US 5,164,707 A · Detection system for safety equipment

Abstract

A detection system for monitoring safety equipment being worn by an individual for whom the wearing of such equipment is mandatory. The detection system is more specifically directed to individuals who are passing through an entryway into a designated area which requires the wearing of the equipment, and also to operators of machinery which require the same. In one embodiment, the detection system includes an infrared reflector which is fixed to a designated piece of equipment, for example, safety eyewear, an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver which are located at one side of an entryway to the designated area and an alarm system which is activated when a person who is not wearing the specified equipment attempts to pass through the entryway into the designated area. In another embodiment, the detection system includes a teleloop mounted onto an entryway which emits a telemagnetic field, a signal generating means which supplies the signal to the teleloop at a pre-selected frequency, a ferromagnetic transducer which is located on the safety equipment and vibrates when exposed to the telemagnetic field to generate tone, and a sound receiving means which will receive the tone generated from the vibration of the transducer membrane. In this embodiment, an alarm is activated when no transducer produced tone is received by the sound receiving means.

Claims61

Dependent claims

A detection system for monitoring specified safety equipment being worn by persons who are passing through an entryway into a designated area which requires that persons in said area be wearing said specified safety equipment, said detection apparatus comprising:

(a) an infrared reflector which reflects infrared radiation and which is fixed to said specified equipment,
(b) an infrared transmitter which is located at one side of said entryway for transmitting a beam of infrared radiation toward the opposite side of said entryway so that at least a portion of said beam is reflected back to said one side by the reflector of said specified equipment which is worn by a person who is passing through said entryway,
(c) a receiver which is located at said one side of said entryway for receiving said reflected infrared radiation, and
(d) an alarm which is normally inactive and which is operatively connected to said transmitter and said receiver, said alarm remaining inactive when a beam of infrared radiation is transmitted by said transmitter and reflected to said receiver, said alarm being activated when a beam of infrared radiation is transmitted by said transmitter and no reflected infrared radiation is received by said receiver.

1 more element

A detection system for monitoring specified safety equipment being worn by persons who are approaching an entryway to a designated area which is closed by a door which has an electrically controlled lock, said lock being normally locked and being unlocked upon receiving a predetermined electrical signal, said detection system comprising:

(a) a infrared reflector which reflects infrared radiation and which is fixed to said specified equipment,
(b) a transmitter which is located at one side of said entryway in front of said door for transmitting a beam of infrared radiation toward the opposite side of said entryway so that at least a portion of said beam is reflected back toward said one side by the reflector of said specified equipment which is worn by a person who is approaching said door, and
(c) a receiver which is operatively connected to said electrically controlled lock and which is located at said one side of said entryway in front of said door for receiving said reflected infrared radiation and for transmitting said predetermined electrical signal to said lock for unlocking said lock when infrared radiation is transmitted by said transmitter and reflected infrared radiation is received by said receiver.

A detection system for monitoring specified safety equipment being worn by a person who is located at a designated position for operating an electrically driven machine which requires the wearing of said specified equipment by a person who is operating said machine, said detection system comprising:

(a) an infrared reflector which reflects infrared radiation and which is fixed to said specified equipment,
(b) an infrared transmitter which is located at one side of said designated position for transmitting a beam of infrared radiation across said designated position to a side of said designated position which is opposite said one side so that at least a portion of said beam is reflected back to said one side by the infrared reflector of said specified equipment by a person who is located at said designated position,
(c) a receiver which is located at said one side of said designated position for receiving said reflected infrared radiation, and
(d) control circuitry for said machine which is operatively connected to said transmitter and said receiver, said control circuitry being effective to maintain said machine normally inoperative and to enable said machine to operate only when radiation is transmitted by said transmitter and reflected from said reflector to said receiver.

1 more element

A detection system for monitoring safety equipment being worn by persons who are passing through an entryway into a designated area which requires said persons in said area be wearing said safety equipment, said detection system comprising:

(a) a teleloop mounted onto said entryway, said teleloop emitting a telemagnetic field when exposed to a signal at a pre-selected frequency in a direction outward and opposite from said teleloop, said teleloop converting said signal into said telemagnetic field at said same pre-selected frequency, said field being sufficient to cover the effective passage area of said entryway;
(b) a signal generating means which supplies said signal to said teleloop at said pre-selected frequency;
(c) a ferromagnetic transducer which is located on said safety equipment, said transducer comprising a membrane which will become activated upon passage into said telemagnetic field emitted by said teleloop and will vibrate at said same pre-selected frequency as said telemagnetic field to generate a tone;
(d) a sound receiving means which will receive said tone generated from said vibration of said transducer membrane;
and
(e) an alarm which is normally inactive and which is operatively connected to said signal generating means, said alarm remaining inactive when said transducer produced tone is received by said sound receiving means, said alarm being activated when no transducer produced tone is received by said sound receiving means.

3 more elements

(a) a teleloop mounted onto said designated position, said teleloop emitting a telemagnetic field when exposed to a signal at a pre-selected frequency in a direction outward and opposite from said teleloop, said teleloop converting said signal into said telemagnetic field at said same pre-selected frequency, said field being sufficient to cover the effective passage area of said designated position;
(b) a signal generating means which supplies said signal to said teleloop at said pre-selected frequency;
(c) a ferromagnetic transducer which is located on said safety equipment, said transducer comprising a membrane which will become activated upon passage into said telemagnetic field emitted by said teleloop and will vibrate at said same pre-selected frequency as said telemagnetic field to generate a tone;
(d) a sound receiving means which will receive said tone generated from said vibration of said transducer membrane;
and
(e) control circuitry for said machine which is operatively connected to said signal generating means and sound receiving means, said control circuitry being effective to maintain said machine normally inoperative and to enable said machine to operate only when said transducer produced tone is received by said sound receiving means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Detection system for safety equipment

Life of this patent

Detection system for safety equipment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims61