Smart safety bolt and fall prevention system including the same

Abstract

The present invention discloses a smart safety bolt comprising: a screw body capable of being coupled to mechanical equipment; and a fastening ring having a hollow formed therein that is connected to the screw body and engaged with a hook connected to a worker's safety belt, wherein the fastening ring includes a hook detection sensor inside that detects the presence or absence of the hook. According to the present invention, existing hooks can be used as they are, and by providing a sensing function in the bolt to which the hook is engaged, the economic efficiency and ease of maintenance of the system are enhanced.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a smart safety bolt and a fall prevention system including the same, and more specifically, to a smart safety bolt that is fixed to machinery, etc., where a fall is expected using screw threads, and capable of detecting whether a fall prevention hook is fastened, and a fall prevention system including the same. Background Technology

[0002] The contents presented in this section are intended merely to provide background information for the present invention and do not constitute prior art.

[0003] A safety belt, worn on the body in the form of a vest as a device to prevent workers from falling while working at heights, is connected to a safety line, and has a hook at the end of the safety line configured to be fastened to a structure such as a pipe.

[0004] However, while safety accidents caused by falling objects during work at heights may sometimes be due to the failure to wear a safety belt, they frequently occur because the hook is not fastened to the structure for various reasons, even when the belt is worn.

[0005] According to conventional technology, the fastening status of a hook was detected by using a separate equipment sensing unit or a sensing device formed integrally with the hook. However, the equipment sensing unit is not practically feasible due to cost issues, and the sensing device formed integrally with the hook had problems such as the inconvenience of requiring special manufacturing, difficulty in maintenance, and frequent malfunctions.

[0006] As a technology related to the present invention, the safety hook fastening system disclosed in the Korean Registered Patent Publication describes a system comprising a worker sensing unit, an equipment sensing unit, and a field terminal. In this related technology, the existence of the safety equipment fastened to the safety hook is ambiguous, and the equipment sensing unit detecting the fastening state between the safety hook and the safety equipment exists only conceptually without a substantive configuration; furthermore, the features of the invention are also limited to a work sequence diagram. In contrast, the present invention relates to a safety bolt capable of being fastened to a hook and having a sensing function, and a fall prevention system including the same; thus, the configuration and effects of the invention are distinguished from each other. Prior art literature

[0007] Republic of Korea Registered Patent No. 10-2376720 (Published on March 21, 2022) The problem to be solved

[0008] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a smart safety bolt capable of sensing whether a hook is fastened.

[0009] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a smart safety bolt in which the fastening status of the hook can be detected by a small number of sensors.

[0010] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a fall prevention system including a smart safety bolt with a sensing function.

[0011] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other unmentioned problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0012] In order to achieve the above objectives, according to one embodiment of the technical concept of the present invention, a smart safety bolt is disclosed comprising: a screw body capable of being coupled to mechanical equipment; and a fastening ring having a hollow formed therein that is connected to the screw body and engaged with a hook connected to a worker's safety belt, wherein the fastening ring is configured to include a hook detection sensor inside that detects the presence or absence of the hook.

[0013] In addition, the smart safety bolt and the hook detection sensor may be configured to include a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part positioned at an angle of 180 degrees on the inner surface of the fastening ring.

[0014] In addition, the smart safety bolt has a fastening ring that has a predetermined thickness and is shaped like an ellipse where the length of the vertical area is longer than the length of the horizontal area, so that the hook can be configured to fasten to the fastening ring in the horizontal area due to the direction of gravity.

[0015] In addition, the smart safety bolt can be configured such that multiple hook detection sensors are arranged on the inner surface of the horizontal area at intervals shorter than the minimum thickness of the hook.

[0016] In addition, the smart safety bolt may be configured such that the light-emitting and light-receiving parts of the even-numbered sensors among the plurality of sensors are positioned opposite to the positions of the light-emitting and light-receiving parts of the odd-numbered sensors.

[0017] Additionally, the smart safety bolt may be configured to include a first internal space in which a hook detection sensor can be mounted, and a second internal space through which a cable connected to the hook detection sensor passes.

[0018] In addition, for the convenience of assembling the hook detection sensor and wires, the smart safety bolt may be configured such that the fastening hook is composed of two pieces with a thickness divided in half, the first internal space and the second internal space are formed as indentations on the surface where the two pieces contact, and the two pieces are fastened using screws.

