterly well-known per se to the skilled person.
• the computer resource 70 is configured to receive a command 74 from an authorized user 4.
• the authorized user 4 may submit the command 74 directly to the computer resource 70.
• the computer resource 70 is a shared computer resource such as a server computer resource or a cloud computer resource
• the authorized user 4 may submit the command 74 to the computer resource 70 via a computer device.
• a computer device can be seen at 4a in Figure 5B and may, for instance, be a personal computer, laptop computer, workstation, mobile terminal or tablet computer.
• the computer resource 70 is configured to send a remote instruction 76 to one or more of the plurality of transit indicator devices 50a-50n over the communication network 60; 60a-c; 61, 6la-n, 62, thereby causing said one or more transit indicator devices 50a-50n to provide a visual indication for guiding a local user 3 at the respective transit(s) la-ln where said one or more transit indicator devices 50a-50 is/are located.
• each transit indicator device 50a-50n has a visual indicator unit 90a-90n.
• the transit indicator device 50 (which may be one of the transit indicator devices 50a-50n in Figure 4) comprises a controller 51 that takes care of the overall operation of the transit indicator device 50.
• the transit indicator device 50 also comprises a memory 53, a battery 55 or other power source, and a communication interface 56 to the communication network 60; 60a-c; 61, 6la-n, 62.
• the transit indicator device 50 moreover comprises a status indicator unit 90.
• the controller 51 is operatively connected with the communication interface 56 and the visual indicator unit 90.
• the controller 51 is configured to receive the remote instruction 76 from the communication network 60; 60a-c; 61, 6la-n, 62 via the communication interface 56 and in response cause the visual indicator unit 90 to provide a visual indication for guiding the local user 3 at the transit 1 where the transit indicator device 50 is located.
• the status indicator unit 90 of the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n comprises at least one multi-color LED indicator 92 being adapted to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user 3 by generating light of a certain color among a plurality of available colors.
• the status indicator unit 90 of the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n comprises a set of LED indicators 94, each LED indicator being capable of indicating a respective color, and at least one of the LED indicators being adapted to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user 3 by generating light of its respective color.
• the status indicator unit 90 of the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n comprises a display screen 96 being adapted to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user 3 by rendering graphical information on the display screen 94.
• the status indicator unit 90 of the transit indicator device 50 comprises at least one multi-color LED indicator 92, and/or a set of LED indicators 94, and/or a display screen 96.
• the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n has a first mode in which no visual indication is provided by the visual indicator unit 90; 90a-90n, and a second mode in which the visual indication is provided by the visual indicator unit 90; 90a-90n.
• the controller 51 is configured, when receiving the remote instruction 76 generated in response to the command 74 by the authorized user 4, to cause the visual indicator unit 90; 90a-90n to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user 3 by switching from the first mode to the second mode.
• the first mode in which no visual indication is provided may typically be a state where an indicator of the visual indicator unit 90; 90a-90n (e.g. multi-color LED indicator 92 or LED indicator 94) is turned off.
• the second mode may typically be a state where the indicator is driven to generate light of a certain color.
• the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n has a first mode in which a first visual indication is provided by the visual indicator unit 90; 90a-90n, and a second mode in which a second visual indication is provided by the visual indicator unit 90; 90a-90n.
• the controller 51 is configured, when receiving the remote instruction 76, to cause the visual indicator unit 90; 90a-90n to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user 3 by entering into the first mode or the second mode depending on a content 78 of the remote instruction 76.
• the first mode may typically be a state where the indicator of the visual indicator unit 90; 90a-90n is driven to generate light of a first color
• the second mode may typically be a state where the indicator is driven to generate light of a second color.
• the visual indicator unit 90; 90a-90n is configured to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user 3 by generating light of a certain color, wherein the certain color is blue or white.
• FIG 6 illustrates an exemplifying composition, or message format, of the remote instruction 76 according to one embodiment.
• the remote instruction 76 has a header portion 77 and a payload portion 78 for conveying content.
• the header portion 77 may be used to specify the individual transit indicator devices 50a-50n that the remote instruction 76 is intended for.
• the individual transit indicator devices 50a-50n may be addressed by respective transit identities (T IDE .. T IDn in Figure 6) in the header portion 77.
• the memory 53 may store the transit identity of the particular transit indicator device 50. This can be seen as Transit ID 54 in Figure 4.
• the payload portion 78 may contain data (Indication Data in Figure 6) specifying the indication to be provided by the individual transit indicator devices 50a- 50n that the remote instruction 76 is intended for.
• the data may, for instance, specify a code of a current color to be indicated by the multi-color LED indicator 92, or a color corresponding to one LED in the set of single-color LED indicators 94.
