A wearable equal potential monitoring and alarming device for flood rescue

Abstract

This invention relates to a wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood rescue, belonging to the field of emergency rescue equipment technology. The device includes at least four limb conductive straps and a head conductive electrode, as well as a control module and an equipotential short-circuit module. The control module monitors the potential at multiple points, including the limbs and head, in real time. When the potential difference between any two points exceeds a safety threshold, an alarm is triggered, and a relay in the equipotential short-circuit module closes, short-circuiting all monitoring points to achieve equipotential protection for the human body. The device also employs waterproof quick-connect terminals, and the control box uses an IP68 waterproof structure, ensuring the device's waterproof performance in immersion environments. Thus, this invention features optimized dynamic short-circuit logic and a full-condition waterproof design, balancing continuous protection, real-time monitoring, and environmental adaptability. It effectively prevents rescuers from electric shock due to potential differences in floodwater, significantly improving the safety of rescue operations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of emergency rescue equipment technology, and particularly to the field of flood rescue equipment technology, specifically a wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood rescue. Background Technology

[0002] During floods (such as urban flooding), rescuers need to wade into buildings to conduct rescues. When rescuers are submerged, if nearby power is not cut off in time, a dangerous electric field can form in the water, creating potential differences between different parts of the body. When these potential differences exceed a safe threshold, current may flow through the body (especially the heart), leading to electric shock and injury to the rescuers.

[0003] Existing equipment has shortcomings in terms of ease of wear, cable management, and overall waterproofing, making it difficult to meet the practical needs of prolonged, full immersion in emergency rescue operations. In particular, there is a lack of portable wearable devices specifically designed for such complex water immersion environments, capable of real-time monitoring of multi-point potentials on the human body and actively providing equipotential protection. Especially in situations with drastic fluctuations in the electric field underwater, providing wearable equipment that can both continuously and effectively provide protection and monitor in real-time whether the danger has passed is a pressing technical problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood rescue that can effectively monitor the potential difference in water that cannot be sensed in a flooded environment, prevent rescuers from being electrocuted, and is convenient to wear and store with better waterproof performance.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief of the present invention has the following configuration:

[0006] It includes: at least four limb conductive straps and one head conductive electrode. The four limb conductive straps are respectively tied to the four limbs of the human body, and the head conductive electrode is in contact with the human head. Each of the limb conductive straps and the head conductive electrode is electrically connected to the control module and the equipotential shorting module.

[0007] The control module includes a potential monitoring unit and a comparison control unit. The potential monitoring unit is used to monitor the potential signals of monitoring points, including the conductive straps for each limb and the conductive electrodes on the head, in real time. The comparison control unit determines whether the potential difference between any two monitoring points exceeds a safety threshold, and issues an alarm signal when the safety threshold is exceeded.

[0008] The equipotential short-circuit module includes multiple relays, with the contacts of the relays connected to the monitoring points. Each contact is normally open. When the control module detects that the potential difference between any two monitoring points exceeds the safety threshold, the control module controls the equipotential short-circuit module to close all relays, short-circuiting all monitoring points. After maintaining this connection for a first preset duration, all relays are then disconnected, and the control module restarts monitoring the potential signals of each monitoring point.

[0009] In the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief, the equipotential short-circuit module is also used to maintain a second preset duration after all relays are disconnected, during which the control module re-monitors the potential difference between each monitoring point.

[0010] If the re-monitored potential difference is lower than the safety threshold, the relay of the equipotential short-circuit module is kept in the open state, and the alarm signal is cleared.

[0011] If the re-monitored potential difference is still higher than the safety threshold, then control all relays of the equipotential short-circuit module to close again, maintain for the first preset time, and then after opening all relays, repeat the above process until the potential difference is lower than the safety threshold.

[0012] The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief also includes: a waist conductive ring, which is used to be tied to the waist or torso of a person and electrically connected to the control module and the equipotential shorting module, serving as a monitoring point.

[0013] In this wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief, each monitoring point is connected to the control module and the equipotential short-circuit module via a corresponding insulated wire.

[0014] In this wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief, the limb conductive straps and waist conductive rings are made of flexible conductive fabric or elastic straps with conductive coatings, so as to make close contact with the skin without affecting limb movement. The insulated wires are laid along the inside or outside of the clothing and are fixed to the clothing by buckles or sewing.