[0019] Additionally, the smart safety bolt may further include a control board electrically connected to a hook detection sensor, and the control board may be configured to be placed in a third internal space connected to a second internal space and to transmit a sensing value received from the hook detection sensor to an external alarm server.

[0020] In addition, the smart safety bolt may be configured such that a fourth internal space connected to a third internal space is formed inside the screw body, and the control board is electrically connected to an alarm server through a cable passing through the fourth internal space.

[0021] To achieve the above objectives, according to one embodiment of the technical concept of the present invention, a fall prevention system is disclosed comprising: a smart safety bolt having a hollow fastening ring installed in a machine and connected to a hook connected to a worker's safety belt; a person detection sensor that recognizes the presence of a worker; and an alarm server that outputs an alarm, wherein the fastening ring includes a hook detection sensor inside that detects the presence of a hook, and the alarm server is configured to output an alarm regarding the state of an unfastened hook using the sensing values ​​of the person detection sensor and the hook detection sensor.

[0022] Specific details of other embodiments are included in "Specific details for implementing the invention" and the attached "drawings".

[0023] The advantages and / or features of the present invention and the methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the various embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings.

[0024] However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the configurations of each embodiment disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and that each embodiment disclosed in this specification is provided merely to make the disclosure of the present invention complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the present invention, and that the present invention is defined only by the scope of each claim of the claims. Effects of the invention

[0025] According to the present invention, existing hooks can be used as they are, and by providing a sensing function in the bolt to which the hook is fastened, the economic efficiency and ease of maintenance of the system are high.

[0026] In addition, the workplace safety manager can identify workers who have not fastened the hook through an alarm and force them to fasten the hook.

[0027] The effects obtainable by the smart safety bolt according to the technical concept of the present invention and the fall prevention system including it are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0028] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a fall prevention system including a smart safety bolt according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a smart safety bolt according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a front view of the smart safety bolt depicted in Fig. 2. Figure 4 is an exploded view of the smart safety bolt depicted in Figure 2. Figure 5 is an internal view of the smart safety bolt depicted in Figure 2. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0029] Before describing the present invention in detail, it should be understood that the terms and words used in this specification should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, and that the inventor of the present invention may appropriately define and use the concepts of various terms to best describe their invention, and furthermore, that these terms and words should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0030] In other words, it should be understood that the terms used in this specification are used merely to describe preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to specifically limit the content of the present invention, and that these terms are defined in consideration of various possibilities of the present invention.

[0031] In addition, it should be noted that in this specification, singular expressions may include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, and that even if they are expressed in a similarly plural form, they may include the meaning of the singular.

[0032] Throughout this specification, where it is stated that a component "includes" another component, unless specifically stated otherwise, this may mean that it does not exclude any other component but may include any other component.

[0033] Furthermore, it should be noted that in cases where it is stated that a component "exists inside or is installed in connection with" another component, this component may be installed in direct connection or contact with the other component, or it may be installed at a certain distance apart, and in the case where it is installed at a certain distance apart, there may be a third component or means for fixing or connecting the component to the other component, and a description of this third component or means may be omitted.

[0034] On the other hand, if it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there is no third component or means.

[0035] Likewise, other expressions describing the relationship between each component, such as “between” and “right between”, or “adjacent to” and “directly adjacent to”, should be interpreted as having the same intent.

[0036] In addition, it should be understood that in this specification, terms such as “one side,” “other side,” “one side,” “other side,” “first,” “second,” etc., are used to clearly distinguish one component from another component, and that the meaning of the component is not restricted by such terms.

[0037] In addition, position-related terms such as "up," "down," "left," and "right" used in this specification should be understood as indicating the relative position of the corresponding component in the drawing, and unless an absolute position is specified, these position-related terms should not be understood as referring to an absolute position.

[0038] Furthermore, in specifying the reference numerals for each component of each drawing in this specification, the same component has the same reference numeral even if it is shown in different drawings; that is, the same reference numeral throughout the specification indicates the same component.

[0039] In the drawings attached to this specification, the size, position, connection relationships, etc., of each component constituting the present invention may be described in a partially exaggerated, reduced, or omitted manner for the convenience of explanation or to sufficiently clearly convey the concept of the present invention, and therefore, the proportions or scale may not be strictly accurate.

[0040] In addition, in the following description of the present invention, detailed descriptions of components that are deemed to unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present invention, such as known technologies including prior art, may be omitted.

