Method for operating a remote-controlled portable fire extinguisher

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote-controlled portable fire extinguisher, which emits a status message and / or the status of which can be retrieved, with the aid of a GSM signal. The present invention further relates to a method for remotely monitoring a portable fire extinguisher, wherein the portable fire extinguisher can be certified by means of a digital signature if ready for use.

Description

[0001] Procedure for operating a remotely monitored hand-held fire extinguisher

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a hand-held fire extinguisher according to the features in claim 1.

[0003] Hand-held fire extinguishers are known from the state of the art. They are kept at various locations to give those nearby the opportunity to fight the fire quickly and effectively in the event of a fire. Such hand-held fire extinguishers are used particularly in public facilities and commercially run businesses, but also in private households. In most cases, the provision of hand-held fire extinguishers is a legal requirement. To ensure that hand-held fire extinguishers, once installed, can be used immediately, even for years to come, there are various laws and standards as well as occupational safety regulations that require these hand-held fire extinguishers to be checked for functionality at specific intervals, for example, every two years or annually.

[0004] For this purpose, it is imperative that a suitably qualified and trained person visits each hand-held fire extinguisher on site at the specified intervals, carries out at least a visual and technical inspection and leaves a test seal and corresponding test report.

[0005] The object of the present invention is, based on the prior art, to demonstrate a possibility of monitoring hand-held fire extinguishers while at the same time complying with specified testing standards and minimizing the workload for testing.

[0006] The above-mentioned object is achieved by a method for a remotely monitored hand-held fire extinguisher according to the features in claim 1.

[0007] The hand-held fire extinguisher has a container with a fire extinguishing medium, a handle for transport and also for operating the hand-held fire extinguisher, an outlet nozzle and optionally a hose.

[0008] The method according to the invention is characterized in that a remote monitoring module is provided for monitoring the condition of the hand-held fire extinguisher. With the help of the remote monitoring module, condition data of the hand-held fire extinguisher can be recorded, evaluated, sent or retrieved, in particular as described below in this application. According to the invention, the method is characterized in that a test report is then created or processed using the condition data, whereby this test report or the result is in turn sent to the operator of the hand-held fire extinguisher and / or to third parties using a digital signature. The third parties can be, for example, an insurance company, a public authority, a fire safety officer or a partner company. The test report or result can also be sent in the form of a digital test sticker or a digital seal. Based on this test sticker orThe seal then indicates that the tested hand-held fire extinguisher has met all criteria and is ready for use.

[0009] The test report depends on the respective national legislation, the responsible technical inspection service, and other fire protection measures or conditions. The final report should then contain a status report or the results of the test report. The fire extinguisher is ready for use. It meets the conditions of the test report and is ready for use. The test report is therefore a record of a visual and / or mechanical inspection on-site, which is, however, enabled remotely via remote monitoring.

[0010] The test report or its results can then be stored, for example, in the respective company's internal documentation. The test report can also be printed, for example, printed on an appropriate adhesive label and then attached to the fire extinguisher. In this case, a seal or label, for example in the form of a barcode or QR code, would be printed, which represents the fulfillment of all test criteria. The test report can, for example, have an additional QR code, so that a safety officer can immediately verify the authenticity of the test report, which is then also stored, for example, in a database, by scanning the QR code.

[0011] This offers a significant advantage over previous state-of-the-art procedures. These required a dedicated employee to check and certify the condition and operational readiness of the fire extinguisher at specified intervals during an on-site inspection. The combination of remote monitoring and a digitally certified test report and results makes it possible to perform these activities entirely remotely. This offers immense potential savings, as employees no longer need to attend on-site appointments to test the functionality and operational readiness of a specific portable fire extinguisher. This saves personnel. Furthermore, resources are saved, as no vehicles, travel time, etc. are required.If the test certificates, i.e. test report and / or test result, are stored digitally only, so that, for example, the fire extinguisher can be read via a barcode or QR code and a check can then determine that a digital test certificate is stored for this fire extinguisher, this also saves printing costs and paper costs as well as costs for any stickers and thus plastic costs, which is both economical and environmentally friendly.