[0015] The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief also includes an alarm module connected to the control module, which is used to issue an audible, visual, and vibration alarm when the control module issues the alarm signal.

[0016] In this wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief, the control module, alarm module, and equipotential short-circuit module are integrated into a control box, which is located inside or outside the safety helmet.

[0017] In this wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief, the head conductive electrode is located inside the safety helmet, and when the user wears the safety helmet, the head conductive electrode fits against the human head.

[0018] In this wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief, the control box has a waterproof sealing structure, which includes: the lead cable of the control box is connected by a waterproof connector or potting; the joints of the control box shell are coated with sealant, a sealing ring is set on the joint surface or ultrasonic welding process is used, and the internal circuit of the control box is potted to achieve a waterproof rating of IP68 or higher.

[0019] In this wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief, the waterproof connector is a waterproof quick-connect terminal, and the insulated wire is provided with a waterproof quick-connect terminal at the connection point with the control box. The waterproof quick-connect terminal includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part that cooperate with each other; wherein, the first connecting part is electrically connected to each insulated wire, and the second connecting part is connected to the control module through a high-flexibility cable.

[0020] The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood rescue, based on this invention, includes at least four limb conductive straps and one head conductive electrode. It also includes a control module and an equipotential short-circuit module. The control module monitors the potential at multiple points, including the limbs and head, in real time. When the potential difference between any two points exceeds a safety threshold, an alarm is triggered, and a relay in the equipotential short-circuit module closes, short-circuiting all monitoring points for a preset duration to achieve equipotential protection for the human body. The device can also employ waterproof quick-connect terminals, and the control box integrating the control module and the equipotential short-circuit module uses an IP68 waterproof structure to ensure normal operation in immersion environments. Furthermore, it can be made easy to wear and store by using flexible conductive fabric as the limb conductive straps and laying the insulated wires along clothing. Thus, this invention features optimized dynamic short-circuit logic and a full-condition waterproof design, balancing continuous protection, real-time monitoring, and environmental adaptability. It effectively prevents rescuers from electric shock due to potential differences in floodwater, significantly improving the safety of rescue operations. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the location of the monitoring points used in the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the waterproof quick-connect terminal used in the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the control box structure used in the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the working process of the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device of the present invention.

[0026] Figure label:

[0027] Limb conductive strap 1, insulated wire 2, head conductive electrode 3, control box 4, control module 5, alarm module 6, equipotential shorting module 7, waist conductive ring 8, waterproof quick-connect terminal 9, first connecting part 91, second connecting part 92. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To better understand the technical content of this invention, the following embodiments are provided for detailed explanation.

[0029] Please see Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to the present invention.

[0030] In one embodiment, the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief includes:

[0031] At least four limb conductive straps 1 and one head conductive electrode 3 are provided. The four limb conductive straps 1 are respectively tied to the four limbs of the human body. The head conductive electrode 3 is in contact with the human head. Each of the limb conductive straps 1 and the head conductive electrode 3 is electrically connected to the control module 5 and the equipotential shorting module 7.

[0032] The control module 5 includes a potential monitoring unit and a comparison control unit. The potential monitoring unit is used to monitor the potential signals of monitoring points, including each of the limb conductive straps 1 and the head conductive electrode 3, in real time. The comparison control unit determines whether the potential difference between any two monitoring points exceeds a safety threshold, and issues an alarm signal when the safety threshold is exceeded.

[0033] The equipotential short-circuit module 7 includes multiple relays, each of which is a solid-state relay. The contacts of the multiple relays are connected to the monitoring points respectively. Each contact is normally open. When the control module 5 detects that the potential difference between any two monitoring points exceeds the safety threshold, the control module 5 controls the equipotential short-circuit module 7 to close all relays, short-circuiting all monitoring points. After maintaining this connection for a first preset time (which can be 1 second), all relays are disconnected, and the control module 5 restarts monitoring the potential signals of each monitoring point.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the equipotential short-circuit module 7 is further used to maintain a second preset duration (which may be 20 milliseconds) after all relays are disconnected, during which the control module 5 re-monitors the potential difference between each monitoring point;

[0035] If the re-monitored potential difference is lower than the safety threshold, the relay of the equipotential short-circuit module 7 is kept in the open state, and the alarm signal is cleared.