[0041] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the relevant drawings.

[0042] FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram of a fall prevention system including a smart safety bolt according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, a fall prevention system (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a smart safety bolt (100), a control board (140), and an alarm server (300).

[0044] When the presence of a worker performing high-altitude work is confirmed, if the hook (400) is not fastened to the smart safety bolt (100), the control board (140) recognizes the non-fastening of the hook (400) and the smart safety bolt (100) using the signal output by the smart safety bolt (100), and when this is reported to the alarm server (300), the alarm server (300) can allow the hook (400) to be fastened to the smart safety bolt (100) by the supervisor or by the worker themselves through an alarm.

[0045] The smart safety bolt (100) can be installed on mechanical equipment. For example, a threaded nut may be formed on a high-rise mechanical piece that a person can reach using a ladder, etc. The threaded nut of the smart safety bolt (100) can be fastened to the threaded nut formed on the mechanical piece. A worker can wear a safety belt to which a hook (400) is attached. The hook (400) can be fastened to the smart safety bolt (100). The fastening of the hook (400) and the smart safety bolt (100) can be performed by the worker himself.

[0046] According to conventional technology, there were many cases where workers performing high-altitude work intentionally did not fasten the hook (400) and the smart safety bolt (100) for various reasons.

[0047] In a fall prevention system (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention, when a smart safety bolt (100) detects the unfastened state of a hook and notifies an alarm server (300) through a control board (140), the alarm server (300) can output an alarm to a worker so that the hook (400) can be fastened to the smart safety bolt (100).

[0048] The smart safety bolt (100) is provided with a fastening ring having a hollow (121) that is connected to a hook connected to a worker's safety belt.

[0049] The fall prevention system (10) may be configured to further include a human detection sensor that recognizes the presence of a worker. The human detection sensor may be installed on the machine equipment to which the smart safety bolt (100) is attached. The human detection sensor has the function of detecting a person climbing onto the machine equipment and transmitting the result to the alarm server (150). When a person is detected on the machine equipment, the alarm server (300) monitors whether the smart safety bolt (100) and the hook (400) are fastened. For example, when a worker climbs onto the machine equipment, the human detection sensor recognizes the worker and outputs a recognition signal, and when the control board (140) receives the human detection signal and the hook is not detected on the smart safety bolt (100) after a delay time has elapsed, the control board (140) transmits an alarm output request to the alarm server (150), and the alarm server (150) outputs an alarm using a warning light and a buzzer, etc.

[0050] A control board (140) may be provided inside the smart safety bolt (100) or outside the smart safety bolt (100). A control board (140) provided inside the smart safety bolt (100) has the function of receiving a signal from the smart safety bolt (100) regarding hook detection or non-detection and transmitting it to an alarm server (300). A control board (140) provided outside the smart safety bolt (100) has the function of receiving signals regarding hook detection or non-detection for a plurality of smart safety bolts (100) and transmitting them to an alarm server (300).

[0051] After receiving a signal from the human detection sensor indicating human detection, the alarm server (300) monitors whether the detected person, i.e., the worker, attaches the hook (400) to the smart safety bolt (100), and if the hook (400) is not attached to the smart safety bolt (100) within a set time, it outputs an alarm signal. Upon recognizing this alarm signal, the worker attaches the hook (400) to the smart safety bolt (100).

[0052] The smart safety bolt (100) connected to the hook (400) includes a connecting ring, the connecting ring includes a hook detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of the hook, and the alarm server (300) can be configured to output an alarm regarding the state of an unconnected hook using the sensing values ​​of the person detection sensor and the hook detection sensor.

[0053] FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a smart safety bolt according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] In the XYZ coordinate axes shown in Fig. 2, the X-axis direction is set as the horizontal direction of the smart safety bolt (100), the Y-axis direction as the vertical direction, and the Z-axis direction as the thickness direction.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 2, a smart safety bolt (100) is depicted. The smart safety bolt (100) includes a screw body (110) and a fastening ring (120). A hollow (121) is formed in the center of the fastening ring (120).

[0056] The screw body (110) includes a screw thread (111). The screw thread (111) engages with the screw thread of a nut installed in machinery, etc., and the smart safety bolt (100) can be firmly fixed to the machinery to withstand the weight of a worker.

