portable advertising system

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable warning system (1, 100) intended to alert people on or near railway tracks of a potential danger, comprising a high-power horn (21, 121) equipped with a sound-producing mechanism (3, 103) and at least one triggering element (4, 5, 104, 105) of said mechanism (3, 103). According to the invention, said system (1, 100) comprises an attachment structure (2, 102) enabling said high-power horn (21, 121) to be carried by the body of an operator, said attachment structure (2, 102) enabling the portable warning system (1, 100) to rest stably on the ground, said system (1, 100) being usable in a first configuration in which it rests on the ground and a second configuration in which it is carried by the operator by means of the attachment structure (2, 102). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of invention: portable announcement system

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable announcement system.

[0002] On a national or international scale, in the context of operations in the railway environment, there are 3 types of announcements: - the classic horn, - the high-power horn (TGP), - the Radio Announcement Device (DAPR).

[0003] These types of warning devices are intended to provide warnings and announcements of railway traffic to personnel working on or near the tracks, or to signal the approach of traffic.

[0004] The principle of a high-power horn is as follows: the emission of the sound signal announcing danger is obtained by vibrating a metal membrane, by means of a source of compressed air stored by pumping into two tanks, using a hand pump. Current high-power horns weigh more than 10 kg and are carried, either over the shoulder or at arm's length by an operator. As a result of this situation, this operator will quickly tire in the field and risks being less efficient in his daily tasks, developing musculoskeletal disorders.

[0005] In order to overcome this problem, a first solution consisted of developing high-power horn transport trolleys to physically relieve the operators required to handle such a high-power horn. However, a disadvantage of this type of solution is that these trolleys are not designed to roll on any type of terrain, in particular uneven terrain with a multiplicity of reliefs.

[0006] Publication FR2989813 relates to a second portable announcement system solution, the main characteristic of which is to incorporate a mini electrically powered air compressor into the high-power horn, thus eliminating the need for large and bulky pressurized gas reserves. However, even if the high-power horn described in this document has a reduced size and is easy to operate, it still remains difficult to handle and transport.

[0007] A portable announcement system according to the invention is configured to be able to be transported without particular effort, while remaining efficient.

[0008] The invention relates to a portable announcement system intended to alert persons present on or near railway tracks of a potential danger, comprising a sound production mechanism including a high-power horn, and at least one triggering element for said mechanism.

[0009] According to the invention, the system comprises an attachment structure allowing said sound production mechanism to be carried by the body of an operator, said attachment structure allowing the portable announcement system to rest stably on the ground, said system being usable in a first configuration in which it rests on the ground and a second configuration in which it is carried by the operator by means of the attachment structure. The portable announcement system according to the invention has a double originality: - it can be carried by an operator and can rest stably on the ground, both of which can be achieved without modifying the attachment structure or the other elements of the portable announcement system, including the sound production mechanism and the triggering element of said mechanism, -it can be used both on the ground and when carried by an operator by means of the attachment structure. When used on the ground, it is comparable to existing systems. When carried by the operator, it can be directly activated by the operator, without the latter having to engage in complicated contortions or move said system. The portable announcement system according to the invention may comprise only one triggering element which is easily accessible when said system is resting on the ground and when said system is carried by the operator. It may also be provided with two separate specific triggering elements, one allowing the sound to be triggered when said system is resting on the ground, and the other allowing the sound to be triggered when said system is carried by the operator. The triggering element may for example be a pivotally mounted lever, or a push button.The attachment structure may for example consist of a backpack, a carrying rack, a specific belt, or specific shoulder straps. Preferably, the attachment structure has a rigid frame to be able to carry the sound production mechanism and said at least one triggering element. Advantageously, the attachment structure has a flat bottom allowing the sound production mechanism to rest on a flat, preferably horizontal, surface.