[0036] If the re-monitored potential difference is still higher than the safety threshold, then control all relays of the equipotential short-circuit module 7 to close again, maintain for the first preset time, and then repeat the above process after disconnecting all relays until the potential difference is lower than the safety threshold.

[0037] If the second preset time period can enable multiple measurements of the potential difference, then the statistical value of the multiple measurements is taken as the potential difference and used as the basis for judgment.

[0038] In a further preferred embodiment, the wearable equipotential monitoring alarm device also includes a waist conductive ring 8, which is used to be tied to the waist or torso of the human body and electrically connected to the control module 5 and the equipotential shorting module 7, serving as a monitoring point.

[0039] In a further preferred embodiment, each of the monitoring points is connected to the control module 5 and the equipotential short-circuit module 7 via a corresponding insulated wire 2.

[0040] In another further preferred embodiment, the limb conductive strap 1 and the waist conductive ring 8 are flexible conductive fabrics or elastic straps with conductive coatings, so as to be in close contact with the skin without affecting limb movement. The insulated wire 2 is laid along the inside or outside of the clothing and is fixed to the clothing by buckles or sewing.

[0041] Preferably, the wearable equipotential monitoring alarm device further includes an alarm module 6, which is connected to the control module 5 and is used to issue an audible and visual alarm or vibration alarm when the control module 5 issues the alarm signal. The alarm intensity or frequency increases with the increase of the potential difference.

[0042] Preferably, the control module 5, alarm module 6, and equipotential short-circuit module 7 are integrated into a control box 4, which is located inside or outside the safety helmet. The head conductive electrode 3 is located inside the safety helmet, and when the user wears the helmet, the head conductive electrode 3 fits against the user's head. Simultaneously, the control module 5 may also include a wireless communication unit for transmitting alarm signals and monitoring data to an external terminal.

[0043] In a further preferred embodiment, the control box 4 has a waterproof sealing structure, which includes: the lead cable of the control box 4 is connected to a waterproof connector or potted; the joints of the control box shell are coated with sealant, a sealing ring is provided on the joint surface or an ultrasonic welding process is used, and the internal circuit of the control box is potted to give the control box a waterproof rating of IP68 or higher.

[0044] In a more preferred embodiment, the waterproof connector is a waterproof quick-connect terminal 9, and the insulated wire 2 is provided with a waterproof quick-connect terminal 9 at the connection point with the control box 4. The waterproof quick-connect terminal 9 includes a first connecting part 91 and a second connecting part 92 that cooperate with each other; wherein, the first connecting part 91 is electrically connected to each insulated wire 2, and the second connecting part 92 is connected to the control module 5 through a high-flexibility cable.

[0045] In practical applications, the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief of the present invention can be implemented through the following embodiments:

[0046] Example 1

[0047] like Figure 1 As shown, the wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood rescue of the present invention mainly includes a limb conductive strap 1, an insulated wire 2, a head conductive electrode 3, and a waterproof control box 4 integrated inside a safety helmet.

[0048] There are four conductive limb ties, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the safety helmet is secured to the rescuer's left wrist A, right wrist B, left ankle C, and right ankle D, respectively. It is made of conductive silicone and has conductive contacts on the inside. Four insulated wires 2 connect to the four limb conductive straps 1, extending upwards along the rescuer's limbs and converging at the rear edge of the helmet. They are then connected to the waterproof control box 4 via quick-connect terminals 9. The helmet's interior has a conductive liner serving as a head electrode 3, forming a head monitoring point E. This conductive liner is connected to the waterproof control box 4 via wires.

[0049] like Figure 4 As shown, the waterproof control box 4 contains a control module (MCU) 5, an alarm module 6, and an equipotential shorting module 7. The waterproof control box 4 is formed by pressing a top cover and a base together with a sealing ring. Waterproof sealant is applied to the joints, and waterproof glands are provided at each wire entry point to ensure an overall IP68 waterproof rating. The control module 5 includes an analog-to-digital converter and a comparison and calculation unit. The potential signals from five monitoring points (left arm A, right arm B, left leg C, right leg D, and head E) are filtered before being input to the control module 5. The equipotential shorting module 7 contains five solid-state relays K1-K5, whose inputs are connected to the five monitoring points respectively, and whose outputs are connected in parallel.

