WO2010060612A1

WO2010060612A1 - Method and system for signalling escape routes in a closed environment, particularly in a tunnel

Info

Publication number: WO2010060612A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/008390
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Enrico Leonardo MÜLLER; Ugo Mario Carlo MÜLLER
Original assignee: Mueller Andrea Enrico Leonardo; Mueller Ugo Mario Carlo
Priority date: 2008-11-27
Filing date: 2009-11-25
Publication date: 2010-06-03
Also published as: ITMI20082113A1; IT1392070B1

Abstract

Method for signalling escape routes in a closed environment such as a tunnel, consisting in distributing along a path in the closed environment a plurality of signalling and guide modules, each of which can be activated for the generation of at least one first and one second directional optical signal of different type, such as pictograms and lasers, and selecting the activation of at least one group of modules according to a command correlated with a point in which a danger situation has occurred so that the sum of the pairs of the first and second directional optical signals generated by the modules of the group provide a continuous visual indication of an escape route available. A valid escape route leads away from the danger zone. Modules can be provided also for signalling a wrong route with a different pictogram. Can be integrated with an existing fire detection system to locate danger zone and indicate escape routes accordingly.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SIGNALLING ESCAPE ROUTES IN A CLOSED ENVIRONMENT, PARTICULARLY IN A TUNNEL

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a method and system for signalling escape routes in a closed environment, particularly but not necessarily a tunnel .

In tunnels (in longer ones in particular) it is of fundamental importance that in the event of an emergency the people inside are able to move in the right direction to reach the exit or the safety zones according to the particular emergency situation in progress.

The main problem occurring in the event of fire in a tunnel is that due to the presence of smoke, identification of the correct escape route may be difficult and put people's lives at risk.

The signalling systems known today are not always able, especially in the presence of intense and oily smoke which absorbs the light, to visually signal, in a clear unambiguous manner, the appropriate escape route with the consequence that at times people are unable to rapidly identify which route to choose in order to reach safety or they are unable to promptly realise that they have made an error in said choice so that they can correct the direction of escape.

The technical aim of the present invention is therefore to devise a method and a system for signalling escape routes in a closed environment which allow elimination of the technical drawbacks of the known art.

In the context of this technical aim, an object of the invention is to provide a method and a system for signalling escape routes in a closed environment, in particular a tunnel, which permit immediate, clear and unambiguous recognition of the appropriate escape route also and above all in the presence of visibility limited by the presence of smoke .

A further object of the invention is to devise a method and a system for signalling escape routes in a closed environment, in particular a tunnel, which are extremely efficient and dependable.

Lastly, a further object of the invention is to devise a method and a system for signalling escape routes in a closed environment, in particular a tunnel, which are easy to implement and can be integrated in any safety systems already existing in the tunnel.

The technical aim in addition to these and other objects according to the present invention are achieved by devising a method and a system for the signalling of escape routes in a closed environment, in particular a tunnel, in accordance with the independent claims set forth below.

Further characteristics of the present invention are defined in the subsequent claims.

In practice each signalling module contains at least two illuminated signs with two pictograms indicating opposite escape directions oriented parallel to the axis of the tunnel, and at least two further illuminated signs with two pictograms indicating the opposite exits of the tunnel on the two sides and two laser beams located inside the module in opposite directions along the axis of the tunnel .

In this way by means of an appropriate logic controller inserted in the module, it is possible to activate the indications relative to one escape direction or those relative to the opposite direction .

In both cases the following are activated in each module: one of the illuminated signs with pictogram positioned parallel to the axis of the tunnel, the laser beam which hits a target on the next module in the escape direction, and the sign with frontal pictogram on the side opposite the beam activated, the target of which will be in turn hit by the beam of the preceding module (therefore from the direction opposite to the escape direction) .

It is therefore possible, by appropriately controlling each module of the tunnel via two digital signals, to create two continuous escape route indications in opposite directions starting from any area of the tunnel where the danger situation has occurred.