[0010] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the portable announcement system comprises a first element for triggering the sound production mechanism allowing an operator to trigger said mechanism while the portable announcement system is carried by his body thanks to the attachment structure, said system comprising a second element for triggering the sound production mechanism allowing an operator to trigger said mechanism while the portable announcement system is placed on the ground. In this way, the location of each trigger element will be optimized to allow an operator to trigger the sound production mechanism in the best conditions in the configuration considered, either placed on the ground or carried by the operator. To remove any ambiguity, the first trigger element and the second trigger element are different.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the attachment structure is a tubular and rigid carrying rack, the attachment structure having two flexible straps intended for the passage of the two arms of an operator. Such an attachment structure is perfectly suited to the carrying of heavy and bulky equipment, such as for example a portable announcement system according to the invention. The material constituting the carrying rack can for example be a metal, or a composite material including glass or carbon fiber. The two straps will allow an operator to carry the portable announcement system on his back, without tiring.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the carrying rack comprises two vertical segments connected to each other by a plurality of horizontal segments superimposed on each other, said carrying rack comprising a horizontal lower base above which extend three horizontal retaining segments. The lower base has a dual function: to serve as a support for the high-power horn comprising the sound production mechanism when the portable announcement system is carried by the operator, and to serve as a base to allow said portable announcement system to rest stably on a flat, preferably horizontal, surface. The lower base and the three retaining segments will define a sort of basket in which at least part of the sound production mechanism will be placed.The different segments present in the attachment structure will serve to stiffen said structure, and will also serve as anchor points for certain elements of the sound production mechanism.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the portable announcement system comprises two air tanks, a high-power pneumatic horn and two triggering elements for releasing the air contained in the two tanks towards the high-power pneumatic horn to produce a sound, among the two triggering elements the first triggering element being placed on the side of the carrying rack so that the operator can, by a simple bend of his arm, actuate said first triggering element, and the second triggering element being placed in an upper zone of said carrying rack. This is a configuration for which the high-power horn is of pneumatic origin. The first triggering element is directly accessible by the operator when he carries the portable announcement system on his back.In fact, he only has to bend his arm so that his hand reaches the best position effortlessly. conditions, said first trigger element in order to then activate it. When the portable announcement system is placed on the ground, the second trigger element is located in a high area of ​​said system and is therefore easily accessible by an operator standing next to this portable announcement system.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two triggering elements are constituted by levers mounted pivoting between an open position for which they allow the air stored in the two reservoirs to pass into the high-power horn to emit a sound, and a closed position for which they prevent the passage of this air into said high-power horn. These are triggering elements whose actuation is simple and well controlled, since said levers are similar to actuation handles.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two air reservoirs are elongated and extend vertically, the high-power pneumatic horn being elongated and extending horizontally in a lower zone of the carrying rack. Such an arrangement of the different constituent elements of the sound production mechanism tends to make this system compact, since it does not favor a particular direction of extension.

[0016] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, a protective casing surrounds the high-power pneumatic horn, said casing having at least one opening located opposite a sound emission source of the high-power pneumatic horn. In the configuration for which the portable announcement system is carried by an operator, the high-power horn is located on the operator's back, who therefore cannot see it. He therefore risks easily knocking it against equipment present on the ground, with significant risks of damage to said horn. The casing will therefore protect this high-power horn from these untimely impacts. On the other hand, the casing must not prevent the sound emitted by the high-power horn from being broadcast outside, hence the presence of at least one opening on the casing intended to promote the diffusion of this sound.

[0017] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the portable announcement system comprises two electric batteries of 24V each, an electric siren, a manual dynamo to produce an instantaneous current which will trigger the siren, and at least one device for monitoring the charge of the batteries. This is a configuration for which the high-power horn is of electrical origin. In addition to producing the sound, the various elements present in the electric portable announcement system are intended to verify that said system is still operational by alerting the operator in the event that at least one of the two batteries is completely discharged. The manual dynamo constitutes an independent and autonomous energy source, which can be activated at any time, if the batteries electric batteries were discharged. Preferably, the hand dynamo is attached to one of the two straps of the attachment structure, so that it can be easily activated by an operator carrying the portable announcement system on his back. Of the two electric batteries, a first battery is primarily used to trigger the electric siren, with a second battery being present to replace the first battery in the event of its failure or if it were completely discharged.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the first triggering element is constituted by a button placed on one of the two straps of the carrying rack so that the operator can simply bend his arm to press said button, the second triggering element being constituted by a button placed in an upper zone of said carrying rack. The first triggering element is directly accessible by the operator when he is carrying the portable announcement system according to the invention. Indeed, he only needs to bend his arm so that his hand reaches, without effort and in the best conditions, the button constituting the first triggering element to be able to activate it. When the portable announcement system is resting on the ground, the second triggering element is in a high zone of said system and is therefore easily accessible by an operator standing next to this portable announcement system.