[0058] The fastening ring (120) is characterized by having a predetermined thickness and an elliptical shape in which the vertical area (L1) is longer than the horizontal area (W1). The reason the fastening ring (120) is elliptical is to allow the hook (400) to be positioned so that when the fastening ring (120) is fastened to the hook (400), the hook (400) can be positioned so that it is offset to one side or the other in relation to the elliptical fastening ring (120). That is, the hook (400) is positioned in the upper horizontal area (C2) or the lower horizontal area (C1) within the fastening ring (120) (see FIG. 3). Accordingly, the smart safety bolt (100) can detect whether the hook (400) is fastened using a small number, for example, two or three hook detection sensors.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 2, the hook detection sensor (130) is positioned inside the fastening ring (120) and is not exposed to the outside. However, among the three pairs of sensor holes (123), the sensor hole (123) positioned in the lower horizontal area (C1) is depicted. Light originating from the hook detection sensor (130) can be emitted through the sensor hole (123).

[0060] Hook detection sensors (130) may be arranged in multiple numbers, for example, three pairs, at intervals shorter than the minimum thickness of the hook (400) on the inner surface (122) of the horizontal area. That is, three light-emitting parts and three light-receiving parts may be arranged facing each other at 180 degrees, divided into the upper horizontal area (C2) and the lower horizontal area (C1) of the inner surface (122) of the horizontal area of ​​the hook detection sensors (130).

[0061] On the other hand, the shape of a typical eye bolt is circular. If the shape of the smart safety bolt (100) is circular, then a larger number of hook detection sensors will be required because the hook detection sensors (130) must be placed in the vertical area as well.

[0062] Fig. 3 is a front view of the smart safety bolt depicted in Fig. 2.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 3, the hook (400) can be connected to the fastening ring (120) at the corner of the elliptical lower horizontal area (C1), i.e., position (P1) to position (P2), due to the direction of gravity. Conversely, if the smart safety bolt (100) is positioned with its upper and lower orientation reversed as in FIG. 3, the hook (400) can be connected to the fastening ring (120) at the corner of the upper horizontal area (C2).

[0064] A light path (S1, S2, S3) through which light passes is depicted so that the hook detection sensor (130) detects the presence of the hook (400). Regardless of where the hook (400) is located while connected to the fastening ring (120), an error will not occur in which the fastening ring (120) is not recognized because it interferes with the light path (S1, S2, S3).

[0065] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the smart safety bolt depicted in Figure 2.

[0066] The smart safety bolt (100) basically includes a hook detection sensor (130) inside, and furthermore, may also include a control board (140). Therefore, a space is required inside the smart safety bolt (100) to accommodate the hook detection sensor (130), the control board (140), and a cable connecting them. Accordingly, the smart safety bolt (100) can be separated into two pieces (120A, 120B) as shown in FIG. 4, and can be configured to join the two pieces using a screw.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 4, the fastening ring (120) may be configured to include a first internal space (151) in which a hook detection sensor (130) can be mounted and a second internal space (152) through which a cable connected to the hook detection sensor (130) passes.

[0068] For ease of assembly of the hook detection sensor (130) and cable, the fastening ring (120) is composed of two pieces (120A, 120B) that are halved in thickness, and the first internal space (151) and the second internal space (152) are formed in intaglio on the surface where the two pieces (120A, 120B) come into contact, and the two pieces (120A, 120B) can be configured to be fastened using a screw. A screw hole (156) is depicted in FIG. 4. The control board (140) can be placed in the third internal space (153). A fourth internal space (154) connected to the third internal space (153) is formed inside the screw body (110), and the control board (140) can be configured to be electrically connected to the alarm server (300) through a cable passing through the fourth internal space (154).

[0069] Figure 5 is an internal view of the smart safety bolt depicted in Figure 2.

[0070] Referring to FIG. 5, the hook detection sensor (130) mentioned in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is depicted. The hook detection sensor (130) includes a light-emitting part (131, 134, 135) and a light-receiving part (132, 133, 136) arranged along the circumference of the hollow (121).

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a sensor hole (123) may be formed on the inner surface of the fastening ring (120) at an angle of 180 degrees so that light coming from the light-emitting part (131, 134, 135) and light entering the light-receiving part (132, 133, 136) can pass through.

