Abstract:
This invention relates to a fire hydrant locating system which includes a hydrant locator that facilitates the location of a hydrant by firefighters, particularly in an emergency vehicle such as a fire engine. The hydrant locator as secured to the hydrant cylinder has a low profile. The hydrant locating system includes a transmitter adapted to be located in the emergency vehicle. Upon actuation of a switch in the transmitter in the emergency vehicle a receiver-signal generator in the hydrant locator will be activated to set off strobe lights to alert firefighters of the hydrant location. The receiver-signal generator in the hydrant locator includes a strobe light structure. The transmitter can be set such that when actuated it will activate only those hydrant locators within a preselected range such as approximately 1500 feet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a system for facilitating the remote location of fire hydrants by personnel in emergency vehicles.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a fire hydrant locator unit that facilitates the location of a hydrant by firefighters, particularly in a fire engine (firetruck) or emergency personnel in other emergency vehicles. The hydrant locator unit as secured to the hydrant cylinder has a low profile. A selectively actuable switch in an RF (radio frequency) transmitter in an emergency vehicle will activate the transmitter to send an RF signal to an RF receiver in the hydrant locator unit to set off strobe lights in the hydrant locator to alert the firefighters or other emergency personnel of the hydrant location.  
         [0003]     In fighting fires, time is a crucial factor and precious time is often wasted in finding a desirably located fire hydrant. Ideally, firefighters want to hook up to the hydrant closest to the fire for purposes of having maximum water pressure and minimizing the required hose length and time to bring the hose outlet to the fire. Unfortunately, the hydrants are often somewhat hidden by their surroundings such as bushes, trees, vehicles, etc. In some instances a vertical flag or similar physical locator has been secured to the hydrant to assist sighting by emergency personnel. These flags may fail in their main purpose since they too can be obscured by surroundings or be inadvertently detached. In addition they may not be readily visible at night. Area maps which show the location of hydrants may be of little help in some situations, including night time hours, and in addition firefighters may not be aware of the precise fire location or may be unfamiliar with the neighborhood.  
         [0004]     As a matter of interest a hydrant locator unit is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,160 issued Jul. 6, 2004. That patent generally discloses a hydrant locator unit which provides a flashing light signal in response to a signal from a remote transmitter. The only significant details disclosed are in the description of a belt like arrangement for connection of the hydrant locator unit to a fire hydrant. Thus this patent does not show or suggest the unique system of the present invention.  
         [0005]     The prior art fails to disclose the unique hydrant locating system disclosed herein which includes a hydrant locator unit with a low profile mounting on a hydrant and which has strobe lights which can be remotely activated by a unique system from an emergency vehicle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The hydrant locating system of the present invention comprises a hydrant locator unit and a transmitter, actuator. The hydrant locator unit is adapted to be fixed to the cylinder of the hydrant below the crown and has a low profile and thus does not interfere with access to the fire hydrant, such as for hose attachment to the hydrant for water. The hydrant locator unit comprises a receiver, locator with an RF receiver mounted internally in a housing and is adapted to activate a plurality of LEDs in a strobe light array upon receipt of a remote RF signal from an RF transmitter in the transmitter, actuator in the emergency vehicle, i.e. fire engine (firetruck).  
         [0007]     In use, a transmitter of the transmitter, actuator which is in an emergency vehicle, is selectively actuable by an operator by a switch to send a signal to a receiver of a receiver, locator in the hydrant locator unit. In some cases, the transmitter can be set to activate only those hydrant locator units within a given forward range, such as approximately 1500 feet.  
         [0008]     The receiver, locator is powered by batteries and is designed to continuously, periodically activate the receiver on, to a wake mode, and off, to a sleep mode, during an idle condition to enable it to receive activating signals at any time from the transmitter during an emergency condition. Such periodic cycling preserves power and thereby provides an extended battery life.  
         [0009]     The hydrant locator unit has a unique housing structure in which the receiver, locator is contained. The housing structure facilitates attachment to a fire hydrant.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a new and improved fire hydrant locating system.  
         [0011]     Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved fire hydrant locating system that includes a hydrant locator unit with a receiver, locator having an RF receiver which is remotely actuable by an RF signal from a transmitter, actuator for activating strobe lights to facilitate visual location.  
         [0012]     A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved fire hydrant locating system including a low profile hydrant locator unit having a receiver, locator with strobe lights that are activated by an RF receiver in the receiver, locator in the hydrant locator unit in response to an RF signal from a transmitter in a transmitter, actuator in an emergency vehicle. The transmitter, actuator can be selectively actuable by an operator by a switch.  