[0019] A portable announcement system according to the invention has the advantage of being able to be used in two distinct configurations, one in which it rests on the ground and the other in which it is carried by a user. The term "usable" means that the sound production mechanism can be directly activated in the two preceding configurations, without having to move said system or modify its structure. As a result, such a system can be used in a multiplicity of situations, without an operator experiencing any particular fatigue. The use of the portable announcement system in the two preceding configurations is made possible by a judicious addition of a simple attachment structure, and an additional triggering element positioned in an optimized manner when the portable announcement system is carried by an operator.It also has the advantage of having an additional feature, namely being usable while carried by an operator, without being heavier or more cumbersome than existing portable announcement systems.

[0020] A detailed description of two preferred embodiments of a portable announcement system according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0021] [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a portable announcement system according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view from another angle of the portable announcement system of [Fig.l],

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a portable announcement system according to the invention,

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view from another angle of the portable announcement system of [Fig.3],

[0025] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view from another angle of the portable announcement system of Figures 3 and 4.

[0026] A portable announcement system according to the invention has the particularity of being able to be used in two different configurations: -a first configuration for which it is placed on the ground, -a second configuration for which it is carried on the back of an operator.

[0027] The term "used" means that the sound production mechanism of the portable announcement system can be triggered directly in each of the two preceding configurations.

[0028] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment 1 of a portable announcement system according to the invention comprises an attachment structure 2, a sound production mechanism 3 and two elements 4, 5 for triggering said mechanism 3 to produce sound. This first embodiment 1 refers to a portable announcement system of pneumatic origin.

[0029] The attachment structure 2 is a tubular and rigid carrying rack comprising two vertical segments 6, 7 and separated, and five horizontal segments 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 superimposed, joining said two vertical segments 6, 7. All of these segments 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 define an object which is comparable to a ladder having an upper horizontal segment 8, a lower horizontal segment 12 and three intermediate horizontal segments 9, 10, 11 placed between said upper horizontal segment 8 and said lower horizontal segment 12. The upper horizontal segment 8 is placed above the lower horizontal segment 12, the five horizontal segments 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 being placed in line with each other, and therefore, being aligned vertically.The attachment structure 2 has a lower base 13 originating on the lower horizontal segment 12 and extending horizontally, said lower base 13 being intended to support different equipment constituting the sound production mechanism 3. The attachment structure 2 comprises two flexible straps 14, 15 each composed of a strip of thin material and joining two intermediate horizontal segments 9, 11 of the attachment structure 2. These two flexible straps 14, 15 are positioned on one side of the tubular structure constituted by the two vertical segments 6, 7 and the five horizontal segments 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, the lower base 13 being placed on the other side of said tubular structure. These . two flexible straps 14, 15 will serve as carrying straps for an operator required to carry the portable announcement system 10 on his back, said operator passing his arms through said flexible straps 14, 15, which will be placed around the shoulders of said operator.

[0030] The attachment structure 2 further has three retaining segments 16, 17, 18, two of which lateral segments 16, 18 are parallel and originate on the two vertical segments 6, 7 between two intermediate segments 10, 11, and a connecting segment 17 of which joins the ends of the two lateral segments 16, 18 while being perpendicular to said two lateral segments 16, 18. The three retaining segments 16, 17, 18 are placed above the lower base 13 and in line with said lower base 13. More precisely, the three retaining segments 16, 17, 18 are placed in line with the rectilinear edges delimiting the lower base 13, said three retaining segments 16, 17, 18 and the lower base 13 defining a sort of basket. Preferably, the different segments 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18 are hollow cylindrical parts.Advantageously, said segments 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18 are made of metal or of a composite material comprising fiberglass or carbon fiber. The carrying rack 2 comprises a backrest 29 in the form of a plate extending between the two vertical segments 6, 7, and placed in abutment against the three intermediate horizontal segments 9, 10, 11. This plate is slightly profiled to closely match the shape of an operator's back, so that the portable announcement system 10 has a stable position on the operator's back.

