Methods and Apparatus for Monitoring a Plurality of Worksites

• US 20100277341A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Modern Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Remo Thomas Iii Abraham, Robert P. Luke
• Inventors: Abraham, Remo Thomas III, Luke, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,098,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Embodiments provide methods for monitoring a plurality of worksites at a facility, the methods including transporting a central monitoring station package to the facility, seating a transport container, stationing worksite monitoring equipment packages at the worksites, connecting communication links from the worksite monitoring equipment packages to central monitoring station equipment, transmitting remote transmissions from worksite monitoring equipment packages to central monitoring station equipment, displaying worksite monitoring information for a monitoring technician, and responding when remote monitoring information received from a worksite meets a response threshold criteria.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a plurality of worksites where labor is performed by workmen, the plurality of worksites being co-located at a facility, said method comprising:

transporting to the facility aboard a suitable movable transport a transportable monitoring system package, the transportable monitoring system package including a plurality of worksite monitoring equipment packages to be deployed at the worksites, the transportable monitoring system package including one central monitoring station package, the central monitoring station package including a transport container, the transport container having a set of container sides, the transport container having a waterproof interior defined intermediate the set of container sides, the central monitoring station package including central monitoring station equipment housed in the transport container, the central monitoring station equipment including moisture-sensitive electronic components housed in the waterproof interior, the waterproof interior defining a central monitoring station workspace, the central monitoring station workspace having interior dimensions which are at least sufficient to accommodate therein a monitoring technician to operate the central monitoring station equipment;

seating the transport container in a stationary position at a central monitoring location at the facility, the central monitoring location being remote from the worksites, the transport container having an entry portal suitable to permit ingress by the monitoring technician into the central monitoring station workspace from an external environment, the external environment being outside the transport container at the central monitoring location;

stationing at each worksite at least one of the worksite monitoring equipment packages, each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages including at least one remote monitoring sensor, the at least one remote monitoring sensor being operable to collect remote monitoring information at the respective worksite;

connecting communication links between each remote monitoring sensor and the central monitoring station equipment, each communication link being suitable to transmit remote transmissions from a respective remote monitoring sensor to the central monitoring station equipment, the remote transmissions conveying the remote monitoring information;

transmitting the remote transmissions over the communication links from the respective remote monitoring sensors to the central monitoring station equipment in a manner suitable to provide the remote monitoring information on a near real-time basis to the central monitoring station equipment;

displaying by operation of the central monitoring station equipment the remote monitoring information received in the remote transmissions to inform the monitoring technician of same; and

responding when the monitoring technician identifies that the remote monitoring information meets a response threshold criteria by notifying responsible personnel to take corrective action relating to a worksite, the worksite corresponding to certain of the remote monitoring information meeting the response threshold criteria.

2. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages includes at least one remote monitoring sensor selected from the following;

a camera suitable to provide thermal image data of a worksite;

a camera suitable to provide visual image data of a worksite;

a gas detection instrument suitable to provide gas detection data of a worksite;

an environmental microphone suitable to provide audio data of a worksite;

a manual alarm button suitable to provide manual alarm data of a worksite; and

a voice communications microphone associated with a worker located at a worksite and suitable to transmit voice communications from the worker.

3. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages includes at least one worksite conditioning apparatus.

4. The method according to claim 3 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages includes at least one worksite conditioning apparatus selected from the following;

a light suitable to illuminate at least a portion of the worksite; and

a ventilation device suitable to improve ventilation of the worksite.

5. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages complies with at least one product safety standard applied to enable safe operation in an environment containing potentially flammable materials.

6. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages complies with at least one product safety standard at least as restrictive as a Class I, Division II device classification in order to enable safe operation in an environment containing potentially flammable materials in a gas phase.

7. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

wherein at least one communications link includes a suitable cable bundle extending from the central monitoring station equipment to at least one of the worksite monitoring equipment packages.

8. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

wherein at least one communications link includes a wireless receiver connected to the central monitoring station equipment to receive wireless transmissions from at least one wireless transmitter connected to a respective one of the worksite monitoring equipment packages.

9. The method according to claim 8 and further comprising:

wherein a communications link further includes at least one intermediate signal relay, the at least one intermediate signal relay being located at a relay location, the relay location being located intermediate a wireless receiver connected to the central monitoring station equipment and at least one wireless transmitter connected to a respective one of the worksite monitoring equipment packages to relay wireless transmissions from the at least one wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver.

10. The method according to claim 9 and further comprising:

wherein the at least one intermediate signal relay includes an antenna mounted on a base, the base having a magnet suitable to be temporarily affixed to a metallic structure to support the antenna at the relay location.

11. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages includes only apparatus at least meeting the specifications of a Class I Division II device suitable for operation in an environment including potentially flammable vapors.

12. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages includes prepositioned rescue equipment.

13. Apparatus for monitoring a plurality of worksites located at an offshore facility, each worksite including a confined space, each confined space presenting a danger to workmen laboring therein at least because of an access limitation relating thereto, said apparatus comprising:

a central monitoring station package including central monitoring station equipment housed in a transport container, the transport container being configured to be transported to the offshore facility via a suitable movable transport, the transport container having a set of container sides, the transport container having a waterproof interior defined intermediate the set of container sides, the transport container including a central monitoring station workspace defined in the waterproof interior, the central monitoring station workspace having interior dimensions which are at least sufficient to accommodate therein a monitoring technician to operate the central monitoring station equipment, the central monitoring station equipment including moisture-sensitive electronic components housed in the waterproof interior, the transport container having a lifting frame configured to support the lifting container when engaged by a suitable hoist to transfer the transport container from a movable transport to a stationary position at a central monitoring location at the offshore facility, the transport container having an entry portal suitable to permit ingress by a monitoring technician into the central monitoring station workspace from an external environment, the external environment being outside the transport container at the central monitoring location;

a plurality of worksite monitoring equipment packages to be stationed at the worksites, each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages including at least one remote monitoring sensor, the at least one remote monitoring sensor being operable to collect remote monitoring information at the respective worksite, the at least one remote monitoring sensor including at least the following;

a camera suitable to provide thermal image data of a worksite,

a camera suitable to provide visual image data of a worksite, and

a gas detection instrument suitable to provide gas detection data of a worksite;

a plurality of communication links suitable to connect each remote monitoring sensor and the central monitoring station equipment, each communication link being suitable to transmit remote transmissions from a respective remote monitoring sensor to the central monitoring station equipment, the remote transmissions conveying the remote monitoring information, at least one communication link including a wireless receiver connected to the central monitoring station equipment to receive wireless transmissions on a near real-time basis from at least one wireless transmitter connected to a respective one of the worksite monitoring equipment packages;

wherein the central monitoring station equipment is operable to display the remote monitoring information received in the remote transmissions to inform the monitoring technician of same; and

wherein the central monitoring station equipment is operable to enable the monitoring IS technician to identify conditions when the remote monitoring information received from a worksite meets a response threshold criteria, the central monitoring station equipment being operable to enable the monitoring technician to notify responsible personnel to take corrective action relating to a worksite, the worksite corresponding to certain of the remote monitoring information meeting the response threshold criteria.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 and further comprising:

wherein each of the work site monitoring equipment packages includes at least one additional remote monitoring sensor selected from the following;

a camera suitable to provide thermal image data of a worksite;

a camera suitable to provide visual image data of a worksite;

a gas detection instrument suitable to provide gas detection data of a worksite;

an environmental microphone suitable to provide audio data of a worksite;

a manual alarm button suitable to provide manual alarm data of a worksite; and

a voice communications microphone associated with a worker located at a worksite and suitable to transmit voice communications from the worker.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages includes at least one worksite conditioning apparatus.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages includes at least one worksite conditioning apparatus at least meeting the specifications of a Class I Division II device suitable for operation in an environment including potentially flammable vapors and selected from the following;

a light suitable to illuminate at least a portion of the worksite; and

a ventilation device suitable to improve ventilation of the worksite.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages complies with at least one product safety standard applied to enable safe operation in an environment containing potentially flammable materials.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages complies with at least one product safety standard at least as restrictive as a Class I, Division II device classification in order to enable safe operation in an environment containing potentially flammable materials in a gas phase.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13 and further comprising:

wherein at least one communications link includes a suitable cable bundle extending from the central monitoring station equipment to at least one of the worksite monitoring equipment packages.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 and further comprising:

wherein at least one communications link includes a wireless receiver connected to the central monitoring station equipment to receive wireless transmissions from at least one wireless transmitter connected to a respective one of the worksite monitoring equipment packages.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 and further comprising:

wherein a communications link further includes at least one intermediate signal relay, the at least one intermediate signal relay being located at a relay location, the relay location being located intermediate a wireless receiver connected to the central monitoring station equipment and at least one wireless transmitter connected to a respective one of the worksite monitoring equipment packages to relay wireless transmissions from the at least one wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages includes only apparatus at least meeting the specifications of a Class I Division II device suitable for operation in an environment including potentially flammable vapors.

23. The apparatus according to claim 13 and further comprising:

wherein each of the worksite monitoring equipment packages includes prepositioned rescue equipment.