         [0013]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the transmitter, actuator, for use in an emergency vehicle, in the fire hydrant locating system of the present invention and has a transmitter module for remotely activating a hydrant locator unit on the fire hydrant;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the operating circuit of the receiver, locator in a hydrant locating unit of the fire hydrant locating system of the present invention and which is adapted to be secured to a fire hydrant and which has a receiver module adapted to be remotely actuated by the transmitter, actuator;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a frontal pictorial view of the hydrant locator unit of the fire hydrant locating system;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of components of the hydrant locator unit of the fire hydrant locating system; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side pictorial view of an upper portion of a fire hydrant with the hydrant locator unit fixed to a cylinder portion of the fire hydrant. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0021]     Looking now to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram is shown of the transmitter, actuator  10 , of the fire hydrant locating system, and is adapted to be located in an emergency vehicle. Here the transmitter, actuator  10  includes an RF transceiver-transmitter module  12 . In one form of the invention, the transceiver-transmitter module  12  is a transceiver which includes a transmitter section and a receiver section. However, also in one form of the invention, the transceiver-transmitter module  12  is connected only as a transmitter although it should be understood that it could also be connected as a receiver as well for different applications.  
         [0022]     The transceiver-transmitter module  12  when actuated generates an RF signal. The output from the transceiver-transmitter module  12  is connected to an external transmitter antenna  16  for transmitting the amplified RF signal to hydrant locator units  28  on fire hydrants  32  to activate strobe lights to visually signal their locations. The transmitter antenna  16 , which is of a conventional construction, is designed to transmit the RF signal generally in a forward direction for around 180°. The transceiver-transmitter module  12  is connected to and receives the necessary dc, direct current, voltage from a power supply  18  which in one form of the invention is the emergency vehicle&#39;s dc battery voltage supply system, e.g. 12v. It should be understood that this component could be designed to operate from different dc or ac (alternating current) supply sources.  
         [0023]     The transmitter, actuator  10  also includes a microprocessor  22  which can be programmed at the factory site by a programming header  24  to perform the desired operations to be described. . In addition, the transceiver-transmitter module  12  can also be programmed to perform selected operations to be described. In this regard, the various operations of the microprocessor  22  can be programmed by the programming header  24  including to set the range of transmission of the transceiver-transmitter module  12  by controlling the power output. Since the programming header  24  is not a part of the transmitter, actuator  10  it is shown in dotted lines  
         [0024]     An interface switch  20  is connected to the transceiver-transmitter module  12  and the microprocessor  22  and is set to be selectively actuated by an operator to activate the transceiver-transmitter module  12  and the microprocessor  22  to cause the system to transmit the RF signal in a desired manner In one form of the invention the interface switch  20  is a push button type switch which is activated only when pushed down momentarily by the operator and deactivated when released  
         [0025]     The transmitter, actuator  10  can be selectively set by an operator installing a preselected program through the software in the programming header  24 . As noted the selected program will actually be set in the microprocessor  22 . Thus the microprocessor  22  as connected to the transceiver-transmitter module  12  will determine when it is activated to transmit the desired RF signal and when it is deactivated. In one form, as set, when the operator in the emergency vehicle presses the interface switch  20  to the closed condition, the microprocessor  22  will then activate the transceiver-transmitter module  12  to generate the RF signal for a preselected time. In one form, it would be activated for 8 to 10 seconds each time the interface switch  20  is closed by the operator.  
         [0026]     It should be understood, that the microprocessor  22  could be programmed such that with activation of the interface switch  20  by a push button, the RF signal could be cyclically generated over a set time period, i.e. on-off cycles, i.e. “on” for 8 to 10 seconds and “off” for a preset time with the cycle repeating for a preset time and then being off until the next activation by the interface switch  20 . The microprocessor  22  can be selectively programmed to provide a large variation in cycle times.  
         [0027]     However, it should be understood that the microprocessor  22  could be set such that the on-off cycle will be repeated a preselected number of times with each activation of the interface switch  20 . It should also be understood that a visual or audio signal could be provided to the operator after the cycle or set number of cycles ends.  
         [0028]     It should be understood, however, that the interface switch  20  can be a toggle type switch that remains on until moved to off by the operator. Here, an audio or visual signal could be provided to the operator if the interface switch  20  is left in its on position after a preselected extended time, e.g., 15 or 20 minutes.  