[0012] In contrast to previously state-of-the-art NFC tags, it is therefore not necessary to store the test report on site on the NFC tag; instead, the test report or test result and thus the test seal can be stored or deposited remotely. In this way, the fire extinguisher, in particular, can be tested via remote inspection or remote monitoring. The test result can then be stored on a server or in a cloud. The test result is then stored for the identification of the fire extinguisher, for example via barcode or QR code. If the fire extinguisher is then randomly checked on site, the test result or test seal can be retrieved from a server and confirmed by reading the barcode or QR code. On-site inspection and the on-site application of a test seal or test label can therefore be completely eliminated.

[0013] The digital signature is a qualified digital signature, qualified electronic signature (QES), or a comparable qualified signature. This ensures that an inspector's handwritten signature, reflected in their inspection report or inspection sticker, is stored in a forgery-proof manner. The inspector or inspection organizer, who, for example, monitors the remote monitoring testing software, thus complies with the required testing standard, i.e., the minimum requirements for the respective country-specific or other additional regulations, such as internal operating regulations, fire safety regulations, or similar, thus meeting the minimum standards necessary for the inspection as well as the minimum standards necessary for certification of the inspection.

[0014] The remotely monitored portable fire extinguisher can be designed as described below. It has a container containing a fire extinguishing agent. This can be a constant-pressure extinguisher. However, it can also be a portable fire extinguisher with rechargeable technology.

[0015] Furthermore, a handle is provided for transporting and / or operating the portable fire extinguisher. This handle is located near the upper end of the container.

[0016] An outlet nozzle is also provided. This outlet nozzle can optionally be located at one end of a hose.

[0017] According to the invention, the handheld fire extinguisher is now characterized by the fact that it is assigned a remote monitoring module. In particular, this remote monitoring module is located in the area of ​​the handle. The remote monitoring module measures and thus has sensors for the pressure and temperature in the container or the environment, in particular the ambient temperature. Thus, the pressure and temperature in the interior of the container can be measured. However, the pressure and temperature of the environment can also be measured. A combination of these is also possible.

[0018] The remote monitoring module also has a motion sensor.

[0019] The remote monitoring module can then transmit the status of the hand-held fire extinguisher via a GSM signal; alternatively or additionally, the status of the hand-held fire extinguisher can be retrieved via the GSM signal.

[0020] In particular, an M2M GSM connection is used for this purpose. This enables almost continuous communication with a corresponding receiver with extremely low energy consumption. This allows, for example, a status report to be sent several times a week, especially several times a day, and even several times an hour, for example, and a status report to be queried as needed or at specified intervals.

[0021] According to the invention, it is further provided in particular that the end of the hose or the outlet nozzle thereon is detachably attached to the handheld fire extinguisher, in particular to the container of the handheld fire extinguisher. Furthermore, a plug contact is provided here, which records any change in the position of the end of the hose and transmits it to the remote monitoring module. This can be used to detect tampering or similar. If, for example, such a handheld fire extinguisher is located near a school and young people try to put a piece of chewing gum into the outlet nozzle, any unauthorized use or removal can be recorded. This offers a further safety advantage over manual testing at predetermined intervals, as the end of the outlet opening or the end of the hose is thus continuously monitored. Furthermore, it can be provided that a protective device monitors one end of the outlet nozzle.For example, a type of seal or sensor can be provided that monitors any type of access or change to the outlet nozzle and issues a corresponding message.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment, a further sensor is arranged on the fire extinguisher, in particular on the remote monitoring module. The sensor measures the ambient air quality. In particular, the sensor can measure the carbon monoxide and / or carbon dioxide levels in the environment. However, it can also be a nitrogen oxide sensor or a particle sensor (PM sensor). This allows the air surrounding the fire extinguisher to be monitored, and if necessary, even a fire can be detected. This fire can then be reported via the remote monitoring module.

[0023] Furthermore, the fire extinguisher can be charged wirelessly. For this purpose, a wireless charging port can be integrated, for example, based on the principle of induction charging. A corresponding coil can be arranged, for example, on the base of the fire extinguisher. Furthermore, a corresponding power source or transmission device is then available at the location assigned to the fire extinguisher, which can supply or charge the fire extinguisher's remote monitoring module with power via wireless energy transfer. The power supply unit described later can thus be supplied with power.

[0024] Furthermore, a hood is provided over the upper part of the container, preferably over the handle, with the remote monitoring module integrated into the hood. The hood can cover the entire handle. However, the hood can also be integrated into the handle itself, so that the handheld fire extinguisher can be grasped together with the hood, depending on requirements.

