WO1999053235A1 - Rechargable security intelligent torch - Google Patents

Abstract

The torch is provided with the necessary means to couple the torch to the helmet in order to form an autonomous light source and at the same time leave the user's hands free. The torch is provided with two independent lamps of which the operation can be automatically switched from one lamp to the other whenever there is an operation fault in one of the two lamps.

Description

 1 INTELLIGENT RECHARGEABLE SECURITY LANTERN

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rechargeable safety flashlight specially designed for use in potentially explosive atmospheres and therefore its use is especially indicated in firefighting services and even in mining.

The flashlight is designed for individual use and its main feature is that of its versatility for conventional manual use or as a lighting element mounted on the helmet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For firefighters of the firefighting service, and the personnel who carry out their activity in similar working conditions, such as miners, flashlights are a fundamental tool in their work, which due to the extreme conditions in which it is carried out, They must have very special safety features, as well as technical performance at a professional level.

In this sense, these flashlights must be able to support and work properly in hostile atmospheres, which can occur during the extinction of a fire, supporting parameters such as gases, fumes, high temperatures, physical robustness etc.

Also given the conditions of tension and the hard manual work that this staff must perform, it is 2 it is necessary that this tool has a simple drive, particularly taking into account that firefighters work with special gloves, and above all it must be of comfortable use, which facilitates manual work as much as possible.

No flashlight is known in the state of the art that, in addition to being held manually, offers the possibility of being able to engage in the fireman's helmet, leaving his hands free so that he can perform his work more effectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The smart rechargeable safety flashlight, allows to perform the above-mentioned function, by having means that combined with others provided in the helmet, allow its easy coupling to it.

The safety feature of the flashlight is determined by the fact that it has two independent light sources, which ensure lighting in case of failure of one of them.

In the same way, the operation of the flashlight, is facilitated when performed with a large push button for high sensitivity contact, which makes this operation simple even in the case that protective gloves are worn.

The process of recharging the batteries is controlled by programmable electronic means, which guarantee that the recharging is carried out satisfactorily, and also inform in a detailed way of the state of charge each time the flashlight is turned on. In case the load is at a critical level, it gives a low capacity warning signal. 3

This ensures that the flashlight is always sufficiently charged, ready for prolonged use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive report is attached, as an integral part thereof, a set of drawings where illustrative and not limiting, The following has been represented:

- Figure 1 is a front view of the flashlight reflector, which shows the main and auxiliary bulb.

- Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of the flashlight, in which the button and recharge contacts are shown.

- Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view, to show the clamp and the coupling boss.

- Figure 4 is a side perspective representation of the fork that fits the helmet.

Figure 5 is a perspective representation of the flashlight by inserting the clamp into the fork, to fit into the helmet.

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lighting cone attaching to the flashlight.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The lighting means of the flashlight are shown in Figure 1, the main bulb (2) located in the focus of the parabolic reflector, which projects a concentrated and deep beam of light. Out of focus, the auxiliary bulb (3) is available, which is independent of the main operation and power, and which projects a beam of light directed to the ground, which allows the user to see the area through which he walks.

The activation of these light sources is carried out by means of the push button (4), which only requires a pressurized ligerisi to act and that has a wide surface, so that its use is facilitated.

The effect that the activation of the button (4), has on both bulbs (2) and (3), is controlled by a programmable electronic circuit, located inside the flashlight and powered by the same power batteries, which They are rechargeable by means of the three contacts (5), represented in figure 2, and by means of a suitable charger.

This electronic circuit also controls the recharging process of the batteries, informs about the discharge and the state of the batteries, as well as the performance of automatic functions that the invention can carry out.

All of these functions are accessible by following a sequence of keystrokes (4), as well as with the duration of the pulse.

The functions performed by the flashlight can be classified as: a) With manual operation. b) Automatic actions. c) Automatic information actions.

a) The functions with manual operation, are those related to the normal operation of the flashlight to turn the lamps on or off, and it is controlled with a cycle of four successive presses of the button (4), as follows:

1 ^§ press: turn on the main bulb (2) 2 ^§ press: turn off the main bulb (2) 3 ^§ press: turn on the auxiliary bulb (3) 4 ^§ press: turn off the auxiliary bulb (3)

With the next press the cycle is repeated, lighting the main bulb (2).

Within this manual control of the operation of the flashlight, you can access an intermittent operation of the lamps, following the same cycle of operation, but in the first or third presses, depending on which lamp you want to turn on intermittently, maintaining the button (4) pressed for more than 5 seconds, the electronic circuit causes the selected lamp to enter this operating mode.

Once in this mode of operation, you can select two flashing speeds, simply by pressing the button (4) to move from one speed to another. To return to normal operation, it is necessary to keep the button (4) pressed again for more than 5 seconds.

b) The automatic actions performed by the electronic circuit are focused on the safety of The flashlight, since it is responsible for detecting a malfunction of any of the two lamps and in such circumstances, automatically activates the lamp that was not activated.

