Directional Rope Indicator with Integrated LEDs for Smoke Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underground rope guidance systems in mining environments lack sufficient visibility, especially in emergencies with smoke or darkness, making it difficult for miners to navigate to safety.
Innovation Solution
A directional indicator device with integrated LEDs that flash sequentially to indicate the correct direction to a refuge bay, featuring a conical body with a housing for the LEDs and a secure mounting mechanism to a rope, ensuring visibility even in low-light conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional conical markers are used on the rope guidance system, then the system provides tactile indication of direction, but visibility is insufficient in smoke or darkness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the conventional conical marker with an integrated light source (LED) and power source (battery) into a single directional indicator device. This merging allows the device to provide both tactile indication through its conical shape and active visual indication through the light source, resolving the contradiction between visibility and system complexity by making the visual function inherent to the marker itself rather than a separate system
Solution Approach 2:
The directional indicator device serves multiple functions: it provides tactile direction indication through its conical geometry, active visual indication through the integrated LED light source, and passive reflection through the mirrored surface. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address multiple navigation needs in different emergency conditions without requiring separate systems
2Illumination intensity
If reflective material is added to cones to improve visibility, then visibility in dark conditions improves, but visibility in smoke remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The light source in the directional indicator device is activated in advance during installation or before the emergency occurs. This preliminary action ensures that the device is already emitting light when needed, rather than relying on passive reflection that only works when illuminated by external light sources that may not be available in smoke-filled environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the passive optical system (reflective material that depends on external light sources) with an active optical system (self-luminous LED). This substitution eliminates the dependency on external illumination, allowing the device to provide visibility in smoke conditions where external light sources are blocked or absent
3Illumination intensity
If active light sources are integrated into directional indicators, then visibility in smoke and darkness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the light source and power source are housed within the body of the directional indicator device itself. The LED is positioned in a cavity within the conical body, and the battery is nested within the same housing. This nesting approach integrates the active components into the existing marker structure, minimizing additional complexity while maximizing visibility benefits
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances visibility and safety by providing a reliable visual and tactile indication of the correct direction to a refuge bay, even when conventional markers are obscured, and is easy to install and maintain.
Implementation Method 1
The light source may take the form of a Light Emitting Diode (LED)
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a directional indicator device 10 for use with an underground rope guidance system. The device 10 visually and tactilely guides underground workers to safety by way of directional flashing and a conically shaped body. To this end, the device 10 has a body 12 which is configured to be mounted to a rope 14 of the rope guidance system via a medial passageway 21. The invention is characterized in that the body 12 has a broad end and defines an inner cavity 17 for receiving a battery 16 and a pair of LEDs 15A, 15B therein. The body 12 further comprises a C-shaped lid 20 which is configured to be received over the open broad end to close it. Finally, the body 12 comprises a wedge 22 which is used to secure the body 12 to the rope 14.