Firefighter locator with activator
First Claim
1. A locator system comprising:
- a self-contained breathing apparatus having an air tank, a regulator, and an air line for delivering air from an air tank valve to said regulator;
a pressure sensor for monitoring a pressure at a location in the air line between the air tank and the regulator within said self-contained breathing apparatus;
a signal emitter; and
a switching means mounted to said pressure sensor and responsive to said pressure sensor to activate the signal emitter when said pressure rises above a predetermined value at the monitored location in the air line between the air tank and the regulator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for activating a signal emitter for use in a firefighter locator system operates in conjunction with the firefighter'"'"'s self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The activation device includes a pressure sensor to monitor pressure on an air line that delivers air from the SCBA air tank to the SCBA air regulator. When the firefighter opens the SCBA air tank valve, pressure is sensed in the air line and the emitter is activated to transmit a signal. The signal is received by base stations that then use the signal to locate/track the signal emitter. Preferably, the activating system also includes a user operated reset button(s) and a shutoff circuit to allow the user to stop transmission of the signal by the signal emitter. The shutoff circuit is designed to stop transmission of the signal only after the air line has been depressurized and the reset button(s) is depressed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A locator system comprising:
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a self-contained breathing apparatus having an air tank, a regulator, and an air line for delivering air from an air tank valve to said regulator; a pressure sensor for monitoring a pressure at a location in the air line between the air tank and the regulator within said self-contained breathing apparatus; a signal emitter; and a switching means mounted to said pressure sensor and responsive to said pressure sensor to activate the signal emitter when said pressure rises above a predetermined value at the monitored location in the air line between the air tank and the regulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for providing air to a user and activating a signal emitter for use in locating the user, said system comprising:
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an air tank having an air tank valve; a regulator for regulating air pressure from said air tank; an air line for delivering air from said air tank valve to said regulator; a facemask for delivering air to the user from said regulator; a pressure sensor coupled with said air line to monitor a pressure within said air line between said air tank valve and said regulator; and a switching means responsive to said pressure sensor to activate the signal emitter when said pressure rises above a predetermined value at the monitored location. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A wireless locator system for a self-contained breathing apparatus comprising:
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a signal emitter for emitting a low frequency signal; an air tank having an air tank valve; a regulator for regulating air pressure from said air tank; an air line for delivering air from said air tank valve to said regulator; a pressure sensor for monitoring a pressure at a location in the air line between the air tank valve and the regulator; a switching means responsive to said pressure sensor to activate said signal emitter when said pressure rises above a predetermined value at the monitored location; at least three mutually dispersed base station sites for receiving said low frequency signal from said signal emitter at each base station site; at least one phase sensing circuit for determining phase information for each received signal; and a central processing site connected in communication with each said base station site, said central processing site having a processor for using said phase information to determine the position of said signal emitter relative to each said base station site. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification