Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – With particular coupling link
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-02
2001-11-13
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
With particular coupling link
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317041
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates in general to a rescue monitoring system for an underground mine, and more specifically, to a system and its use to monitor the status of equipment and workers within a refuge bay or safe area in a mine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fixed or immovable safe areas like refuge bays are a safety necessity for workers within a potentially dangerous environment, such as underground mines. Persons present at any location where unsafe conditions could be present should have access to a safe area when life endangering circumstances occur. Dangerous conditions may be caused by a variety of incidents like fires causing smoke and thus low visibility, escaping gases, heavy equipment failures, structure failures, earth cave-ins, and the like.
Unsafe places where fires are caused by combustible materials present, including open flames, spontaneous combustion, electricity, friction, blasting, and the like may endanger persons in that same environment and may cause considerable economic losses. In the event of an accident, personnel must immediately evacuate to the nearest safe location like a refuge bay as one possible solution.
Refuge bays in the mining industry are one of the safety necessities for personnel operating and maintaining the mine operations. Safe locations are established as soon as possible and may be located at short distances from each other in order to be reached quickly.
Safe locations usually consist of a refuge bay with one or more entrances. The entrance to the refuge bay should preferably be closed in an attempt to prevent the accumulation of dust, dangerous gases, and other undesirable elements within the refuge bay. The refuge bay may be equipped with a battery pack, battery charger, a fan, first aid kits, canisters with consumable fluids, an alarm, safety, medical and other survival equipment. Some refuge bays may have a means of assuring a flow of fresh air to the refuge bay, for example, an extended pipe or a link to the surface through a borehole pipe if the refuge bay is below the surface. Refuge bays should be inspected periodically to assure that the working condition of the equipment is acceptable. Disadvantages of the present inspections are that the entrances of the refuge bay may have been open for long periods, causing the accumulation of dust and/or other undesirable elements within the refuge bay. This may damage the equipment; for example, the ventilating fan for providing fresh air or the battery charger that maintains battery power.
A further disadvantage of the conditions present in such refuge bays is the lack of effective communication systems for locating the refuge bay sheltering workers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, the invention is based on an intelligent monitoring system mounted within the refuge bay and powered from any source of suitable power available that communicates with an above-ground system. The system would include a controller unit in any suitable enclosure with a front panel having a test button, a panic button, a suitable data display window, a speaker, a microphone and a push to talk button. The above-mentioned components may be arranged in any suitable way without having a material effect on the functioning of the controller unit. A radio transceiver may be mounted or placed in the near vicinity of and connected to the controller unit. The radio may be electrically connected to the controller unit through a link of serial communication, abbreviated as RS 232, as one example for a workable form of connection. The antenna or input/output of the radio may be hardwired through the same means of assuring a flow of fresh air to the refuge bay, for example, an extended pipe or a link to the surface through a borehole pipe if the refuge bay is below the surface. However, it need not be hardwired if favorable conditions for wireless communication are present. It will be appreciated that normally the refuge bay will be located underground, but in some operations it may be above ground. The radio may operate on the same frequency as other radios, but a different transmission code for each refuge bay would be provided where there would be a plurality of refuge bays. It is preferred that the radio transmitter is operational and in a state of continuous transmission in order to obtain the most effective results.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide an accurate and effective means whereby a security person is informed about the status and condition of equipment and human presence within a refuge bay to enhance a safe working environment for workers.
Another object of the invention is to provide a cost effective means of timely alerting and/or timely indicating when a dangerous situation has occurred and wherein accordingly the invention will identify the location of the nearest refuge bay, thereby providing a safe and effective manner of locating the refuge bay.
Another object of the invention is to monitor the operation and proper functioning of equipment in a refuge bay like the condition of a battery, battery charger, fan, alarm, communication links, the egress frequency, and opening of doors at entrances wherein the said invention is to provide a monitoring means without any physical moving parts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fast and effective way of informing a security person of the presence of any worker or person in the refuge bay or any other unauthorized entry in the refuge bay.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a safe and effective way of monitoring and controlling the performance or non-performance of the equipment installed in the refuge bay.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a security person with a safe and reliable monitoring system or arrangement to have correct information regarding the operational functionality of the equipment within the refuge bay and be alerted in cases when a change in the operational functionality should occur.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a monitoring system which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, precise in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.
These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be readily evident upon a study of the following detailed description and specification when considering in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4606219 (1986-08-01), Bout et al.
Singer Asher
Steenkamp Andy
C.T. Systems CC
Pope Daryl
Zickert Lloyd L.
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