WO1996025729A1

WO1996025729A1 - Escape route indication system

Info

Publication number: WO1996025729A1
Application number: PCT/NL1996/000078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cornelis Elizabeth Rijlaarsdam
Original assignee: Rijlaarsdam Design Holding B.V.
Priority date: 1995-02-17
Filing date: 1996-02-19
Publication date: 1996-08-22

Abstract

System for providing an indication for an escape route in the case of emergencies in common or other spaces in buildings, ships, vehicles and so on, comprising an elongated holder which is provided with indication means for the escape route and is formed in such a way and arranged at such a height in the space concerned that it is suitable for engagement by hand, means for activating t3e indication means, means for selectively controlling the activating means and conducting means for transmitting signals from the control means to the indication means.

Description

Escape route indication system

The invention relates to a system for providing an indica¬ tion for an escape route in the case of emergencies in common or other spaces in buildings, ships, vehicles and so on.

Life threatening situations can occur in buildings such as hotels, disco's, theatres, underground stations, depart¬ ment stores, public buildings in the event of fire, gas leaks and so on, but also in vessels and vehicles.

Under circumstances such as those many of the persons present will not act in the appropriate way in the short space of time which is at their disposal for escaping, at least not in the sequence and with the speed which would be best for their safety. In the worst case panic will break out.

The same applies to incidents which result in the sinking of ships, in particular ferries. Although these kind of ships mostly take several minutes to sink, it appears that the circumstances in which passengers are then in are complicated to the extent that only a few, and then often younger men, are in a position to reach safety.

Although in this kind of ship a ground-plan with all exits is generally displayed on every deck and at several places, under pressure of possibly tragic circumstances people are hardly in a position to find their bearings and to take the right decisions quickly. When a ship is cap- sizing or when the bow or the stern is submerging, the passages become slopes which are passable only with diffi¬ culty, wherein it becomes very awkward for people to move in the desired direction, should they have been able to ascertain which direction that is.

Escape route indication systems are known per se. An escape route which is arranged in or near floors of passages or gangways can be mentioned, like, among other things, an indication system of that kind in aeroplanes. Comparable systems are also arranged in or near ceilings of passages or gangways.

The invention now aims at providing an escape route indi¬ cation system of the type mentioned in the preamble, which forms an improvement with regard to the existing systems in that in emergencies it enables those present to make a quick and well-directed escape.

For this purpose the invention provides a system as des¬ cribed in claim 1.

The system according to the invention ensures that the escape route indication means not only indicate the escape route but also the place of a conducting means, which is to be gripped by hand, which will at the same time be noticed by those present, as a result of which they will be directed and guided psychologically as well as physi- cally, so to speak, in the right direction. In addition, the holder also forms a means to pull oneself up with. The holder is favourably positioned with regard to the eyes or the hands of the observers. Possible rubbish on the floor does not influence the functionality of the system.

The holder can be rigidly constructed, such as a handrail which extends along the wall of passages and forms the handrail on staircases, or flexible, such as in the form of a cord.

The indication means can be diverse, but are preferably designed for giving off a visual signal, possibly in conjunction with an auditive signal. The position of the holder sees to it that in the case of smoke development the indication means will be visible for a long time. Giving off an auditive signal also makes the system of use to the visually handicapped. In the case of smoke develop¬ ment which is so serious that even visual signals are not easily perceptible, the auditive signal can be a good alternative.

The holder of the system according to the invention will, in most cases, have to be permanently present in the spaces concerned. In that case, the holder will be attached by means of supports to the wall of the spaces concerned. Installing the system with the holders is simple, because the system is substantially incorporated in objects (handrails) which are there anyway, so that major work and changes in the walls of the passages and so on, is not necessary.

In the case of indication means for giving off a visual signal, use can be made of glass fibre cables or electri¬ cal conductors for the conducting means. Preferably the indication means are connected in such a way to the glass fibres of the electrical conductors that sending light through the glass fibre cable or applying voltage to the electrical conductor activates a selected type of indica¬ tion means.

The control means can comprise a computer, which is con- nected to all sorts of sensors placed in the spaces con¬ cerned, such as fire detectors, smoke detectors, gas detectors, inclinometers, water meters (in the case of a ship) and so on, in order to receive signals from them that a certain dangerous situation has arisen. The ground plan of the spaces and the locations of possible live- saving devices, emergency exits, passages and gangways, staircases and so on is stored in the computer. On the basis of said data the correctly programmed computer will select and control the right activating means, so that consequently for all those in danger each time the quickest and the safest escape route for them will be indicated with the help of the indication means on the holder.