The beams can, as required, visually lead the people present in the tunnel to an exit or to a specific safety zone (shelter) .

The system proposed allows for display, along the length of the tunnel, of the escape route relative to the emergency situation, with a continuous and clear optical indication which remains visible and can be followed even in the presence of smoke, which is very likely to develop and spread in an emergency associated with a fire.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the method and system for signalling escape routes in tunnels according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a tunnel with an escape route signalling system in accordance with the invention;

- figure 2 illustrates the signs as seen by a person who is in the tunnel north of the point where the danger situation has occurred and is walking southwards;

- figure 3 illustrates the signs as seen by a person who is in the tunnel north of the point where the danger situation has occurred and is walking northwards;

- figure 4 illustrates the signs as seen by a person who is in the tunnel south of the point where the danger situation has occurred and is walking northwards;

- figure 5 illustrates the signs as seen by a person who is in the tunnel south of the point where the danger situation has occurred and is walking southwards;

- figure 6 shows a plan view of a signalling module of the system of figure 1;

- figure 7 shows a view of the first delimitation surface of the signalling module of figure 6 crosswise to the axis of the tunnel;

- figure 8 shows a view of the second delimitation surface of the signalling module of figure 6 crosswise to the axis of the tunnel; and

- figure 9 shows a view of the delimitation surface of the signalling module of figure 6 parallel to the axis of the tunnel.

With reference to the figures cited, an interactive visual signalling and guide system for escape routes in a closed environment is shown indicated overall by the reference number 1.

Below reference will be made to a closed environment such as a tunnel, but the invention can also be applied to other closed environments such as shopping centres, hotels etc.

The signalling system 1 comprises a plurality of signalling and visual guide modules 2 distributed along the tunnel 3, in particular parallel to the axis 4 of the tunnel 3 which, purely by way of example, has a north to south orientation (from left to right of the surface of the illustration sheet) .

The signalling and guide module 2 has at least one first pictogram that can be illuminated 5 to indicate a first escape route and at least one second pictogram that can be illuminated 6 to indicate a second escape route, at least one first laser emitter 7 suitable for emitting a first laser beam 9 in the direction of the first escape route and at least one second laser emitter 8 suitable for emitting a second laser beam 10 in the direction of the second escape route.

The signalling module 2 is also provided with a logic controller 11 suitable for selecting a first combination comprising illumination of the first pictogram 5 and emission of the first laser beam 9 or a second combination comprising illumination of the second pictogram 6 and emission of the second laser beam 10.

The first and second escape routes indicated by the module 2 are in particular opposite and parallel to the longitudinal axis 4 of the tunnel 3. In the case in point the first escape route is associated with the direction from south to north (from right to left on the surface of the illustration sheet) and the second escape route is associated with the direction from north to south (from left to right on the surface of the illustration sheet) .

The signalling module 2 has a first delimitation surface 12 parallel to the longitudinal axis 4 of the tunnel 3 on which the first pictogram 5 and the second pictogram 6 are present, a second delimitation surface 13 and a third delimitation surface 14 crosswise to the longitudinal axis 4 of the tunnel 3 and each having a corresponding target 15 and 16 for the laser beam coming from the adjacent signalling module 2.

On the second delimitation surface 13 or the third delimitation surface 14, in particular on the third 14, there is a third pictogram 17 which can be illuminated to indicate the first escape route and a fourth pictogram 18 which can be illuminated to indicate no entry to the first escape route, while on the other between the second delimitation surface 13 and the third delimitation surface 14, in particular on the second 13, there is a fifth pictogram 19 which can be illuminated to indicate the second escape route and a sixth pictogram 20 which can be illuminated to indicate no entry to the second escape route.

Each of the pictograms 5, 6, 17, 19 comprises a first graphic sign which represents a person, a second graphic sign which represents a direction arrow and a third graphic sign which represents an exit door.

Each of the pictograms 18 and 20 comprises one single graphic sign in the form of a cross.

Preferably the targets 15 and 16 are positioned respectively at the base of the fifth illuminating pictogram 19 and the third illuminating pictogram 17.

The logic controller 11 can also activate selective illumination of the third pictogram 17 and sixth pictogram 20 when the first combination is selected, and the fourth pictogram 18 and fifth pictogram 19 when the second combination is selected.

The modules 2 are spaced from one another preferably at a distance of 40/50 metres and are distributed along the entire length of the tunnel.

The distance of 40/50 metres chosen for positioning of the single modules 2 takes account mainly of two factors which are very important in the interactive management of an emergency: the need to indicate, each time, with a very short distance between the modules, the escape direction for any person present at any point in the tunnel, the choice of said direction requiring the support of absolutely clear visual elements which, in the event of a direction error, allow the person to very quickly realise his/her mistake and correct the direction of escape; and the need for each person escaping to have a continuous view without interruptions also in complete darkness, said view not being obscured until it becomes invisible by the presence of the relatively oily smoke of a fire.

The present invention also refers to a method for signalling escape routes in a closed environment, in particular but not exclusively suitable when the closed environment is a tunnel, consisting in distributing along a path in the closed environment a plurality of signalling and guide modules, each of which can be activated for the generation of at least one first and one second directional optical signal of different type, and selecting the activation of at least one group of modules according to a control correlated with a point in which a danger situation has occurred so that the sum of the pairs of the first and second directional optical signals generated by the modules of the group provide a continuous visual indication of an escape route available.

Preferably the first directional optical signal comprises a laser beam, while the second directional optical signal comprises at least one illuminated pictogram.

The method for signalling escape routes in a tunnel, devised by means of the system described above, consists in distributing along the tunnel the signalling modules 2 and, according to a control connected to the point 30 in which a danger situation occurs (for example a road accident which causes a fire) , activating at least one first group of modules 2 upstream and respectively at least one second group of modules 2 downstream of point 30, selecting concordant optical signals in each module 2 of the first group of modules to provide a first continuous visual indication of the first or the second escape route, and selecting concordant optical signals in each module 2 of the second group of modules 2 to provide a second continuous visual indication of the other, i.e. the first or the second, escape route.

The first continuous visual indication comprises at least the sum of the laser beams which are projected sequentially between the successive modules of the first group of modules 2, and in particular all the pictograms which are illuminated on the modules 2 of the first group of modules 2.

Analogously the second visual indication comprises at least the sum of the laser beams which are projected sequentially between the successive modules 2 of the second group of modules 2, and in particular also all the pictograms which are illuminated on the modules 2 of the second group of modules 2. With reference to the figures 1-5, point 30 determines the distribution of a first group of modules 2 to the north of the point 30 and a second group of modules 2 to the south of the point 30.

In each module 2 of the first group, pictograms 5, 19 and 18 are illuminated while in each module 2 of the second group, pictograms 6, 17 and 20 are illuminated.

Advantageously the logic for determining the point in which a danger situation occurs can be provided by a fire extinguishing system having movable or stationary remote-controlled monitors located in extinguishing stations distributed along the tunnel. In this case each signalling module is associated with a corresponding extinguishing station from which it receives the power supply and the command to the internal logic controller which supervises selection of the escape direction displayed according to the command received.

It is also possible to combine the interactive signalling system more generally with any fire detection, extinguishing or alarm and emergency control system already installed in the tunnel. The logic for determining the current escape direction in each sector of the tunnel is therefore controlled interactively by the extinguishing system, on the basis of the indications of the individual fire sensors installed in the tunnel or the direct commands sent by the operator from the control room.

The signalling system can be provided with accessory services.

For example the laser emitter can emit a laser beam of constant intensity from the point of its emission until it reaches its target.

A suitable instrument such as a television camera, for example, detects the intensity of the laser beam and compares it with the one stored in one or more previous detection operations.

