JP7619548B2 - Alarm system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an alarm device.

At construction sites, multiple types of vehicles such as heavy machinery and trucks are frequently in operation, and preventing collision accidents between vehicles and workers is one of the issues. In particular, collision accidents when vehicles such as heavy machinery are backing up account for a large proportion of collision accidents, since other vehicles and workers may be in the driver's blind spot.
Vehicles are equipped with backlights (an example of a lighting device, i.e., a back-up light) and a back-up buzzer (an example of a sound device) to inform the surroundings that the vehicle is backing up, and when the backlights come on and the back-up buzzer goes off, workers and vehicles in the driver's blind spot can quickly evacuate. However, in environments with high noise or low lighting, such as tunnel construction sites, the brightness of the backlights and the volume of the back-up buzzers emitted by the vehicle are often insufficient, and in such cases, collision accidents may occur.
For example, while it would be feasible to electrically connect backlights or backup buzzers suited to the noise and lighting environments of construction sites to vehicles that frequently enter construction sites, this measure (modification) requires time and effort, and is therefore difficult to implement, particularly for vehicles that only infrequently enter construction sites.

In light of the above, there is a need for an alarm device that can increase the brightness of the lights and sound volume of the sound devices that are pre-installed on each vehicle for all vehicles entering a construction site, regardless of how frequently the vehicles enter the site.

Patent Document 1 proposes a danger monitoring system that is a work area monitoring system for heavy machinery that prevents heavy machinery or parts of it from entering a danger zone while the heavy machinery is in operation without erecting barricades or deploying guides. More specifically, this danger monitoring system includes an imaging device that captures moving objects and the vicinity of the moving objects and outputs a video signal, and an image processing device that inputs the video signal from the imaging device, separates the moving object from the background for each frame of the video signal, divides the background into multiple zones, and outputs a specific zone intrusion signal when at least a part of the contour of the moving object is located in a specified zone. This image processing device includes a specific zone setter that sets the specific zone, and an alarm signal generator that receives the specific zone intrusion signal from the image processing device and outputs an alarm signal.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-175992

The danger monitoring system described in Patent Document 1 is an extremely complex system in which an imaging device captures images of moving objects, etc. and outputs a video signal, an image processing device separates the moving object from the background from this video signal, and outputs a specific zone intrusion signal when the moving object is located in a specified zone into which the background is divided into multiple parts.As a result, the cost of building the system is high, and as mentioned above, it is not realistic to apply such a system to all vehicles that enter a construction site, regardless of how frequently they enter the site.
Furthermore, this system does not allow the brightness of the lights or the volume of the sound devices that are already installed on entering vehicles to be increased.

The present invention aims to provide an alarm device that can be easily attached to all vehicles entering a construction site, regardless of how frequently they enter the site, and that can increase the brightness of the lights and the volume of the sound devices that are already installed on each vehicle.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the alarm device according to the present invention comprises:
A sensor that is detachably attached to a position adjacent to a lighting device or a sound device provided in a vehicle;
The present invention is characterized by having an alarm that is detachably attached to the vehicle and that includes a receiving unit that receives a detection signal transmitted from the sensor, a transmitting unit that emits an alarm light and/or an alarm sound when the receiving unit receives the detection signal, and a battery power unit.

According to this aspect, a sensor and an alarm are provided which can be attached and detached to the vehicle, and a detection signal regarding light or sound emitted from the vehicle's lights and sound devices detected by the sensor is transmitted to the alarm device which then emits an alarm light or sound with an intensified light or sound. This allows the devices to be easily attached to all vehicles entering a construction site, and the light and sound of the lights and sound devices equipped on each vehicle can be intensified as desired depending on the conditions at the construction site, making it possible to effectively prevent contact accidents at construction sites.
In addition, since the power supply for the sensors and alarms is secured (built-in) by the battery power supply unit, an external power source is not required. By attaching the alarm device to the vehicle, the alarm device can be kept in an operational state at all times while the vehicle is operating on the construction site.