         [0029]     In one form, the transceiver-transmitter module  12  will be selected to generate a high frequency signal of around 900 to 950 MHz. To improve the range of transmission of the RF signal from the transceiver-transmitter module  12  the chip has an FSK element (frequency shift keying). This is a method of transmitting digital data by using a frequency for a logic “1” and a separate frequency for a logic “0”. The digital data is in an encrypted code that controls the microprocessor  38  in the receiver, locator  26  to start flashing when the RF signal from the transceiver-transmitter module  12  is received. The RF signal as transmitted from the transceiver-transmitter module  12 , in one form of the invention, is set at 10 milli watts. An advantage of the FSK is that it is highly immune to electrical interference, allowing long range with low power.  
         [0030]     Looking now to  FIG. 2 a  block diagram of the receiver, locator  26  is shown which is in a hydrant locator unit  28  which is attachable to the top of a cylindrical neck  30  of the body portion  31  of a fire hydrant  32  below the crown  33  of the hydrant  32 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
         [0031]     As noted the receiver, locator  26  has a transceiver-receiver module  34  which includes a transmitter section and a receiver section. However, in one form of the invention, the transceiver-receiver module  34  is connected only as a receiver although it should be understood that it could also be connected as a transmitter for different applications.  
         [0032]     In this regard, it should be understood that the transceiver-transmitter module  12  could also be connected as a receiver and the transceiver-receiver module  34  could also be connected as a transmitter. In one modified system, once the hydrant locator unit  28  has been activated by an RF signal from the transmitter, actuator  10  it could be programmed to have the transmitter in the transceiver-receiver module  34  transmit an RF signal to the receiver in the transceiver-transmitter module  12  programmed to identify its location or other desirable information on a screen in the transmitter, actuator  10  in the emergency vehicle.  
         [0033]     The receiver, locator  26  includes a receiver antenna  36  which is adapted to receive an RF signal from the transmitter, actuator  10  in the emergency vehicle. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , in one form of the invention the antenna  36  is a wire antenna which is located internally in the hydrant locator unit  28  and is connected to a PCB, printed circuit board  56 , which is only generally shown in  FIG. 4 . The receiver, locator  26  also includes a microprocessor  38  which can be programmed at the factory site by the software in the programming header  24  to perform desired operations to be described. In addition, the transceiver-receiver module  34  can also be programmed by the programming header  24  for desired operations. As noted before, since the programming header  24  is not a part of the receiver, locator  26  it is shown in dotted lines. The receiver antenna  36  is connected to a chip (not shown) on the transceiver-receiver module  34  on the printed circuit board  56  by a leg portion  57  to internally transmit the RF signals received from the transmitter, actuator  10 .  
         [0034]     When an RF signal is received from the transmitter, actuator  10 , the transceiver-receiver module  34  is actuated to send a signal to the microprocessor  38 . The microprocessor  38  is programmed then to provide control signals to an LED driver  42  which will then activate an LED array  44  of strobe lights to provide the light beam signals to visually identify its location to the operators of the emergency vehicles. The light from the LED array  44  will be transmitted out through a light pipe  45 . The light pipe  45  will increase the intensity of the light through a lens system to then focus the light beam out at a generally hemispherical pattern. Here the LED array will be engaged with the light pipe  45  to facilitate efficient transmittal of the light beam.  
         [0035]     The transceiver-receiver module  34 , the microprocessor  38 , LED driver  42  and LED array  44  receive the necessary dc voltage from a dc power supply  46  which in one form of the invention is a pair of lithium batteries.  
         [0036]     In one form of the invention, the microprocessor  38  is programmed such that when it receives a signal from the transceiver-receiver module  34 , it will control the LED array  44  to provide two light beam flashes per second for around four seconds followed by a brief pause of less than a second with the cycles being repeated for around two to four minutes. It will then be off unless another RF signal is received from the transmitter, actuator  10  in the emergency vehicle. However, the transceiver-receiver module  34  will be programmed to continuously have cycles of a sleep mode and a wake mode before any activation by the transmitter, actuator  10 . In one form of the invention, the transceiver-receiver module  34  will be continuously cycled to be placed in a wake mode for around 10 milliseconds and a sleep mode for three to five seconds. This is controlled by the microprocessor  38  which is continuously on. Thus, it will always be cycled into a wake mode in a period to timely receive the RF signal from the transceiver-transmitter module  12  in its actuated, transmitting condition of eight to ten seconds. It should be understood that the system could be programmed to simply provide a light beam on and off without flashing while it is in the “on” or awake condition.  
