Method and arrangement of equipment for the protection of buildings and people from acts of violence

• US 5,692,446 A
• Filed: 10/24/1995
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft GmbH
• Original Assignee: Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Becker, Lothar, Zorn, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US08/507,397
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 109/2-8, 109/20, 109/25, 109/29-34, 109/63
• US Class Current: 109/3
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 5/02 Trapping or confining mechanisms, e.g. transaction security boothsthief or burglar incapacitating means in general G08B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, and the equipment necessary for implementation thereof, for the unnoticeable detection of armed persons in the region giving access to objects that require protection and for the detention of such persons by surprise. Detention by surprise prevents individuals prepared to do violence from being able to run amok or take hostages in order to secure their own release.

Claims

1. Arrangement for the detection of armed persons seeking entry in buildings, for identifying the nature of the weapon and the individual, and for detaining the potential perpetrator of violence by surprise by a security staff, giving no opportunity for resistance, said arrangement comprising the combination of the following apparatus:

(a) an entrance region to the building including an entrance at one end, an exit at the other end, and an entrance hall therebetween;

(b) means for guiding the persons and cause them to pass singly through the entrance region (11), the entrance region is shaped and equipped with channeling walls, passages, items of furniture (23) and railings;

(c) at least one metal detector (1) near the entrance to detect metal objects that are brought in;

(d) at least one X-ray generator (2) with sensor (3) to identify and evaluate metal objects;

(e) at least one monitor (10) to analyze X-ray images from said X-ray generator;

(f) at least one gas-jet or spray device (7) with an infrared light beam (26) as a triggering device to label a suspect person;

(g) means for detaining single individuals at the end of the entrance hall including, a revolving door (4);

(h) at least one sensor (9) in the region of passage through the revolving door, with a pulse generator to detect the gas-jet or spray marking;

(i) pulse-controlled means (21) for locking and unlocking the revolving door position;

(j) a hatch (6) in the region of the revolving door; and

(k) a loudspeaker/microphone means mounted in the region of the revolving door.

2. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, including at least one writing desk.

3. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, including at least one photography and video camera (14) to take a picture of the person.

4. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 3, wherein the camera (14) is installed so as to be concealed, including means for concealing the camera behind a half-silvered mirror (22).

5. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, including a computer (15) with image-recognition software and a memory for stored images (16).

6. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, including at least one image-comparison monitor (19).

7. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, including at least one gas sampling device (17) to take gas samples.

8. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, including at least one analysis device (18) to detect traces of explosives and intoxicant drugs.

9. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, wherein to determine the vertical position of a metal object several metal detectors (1) are disposed at different height levels.

10. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, wherein to identify metal objects at one or more height levels, several X-ray generators (2) and sensors (3), with associated display units (10), are present at different heights.

11. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, wherein to identify metal objects that have been detected at a particular height level, an adjustable-height X-ray installation (2, 3) is positioned after the metal detector.

12. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, wherein the lockable revolving door (4) is made of bulletproof glass.

13. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker/microphone means and the hatch (6) are so constructed and disguised that they are not visually detectable.

14. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, including at least one video recorder (20) to record the monitor information for more detailed analysis by slow or single-frame playback.

15. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, including a second X-ray installation (24) to radiograph items of baggage (13) that have been set down.

16. Arrangement to detect armed persons according to claim 1, including at least one video camera (25) to document the events in the entrance region.