Here, the vehicles at the construction site include various construction-related mobile objects such as various heavy machinery, trucks, and general vehicles.
When these vehicles enter a construction site, an alarm device of this embodiment is loaned to each vehicle by the construction manager, etc., and the alarm device is installed in a predetermined position on each vehicle (for example, a position near the backlight, etc.), and when each vehicle leaves the construction site, the alarm device can be removed and returned to the construction manager, etc. The battery power supply unit of the returned alarm device can be charged or replaced with a new battery before the next construction day, making it possible to activate a new alarm device.

The sensor constituting the warning device of this embodiment is attached to a position close to the vehicle's lighting devices (front lights, back lights, etc.) to effectively receive light emitted from them and generate a detection signal. Alternatively, the sensor also generates a detection signal when it receives a sound emitted from a vehicle's sound device (back buzzer, etc.).
Here, if the construction site has a wide area (multiple work sections), each with its own unique noise and lighting environment, and the operating range of each vehicle is limited, it is advisable to adjust the illumination and volume of the warning light and warning sound generated by the transmitter to a level appropriate for the area (work section) in which the vehicle is operating.
Here, "emitting an alarm light and/or an alarm sound" by the transmitter includes emitting both an alarm light and an alarm sound, and emitting either an alarm light or an alarm sound, and it is preferable that the alarm device is provided with a switch or the like to select between them.

In another aspect of the alarm device according to the present invention,
The sensor and the alarm are connected by a retractable cord so as to be capable of transmitting and receiving the detection signal.

According to this aspect, the sensor and the alarm are connected by a stretchable cord so that they can send and receive detection signals freely, so there is no problem with either one being lost. In addition, because both are connected by a stretchable cord, the distance between them can be adjusted as desired while they are both attached to the vehicle, making it possible to attach both the sensor and the alarm as desired while accommodating vehicles of various types and sizes, and improving ease of attachment to the vehicle.

In another aspect of the alarm device according to the present invention,
The sensor and the alarm are both characterized in that they include a magnet that is magnetically attached to the vehicle.

According to this aspect, both the sensor and the alarm are equipped with magnets that are magnetically attached to the vehicle, which prevents the sensor and the like from falling off the vehicle. The magnets can take various forms, such as a form in which a magnet of similar planar dimensions is attached to the back of the alarm, or a form in which a magnet is attached to each leg of a base that has multiple legs. In addition, the type of magnet that is preferably used is a magnet made of a high-magnetic-force neodymium magnet.

In another aspect of the alarm device according to the present invention,
The alarm device includes a box having the receiving unit and the transmitting unit,
The box is characterized in that a switch is provided on the outer surface thereof for enabling or disabling the illumination of the warning light and the emission of the warning sound.

According to this aspect, the alarm device is provided with a box that is equipped with a receiver and a transmitter, and a switch is provided on the exterior of the box to activate or deactivate the illumination of the alarm light and the sound of the alarm, making it easy to select either or both of the alarms depending on the situation at the construction site.

In another aspect of the alarm device according to the present invention,
The outer surface of the box is equipped with a light and a buzzer that constitute the transmitter.
At least the light, the buzzer and the switch are waterproof.

According to this aspect, at least the light, buzzer, and switch that are provided on the outer surface of the box that constitutes the alarm are waterproof, thereby increasing the durability of the alarm. Here, the durability of the entire alarm device can be increased by waterproofing all of the components of the alarm device, including the entire outer surface of the box, the sensor, and the cord connecting the sensor and the alarm.

In another aspect of the alarm device according to the present invention,
The lighting device provided in the vehicle is a backlight, and the sound generating device is a back buzzer.

According to this aspect, by attaching a sensor near the vehicle's backlight (back-up light) or backup buzzer, it is possible to effectively prevent accidents involving contact with workers or other vehicles that may be in the driver's blind spot when a vehicle such as heavy machinery is backing up, as described above, which leads to an effective reduction in accidents involving contact at construction sites.

The alarm device of the present invention can be easily attached to all vehicles entering a construction site, regardless of how frequently they enter the site, and can increase the brightness of the lights and sound volume of the sound devices that are already installed on each vehicle.