[0050] The working process of this wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device is as follows: Figure 5 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0051] — Power on;

[0052] —Preset safety threshold Vth=5V (can be adjusted as needed);

[0053] —Rescue personnel donned their protective gear and entered the water;

[0054] —Control module 5 collects the potential of five points A, B, C, D, and E in real time and calculates the maximum potential difference ΔVmax between each pair;

[0055] —If ΔVmax≤Vth, continue monitoring; if ΔVmax>Vth, trigger simultaneously: 1) Alarm module 6 alarms; 2) Solid state relays K1-K5 engage, shorting five points to form an equipotential body;

[0056] —After the short-circuit protection state is maintained for a first preset time (preferably 1 second in this embodiment), the relay automatically disconnects;

[0057] —Enter the second preset duration monitoring window (preferably 20 milliseconds in this embodiment): quickly obtain ΔVmax in a single or repeated measurement;

[0058] —If ΔVmax≤Vth, the alarm is deactivated and normal monitoring resumes; if ΔVmax>Vth, the relay is activated again for a short-circuit protection for the first preset duration (1 second), and the alarm remains active. This cycle continues until the danger is eliminated.

[0059] Example 2

[0060] Based on Example 1, this example adds a waist conductive ring 8.

[0061] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown, a conductive ring 8 is strapped to the waist of the rescuer, serving as a monitoring point F. A separate insulated wire 2' travels up the torso to the waterproof control box 4. Correspondingly, the control module 5 is upgraded to a six-channel input, and the equipotential bonding module 7 adds a solid-state relay K6, connected to the waist monitoring point F.

[0062] The working process of Example 2 is exactly the same as that of Example 1, but with the following enhancements:

[0063] 1. Enhanced protection of the core area: When the relay is short-circuited, the waist conductive ring 8 ensures forced equipotential on the torso surface, providing more direct protection for the heart.

[0064] 2. Improved monitoring accuracy: Suppose that due to violent movement, the left ankle bandage C makes poor contact, causing a jump in the potential data at point C. At this time, the control module 5 can determine that point C is abnormal by comparing the data at point F on the waist with those at points D on the leg and A on the arm, thus avoiding false alarms, or it can still rely on the combination of point F and other points to maintain the overall safety judgment.

[0065] Example 3

[0066] Based on Embodiment 1 or 2, this embodiment provides a waterproof quick-connect terminal 9 at the converging end of the insulated wire 2.

[0067] like Figure 3 As shown, the waterproof quick-connect terminal 9 includes a male connector 91 and a female connector 92. The male connector 91 is welded to four (or five) insulated wires 2 from the limbs (and waist) and fixed as a single unit using injection molding. The female connector 92 is embedded or suspended on the outer rear edge of the safety helmet, and its highly flexible cable is connected to the input terminals of the control module 5 and the equipotential shorting module 7 inside the waterproof control box 4. A further fixing structure can be provided between the cable of the female connector 92 and the safety helmet.

[0068] Instructions for use: Rescuers should first put on the limb straps 1, waist conductive ring 8, and safety helmet (including head conductive electrode 3). Then, after tidying up all the wires, insert the male connector 91 into the female connector 92 and lock it in place (using a bayonet or threaded locking method). A "click" sound indicates that the connection is complete and all monitoring points are connected to the controller. A self-test can be performed before entering the water. After the operation, press the unlock button and pull out the male connector to separate the "wearable parts" from the "safety helmet part," making it easy to clean and store, and preventing wire tangling.

[0069] Example 4

[0070] As a further optimization, the waterproof control box 4 is equipped with an external adjustment knob (not shown in the figure) covered by a waterproof membrane, used to adjust the first preset duration (e.g., adjustable between 0.5 and 3 seconds) to adapt to waters with varying degrees of leakage severity. Simultaneously, the control module 5 incorporates a wireless communication unit (such as a Wi-Fi or LoRa module), whose antenna uses a waterproof external antenna or an internal design. This allows for real-time transmission of alarm signals, potential difference values, and GPS positioning information to a command terminal on shore or a boat, facilitating the command center's monitoring of the rescue personnel's safety. The entire waterproof control box 4 has undergone airtightness testing and can operate normally at a water depth of 50 meters, meeting the needs of various water rescue scenarios.