[0072] The hook detection sensor (130) can be configured such that the light-emitting part (134) and the light-receiving part (133) of the sensor in an even number among the plurality of sensors are positioned opposite to the positions of the light-emitting part (131, 135) and the light-receiving part (132, 136) of the sensor in an odd number. This is to prevent errors caused by light emission when the light-emitting part (131, 134) and the light-receiving part (132, 133) are adjacent to each other and the gap (W2) is narrow.

[0073] The control board (140) may be placed in the third internal space (153) connected to the second internal space (152). The control board (140) may transmit the sensing value received from the hook detection sensor (130) to an external alarm server (300).

[0074] The cable connecting the hook detection sensor (130) and the control board (140) can be placed in the second internal space (152) depicted in FIG. 4. The cable (160) connecting the control board (140) and the alarm server (300) is depicted.

[0075] As such, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the existing hook can be used as is, and by providing a sensing function in the bolt to which the hook is fastened, the economic efficiency and ease of maintenance of the system are high.

[0076] In addition, the workplace safety manager can identify workers who have not fastened the hook through an alarm and force them to fasten the hook.

[0077] Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with some examples, the descriptions of various embodiments described in the "Specific details for carrying out the invention" section are merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention can be modified in various ways or equivalent embodiments can be carried out based on the above description.

[0078] In addition, since the present invention can be implemented in various other forms, the present invention is not limited by the description above. The above description is provided merely to make the disclosure of the present invention complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the present invention, and it should be understood that the present invention is defined only by each claim of the claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0079] 100: Smart safety bolt, 110: Screw body, 120: Fastening hook, 300: Alarm server, 400: Hook

Claims

Claim 1 A smart safety bolt comprising: a screw body capable of being combined with mechanical equipment; and a fastening ring having a hollow formed therein that is connected to the screw body and connected to a hook connected to a worker's safety belt, wherein the fastening ring includes a plurality of hook detection sensors inside that detect the presence or absence of the hook, and the hook detection sensors include a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part arranged along the circumference of the hollow, wherein a sensor hole is formed on the inner surface of the fastening ring at an angle of 180 degrees so that light emitted from the light-emitting part and light entering the light-receiving part pass through, and wherein the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part in an even order and an odd order are arranged in opposite positions to prevent the occurrence of errors caused by light emission. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 A smart safety bolt according to claim 1, wherein the fastening ring has a predetermined thickness and is shaped like an ellipse where the vertical area is longer than the horizontal area, and is configured such that the hook is fastened to the fastening ring at the lower corner of the ellipse due to the direction of gravity. Claim 4 A smart safety bolt according to claim 3, wherein the hook detection sensors are configured such that a plurality of them are arranged on the inner surface of the horizontal area at intervals shorter than the minimum thickness of the hook. Claim 5 delete Claim 6 A smart safety bolt according to claim 1, wherein the fastening ring is configured to include a first internal space in which the hook detection sensor can be mounted; and a second internal space through which a cable connected to the hook detection sensor passes. Claim 7 In claim 6, for the convenience of assembly of the hook detection sensor and the cable, the fastening ring is composed of two pieces having a thickness divided in half, the first internal space and the second internal space are formed as indentations on the surface where the two pieces contact, and the two pieces are configured to be fastened using a screw, a smart safety bolt. Claim 8 A smart safety bolt according to claim 7, wherein the fastening ring further comprises a control board electrically connected to the hook detection sensor, and the control board is disposed in a third internal space connected to the second internal space and configured to transmit a sensing value received from the hook detection sensor to an external alarm server. Claim 9 A smart safety bolt according to claim 8, wherein a fourth internal space connected to the third internal space is formed inside the screw body, and the control board is configured to be electrically connected to the alarm server through a cable passing through the fourth internal space. Claim 10 A fall prevention system comprising: a smart safety bolt having a hollow fastening ring installed in a machine and connected to a hook connected to a worker's safety belt; a person detection sensor that recognizes the presence of the worker; and an alarm server that outputs an alarm, wherein the fastening ring includes a plurality of hook detection sensors that detect the presence of the hook, and the alarm server outputs an alarm regarding the state of an unfastened hook using the sensing values ​​of the person detection sensor and the hook detection sensor, and the hook detection sensor includes a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part arranged along the circumference of the hollow, and a sensor hole is formed on the inner surface of the fastening ring at an angle of 180 degrees so that light emitted from the light-emitting part and light entering the light-receiving part pass through, and the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part in an even order and an odd order are arranged in opposite positions to prevent the occurrence of errors caused by light emission.

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