1 is a diagram showing an example of an overall configuration of an alarm device according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a front view of an alarm device constituting the alarm device. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the inside of a box constituting the alarm device. FIG. 2 shows a sensor inside the waterproof cap. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit diagram of a sensor and an alarm. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an installation form in which the alarm device according to the embodiment is installed at the rear of a vehicle. 11 is a diagram showing another example of an installation form in which the alarm device according to the embodiment is installed at the rear of a vehicle. FIG.

The alarm device according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that in this specification and the drawings, substantially identical components may be designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description.

[Warning device according to an embodiment]
An example of an alarm device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. Here, Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an alarm device according to an embodiment. Also, Figure 2 is a front view of an alarm that constitutes the alarm device, Figure 3 is a diagram showing the inside of a box that constitutes the alarm, and Figure 4 is a diagram showing a sensor inside a waterproof cap. Also, Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit diagram of the sensor and the alarm.

The illustrated warning device 80 has a sensor 60 that can be detachably attached in the vicinity of a light or sound device equipped on a vehicle operating within a construction site, and an alarm 50 that receives a detection signal transmitted from the sensor 60 and emits a warning light and/or a warning sound.

In the following, a description will be given of a mode in which the sensor 60 transmits a detection signal to the alarm device 50 when it detects that the vehicle's backlight (a reversing light, which is an example of a lighting device) is on, but the sensor may also detect the vehicle's backup buzzer (a reversing sound, which is an example of a sound device), or may detect both the backlight and the backup buzzer, or may detect the front light, etc. In addition, vehicles on which the alarm device 80 is attached include all vehicles that operate on construction sites, including various heavy machinery such as cranes, shovels, rock drills, and tunnel boring machines, gantry cranes that run inside tunnels, trucks that transport various materials and equipment, and even general vehicles, and various other construction-related mobile objects.

The alarm 50 comprises a box 10 with a lid 11, which forms the front face, attached to one side of a container 12 via a hinge 13 so as to be freely rotatable. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a waterproofed (waterproof) light 20 (one example of a transmitter), such as a flasher light, is attached to the outer surface of the lid 11, and a similarly waterproofed buzzer 30 (another example of a transmitter) is attached to one side of the container 11 (the lower side in Fig. 2).

A control panel 22 that controls the operation of the light 20 and buzzer 30 is attached to the back side of the lid 11.

On the front side of the lid 11, at a position different from the light 20, there are provided a main switch 14 that turns on/off both the light 20 and the buzzer 30, and a buzzer-linked switch 15 that operates the buzzer 30 in conjunction with the light 20, on the premise that the light 20 can be automatically operated when the main switch 14 is turned on. The main switch 14 and the buzzer-linked switch 15 are also waterproofed. Here, unlike the switch unit in the illustrated example, in addition to the main switch 14, a light switch that turns on/off the light 20 and a buzzer switch that turns on/off the buzzer 30 may be provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, two battery boxes 16a and a DC-DC converter 17 are built into the container 12 of the box 10. A battery such as an alkaline dry battery is installed in each battery box 16a, and the battery boxes 16a and the dry batteries form a battery power supply unit.

The operating voltage of the flasher light 20 and buzzer 30 in the illustrated example is a multi-voltage transmitter that supports, for example, DC 12V to 24V. Since the operating voltage of the control panel 22 is set to, for example, 12V, and the voltage of the two alkaline batteries (9V each) is 18V, the DC-DC converter 17 steps down to the operating voltage of the control panel 22.

The light 20, buzzer 30, and various switches 14, 15 are waterproof as described above, which increases the durability of the sound generator 50. However, if the entire outer surface of the box 10 is also waterproofed in the same way, the durability of the sound generator 50 will be even higher.

Figure 5 shows an example of a circuit diagram for a sensor and an alarm. In the illustrated circuit diagram, the alkaline battery 16b, DC-DC converter 17, and control panel 22 are connected via a bipolar switch 19a, and the load side circuit of the bipolar switch 19a is connected to the control panel 22. In the illustrated electrical system, the buzzer 30 operates in conjunction with the light 20, so only the buzzer 30 is provided with a single-pole switch 19b in the circuit 18.

The control panel 22 is equipped with a receiver 24, which receives the detection signal transmitted from the sensor 60 and is configured to connect the bipolar switch 19a and the single-pole switch 19b in response to the signal.