[0071] The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood rescue, based on this invention, includes at least four limb conductive straps and one head conductive electrode. It also includes a control module and an equipotential short-circuit module. The control module monitors the potential at multiple points, including the limbs and head, in real time. When the potential difference between any two points exceeds a safety threshold, an alarm is triggered, and a relay in the equipotential short-circuit module closes, short-circuiting all monitoring points for a preset duration to achieve equipotential protection for the human body. The device can also employ waterproof quick-connect terminals, and the control box integrating the control module and the equipotential short-circuit module uses an IP68 waterproof structure to ensure normal operation in immersion environments. Furthermore, it can be made easy to wear and store by using flexible conductive fabric as the limb conductive straps and laying the insulated wires along clothing. Thus, this invention features optimized dynamic short-circuit logic and a full-condition waterproof design, balancing continuous protection, real-time monitoring, and environmental adaptability. It effectively prevents rescuers from electric shock due to potential differences in floodwater, significantly improving the safety of rescue operations.

[0072] In this specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. However, it will be apparent that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the specification and drawings should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims

1. A wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief, characterized in that, include: At least four limb conductive straps and one head conductive electrode are provided. The four limb conductive straps are respectively tied to the four limbs of the human body, and the head conductive electrode is in contact with the human head. Each of the limb conductive straps and the head conductive electrode is electrically connected to the control module and the equipotential shorting module. The control module includes a potential monitoring unit and a comparison control unit. The potential monitoring unit is used to monitor the potential signals of monitoring points, including the conductive straps for each limb and the conductive electrodes on the head, in real time. The comparison control unit determines whether the potential difference between any two monitoring points exceeds a safety threshold, and issues an alarm signal when the safety threshold is exceeded. The equipotential short-circuit module includes multiple relays, with the contacts of the relays connected to the monitoring points. All contacts are normally open. When the control module detects that the potential difference between any two monitoring points exceeds the safety threshold, the control module controls the equipotential short-circuit module to close all relays, short-circuiting all monitoring points. After maintaining this connection for a first preset time, all relays are then disconnected, and the control module restarts monitoring the potential signals of each monitoring point.

2. The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to claim 1, characterized in that, The equipotential short-circuit module is also used to maintain a second preset duration after all relays are disconnected, during which the control module re-monitors the potential difference between each monitoring point. If the re-monitored potential difference is lower than the safety threshold, the relay of the equipotential short-circuit module is kept in the open state, and the alarm signal is cleared. If the re-monitored potential difference is still higher than the safety threshold, then control all relays of the equipotential short-circuit module to close again, maintain for the first preset time, and then after opening all relays, repeat the above process until the potential difference is lower than the safety threshold.

3. The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: A waist conductive ring is used to be tied to the waist or torso of a human body and is electrically connected to the control module and the equipotential shorting module, serving as a monitoring point.

4. The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned monitoring points is connected to the control module and the equipotential short-circuit module via corresponding insulated wires.

5. The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to claim 4, characterized in that, The limb conductive straps and waist conductive rings are made of flexible conductive fabric or elastic straps with a conductive coating, so as to make close contact with the skin without affecting limb movement. The insulated wires are laid along the inside or outside of the clothing and are fixed to the clothing by buckles or sewing.

6. The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes an alarm module, which is connected to the control module and is used to issue an audible, visual, and vibration alarm when the control module issues the alarm signal.

7. The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to claim 6, characterized in that, The control module, alarm module, and equipotential short-circuit module are integrated into a control box, which is located inside or outside the safety helmet.

8. The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to claim 7, characterized in that, The head electrode is located inside the helmet, and when the user puts on the helmet, the head electrode fits against the human head.

9. The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control box has a waterproof sealing structure, which includes: the lead cable of the control box is connected by a waterproof connector or potting; the joints of the control box shell are coated with sealant, a sealing ring is set on the joint surface or an ultrasonic welding process is used; the internal circuit of the control box is potted to give the control box a waterproof rating of IP68 or higher.

10. The wearable equipotential monitoring and alarm device for flood relief according to claim 9, characterized in that, The waterproof connector is a waterproof quick-connect terminal. The insulated wire is provided with a waterproof quick-connect terminal at the connection point with the control box. The waterproof quick-connect terminal includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part that cooperate with each other. The first connecting part is electrically connected to each insulated wire, and the second connecting part is connected to the control module through a high-flexibility cable.

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