• the code may, for instance be a binary code like:
• Color code LED color to indicate
• the data may specify a flash pattern of the multi color LED indicator 92 or individual LED in the set of single-color LED indicators 94.
• the flash pattern may, for instance, be specified as:
• the data may specify a graphical symbol or text to be indicated by the graphical display 94.
• the payload portion 78 may have a broadcast flag (BC_Flag in Figure 6) to indicate that all receiving transit indicator devices 50a-50n shall provide the specified indication.
• the computer resource 70 may store the current indications of the different transit indicator devices 50a-50n (i.e., for the different transits la-ln) in a data structure 75 in the memory 72.
• the data structure 75 may be updated every time the authorized user 4 (or another authorized user) submits a command 74 pertaining to one of the transit indicator devices 50a-50n/transits la-ln in the user guidance system 2 to the computer resource 70.
• the data structure 75 may contain one or more table columns (or similar structure) representing the different transit indicator devices 50a-50n or transits la-ln, and one or more table columns (or similar structure) representing the current indications of the respective transit indicator devices 50a-50n/transits la-ln.
• the current indications may, for instance, be represented by the aforementioned color codes and/or flash codes.
• the computer resource 70 in the user guidance system 2 is configured to store data representing current visual indications of the transit indicator devices 50a-50n of the user guidance system in the data structure 75 in the memory 72.
• the computer resource 70 is moreover configured, as the computer resource 70 receives from the authorized user 4, or from another authorized user, a command 74 which (as previously described) is intended for one or more of the transit indicator devices 50a- 5 On, to update the data structure 75 so as to reflect a change in visual indication provided by the one or more transit indicator devices 50a-50n as defined by the command 74.
• the computer resource 70 in the user guidance system 2 is further configured to receive a query from a computer user 5 of the user guidance system, wherein the query pertains to one or more of the transit indicator devices 50a-50n of the user guidance system.
• the computer resource 70 retrieves data representing the current visual indications of the queried one or more transit indicator devices 50a-50n from the data structure 75 in the memory 72, and accordingly responds to the computer user 5 with response information, wherein the response information comprises all or part of the retrieved data, or is derived from all or part of the retrieved data.
• the provision of the data structure 75 in the memory 72 thus makes it possible for one or more computer users 5 of the user guidance system 2 to obtain information about the current indications of the transit indicator devices 50a-50n/transits la-ln.
• the or each computer user 5 may be a remote user that makes the query via the communication network 60; 60b, as can be seen in Figure 5B.
• the computer user 5 may use a computer device 5a (such as, for instance, a personal computer, laptop computer, workstation, mobile terminal or tablet computer) to query the computer resource 70 or the memory 72 about the contents of the data structure 75.
• the controller 51 of the transit indicator device 50 may, for instance, be implemented as a central processing units (CPU), digital signal processor (DSP), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or generally by any electronic circuitry capable of performing the functionalities as described herein.
• the memory 53 may, for instance, be implemented in any commonly known technology for electronic memories, such as ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM, CMOS, FLASH, DDR or SDRAM.
• the communication interface 56 may, for instance, be implemented as IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15, ZigBee, WirelessHART, WiFi, Bluetooth, WCDMA, HSPA, GSM, UTRAN, UMTS, LTE, LTE +, LTE Advanced, D-AMPS, CDMA2000, FOMA, TD-SCDMA ASI, CANbus, ProfiBus, Modbus, or as LoRa or other low frequency wireless data communication technology.
• the local user 3 may have a mobile device 3a which is used to bridge or relay communication between the transit indicator device 50 and the communication network 60/computer resource 70.
• the mobile device 3a may, for instance, be a mobile terminal, tablet computer or laptop computer. It may have an application program (app) by means of which the mobile device 3 a may receive a remote instruction 76 from the computer resource 70 over a wireless link 61 to the communication network 60, as previously discussed. As can be seen in Figure 5C, the application program in the mobile device 3a may then communicate the remote instruction 76, or at least the semantic meaning thereof, to the transit indicator device 50 over another wireless link 62.
• the wireless link 61 may be a mobile telecommunication link pursuant to GSM, UMTS, LTE, LTE +, LTE Advanced, D-AMPS, CDMA2000, FOMA or TD- SCDMA, or similar.
• the wireless link 62 may be a short-range wireless communication link such as, for instance, Bluetooth or NFC. Thanks to the usage of the mobile device 3a as an intermediate communication bridge or relay, the wireless link 62 does not have to be long-range.
• the wireless link 62 (as well as the wireless link 61) is thus an extension of the general communication network 60, making the transit indicator device 50 and its communication interface 56 connectable to the general communication network 60 as such.
• the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n may generally be provided in any suitable way at or within the transit 1; la-ln.