         [0037]     Such a controlled system is expected to provide the batteries in the power supply  46  with an expected life span of between seven to ten years.  
         [0038]     It should be noted that certain units in the transmitter, actuator  10  and in the receiver, locator  26  are the same thus simplifying and minimizing the overall cost of the fire hydrant locating system.  
         [0039]     Thus in one form, the transceiver-transmitter module  12  and transceiver-receiver module  34  were MICRF505 modules made by Micrel Inc. The microprocessors  22  and  38  were PIC12F509 made by Microchip Technology, Inc. The LED array  44  in the receiver, locator  26  was a model 61-25UWC/S400-A6/TR8 made by Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd. In one form of the invention the light pipe  45  was a model PLP5-125 made by Bivar Inc. The LED driver  42  in the receiver, locator  26  was a standard transistor. In one form of the invention the programming header  24  was a model MOLEX® BOARD. The model of the LED array  44 , as noted above, has five LED chips whereby when actuated, it will provide a light beam of a high intensity. In addition, the high intensity of the light from the LEDs will be further intensified by the model of the light pipe  45 , as noted above.  
         [0040]     As noted, the hydrant locator unit  28  has a unique housing structure  48  as can be seen in  FIG. 4 . Thus the housing structure  48  has an upper housing member  50  and a lower housing member  52 . A mounting bracket  54  is adapted to be secured to the top of upper housing member  50  for connection of the hydrant locator unit  28  to the fire hydrant  32  in a manner to be seen.  
         [0041]     A circuit board  56  is adapted to be secured within the housing structure  48  and has the dc battery power supply  46  in a battery pack supported on it. The transceiver-receiver module  34 , the microprocessor  38  and the LED driver  42  are also supported on the circuit board  56  at a preselected position as a circuit pad  58 . The LED array  44  is held on to the circuit board  56  by way of a vertically extending support plate  60 . The receiver antenna  36  is also adapted to be secured to the circuitry of the transceiver-receiver  34  on the circuit board  56 . It can be seen that the circuit board  56  is only generally shown without any details of the circuit elements therein.  
         [0042]     Let us now look to the unique features of the housing structure  48 .  
         [0043]     First, it should be noted that the upper housing member  50  and lower housing member  52  are removably secured together in a subassembly  63  by a plurality of resilient attachment fingers  62  extending upwardly from the upper end of the lower housing member  52 . It can be seen in  FIG. 4  that the fingers  62  are circumferentially distributed on the front, back and sides to provide a substantially uniform gripping action with the inner portion of the lower end of the upper housing member  50 . The upper end of each of the fingers  62  has a locking tab  64 . The locking tab  64  is outwardly protruding and is constructed to facilitate camming of the fingers  62  into a cavity in the inner side of the lower end of the upper housing member  50  with a snap fit. In one form, there is an internal annular ridge (not shown) on the inside of the lower end of the upper housing member  50  over which the fingers  62  snap to hold the housing members  50  and  52  together. However, because of the secure locking action provided by the tabs  64 , tampering by removal of the lower housing member  52  will be resisted. Removal will be achieved by a designated operator with an unlocking tool different from common tools such as screw drivers, crow bars, etc.  
         [0044]     An annular sealing gasket  70  as shown in  FIG. 4  is located between the upper outer surface on a circumferential wall  73  of the lower housing member  52  and the lower outer surface  68  of the upper housing member  50 . The gasket  70  is adapted to be compressively, resiliently engaged by the lower outer surface  68  of the upper housing member  50  to provide a desirable, tight seal. The sealing gasket  70  is initially located on a circumferential shoulder  71  of the lower housing member  52 . The shoulder  71  extends outwardly from the inner, circumferential wall  73 . The fingers  62  extend upwardly from the wall  73 .  
         [0045]     It can be seen in  FIG. 5  that the lower housing member  52  has a plurality of ribs  72  on its bottom surface to reinforce the strength of the lower housing member  52 . Similar reinforcing ribs (not shown) are located in the upper housing member  50 . The circuit board  56  will be supported upon the ribs  72 . Fingers  75  extending downwardly from the upper housing member  50  are adapted to engage the circuit board  56  to hold it firmly against the ribs  72  upon assembly.  