The warning light generated by the flasher light 20 may be brighter than the light that is the detection signal from the sensor 60, or may be a flashing light that is highly informing to the surroundings, and for example, the transmitter may be set to have a variety of options for warning lights that can be freely selected. In addition, the illuminance may be adjustable to an effective illuminance for the target construction site.

The alarm sound generated by the buzzer 30 may be louder than the detection signal, or may be a mix of various sounds ranging from high to low frequencies, and the transmitter may be set to allow for a wide range of options for different types of alarm sound, or the volume may be freely adjusted to an effective level for the target construction site.

As shown in FIG. 1, multiple magnets 40A are attached to the back of the container 12 that constitutes the box 10. The magnets 40A are made of high-magnetic-force neodymium magnets.

Thus, the sound generator 50 has a simple and portable structure in which two types of transmitters, a light 20 and a buzzer 30, are mounted in a box 10 that also contains a control panel 22 and battery power units 16a and 16b.

The sensor 60 is formed of a light-emitting element such as a CdS cell (cadmium sulfide cell), and is housed inside a waterproof cap 65 as shown in FIG. 4. The tip of a flexible shaft 67 is attached to the rear of the waterproof cap 65 as shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of magnets 40B are attached to the rear end of the flexible shaft 67, which magnetically attach the sensor 60, including the flexible shaft 67, to the vehicle. More specifically, the magnets 40B are attached to each leg of a mounting base 41 with a three-point support structure, and the rear end of the flexible shaft 67 is attached to the mounting base 41. Here, the magnets 40B are also formed of a high-magnetic-force neodymium magnet.

The flexible shaft 67 extends from the mounting base 41 with a three-point support structure, and the sensor 60 is disposed at its tip, so that it can be stably attached to the vehicle even if the flexible shaft 67 is long and deformed in various ways, as in the illustrated example.

Electrical wiring (not shown) that runs from the sensor 60 extends inside the flexible shaft 67. The flexible shaft 67 can be bent freely and can maintain a bent position. This flexible shaft 67 is also waterproofed, and the waterproof cap 65 and the flexible shaft 67 protect the sensor 60 and the electrical wiring that runs thereto from rainwater, etc.

The rear end of the flexible shaft 67 is connected to a part of the side of the box 10 that constitutes the alarm 50 by a curled cord 70 (an example of a stretchable cord). The electrical wiring leading to the sensor 60 extends through the inside of the curled cord 70 into the box 10 and leads to the control panel 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, the alarm 50 and sensor 60 (and flexible shaft 67) are electrically connected via a curled cord 70 in a manner that allows them to be deformed and stretched freely, forming a portable alarm device 80, and there is no risk of losing either one of the pair of alarm 50 and sensor 60.

By introducing the above-described alarm device 80 to a construction site, the following effects can be achieved. That is, regardless of the frequency of entry to the construction site, an alarm device 80 is loaned to all vehicles entering the construction site by the construction manager or the like when they enter, and the alarm 50 and sensor 60 that make up the loaned alarm device 80 can be easily attached to the desired position of the vehicle via their magnets 40.

For example, the alarm device 80 is attached to the rear of the vehicle so that the sensor 60 is positioned near the vehicle backlight (in front of the backlight) so that it can detect the light from the vehicle backlight. In other words, when attaching the alarm device 80, there is no need to perform any specialized or time-consuming operations such as modifying the circuits connected to the vehicle backlight.

When the vehicle is operating at the construction site and actually reverses, the sensor 60 detects the illumination of the vehicle's backlight and transmits a detection signal to the alarm 50. The alarm 50, which receives the detection signal, emits either or both an alarm light and an alarm sound that are brighter and louder than the vehicle's backlight and backup buzzer (in the illustrated example, only the alarm light is emitted, or both the alarm light and the alarm sound are emitted), to notify workers and other vehicles behind the vehicle that the vehicle is reversing, and to prevent collision accidents with the reversing vehicle. As mentioned above, this is particularly effective in noisy or dimly lit environments such as tunnel construction sites, where the brightness of the backlight and the volume of the backup buzzer emitted by the vehicle are insufficient.

When the vehicle has finished its work at the construction site and is leaving the site, the alarm device 80 is easily removed from the vehicle and returned to the construction manager, etc. The construction manager, etc. can replace or charge the battery depending on the battery capacity, and then lend the alarm device 80 again to an entering vehicle on the next construction day.

Next, an example of the mounting form of the alarm device 80 for two types of vehicles will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Here, both Figures 6 and 7 are diagrams showing an example of the mounting form in which the alarm device according to the embodiment is mounted at the rear of the vehicle.

The example shown in FIG. 6 is an embodiment in which an alarm device 80 is attached to the rear door RG of a general vehicle V1.

The alarm 50 is attached to the rear door RG via a magnet 40A, and the mounting base 41 is attached to the side of it via a magnet 40B. The flexible shaft 67 extending from the mounting base 41 is bent to align the sensor 60 at its tip with the front of the backlight BL1.

On the other hand, the example shown in Figure 7 is one in which the alarm device 80 is attached to the loading platform LA of the truck V2.

The alarm device 50 is attached to the loading platform LA via a magnet 40A, and the mounting base 41 is attached diagonally below it via a magnet 40B. The flexible shaft 67 extending from the mounting base 41 is bent to align the sensor 60 at its tip with the front of the backlight BL1.

As is clear from Figures 6 and 7, the alarm 50 and sensor 60 constituting the alarm device 80 are attached in an easy-to-attach position on various vehicles via their own magnets 40 in a state in which they cannot fall off. In addition, the mounting base 41 that supports the sensor 60 and the alarm 50 are connected by an expandable curl cord 70 so that the distance between them can be changed. Furthermore, the sensor 60 is attached to the tip of a flexible shaft 67 that extends freely from the mounting base 41, which allows the alarm device 80 to be easily attached to various vehicles.

Note that the configurations described in the above embodiments may be combined with other components, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations shown here. In this regard, changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and can be determined appropriately according to the application form.

10: Box 11: Lid (front)
12: Container 13: Hinge 14: Main switch (switch)
15: Buzzer-linked switch (switch)
16a: Battery box (battery power supply unit)
16b: Battery (battery power supply section)
17: Converter (DC-DC converter)
18: Circuit 19a: Double-pole switch 19b: Single-pole switch 20: Light (flasher light, transmitter)
21: CdS cell (light-emitting element)
22: Control panel 24: Receiver 30: Buzzer (transmitter)
40, 40A, 40B: Magnet 41: Mounting base 50: Alarm 60: Sensor 65: Waterproof cap 67: Flexible shaft 70: Curly cord (flexible cord)
80: Alarm device V1: Vehicle (general vehicle)
V2: Vehicle (truck)
BL1, BL2: Backlight RG: Rear door LA: Cargo bed

Claims (5)

A sensor that is detachably attached to a position adjacent to a lighting device or a sound device provided in a vehicle;
an alarm including a receiving unit that receives a detection signal transmitted from the sensor, a transmitting unit that emits an alarm light and/or an alarm sound when the receiving unit receives the detection signal, and a battery power supply unit, and which is detachably attached to the vehicle;
An alarm device characterized in that the sensor is housed inside a waterproof cap, the tip of a flexible shaft is attached to the rear of the waterproof cap, a mounting base with a three-point support structure is attached to the rear end of the flexible shaft, a magnet that is magnetically attached to the vehicle is attached to each leg of the mounting base, and the alarm device also has a magnet that is magnetically attached to the vehicle. The sensor and the alarm are connected by a retractable cord so as to be capable of transmitting and receiving the detection signal ,
2. The warning device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter emits the warning light with a higher illuminance than a lighting device provided in the vehicle, and emits the warning sound with a volume higher than a sound device provided in the vehicle . The alarm device includes a box having the receiving unit and the transmitting unit,
3. The alarm device according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the box is provided with switches for enabling or disabling the emission of the alarm light and the emission of the alarm sound. The outer surface of the box is equipped with a light and a buzzer that constitute the transmitter.
4. The alarm device according to claim 3, wherein at least said light, said buzzer and said switch are waterproof. The warning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lighting device provided in the vehicle is a backlight, and the sound device is a back buzzer.

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