• a transit element such as for instance to a compression unit in the transit, like the wedge 40 shown in Figures 1 and 2D.
• the compression unit or wedge 40 is actuated by one or more tightening members, in the disclosed embodiment two tightening members 41 (see Figure 2D), to achieve a sealed installation of the cables of the transit.
• These tightening members may also be used for anchoring the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n to the transit 1; la-ln.
• the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n may comprise a housing adapted for mounting onto a transit element of the transit 1; la-ln.
• FIGS 10A-C illustrate a transit indicator device 450 according to one embodiment.
• the transit indicator device 450 is adapted for mounting to a transit element in the form of a combined frame and compressible module 400.
• the combined frame and compressible module 400 has a cylindrical body portion which is divided into two halves 422, 424.
• a number of layers 426 of elastic material are concentrically arranged in the body 422, 424 around a center core 428.
• the combined frame and compressible module 400 may be adapted to securely engage a given cable among cables of different diameters.
• the combined frame and compressible module 400 also has a frame portion 410.
• the frame portion 410 has fastening members 411, such as bolts or screws.
• the transit indicator device 450 is mounted to the combined frame and compressible module 400 by means of one of these fastening members, as can be seen in Figures 10A and 10B.
• the transit indicator device 450 has a housing 454 with an opening 456 for receiving one of the fastening members 411.
• the transit indicator device 450 also has a status indicator unit 490 functioning like the status indicator unit 90 previously described; it may for instance comprise a multi-color LED indicator or a number of LED indicators of different colors (like the aforementioned multi-color LED indicator 92 or the set of LED indicators 94, respectively).
• the combined frame and compressible module 400 may constitute the only, single transit element of the transit 1 and therefore in effect constitute the transit 1 as such.
• the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n may be mounted to a structure close to the transit.
• a structure may, for instance be a wall, door, hatch or window.
• the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n may be provided within the transit 1; la-ln.
• the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n may be of the same general shape as one type of transit element for the transit 1; la-ln, or of a component 28 of said one type of transit element. See, for instance, Figures 8A- C which illustrate a transit indicator device 250 according to an alternative embodiment.
• the transit indicator device 250 is of the same general shape as one type of transit element for the transit 1 in question, or, more specifically for the embodiment shown in Figures 8A-C, of the same general shape as a
• the transit indicator device 250 has a housing 254 of the same general shape as the compressible module 20.
• the transit indicator device 250 has a status indicator unit 290 functioning like the status indicator unit 90 previously described; it may for instance comprise a multi-color LED indicator or a number of LED indicators of different colors (like the aforementioned multi-color LED indicator 92 or the set of LED indicators 94, respectively).
• the transit indicator device 250 is adapted to be mounted instead of the compressible module 20 in the transit 1. Hence, the transit indicator device 250 replaces or takes the place of one of the transit elements of the transit 1 - namely one of the compressible modules 20 - during assembly of the transit elements into the sealed installation of one or more cables, pipes or wires.
• Figures 9A-C illustrate a transit indicator device 350 according to an alternative embodiment.
• the transit indicator device 350 is of the same general shape as a component of said one type of transit element for the transit 1 in question, or, more specifically for the embodiment shown in Figures 9A-C, of the same general shape as a core 28 of a compressible module 20 (such as, for instance, the one shown in Figures 1 and 2A).
• the transit indicator device 350 has a housing 354 of the same general shape as the core 28 of the compressible module 20.
• the transit indicator device 350 has a status indicator unit 390 functioning like the status indicator unit 90 previously described; it may for instance comprise a multi-color LED indicator or a number of LED indicators of different colors (like the aforementioned multi-color LED indicator 92 or the set of LED indicators 94, respectively).
• the transit indicator device 350 is adapted to be mounted instead of the core 28 of the compressible module 20 in the transit 1. Hence, the transit indicator device 350 replaces or takes the place of a component of one of the transit elements of the transit 1 - namely the core 28 of one of the compressible modules 20 - during assembly of the transit elements into the sealed installation of one or more cables, pipes or wires.
• Figure 11 is a schematic flowchart diagram illustrating a method 500 of guiding the local user 3 at a cable, pipe or wire transit 1; la... ln; 400 according to the invention.
• a first step 510 the computer resource 70 receives the command 74 from the authorized user 4.
• the computer resource 70 in response sends the remote instruction 76 over the communication network 60; 60a-c; 61, 6la-n, 62 to a transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n; 250; 350; 450 located at or within the transit 1; la... ln; 400.
• the transit indicator device 50; 50a-50n; 250; 350; 450 provides a visual indication for guiding the local user 3 at the transit 1 ; 1 a... ln; 400.