Another automatic function performed by this circuit is carried out during the recharging process of the batteries, causing that when the batteries have reached an optimum level of charge, the flashlight is automatically disconnected and goes into a maintenance charge function.

c) The automatic information actions are intended to inform the state of charge of the batteries, so that each time one of the two lamps is turned on, following the described pulsation cycle, the flashlight produces a proportional number of pulsations to the charge capacity of the batteries, following the following criteria:

4 keystrokes: 100% capacity

3 keystrokes: 75% capacity

2 keystrokes: 50% capacity

1 press: 25% capacity

When the flashlight's charge autonomy is less than 10 minutes, a warning pulse occurs every 15 seconds.

Regarding the physical means that the flashlight has for its coupling to the helmet (13), these are visible in Figure 3, where the projection (11), and the clamp (6) consisting of a flexible plate, which is visible it is fixed in a swinging manner on the hinge (15), arranged at the back of the flashlight. This hinge (15) has elastic means, which make the clamp (6) press against the 7 body of the flashlight, making the functions of clamp, which can be opened by manual action on its extension (16).

The clamp (6) can also be used for fastening the flashlight in the user's belt.

As a complement to these means for attaching the flashlight to the helmet, the fork (7) shown in Figure 4 is fixed at the top of this, consisting of a metal piece folded on itself, preferably made of aluminum bronze for that has an elasticity appropriate to its functionality as a fork and so that it adapts to the surface of the helmet (13).

The arrangement of the fork (7) in the hull (13), can be seen in Figure 5, and is done by screwing through the holes (9) on a decorative element of the hull, in order not to pierce it, since otherwise you would lose your quality certification.

In this fork (7), the perforation (8) has been opened in its fold, in order to introduce the clamp (6) through it and to the bottom, so that it is coupled inside the fork (7), to what is previously necessary to separate the clamp (6) from the flashlight body, pressing on the extension (16).

In this operation the elasticity of the clamp (6) contributes, and the fixation is complemented by the protrusion

(11), which fits into the socket (10), for which it is necessary to exert a small pressure to overcome the dimensional adjustment of both elements.

The separation distance between the two plates which forms the fork (7), is maintained with the fixing (12), so that the coupling of the clamp (6) in the fork (7) is enhanced.

In this way the flashlight is arranged in the upper part of the helmet when the user needs it, constituting an autonomous light source in solidarity with him, leaving his hands free to be able to perform any task comfortably.

To decouple the helmet flashlight, it is only necessary to reverse the process.

Finally, as shown in figure 6, the lighting cone (14) can be attached to the base (1) of the flashlight, in order to make light signals.

Claims

9 R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S 1 ^ .- Rechargeable safety smart flashlight, especially suitable for use by firefighting bodies, is characterized by having the necessary means to be able to be attached to the helmet and to form a solidarity source in it, an autonomous light source , in order to free the user's hands, and because it has two independent lamps, whose operation is automatically exchanged from one to another when a malfunction occurs in one of them. 2 ^ .- Rechargeable safety smart flashlight, according to claim 1 ^§ , characterized in that the means available to the flashlight for coupling in the helmet, consist of a protrusion located on the bottom face and a clamp consisting of a flexible plate , fixed in a swinging way on a hinge equipped with elastic means and located at the back of the flashlight, and because as a complement to these means, a metal fork-shaped piece is available in the helmet, which has holes for fixing to the hull by screwing and in which a hole has been opened in its fold for the complete insertion through it of the clamp, which once coupled is comprised between the two plates that form the fork, and because It also has a socket for the coupling of the headlight, which provides a perfect coupling. 3 ^§ .- Rechargeable safety smart flashlight, according to claim 1 ^§ characterized in that the activation and control of the lamps is carried out with a single high sensitivity button following a sequence of pulsations, which also allows the control of all the functions that is able to perform the 10 flashlight, all these operations being controlled by a programmable electronics circuit located inside the flashlight. 4 ^§ .- Rechargeable safety smart flashlight, according to claim 3 ^, characterized in that the programmable electronic circuit through a sequence of pulsations, allows the flashlight to operate in a normal lighting mode, using the main or auxiliary lamp, or that it works in an intermittent lighting mode with two possible flashing speeds. 5 ^§ .- Rechargeable safety smart flashlight, according to claims 3 ^§ and 4 ^§ , characterized in that the programmable electronic circuit is automatically responsible for controlling the battery charging process, as well as informing the user of the status of the batteries. same each time one of the lamps is turned on, by means of a number of light pulses proportional to the state of the batteries, and because when the battery's charging autonomy is less than 10 minutes, it produces a warning pulse.