The intensity of the laser beam detected varies in the presence of smoke generated by a fire.

Said comparison can be made for the entire length of the laser beam and whenever deemed appropriate: for example once a minute the laser emitter is switched on and a comparison is made between the intensity of the laser detected in the current image and the one stored in one or more previous detection operations.

The difference in the two images determines switch- on of the fire alarm and all relative consequences.

The escape route signalling method and system thus conceived are subject to numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

In practice any materials and dimensions can be used, according to requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

1. Method for signalling escape routes in a closed environment, characterised in that it consists in distributing along a path in said closed environment a plurality of signalling and guide modules, each of which can be activated for the generation of at least one first and one second directional optical signal of different type, and selecting the activation of at least one group of said modules according to a control correlated with a point in which a danger situation has occurred so that the sum of the pairs of said first and second directional optical signals generated by said modules of said group provide a continuous visual indication of an escape route available.

2. Method for the signalling of escape routes in a closed environment, characterised in that said closed environment is a tunnel.

3. Method for signalling escape routes according to one or more preceding claims, characterised in that said first directional optical signal comprises a laser beam.

4. Method for signalling escape routes according to one or more preceding claims, characterised in that it uses a laser emitter with constant luminous intensity for said laser beam and automatically processes a fire alarm signal in the presence of a variation between the current value detected by a television camera for the luminous intensity of said laser beam and one or more values detected in one or more preceding detection operations.

5. Method for signalling escape routes according to one or more preceding claims, characterised in that said second directional optical signal comprises at least one illuminated pictogram.

6. Method for signalling escape routes in a tunnel as claimed in one or more preceding claims, characterised in that the logic for determining the point in which a danger situation occurs is provided by a fire detection and extinguishing system having movable or stationary remote-controlled monitors located in extinguishing stations distributed along the tunnel.

7. Method for signalling escape routes in a tunnel as claimed in one or more preceding claims, characterised in that each signalling module is associated with a corresponding extinguishing station from which it receives the power supply and said command.

8. Interactive visual guide and signalling system for the escape routes in a tunnel, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of visual signalling and guide modules distributed along said tunnel, each of said signalling and guide modules having at least one first pictogram that can be illuminated to indicate a first escape route and at least one second pictogram that can be illuminated to indicate a second escape route, at least one first laser emitter suitable for emitting a first laser beam in the direction of said first escape route and at least one second laser emitter suitable for emitting a second laser beam in the direction of said second escape route, and a logic controller suitable for selecting a first combination comprising illumination of said first pictogram and the emission of said first laser beam or a second combination comprising the illumination of said second pictogram and the emission of said second laser beam.

9. Interactive visual guide and signalling system for the escape routes in a tunnel as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that said first and second escape route are opposite and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tunnel.

10. Interactive visual guide and signalling system for the escape routes in a tunnel as claimed in one or more preceding claims, characterised in that said signalling and guide module has a first delimitation surface parallel to said longitudinal axis on which said first and second pictogram are present, a second and a third delimitation surface crosswise to said longitudinal axis and each having a corresponding target for the laser beam coming from the adjacent signalling and guide module.

11. Interactive visual guide and signalling system for the escape routes in a tunnel as claimed in one or more preceding claims, characterised in that on said second or third delimitation surface there is a third pictogram that can be illuminated to indicate said first escape route and a fourth pictogram that can be illuminated to indicate no entry to said first escape route, while on the other delimitation surface, i.e. either the second or third, there is a fifth pictogram that can be illuminated to indicate said second escape route and a sixth pictogram that can be illuminated to indicate no entry to said second escape route, and characterised in that said logic controller also activates selective illumination of said third and sixth pictogram when said first combination is selected and said fourth and fifth pictogram when said second combination is selected.

12. Interactive visual guide and signalling system for the escape routes in a tunnel as claimed in one or more preceding claims, characterised in that said modules are spaced from one another by 40/50 metres.