• the remote instruction 76 may be adapted to cause selective visual indication by a certain transit indicator device 50a at a certain transit la, preferably such that the selective visual indication is provided only by the certain transit indicator device 50a at the certain transit la and not by any other transit indicator devices 50b-50n at any other transits lb-ln.
• the visual indicator unit 90a of the transit indicator device 50a at the transit la indicates light (see 90a), whereas the other transit indicator devices 50b-5 On at the other transits lb-ln are turned off (see 90b-90n).
• Such selective visual indication may, for instance, be used to facilitate for the local user 3 to locate the correct certain transit la for installation, service, repair, maintenance, upgrade or inspection.
• the remote instruction 76 may be adapted to cause selective visual indication by a subset of transit indicator devices 50a- 50b at a subset of the transits la-lb. This can be seen in Figures 5B and 7A.
• Such selective visual indication by the subset of transit indicator devices 50a-50b may, for instance, be used to facilitate for the local user 3 to know how to route 82 cables 80, pipes or wires between the transits la- lb in the subset of the transits. It may also be used in order to facilitate for the local user 3 to locate a correct group of transits which have a common need for installation, service, repair, maintenance, upgrade or inspection.
• Such a subset or group may involve transits at the same site 6 or at different sites 6’ ( Figure 5B showing one such other site 6’ being different from the site 6).
• the remote instruction 76 may be addressable to individual transit indicator units 50a, 50b located at or within transits la, lb at the same site 6, as well as individual transit indicator units 50n located at or within transits ln at another site 6’ than this same site 6.
• the remote instruction 76 may comprise addressing information 77a, 77b, 77n (see Figure 6) for indicating a variable number of individual transit indicator units 50a, 50b, 50n that the remote instruction 76 is intended for.
• the addressing information 77a, 77b, 77n in the remote instruction 76 may comprise a respective transit identity T IDl, T ID2, T IDn for each individual transit indicator unit 50a, 50b, 50n that the remote instruction 76 is intended for.
• the controller 51 in an individual transit indicator device 50 may thus be configured, when receiving the remote instruction 76, to check whether its transit identity 54 (preferably stored in local memory 53 as previously described) is included in the addressing information 77a, 77b, 77n in the received remote instruction 76, i.e. whether it matches any of the transit identity T IDl, T ID2, T IDn in the remote instruction 76. If so, the controller 51 will cause the visual indicator unit 90 to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user 3.
• a third use case involves making a visual indication at all transits la-ln in the system 2 at the same time.
• the remote instruction 76 may be adapted to cause visual indication by all transit indicator device 50a-50n at all transits la-ln. This can be seen in Figure 7B.
• One reason for this may be to provide an alert in situations of emergency, or to indicate a sudden need for attention to all transits.
• the broadcast flag BC Flag in the remote instruction 76 may be used for indicating that the remote instruction 76 is intended for all receiving transit indicator devices 50a-50n.
• the controller 51 in an individual transit indicator device 50 may thus be configured, when receiving the remote instruction 76, to check whether the broadcast flag BC_Flag of the received remote instruction 76 is set. If so, the controller 51 will cause the visual indicator unit 90 to provide the visual indication for guiding the local user 3.
• the user guidance system 2 and its components are configured to support all of the first to three uses cases referred to above.
• the remote instruction 76 is capable to cause selective visual indication by a certain transit indicator device at a certain transit in the user guidance system 2, to cause selective visual indication by a subset of transit indicator devices in the user guidance system 2 (at the same site or at different sites), and to cause visual indication by all transit indicator devices in the user guidance system 2, depending on the command 74 provided by the authorized user 4.
• the computer resource 70 is configured to receive the command 74 from the authorized user 4, determine from the command 74 whether it pertains to the first use case, second use case or third use case, and accordingly configure the remote instruction 76 to cause selective visual indication by a certain transit indicator device or by a subset of the transit indicator devices in the user guidance system 2, or to cause visual indication by all transit indicator devices in the user guidance system 2.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
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• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Audible And Visible Signals (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
• Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
• Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
• Controls And Circuits For Display Device (AREA)
• Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
• Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)

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• 2018
  • 2018-06-27 SE SE1850802A patent/SE542331C2/en unknown
• 2019
  • 2019-06-19 KR KR1020217002216A patent/KR102849459B1/ko active Active
  • 2019-06-19 WO PCT/SE2019/050583 patent/WO2020005140A1/en not_active Ceased
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  • 2019-06-19 EP EP19827295.7A patent/EP3815207A4/en active Pending
  • 2019-06-19 US US17/255,548 patent/US12057008B2/en active Active
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  • 2019-06-19 JP JP2020571454A patent/JP7492922B2/ja active Active

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