US 8,522,487 B2 · Safety hatch system and egress

Abstract

In one embodiment, an electronically controlled hatch system for safe ingress, egress, hazard detection, and methods thereof are provided to reduce or eliminate hazards to personnel, including protection of people above and below a scuttle hatch, access port, skylight or elevated deck. Said hatch system reduces the risk of falls while ascending or descending a ladder through an access port. In certain embodiments, severe weather, hazard, security, and other safety information are detected and transmitted to a central control unit for processing and regulating the opening and closing of a hatch covering the access port and/or raising and lowering a safety railing system based on said information and/or user input. Said hatch system may include an actuator and guides for automatically locking/unlocking and opening/closing a hatch, an actuator and guides for automatically raising/lowering a railing system, hazard, security, lighting, and other safety monitoring detectors/apparatuses, and a centralized controller.

Claims51

Dependent claims

An electronically controlled hatch system for use with an access port for ingress or egress, said hatch system comprising:

a hatch cooperable with said access port for limiting entry and exit through said access port, wherein said hatch has at least an open position and a closed position;
at least one guide rail mounted adjacent said hatch;
at least one safety rail retractably mounted adjacent said access port and slidably engageable with said guide rail to raise and lower said hatch to the open position and the closed position as said safety rail is retractably raised and lowered above and below the access port;
an actuator cooperable with said safety rail for raising and lowering said safety rail;
and
a central control unit operable to communicate with the actuator to position the hatch.

3 more elements

An electronically controlled hatch system for use with an access port for ingress or egress, said hatch system comprising:

a hatch cooperable with said access port for limiting entry and exit through said access port, wherein said hatch has at least an open position and a closed position;
an actuator cooperable with said hatch and capable of raising and lowering said hatch to at least the open position and the closed position;
at least one guide rail mounted adjacent said hatch;
at least one safety rail retractably mounted adjacent said access port and slidably engageable with said guide rail to raise and lower said safety rail as the hatch is raised and lowered to at least the open position and the closed position;
and
a central control unit operable to communicate with the actuator to position the hatch.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Safety hatch system and egress

Life of this patent

Safety hatch system and egress

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51