Method and apparatus for safety protocol verification, control and management

• US 8,630,758 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2012
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric Ehrler, Mark Johnson
• Original Assignee: Eric Ehrler, Mark Johnson
• Inventors: Ehrler, Eric, Johnson, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Frejd, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US13/466,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 336/51, 335/321, 333/38, 332/87
• US Class Current: 701/19
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/06 for warning men working on the route
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and a method for a safety verification system, or a safety verification management system. At railroads or construction sites, equipment, such as a piece of heavy machinery, or a locomotive engine, must be subjected to a safety protocol before authorized personnel are allowed to approach the equipment. It is essential to have independent, automatic confirmation that the safety protocol has been successfully completed. In railroad systems, a Three Step Protection Mode is often used to place a locomotive engine in safe mode. One embodiment of the present invention provides an independent, automatic verification that this safety protocol has been successfully completed and sends an audible, visual, audiovisual, or vibratory signal to remote personnel. Another embodiment tracks the relative positions of personnel and locomotives, and generates a warning when personnel are proximate to an equipment that is not in safe mode.

Claims

1. A safety protocol verification system for an equipment comprising:

a safety protocol for said equipment;

said protocol comprising of N independent conditions;

each independent condition changeable by an independent action;

said N being greater than one;

said protocol comprising at least two states; and

at least one said state of said protocol disabling or limiting the operation of said equipment;

a transmitting unit housing a processor within its interior;

at least one receiving unit;

said processor of said transmitting unit monitoring the states of said N independent conditions and said transmitting unit communicating said states to said receiving unit.

2. The verification system of claim 1, wherein:

said receiving unit is removably attached to an article of clothing.

3. The verification system of claim 1, wherein:

said receiving unit includes a visual indicator;

said visual indicator on said receiving unit displaying the states of said N independent conditions.

4. The verification system of claim 1, wherein:

said receiving unit includes an audible alarm generator.

5. The verification system of claim 3, wherein:

said equipment is a locomotive engine;

said engine includes a reverser lever, a generator field, and an independent brake.

6. The verification system of claim 5, wherein:

said N equals three;

said protocol further comprises the conditions of centering said lever, switching said generator field off, and fully applying said independent brake;

said states of said protocol comprising safe mode, unsafe mode, and disabled;

said visual indicator being on in safe mode;

said visual indicator flashing in unsafe mode;

said visual indicator being off when disabled.

7. The verification system of claim 6, wherein:

said receiving unit includes an audible alarm generator;

said audible alarm sounds an alarm when said protocol is in unsafe mode.

8. The verification system of claim 1, wherein:

said receiving unit further comprises a direction detection and display package;

said package displays a visual indicator pointing to said equipment in communication with said receiving unit.

9. A method of monitoring and communicating the state of a safety protocol for an equipment, the method comprising the steps of:

a user requesting said protocol;

said protocol comprising N independent conditions;

each independent condition changeable by an independent action;

said N being greater than one;

said protocol comprising at least two states; and

at least one said state of said protocol disabling or limiting the operation of said equipment;

said protocol being completed;

said equipment independently transmitting the state of each said independent condition to a receiving unit carried by said user;

said monitoring and communication being achieved by;

a transmitting unit housing a processor within its interior;

at least one receiving unit;

said transmitting unit monitoring said N independent conditions and communicating the states of said N independent conditions to said receiving unit.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

removably attaching said receiving unit to an article of clothing worn by said user.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

visually indicating, with a visual indicator on said receiving unit, the state of said safety protocol, wherein;

said equipment is a locomotive engine;

said engine includes a reverser lever, a generator field, and an independent brake;

said N equals three;

said N independent conditions comprise the position of said lever, the state of said generator field, and the status of said independent brake;

said states of said protocol comprising safe mode, unsafe mode, and disabled;

said visual indicator being on in safe mode;

said visual indicator flashing in unsafe mode;

said visual indicator being off when disabled.

12. A safety protocol verification, control, and management system for one or more equipments comprising:

a safety protocol for said equipment;

said protocol comprising of N conditions;

said N being greater than one;

said protocol comprising at least two states;

a transceiver unit having a processor within its interior;

at least one receiving unit;

said receiving unit further having a processor within its interior;

a management module;

said module further comprising a control system and a communication system;

said control system further comprising a real-time database containing the current state of safety protocol on each equipment;

said communication system maintaining real-time two-way network communication with said receiving and transceiver units;

said control system and communication system being connected over a two-way network;

said receiving unit transmitting protocol requests to said control system;

said control system commanding said transceiver unit to execute said protocol;

said transceiver unit executing said N conditions of said protocol;

said transceiver unit monitoring said state of said protocol and communicating said state to said control system;

said receiving unit receiving updates on said state of safety protocol.

13. The management system of claim 12, wherein:

said receiving unit is removably attached to an article of clothing.

14. The management system of claim 12, wherein:

said control system further comprises a real-time database tracking the location of

said equipment and personnel carrying said receiving unit.

15. The management system of claim 14, wherein:

said control system further transmits an alarm signal to said receiving unit when said personnel approach within a certain pre-determined proximity of an equipment.

16. The management system of claim 12, wherein:

at least one of said equipment is a locomotive engine;

said engine includes a reverser lever, a generator field, and an independent brake;

said N equals three;

said states of said protocol comprising safe mode, unsafe mode, and disabled;

said receiving unit having a visual indicator;

said visual indicator on said receiving unit displaying said state of said protocol;

said visual indicator being on when in safe mode;

said visual indicator flashing when in unsafe mode;

said visual indicator being off when disabled;

said safe mode comprising the conditions of centering said lever, switching said generator field off, and fully applying said independent brake.

17. The management system of claim 12, wherein:

said receiving unit has an audible alarm generator.

18. The management system of claim 16, wherein:

said receiving unit has an audible alarm generator;

said audible alarm sounds an alarm when in unsafe mode.

19. The management system of claim 12, wherein:

said receiving unit further comprises a direction detection and display package;

said package displays a visual indicator pointing to said equipment in communication with said receiving unit.

20. The management system of claim 12, further comprising a control box;

said control box is equipped with a processor to remotely control said management module.