The holder of the system according to the invention is preferably of a modular construction.

The invention will now be eludicated on the basis of some illustrative embodiments which are shown in the accompany¬ ing drawing, wherein:

figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of an escape indication system according to the invention;

figure 2 shows an embodiment of a holder for use in the system according to the invention;

figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a holder for the system according to the invention, with additional suppor¬ ting function;

figures 4A, 4B and 4C show some cross sections of a number of alternative embodiments of the holder in the system according to the invention;

figure 5 shows an example of indication means which are suitable for inclusion in the holder according to the figures 4 -4C;

figures 6A-6D show an example of a printed circuit board on which lamps for indicating means can be attached, and;

figures 7A and 7B show some details of the structure of a modular holder for the system according to the invention.

In figure 1 a schematic representation is shown of a system according to the invention.

The diagram shown in figure 1 is not the only arrangement possible. Depending on the application, a more detailed escape plan has to be adopted (in the case of ferries, for example) than in the cellar of a building, for instance, in which a disco is organized from time to time.

Sensors 1, such as fire alarms, smoke or gas detectors meters or a inclinometer will provide a computer 2 with signals. In the computer 2, data relating to ground plans of passage systems, staircases, emergency exits and emerg¬ ency measures, among them live-saving means, has been entered. On the basis of a signal received from the sen¬ sor, the computer will then - based on the programmed instructions - proceed, or not, to signaling within the indication system. As soon as the computing programme determines, on the basis of the signals given by one or more sensors, that the safety system according to the invention should start working, further instructions follow, among them, for instance, the triggering of the activating means installed on one or more places, here one or more sources of light 3. In accordance with the com¬ puter calculation, these sources of light 3 will have to send light signals, in this case via glass fibres, to the reflection surfaces which serve as indication means to be activated in accordance with the calculation.

In figure 1 three situations are shown schematically, in which a holder attached to the wall of passages in a ferry can provide the information necessary for a quick escape. The holder 4 can be constructed as shown in figure 2. There is a core of glass fibres 9, which fibres are sur¬ rounded by a casing 8, in which a rectangular middle reflector 5, a reflector 6 pointing to the right and a reflector 7 pointing to the left are formed. In each case one of the glass fibres 9 ends with a top end on top of the respective reflector surfaces 5, 6 and 7. As can be seen in figure 1, the holder is provided with suchlike reflector assemblies on several longitudinally spaced positions. Depending on the number of points to be lighted, use will be made of single fibres. If a great many points have to be lit up over a great distance, then the different fibres can be branched off. The casing 8 is made of black material, so that radiating light from the reflecting surfaces can be absorbed and a contrasting picture can be obtained via the outer casing 40. The outer casing 40 forms a continuous surface for the protection of the reflecting surfaces and is made of transparent materi¬ al, and has, in addition, a textured surface in order to improve the grip of the hand of the escaping person, and thus benefit their safety but also to promote security and calm.

If the computer has established which directions the safest and quickest escape routes are from the various locations, then the sources of light concerned can be activated and thereby a specific series of glass fibres be lighted up. Accordingly, if the escape route has to locally run to the left, the glass fibres which terminate with their head end at the location of the reflecting surfaces 7 are lit up, and if the escape route has to run to the right, the glass fibres which terminate with their head end at the location of the reflecting surfaces 6 are lit up. Alternatively, or supplementary thereto, the glass fibres which terminate with their head end at the location of the reflecting surfaces 5 can be lit up. The rectangu¬ lar reflecting surface 5 can be a reinforcement of the arrow shape obtained by the reflecting surfaces 6 or 7. The source of light can be alternately operated, so that the observer is actively stimulated to follow the indi- cated direction. Another possibility of obtaining a guid¬ ing signal is to briefly consecutively and successively light up the surfaces in one direction so that a running light is realized, so to speak. The lit-up surfaces can have the shape of geometric symbols, but also of pictograms.

Otherwise, the system just discussed also offers the possibility of a permanent night lighting, by permanently lighting up the rectangular surfaces 5, either in combina¬ tion with one or both reflecting surfaces 6, 7.