         [0046]     Now with the upper housing member  50  and lower housing member  52  locked together, this housing subassembly  63  can now be secured to the mounting bracket  54 . The mounting bracket  54  has oppositely extending securing flanges  74  with securement slots  76 . A depressed center section  78  is located between the securing flanges  74 .  
         [0047]     The housing subassembly  63  can be secured to the depressed center section  78  by a rectangular bonding pad  80 . The bonding pad  80  will be of substantially the same width and length as the bottom surface of the depressed center section  78 . Now the mounting bracket  54  with the bonding pad  80  secured to the lower surface of the depressed center section  78  will be compressively engaged with the upper surface of the upper housing member  50 . This will strongly hold the housing subassembly  63  and the mounting bracket together. In one form of the invention the bonding pad  80  was a double coated acrylic foam tape such as VHB 3M 4941 made by 3M. It bonds to the material on roughened surfaces by working into the microstructure of the surfaces and locking on to the sharp edges of the roughened surfaces. Also material of the bonding pad  80  has viscoelastic properties that allow it to take on literally any shape.  
         [0048]     It can be seen in  FIG. 6  that the hydrant locator unit  28  can now be secured to the hydrant  32  by two retaining bolts  84  extending through the usual mounting holes for bolting the hydrant crown  33  to the neck  30  via the annular, engaging flanges  86  and  88  on the neck  30  and crown  33 , respectively. The retaining bolts  84  extend through the slots  76  in the securing flanges  74  to clamp the hydrant locator unit  28  to the hydrant flanges  86  and  88  on the neck  30  and crown  33 . It can be seen that the bolts  84  are inserted in the same direction as the other retaining bolts to facilitate attachment of the hydrant locator unit  28 . Of course, other attachment bolts or attachment structures could be used where desirable or required.  
         [0049]     It can also be noted that the securing flanges  74  extend slightly past the housing subassembly  63  and that the depressed center section  78  locates the housing subassembly  63  in clearance below the retaining bolts  84 . This facilitates assembly and disassembly of the hydrant locator unit  28  to the hydrant  32 . In this regard, it can also be seen that the hydrant  32  has a plurality of water outlets  90  which are sealed by threadably removable caps  92 . The outlets  90  are adapted to receive the fire hose. It is common for one of the water outlets  90   a  to be directed towards the street on which it is located. Here, the hydrant locator unit  28  is located above but in line with the water outlet  90   a  directed toward the street. This then provides the flashing light signal to be directed into the street to thereby facilitate detection by the operators in the fire truck (emergency vehicle) as it moves on that street. The locator unit  28  is in substantial clearance relationship with the cap  92   a  and the flange  86  on the neck  30 . It should be understood that the hydrant locator unit  28  could be located at a position circumferentially spaced from the water outlet  90   a  and cap  92   a.  It should also be understood that in some situations, it may be desirable to have more than one hydrant locator unit  28  secured to a hydrant  32 . Also there are hydrants, such as hydrant  32 , with between one and four water outlets, such as outlet  90 . Also, there are some hydrants, such as hydrant  32 , that have water outlets, such as outlet  90 , in the crown, such as crown  33 . Hydrant locators of the present invention can be adapted to be operable with all such hydrants with a different mounting bracket  54 .  
         [0050]     It should also be noted, however, that there are hydrants of even other types of constructions. In such cases a mounting bracket, such as bracket  54 , of a different design may be required for attachment. But in some instances the same housing structure  48  may be appropriate and since it is a separate member from the mounting bracket  54  it could be similarly attached to a modified mounting bracket by a flexible bonding pad, such as bonding pad  80 . In this regard, the bonding pad  80  permits the location of the housing structure  48  on the mounting bracket  54  to be horizontally, angularly varied for different conditions to transmit the light beam in a selected horizontal direction. Also the bonding pad  80  could be used in an arrangement to selectively vary the vertical angular direction of the light beam. Thus it should also be noted that the present invention of the hydrant locator unit  28  could be utilized with different forms of housing structures and mounting brackets.  
         [0051]     It should be noted that the operative condition of the hydrant locator unit could be periodically, manually monitored by a portable transmitter, actuator such as the transmitter, actuator  10 . Also, the microprocessor  38  in the receiver, locator  26  could be programmed to monitor other conditions in the receiver, locator  26 . These conditions could be for example the battery voltage of the power supply  46 , the condition of the LED array  44 , i.e. how many LEDs are still operative.  
         [0052]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.