[0031] The sound production mechanism 3 comprises: -two air tanks 19, 20 each preferably having a capacity of 21 liters and a working pressure of 10 bars. These two tanks 19, 20 are elongated and extend vertically above the lower base 13, -a high-capacity pneumatic horn 21, capable of emitting a sound of 126dB at 1m. This pneumatic horn 21 is elongated and extends horizontally behind the lower base 13, being located between said base 13 and the three retaining segments 16, 17, 18, and being parallel to the horizontal segments 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 connecting the two vertical segments 6, 7. This pneumatic horn 21 is fixed to the attachment structure 2, and is protected by a casing 22 surrounding said pneumatic horn 21 while itself being fixed to said attachment structure 2. This casing 22 has an elongated main body 23, ending on each side with an edge 24, 25 folded at 90° and having an opening.The casing 22 is arranged in such a way that the main body 23 extends along the horn 21 outside thereof, and that the folded edges 24, 25 surround said horn 21, the opening of each of said edges 24, 25 allowing the sound produced by said horn 21 to be diffused into the air. - a battery-powered pneumatic inflator 30 to bring the tanks 19, 20 back to maximum pressure, - a manual pump 26 to restore the tanks 19, 20 to maximum pressure in the event of failure of the pneumatic inflator, -two pressure gauges 27, 28 for monitoring the pressure in the tanks 19, 20, one 27 being placed on one of the two straps 14, 15 to be visible to the operator when the portable announcement system 10 is on his back, the other being placed in an upper area of ​​the portable announcement system 10 to be visible to an operator who would be standing next to said system 10 which would be placed on the ground.

[0032] Among the two triggering elements, a first triggering element 4 is fixed to the attachment structure 2, outside one of the two vertical segments 6, 7 and substantially at the same height as the retaining segments 16, 17, 18. This first triggering element 4 allows the operator carrying the portable announcement system 1 on his back, to directly trigger the sound production mechanism 3, by means of a simple bend of his arm in order to bring his hand to the level of said first triggering element 4. Indeed, the operator does not have to move the portable announcement system 1, nor to modify its structure to be able to trigger the sound production mechanism 3, while said system 1 is on his back.Of the two triggering elements, a second triggering element 5 is placed in an upper area of ​​the portable announcement system 1, so that an operator standing next to said system 1 which is placed on the ground can trigger the sound production mechanism without having to engage in exaggerated contortions. For this first embodiment, each triggering element 4, 5 is constituted by a lever pivotally mounted between a closed position in which it prevents the air from the two reservoirs 19, 20 from passing into the horn 21 at high power, and an open position in which it allows this air to pass into said horn 21 to emit a sound.

[0033] Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 5, a second embodiment 100 of a portable announcement system according to the invention comprises an attachment structure 102, a sound production mechanism 103 and two elements 104, 105 for triggering said mechanism 103 to produce sound. This second embodiment 100 refers to a portable announcement system of electrical origin. This second embodiment 100 differs from the first embodiment 1 described above, essentially at the level of the sound production mechanism 103 and the two triggering elements 104, 105, the attachment structure 102 remaining identical to that 2 of the first embodiment.

[0034] For this second embodiment, the sound production mechanism 103 comprises: -two 24V batteries 119, 120 preferably having a unit capacity equivalent to 8001 liters of air. In this way each battery 119, 120 can occupy a workstation, the doubling of the battery 119, 120 being a safety feature in the event of failure of the battery used 119, 120, the other battery then being able to take over. The two batteries 119, 120 are elongated and rest on the lower base 113 while being parallel to each other, and so that their longitudinal axes extend parallel to the horizontal segments 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 of the attachment structure 102, - an electric siren 121 capable of emitting a sound of 126dB at 1m. This electric siren 121 is in the form of a parallelepiped box, resting on the retaining segments 16, 17, 18 of the attachment structure 102. For this second embodiment, two additional segments 130, 131 have been added to the attachment structure 2 of the first embodiment, above the retaining segments 16, 17, 18 to compartmentalize the space located on said retaining segments 16, 17, 18, the electric siren being placed in one of these compartments, - a manual emergency dynamo 122 intended to produce an instantaneous electric current which will trigger the electric siren 121. This manual dynamo 122 is placed on one of the two flexible straps 14, 15 of the attachment structure 102, so that it can be handled simply by an operator, whether the portable announcement system 100 rests on the ground, or whether it is carried by said operator, -at least two devices for monitoring the charge of the two batteries 119, 120. These devices may for example consist of light devices capable of displaying a specific color, representative of the state of charge of the battery 119, 120. For example, a green color will correspond to a state of charge of the battery 119, 120 greater than 70%, an orange color to a state of charge between 70% and 30% and a red color to a state of charge less than 30%. A monitoring device will be placed in an upper area of ​​the portable announcement system 100, so that an operator standing next to said system placed on the ground can easily assess the state of charge of the batteries 119, 120. Another monitoring device will be placed in one of the two flexible straps 14, 15 to allow an operator carrying the portable announcement system 100 on his back to have direct access to the charge rate of said batteries 119, 120, -electrical wiring for detecting a failure of one of the two batteries 119, 120 and automatically switching to the other healthy battery 119, 120.