The light signals can be supported with the help of sound effects, so that the system is also suitable for visually handicapped and in circumstances such as thick smoke. The acoustic effects can be achieved by including wiring in the cord shaped holder 4 shown, which leads to several mutually spaced buzzers which are activated in a sequence to be determined, so that both an alarm situation and an escape direction can be indicated. The acoustic means can also be controlled by the computer.

The passengers will then always be directed to the correct centrally located staircases, where, in accordance with the computer calculation, the passengers can be distributed over the available life-saving means.

In figure 3 it is indicated how an additional function can be provided with the holder according to the invention. Here use is made of the fact that the holder is arranged on a wall at handrail level. In the space between the holder 4 and the floor (not shown) planks are arranged against the wall, which are, on the one hand, hingedly connected to the lower side of the holder 4 and on the other hand hingedly connected near the skirting board and which lie in a situation out of use under the holder 4 almost against the wall. In the event of a capsized or otherwise turned ship, by pulling the cord 11 which extends along the holder 4 and with which the boards are connected to one another, the boards 12 can be rotated about their hinge attachments into a position in which they form a stair, as it were. In figure 3 the situation shown during rotation to the position for use is shown. The hinge attachments are provided with means for offering a stop and a support to the boards 12 if the latter are rotated to the position for use. Instead of the skirting board, a comparable holder 4 can be attached at that location.

The figures 4-7 relate to the use of a holder in the system according to the invention, in which the indication means comprise lamps, for example LED's. The holders 14a, b, c are made as aluminium extrusion sections and are provided with an attaching plate for attachment to the wall 13, at a height which makes them suitable as hand¬ rail. The holders 14a, b, c are shaped in such a way that with their upper surface 20a, 20b, 20c they form an ergo- nomic hold for the hands of the escaping persons, who will then be guided in an optimal and secure way by the holder.

The holders 14a-c have a cavity 15a-c, determined by an upper and a lower enclosing arm, which on the left side, as seen on the drawing, facing those present, determine a longitudinal opening. In that opening grooves are arranged, in which elongated plates can be slid and held. The plates 16a, 16b and 16c are continuous and can be made of any suitable material, but at intermediate distances, at the desired position of the indicating means, they are provided with transparent areas, for example congruent with the areas 5, 6 and 7 which are discussed above. All this is also shown in figure 5, in which, however, only the indication area of the strip 16 is shown. Behind that, in figure 5 in extended condition, there is a support strip 18a, b, c , which can also be continuous and forms a large printed circuit board, or can be constructed of a number of printed circuit boards 18 which are intercon¬ nected in an electrically conducting manner, for instance by means of wires and suitable coupling pieces as shown with reference number 28 in figure 6A. Conductors for auditive signals can also be included on the printed circuit boards, which are then connected to the locally fitted loudspeakers or buzzers at the location of the support via conductors 19a-c.

As will be explained below on the basis of the figures 6A- 6D 18a-c, LED lamps can be inserted into the printed circuit boards 18a-c in such a way that voltage will be applied to the LED lamps when voltage is applied to the electrical conductors concerned, upon control of the computer.

In figure 5 the situation is shown in which three LED's 17 are inserted into the printed circuit board 18 at the location of an indication means. In this case the centre lamp and the right hand lamp are live. In order to obtain a maximum light output, in figure 5 LED's are accomodated in bowls 21 which have a reflecting inner surface and are attached, in whatever suitable way, to the printed circuit board 18. The upper edge of the bowls fits to the back of the strip 16.

In figure 6A the printed circuit board 18 is shown which is provided on the one (rear) side with a number of con¬ tinuous electrical conductors 25, 26, 27a-e (see figure 6D) and is provided on the front side 22 with terminals 30 which are arranged in columns and rows and, as can be seen in the figures 6A and 6B, take up almost all the surface of the printed circuit board 18. The conductors 25, 26 can serve for passing on auditive signals, but also for sig¬ nals from the sensors which detect emergencies. The con- ductors 25, 26 can, moreover, be part of a telephone cir¬ cuit. The conductors 25, 26 can also serve to pass on current to lamps under pictograms, with which not only (additional) emergency information, but also general information can be provided.