[0025] Furthermore, a power supply unit is provided, which is assigned to the remote monitoring module. The remote monitoring module can also have tamper protection. This can be, for example, a sensor that monitors the immediate surroundings of the remote monitoring module. In particular, the sensor is linked to the cover. Removing the cover would thus indicate possible tampering and would also emit and generate an error signal.

[0026] Furthermore, the data is transmitted via the GSM connection, which operates independently of other infrastructure, such as a Wi-Fi connection, Bluetooth connection, or similar, allowing the fire extinguisher to be positioned completely independently, even in production halls without other network coverage. The data retrieved or transmitted via the remote monitoring module therefore includes at least the following parameters:

[0027] The device / location ID stores information such as the year of manufacture of the fire extinguisher, its position, and its model. It also contains a date / time stamp indicating when the data was retrieved. It also contains the pressure, temperature, and movement parameters. It also contains information about the plug contact, the protective device, and the tamper protection. Furthermore, information about the battery status can also be transmitted. A GPS module for location determination may also be included.

[0028] A further feature of the remotely monitored fire extinguisher according to the invention is a malfunction signal. If any of the previously described sensors fail to deliver a signal or delivers a faulty signal, an error message is transmitted from the receiving station or a cloud. The remote monitoring module confirms this error message. If, however, at least one parameter, signal, or sensor continues to deliver a faulty signal or no parameter value at all, the fire extinguisher goes into error mode. This error mode can then send out a visual and / or acoustic signal. For example, a warning tone and / or flashing lights, so that it is signaled locally that the fire extinguisher has an error message. People in the vicinity are thus informed that this fire extinguisher is not ready for use. Because the receiving station orIf the cloud indicates that the fire extinguisher is malfunctioning, a service technician can be dispatched to the fire extinguisher in question to repair and / or replace the corresponding fire extinguisher. This increases the operational safety and, above all, the operational readiness of remotely monitored fire extinguishers, as opposed to fire extinguishers monitored using conventional on-site testing methods, since operational readiness is constantly and continuously checked.

[0029] Further advantages, features, properties, and aspects of the present invention are the subject of the following description. Preferred properties are illustrated in the schematic figures. These serve to facilitate understanding of the invention.

[0030] Figure 1 shows a remotely monitored hand-held fire extinguisher,

[0031] Figure 2 an adapter disc,

[0032] Figure 3 a remote monitoring module.

[0033] Figure 1 shows a remotely monitored handheld fire extinguisher according to the invention. This handheld fire extinguisher has a container 2 containing a fire extinguishing medium (not shown in detail). A handle 3 is arranged on the upper side, allowing the fire extinguisher to be carried and also activated using the handle 3. A hose 4 extends from the handle 3 itself. At the end of the hose 4 is an outlet nozzle 5, so that, if necessary, fire extinguishing medium can be directed directly onto the source of the fire via the outlet nozzle 5. According to the invention, a remote monitoring module 6 is arranged in the area of ​​the handle 3. This module measures the temperature and pressure of the fire extinguishing medium within the container 2. This module also detects movements, i.e., when the fire extinguisher is lifted or moved to a location. A lower base pan is also shown. A plug contact 8 is arranged on the lower base pan.In the assembled state, the outlet nozzle 5 is arranged in this plug contact 8. This allows the activation or removal of the outlet nozzle 5 to be detected, so that use or at least sabotage of the fire extinguisher can be assumed. Also shown is a hood 9, which is arranged over the upper area of ​​the fire extinguisher. Furthermore, a remote communication module, in particular a GSM module, is arranged in the remote monitoring module 6, which wirelessly transmits a signal 10, in particular via a mobile radio standard, to a receiving station 11 (not shown in detail). The receiving station 11 can, for example, be a company that maintains and tests fire extinguishers.

[0034] Figure 2 shows an adapter disc. An opening 12 of the container 2 can thus be reduced from a larger diameter 13 to a smaller diameter 13. Thus, existing containers 2 can also be retrofitted with the solution according to the invention, since the remote monitoring module 6 is preferably located in the area of ​​the handle 3, thus with a screw thread. Thus, various existing fire extinguishers can also be retrofitted.