[0035] It should be noted that the manual dynamo 122 can be activated at any time, whether the electric batteries 119, 120 are operational, faulty or with a zero electrical charge.

[0036] Among the two triggering elements, a first triggering element 104 is fixed to one of the two flexible straps 14, 15 of the attachment structure 102, to allow an operator carrying the portable announcement system 100 on his back, to directly trigger the sound production mechanism 103, by means of a simple bend of his arm in order to bring his hand to the level of said first triggering element 104. Indeed, the operator does not have to move the portable announcement system 100, nor to modify its structure to be able to trigger the sound production mechanism 103 while said system 100 is on his back.Of the two triggering elements, a second triggering element 105 is placed in an upper area of ​​the portable announcement system 100, so that an operator standing next to said system 100 which is placed on the ground, can trigger the sound production mechanism without having to engage in exaggerated contortions. For this second embodiment, each triggering element 104, 105 is constituted by a push button similar to a switch. A simple press with the finger on said push button is enough to trigger the electric siren 121, or to interrupt it.

Claims

Claims

1. A portable announcement system (1, 100) for alerting persons present on or near railway tracks of a potential danger, comprising a sound-producing mechanism (3, 103) including a high-power horn (21, 121), and at least one triggering element for said mechanism (3, 103), characterized in that: said system (1, 100) comprises an attachment structure (2, 102) allowing said sound-producing mechanism (3, 103) (21, 121) to be carried by the body of an operator, said attachment structure (2, 102) being a tubular and rigid carrying rack, said attachment structure (2, 102) having two flexible straps (14, 15) intended for the passage of the two arms of an operator, said attachment structure (2, 102) allows the system (1, 100) portable advertisement to rest stably on the ground, said system (1,100) being usable in a first configuration in which it rests on the ground and a second configuration in which it is carried by the operator by means of the attachment structure (2, 102), said system (1, 100) comprises a first element (4, 104) for triggering the sound production mechanism (3, 103) allowing an operator to trigger said mechanism (3, 103) while the portable announcement system (1, 100) is carried by his body by means of the attachment structure (2, 102), and comprises a second element (5, 105) for triggering the sound production mechanism (3, 103) allowing an operator to trigger said mechanism (3, 103) while the portable announcement system (1, 100) is placed on the ground.,

2. Portable announcement system according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrying rack (2, 102) comprises two vertical segments (6, 7) connected to each other by a plurality of horizontal segments (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) superimposed on each other, and in that said carrying rack (2, 102) comprises a horizontal lower base (13) above which extend three horizontal retaining segments (16, 17, 18).

3. Portable announcement system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it comprises two reservoirs air (19, 20), a high-power pneumatic horn (21) and two triggering elements (4, 5) for releasing the air contained in the two reservoirs (19, 20) towards the high-power pneumatic horn (21) to produce a sound, and in that among the two triggering elements the first triggering element (4) is placed on the side of the carrying rack (2) so that the operator can, by a simple bend of his arm, actuate said first triggering element (4), and the second triggering element (5) is placed in an upper zone of said carrying rack (2).

4. Portable announcement system according to claim 3, characterized in that the two triggering elements (4, 5) are constituted by levers pivotally mounted between an open position for which they allow the air stored in the two reservoirs (19, 20) to pass into the horn (21) at high power to emit a sound, and a closed position for which they prevent the passage of this air into said horn (21) at high power.

5. Portable announcement system according to any one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that the two air reservoirs (19, 20) are elongated and extend vertically, and in that the high-power pneumatic horn (21) is elongated and extends horizontally in a lower area of ​​the carrying rack (2).

6. Portable announcement system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a protective casing (22) surrounds the high-power pneumatic horn (21), and in that said casing (22) has at least one opening located opposite a sound emission source of the high-power pneumatic horn (21).

7. Portable announcement system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it comprises two electric batteries (119, 120) of 24V each, an electric siren (121), a manual dynamo (122) for producing an instantaneous current which will trigger the siren (121), and at least one device for monitoring the charge of the batteries (119, 120).

8. Portable announcement system according to claim 7, characterized in that the first triggering element (104) is constituted by a button placed on one of the two straps (14, 15) of the carrying rack (102) so that the operator can, by a simple folding of his arm pressing said button, and in that the second triggering element (105) is constituted by a button placed in an upper zone of said carrying rack (102).

Images