NL2003164C2

NL2003164C2 - Detection and alarm system.

Info

Publication number: NL2003164C2
Application number: NL2003164A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Johan Steenhoek
Original assignee: Sti Ind Technical Supplies B V
Priority date: 2009-07-09
Filing date: 2009-07-09
Publication date: 2011-01-11

Description

Detection and alarm system

The invention relates to a detection and alarm system for use on board of ships and/or offshore platforms, which is arranged to communicate with at least one controller that is lo-5 cated onshore, whereby the communication with the controller is a wireless communication.

Such a detection and alarm system can be used to monitor the occurrence of dangerous situations that might emerge on board of ships or at the offshore platforms. The ships may be 10 docked or be under construction at a shipyard. The invention aims to provide a solution for monitoring the development of dangerous situations under these circumstances.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a solution for the problem that existing wireless detection and 15 alarm systems are not effectively usable onboard of ships because of restrictions to the propagation of electromagnetical radiation due to the steel hull of the ships.

The invention aims to alleviate one or more of said problems, and to provide advantages that will become apparent 20 from the following disclosure.

To that end the detection and alarm system of the invention has the features of one or more of the appended claims.

In a first aspect of the invention the detection and alarm system is characterized in that it comprises a plurality 25 of detection standards or poles, wherein each detection standard or pole is provided with a transceiver that is arranged for communication according to the Zigbee communication protocol.

This provides an effective way of securing that a network of transceivers is accomplished that is capable to effec-30 tively entertain communication in a variety of circumstances with the controller located onshore.

Hereinafter reference is further only made to 'pole', which is also deemed to include the meaning of word 'standard'.

The benefits of the invention are particularly accom-35 plished when the number of detection poles is variable and is selected at a value which is equal or higher than a minimum number that is required to establish a communication network on board of said ship and/or offshore platform that is capable of entertaining communication with the onshore controller.

40 It is further preferable that each pole is provided with sensor means selected from the group comprising a smoke 2 sensor, a fire sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor. In this way a very versatile detection and alarm system is provided that can be attuned to the requirements of the situation in which it is to be used.

5 It may also be advantageous that each pole is provided with at least one of a fire detection and alarm button, an emergency button. In this way not only automatic but also manual detection and alarms can be given if the circumstances so require.

To promote the versatility of the detection and alarm 10 system of the invention it is desirable that the detection poles are movable. The mobility of the detection poles can also be used to the advantage of the detection and alarm system, in that particular detection poles can be moved in an effort to optimize the network of detection poles of the invention in its ability 15 to communicate with the onshore controller.

It is further desirable that at least one pole is provided with audio and/or visual indicator means for sounding and/or visually showing that a fire alarm and/or an emergency situation has been detected and communicated to the controller. 20 In this way the people on board of the ship or platform know that appropriate action has been taken and that help may be on the way.

To secure the operability of the detection and alarm system of the invention it is further preferable that each of 25 the detection poles has a backup power facility.

In order to optimize the sharing of information at the onshore facilities it is preferred that the controller is provided with a VDU for showing icons representing the plurality of detection poles on the ship and/or the offshore platform, 30 whereby the controller is arranged to show on the VDU the actual status of each of the detection poles.

It is then particularly desirable that the controller is arranged to show on the VDU which detection pole or poles have detected an alarm situation.

35 In order to arrange that the detection and alarm system can operate automatically and arrange that the correct measures are taken to address an alarm situation, the detection and alarm system of the invention preferably also incorporates the feature that the controller is arranged to communicate an alarm to the 40 appropriate public authorities.

The above given description is sufficiently clear and complete for a man skilled in the art to work and carry out the 3 invention as embodied in the appended claims. A further description and elucidation of the invention with reference to an example and one or more figures can therefore be dispensed with. Nevertheless the invention will hereinafter be further eluci-5 dated with reference to the attached drawing of an exemplary embodiment of the detection and alarm system of the invention.

In the drawing: - figure 1 shows a side view off a ship that is docked; and 10 - figure 2 shows atop view of the ship shown in figure 1.

Wherever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

With reference to both figure 1 and figure 2 a ship 1 15 is shown that is placed in the dock 2.

On the ship 1 the series of poles or standards 3 are placed whereby each pole or standard 3 is provided with a transceiver that is arranged for communication according to the Zig-bee communication protocol. In this way the plurality of poles 20 or standards 3 can communicate with each other to form a communication network on the ship 1, which network eventually entertains a communication channel with a controller 4 that is placed onshore.

It. is to be understood that the number of standards or 25 poles 3 is variable that is to be selected in order to suit the circumstances, such that there is an active communication line between the network of communication poles 3 on the ship 1 and the controller 4 that is placed onshore.

In accordance with the invention each standard or pole 30 3 is provided with sensor means such as a smoke sensor, a fire sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor in order to be able to detect and provide an alarm in case a situation develops that requires attention. Such a situation is then communicated to the onshore controller 4, which preferably is provided with 35 VDU 5 for showing icons representing the series of detection poles 3 that are placed on the ship 1, and for each of the detection poles 3 to show the actual status of the sensors that are provided on the concerning poles 3. Preferably the system is then arranged such that the controller 4 can show on the VDU 5 40 which of the detection pole or poles 3 have detected an alarm situation. It is further possible that the controller 4 is arranged to communicate the concerning alarm situation to the ap- 4 propriate public authorities .

It is further desirable that the standards or poles 3 are movable in order to optimize their positioning on board of the ship 1 with respect to the system's ability to build up the 5 communication network and the communication channel with the controller 4 .

Further desirable features are that the standards or poles 3 are provided with fire alarm buttons and/or emergency buttons, and that at least one pole 3 on board of the ship 1 is 10 provided with audio and/or visual indicator means for sounding and/or visually showing that a fire alarm and/or an emergency situation has been detected and communicated to the controller 4.

Finally it is remarked that it is preferable that each 15 of the detection poles 3 has a backup power facility.

Hier beginnen

Claims

A detection and alarm system for use on board ships (1) and / or offshore platforms, and adapted to communicate with at least one controller (4), which is placed on the shore, the communication with the controller is a wireless communication, characterized in that it comprises a multitude of detection standards or posts (3), in which each detection standard or post (3) is provided with a transceiver adapted for communication according to the Zigbee communication protocol.

Detection and alarm system according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of detection posts (3) is variable and selected for a number that is higher or equal to a minimum number required for providing a communication network on board said device. ship (1) and / or offshore platform that is able to maintain communication with the controller (4) on the mainland.

3. Detection and alarm system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each pole (3) is provided with sensor means selected from the group comprising a smoke sensor, a fire sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor.

Detection and alarm system according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that each pole (3) is provided with at least one of a fire detection and alarm button, an emergency button.

5. Detection and alarm system as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the detection posts (3) are displaceable.

6. Detection and alarm system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pole (3) is provided with sound and / or visual indication means for a sound signal and / or visually indicating that a fire alarm and / or whether an emergency situation has been detected and communicated to the controller (4).

7. Detection and alarm system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the detection posts (3) has a backup power supply.

Detection and alarm system according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the controller (4) is provided with a VDU (5) for displaying icons representing the multi-detection poles (3) on the ship (1) and / or represent the offshore platform, which controller (4) is adapted to display the current status of the detection posts (3) on the VDÜ (5).

Detection and alarm system according to claim 8, characterized in that the controller (4) is arranged to show on the VDU (5) which detection pole or poles (3) have detected an alarm situation.

10. Detection and alarm system as claimed in any of the claims 1-9, characterized in that the controller (4) is adapted to communicate an alarm to the appropriate public authorities.