Fire monitoring system

• US 5,592,151 A
• Filed: 03/17/1995
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VON Roll Umwelttechnik AG (Hitachi Zosen Corporation)
• Original Assignee: VON Roll Umwelttechnik AG (Hitachi Zosen Corporation)
• Inventors: Rolih, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/406,074
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 340/584, 340/587, 340/588, 340/589, 340/577, 340/578, 340/651, 340/525, 340/658, 358/113, 358/108, 358/104, 358/241, 250/342, 250/347, 250/338.1, 250/338.24, 354/288, 348/373, 348/164
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/12 Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions

Abstract

A fire monitoring system for waste bunkers includes a pair of infrared cameras, which are arranged on an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is connected to a controllable drive motor and to an angle transmitter. Furthermore, the fire monitoring system has a computer for digitizing the thermal images determined by the pair of infrared cameras and for calculating the spatial coordinates of hot places inside the waste bunker. The calculation of these hot places is carried out based on the thermal images determined by the pair of infrared cameras and digitized, and the data supplied by the angle transmitter.

Claims

1. A fire monitoring system for a waste bunker, comprising:

a pair of infrared detector means arranged at a distance from each other and both being arranged on a same axis of rotation for detecting spots in the bunker which exceed a predetermined temperature;

a controllable drive means connected to the axis of rotation;

an angle transmitter means connected to the axis of rotation for transmitting data of angles of orientation of the pair of infrared cameras;

a processing means for digitizing the thermal images determined by the pair of infrared detector means and for calculating spatial coordinates of the spots in the waste bunker which exceed the predetermined temperature based on the digitized thermal images determined by the pair of infrared detector means and the data supplied by the angle transmitter means.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a test means arranged inside the waste bunker and having a surface which can be heated in a controlled manner for a periodical functional testing of the system.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of heatable calibration means formed inside the waste bunker and arranged above a waste layer at predetermined distances from each other, for calibrating spatial coordinates of the waste bunker.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a display means for displaying the thermal images determined by the pair of infrared detector cameras.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm means for triggering an alarm in a case of the temperature being exceeded at one or more places inside the waste bunker.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage means for storing data in connection with an alarm.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein cranes, each crane including grab and transmitter means, are used in the waste bunker, and wherein the computer detects a position of the grabs of the cranes used in the waste bunker based on data from the transmitter means.

8. An infrared camera for the fire monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein each thermal imaging detecting means is arranged in a double-walled housing including inlet and outlet openings, arranged on the housing, for flushing an inside of the housing with clean air.

9. The infrared camera according to claim 8, wherein the housing further comprises an inlet and outlet for cooling water, the outlet for cooling water being provided with a temperature-controlled valve which is transferred from a closed to an open position in an event of a predetermined temperature increase.

10. A fire monitoring system for a waste bunker, comprising:

a pair of infrared cameras arranged at a distance from each other and both being arranged on a same axis of rotation and to be directed to a same area of the waste bunker for detecting spots in the bunker which exceed a predetermined temperature;

a controllable drive motor connected to the axis of rotation;

an angle transmitter connected to the axis of rotation for transmitting data of angles of orientation of the pair of infrared cameras;

a computer for digitizing the thermal images determined by the pair of infrared cameras and for calculating spatial coordinates of the spots in the waste bunker which exceed the predetermined temperature based on the digitized thermal images determined by the pair of infrared cameras and the data supplied by the angle transmitter.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a test element arranged inside the waste bunker and having a surface which can be heated in a controlled manner for a periodical functional testing of the system.

12. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of heatable calibration elements formed inside the waste bunker and arranged above a waste layer at predetermined distances from each other, for calibrating spatial coordinates of the waste bunker.

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a display for displaying the thermal images determined by the pair of infrared cameras.

14. The system according to claim 10, further comprising an alarm which is triggered in a case of the predetermined temperature being exceeded at one or more places inside the waste bunker.

15. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a storage device for storing data in connection with an alarm.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein cranes, each crane including a grab and transmitter means, are used in the waste bunker, and wherein the computer detects a position of the grabs of the cranes used in the waste bunker based on data from the transmitter means.

17. An infrared camera for the fire monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein each thermal imaging camera is arranged in a double-walled housing including inlet and outlet openings, arranged on the housing, for flushing an inside of the housing with clean air.

18. The infrared camera according to claim 17, wherein the housing further comprises an inlet and outlet for cooling water, the outlet for cooling water being provided with a temperature-controlled valve which is transferred from a closed to an open position in an event of a predetermined temperature increase.