As can be seen in the cross section of figure 6C and in figure 6B, a LED lamp with its two plug pins can be inser¬ ted into two adjacent transverse terminals 30. The LED lamps 17 can be inserted into the printed circuit board 18, staggered in transverse direction with regard to one another, as can be seen in figure 6A. Depending on the information to be transmitted with the indication means, the computer can now selectively incorporate the conduc- tors 27a-e in a circuit. In figure 6D those are the con¬ ductors 27a and 27b by which voltage is applied over the plug pins of the LED shown. If only the LED's which are connected to the conductors 27a, 27c are intended to go on, then the same voltage as the conductors 27a will be applied to the conductors which may be positioned above the conductor 27a and the same applies to the relation between the conductors 27b and the conductors below that, in this case 27c, d, e. Because the conductors are con¬ tinuous, also at the location of the terminals, it is possible that the voltage can alternatively be applied from the right side or the left side. This is of import¬ ance if the activating means on the one side are out of action as a result of the disaster. The indicating means are then to be activated by the means on the other side.

The holders 14 of extruded aluminium section can also be supplied as modular units. In figure 7A it can be seen that before turning a corner, for instance at the location of the transition from a passage rail to a stair rail, a smooth transition can be established with the help of a coupling piece 31, which coupling piece 31 is, moreover, provided with conductors 29, which connect to the conduc- tors on the printed circuit boards 18 via coupling pieces 28. On both ends the coupling piece 31 is provided with reduced, narrowed end portions 34 which can enter into an interference fit with the ends of the profiles 14.

In figure 7B a flexible coupling piece 32 is shown, with fitting ends 35 and a harmonica like inner bend portion 33. With this a large number of different corners can be bridged.

Claims

1. System for providing an indication for an escape route in the case of emergencies in common or other spaces in buildings, ships, vehicles and so on, comprising an elon¬ gated holder which is provided with indication means for the escape route and is formed in such a way and arranged at such a height in the space concerned that it is suit¬ able for engagement by hand, means for activating the indication means, means for selectively controlling the activating means and conducting means for transmitting signals from the control means to the indication means.

2. Indication system according to claim 1, in which the holder forms an elongated rigid structure, in particular in the shape of a handrail.

3. Indication system according to claim 1 or 2, in which the holder forms an elongated flexible structure.

4. Indication system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the indication means are designed for giving off a visual signal.

5. Indication system according to any one of the claims 1- 4, in which the indication means are designed for giving off an auditive signal.

6. Indication system according to claim 4, in which the conducting means comprise glass fibres and in which the activating means comprise one or more sources of light, which are regulated by the control means, in which prefer¬ ably each glass fibre is related to an indication means and the glass fibres can be mutually selectively acti¬ vated.

7. Indication system according to claim 4, in which the conducting means comprise electrical conductors and in which the activating means comprise one or more voltage sources which are regulated by the controlling means.

8. Indication system according to claim 7, in which the electrical conducting means comprise printed circuit boards, which are provided with several electrical conduc¬ tors extended in parallel and with terminals for lamps and the like.

9. Indication system according to claim 8, in which the printed circuit board is provided with more than two electrical conductors with corresponding terminals in order to enable a staggered arrangement of lamps, in which arrangement the lamps are connected to different pairs of conductors, in which the controlling means and the acti¬ vating means are designed for selectively applying a voltage to the electrical conductors.

10. Indication system according to claim 8 or 9, in which the lamps are LED lamps.

11. Indication system according to claim 10, in which the LED lamps are surrounded by reflecting means.

12. Indication system according to any one of the prece¬ ding claims, in which the holder comprises a casing with recesses at the location of the indication means.

13. Indication system according to any one of the prece¬ ding claims, in which the holder has a grip-promoting surface structure.

14. Indication system according to any one of the prece¬ ding claims, in which the controlling means are connected to sensor means placed in the spaces in order to selecti- - 14 - vely control the activating means in response thereto.

15. Indication system according to any one of the prece¬ ding claims, in which the activating means are arranged at several places along the holder and are connected to the controlling means in order to be mutually selectively controlled thereby, in particular in order to enable activation of the indicating means from more than one entry.

16. Indication system according to any one of the prece¬ ding claims, in which the holder is built up of a number of elongated modular members which can be coupled with one another, preferably with coupling pieces.

17. Indication system according to claim 16, in which the coupling pieces are shaped as a corner piece, which is preferably bendable or adjustable.

18. Indication system according to claim 16 or 17, in which the modular holder members and the coupling pieces are provided with complementary coupling members for the conducting means .

19. Indication system according to any one of the prece¬ ding claims, in which the holder is also provided with conducting means for signals from sensors to the control¬ ling means.

20. Holder, evidently suited for the indication system according to the preceding claims.

AF/FL