[0035] Another essential part is now shown in the schematic diagram in Figure 3. The remotely monitored hand-held fire extinguisher has a remote monitoring module 6. This sends data on the status and operational capability to a receiving station 11. This data can then be read out by a certified body 14 and checked according to the respective standards and / or laws or requirements. If the remotely monitored fire extinguisher meets all requirements and is ready for use, the certified body 14 can transmit a certificate 15, i.e. a test certificate with a digital signature. This can then optionally or additionally be stored, for example, in a cloud 16. It can also be printed out, for example, and attached directly to the fire extinguisher, for example in the form of an adhesive label or similar. However, it can also be installed, for example, in an office building orbe deposited with an appropriate safety officer or fire protection officer. The fire extinguisher can, for example, also have a barcode or barcode 17. The certificate 15 is then newly deposited in a database or cloud 16 for the barcode or barcode 17. A fire safety officer or a statutory occupational health and safety inspectorate can then inquire about the current test status of the fire extinguisher by scanning the barcode or barcode 17. This makes it possible for a test technician to no longer have to visit a locally stationed hand-held fire extinguisher at specified intervals, subject it to a visual and / or technical inspection and then certify its operational readiness with an analog seal. This saves both travel and on-site testing thanks to the interaction of remote monitoring and a certificate 15 with a digital signature.This saves resources, labor and protects the environment.

[0036] Reference symbol:

[0037] 1 - Hand-held fire extinguisher

[0038] 2 - Container

[0039] 3 - Handle

[0040] 4 - Hose

[0041] 5 - Outlet nozzle

[0042] 6 - Remote monitoring module

[0043] 7 - Base plate

[0044] 8 - Plug contact

[0045] 9 - Hood

[0046] 10 - wireless signal

[0047] 11 - Receiving station

[0048] 12 - Opening

[0049] 13 - Diameter

[0050] 14 - certified body

[0051] 15 - Certificate

[0052] 16 - Cloud

[0053] 17 - Code

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1), comprising a container with a fire extinguishing medium, a handle (3) for transporting and / or operating the hand-held fire extinguisher (1), an outlet nozzle (5) optionally with a hose (4), characterized in that a wireless remote monitoring module (6) for monitoring the condition of the hand-held fire extinguisher is assigned to the hand-held fire extinguisher (1), and the remote monitoring module (6) sends condition data of the hand-held fire extinguisher (1), said condition data being read out and a test report / test result with a digital signature being sent to the operator of the hand-held fire extinguisher (1) and / or to third parties and / or being stored in a database.

2. Method for checking a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the digital signature is a qualified electronic signature.

3. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a test seal with a code, in particular a barcode or bar code, in particular a QR code or bar code, is printed out or sent and is applied to the hand-held fire extinguisher (1), wherein upon reading the code, the most recently available test data, at least the test result of the hand-held fire extinguisher, can be retrieved.

4. Method for checking a hand-held fire extinguisher (1), in particular according to claim 1, comprising a container with a fire extinguishing medium, a handle (3) for transporting and / or operating the hand-held fire extinguisher (1), an outlet nozzle (5) optionally with a hose (4), characterized in that the hand-held fire extinguisher (1) is assigned a wireless remote monitoring module (6), which monitors the pressure and temperature in the container and has a motion sensor, wherein the remote monitoring module (6) uses a GSM signal to monitor the state of the hand-held fire extinguisher (1) is transmitted and / or the status of the hand-held fire extinguisher (1) can be retrieved.

5. Method for checking a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the end of the hose (4) is attached to the hand-held fire extinguisher (1) and that a plug contact (8) records a change in the position of the end of the hose (4) and transmits it to the remote monitoring module (6).

6. Method for checking a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a protective device monitors one end of the outlet nozzle (5).

7. Method for checking a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the remote monitoring module (6) is retrofitted.

8. Method for checking a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a hood (9) is placed over the upper part of the container, in particular over the handle (3), wherein the remote monitoring module (6) is integrated into the hood (9).

9. Method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an M2M-GSM connection is used as the GSM transmission unit.

10. Method for checking a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a power supply unit is provided which is assigned to the remote monitoring module (6).

11. Method for checking a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the remote monitoring module (6) has a manipulation protection, in particular a sensor, such that unauthorized third-party access can be detected.

12. Method for checking a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a message which can be called up via the remote monitoring module (6) has at least one of the following parameters: device ID, date / time stamp, pressure, temperature, movement, plug contact (8), protective device, battery status.

13. A method for testing a hand-held fire extinguisher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that an adapter plate is inserted into an upper opening (12) of the container, which adapter plate reduces an opening size of the opening (12).

Images