EMERGENCY MACHINE STOPPING METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20110025454A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Itzhak Pomerantz, Omri Plotnik, Yaniv Shaked
• Original Assignee: Itzhak Pomerantz, Omri Plotnik, Yaniv Shaked
• Inventors: Plotnik, Omri, POMERANTZ, Itzhak, Shaked, Yaniv
• Application Number:
  US12/512,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025454A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23386 Voice, vocal command or message
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24003 Emergency stop
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/94 characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94005 activated by voice or sound

Abstract

A hybrid emergency stop system, the system includes: (a) a mechanically operated circuit, for stopping an operation of a machine when triggered by a user; and (b) a scream activated circuit, for stopping the operation of the machine when detecting a machine operator scream; wherein the mechanically operated circuit and the scream activated circuit are enclosed in a single compartment and are operable independently from each other.

Claims

1. A hybrid emergency stop system, the system comprising:

a mechanically operated circuit, for stopping an operation of a machine when triggered by a user; and

a scream activated circuit, for stopping the operation of the machine when detecting a machine operator scream,

wherein the mechanically operated circuit and the scream activated circuit are enclosed in a single compartment and are operable independently from each other.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the scream activated circuit is configured to detect pre-determined screams.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the scream activated circuit is powered by energy induced from a conductor of the mechanically operated circuit, wherein the conductor is in close proximity to a circuit breaking point operated by the mechanically operated circuit.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the scream activated circuit comprises a processor configured to process machine operator sounds obtained by a first microphone, and for determining when to stop the operation of the machine.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the scream activated circuit further comprises a contactor for breaking a conductance of a power transmission line of the machine, wherein the processor is further configured to selectively activate the contactor for stopping the operation of the machine.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to process the machine operator sounds and machine originated sounds that are obtained by a second microphone, for determining when to stop the operation of the machine;

wherein the second microphone contacts the machine.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first microphone is detachably attachable to a wear of a machine operator, wherein the first microphone transmits the machine operator sounds to the processor wirelessly.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the scream operated circuit is trained to recognize a periodic audio signal as noise.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the single compartment size does not exceed 10^x10^x10 cm³.

10. An emergency stop system, the system comprising:

a first microphone for acquiring machine operator sounds;

a second microphone for acquiring machine originated sounds of a machine, wherein the second microphone contacts the machine;

a processor configured to process signals obtained from the first and second microphones and to determine when to stop an operation of the machine; and

an electrically actuated switch, coupled to the processor, for stopping the machine when instructed by the processor.

11. A method for stopping an operation of a machine, the method comprising:

providing a mechanically operated circuit and a scream activated circuit that are enclosed in a single compartment;

stopping the operation of the machine if an operator of the machine triggered the mechanically operated circuit; and

halting the machine if the scream activated circuit determined that a machine operator screamed, based on received machine operator sound signals.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the halting is preceded by determining, by the scream activated circuit, that a sound pattern matches a pre-determined scream.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising supplying power to the scream activated circuit by energy induced from a conductor of the mechanically operated circuit, wherein the conductor is in close proximity to a circuit breaking point operated by the mechanically operated circuit.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the halting is preceded by processing machine operator sounds obtained by a first microphone, and by selectively determining, in response to a result of the processing, when to halt the machine.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the processing further comprises processing the machine operator sounds and machine originated sounds that are obtained by a second microphone, for determining when to halt the machine;

wherein the second microphone contacts the machine.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising transmitting machine operator sounds by the first microphone wirelessly.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the halting is preceded by configuring the scream activated circuit to recognize a periodic audio signal as noise.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the stages of stopping and halting are preceded by disconnecting from the machine an emergency stop switch that is not scream activated, and coupling to the machine a hybrid emergency stop system that comprises the mechanically operated circuit and the scream activated circuit.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the coupling comprises coupling the hybrid emergency stop system to the machine using only the connectors that coupled the emergency stop switch to the machine.

20. A method for installing a hybrid emergency stop system, the method comprising:

removing from a machine a mechanically operated emergency stop switch that is enclosed in an emergency switch housing;

replacing the mechanically operated emergency stop system by a hybrid emergency stop circuit that comprises;

a compartment that does not exceed the emergency switch housing;

a mechanically operated circuit, for stopping an operation of a machine when triggered by a user; and

a scream activated circuit, for stopping the operation of the machine when detecting a machine operator scream, wherein the mechanically operated circuit and the scream activated circuit are enclosed in the compartment and are operable independently from each other.