Abstract:
A wind-articulated, warning sign system responsive to oblique wind currents acting external to surfaces of its exposed, non-flat-sheet and non-fabric structural elements and which provides a functional-airfoil-cross-section with surface configured to display and provide emergency critical technical data for specific classes of regular and emergency visitors to the entrance portal of an industrial site where large quantities of dangerous substances, including, radioactive, flammable, explosive, corrosive, oxidizing, asphyxiating, biohazardous, toxic, pathogenic, or allergenic substances are handled and which substances might be released by accident or by terrorist attack and dispersed by winds into the local environment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of these US and PCT patent applications: utility application Ser. No. 12/576,395 filed on 2009 Oct. 9; design application No. 29/373,484 filed on 2011 Apr. 13; utility application Ser. No. 13/066,382 filed on 2011 Apr. 13; PCT/US2012/033186 filed on 2012 Apr. 12; and design application No. 29/476,089 filed on 2013 Dec. 10. The subject matter and disclosures of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     This is the second utility CIP filed on the basis of the 2009 utility application. Note that utility application Ser. No. 13/066,382 (filed on 2011 Apr. 13) is under a notice of allowance at the time that this application is to be filed, and the issue fee for that application will be paid immediately after this application is filed. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT (IF APPLICABLE) 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX (IF APPLICABLE) 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates generally to a warning sign system. A complete listing of prior art, referenced by Examiners in the cross-referenced applications, is included in an Information Disclosure Statement filed herewith. However, none of the known inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant disclosure as claimed. Accordingly, an improved warning sign system would be advantageous. 
     In general, previous articulated, customizable signs fall into several US Classes including: 1 16, 73, D10 and D20. At this moment no class description could be found which includes the concepts of warning signs with special utility or application toward instantaneous display of specific predetermined topic-related displays by means of RFID systems or web-related QR codes. Searching in April 2011 confirmed the existence of about 113 grants with the text string “warning sign” in the claims. Upon close inspection, none was found which discloses or claims dynamic security systems with real-time web links especially configured for support of first-responders in accidents or terrorist attacks. Presumably, if there were applications which disclose actual apparatus, methods and systems similar to those of the present invention, they would already be held as secret within the USPTO under national security provisions, 35 USC 181. 
     Global political and economic conditions now require extraordinary security for oil and gas facilities, especially remote wells, pipelines and field-processing sites. Part of this challenge is to provide reliable, secure, instant access to infrastructure records, data and emergency procedures to authenticated individuals having a confirmed need to know and to federal/state governmental agencies, especially the US Dept. of Homeland Security. Normal safety aspects toward the adjoining communities, e.g., warning signs and standard response procedures for a well are typically covered by the property owner or licensee. Compliance of each site with state and industry codes (API, American Petroleum Institute) for natural gas-production is confirmed by regular inspections required by the controlling state and local agencies, e.g., TX-RRC. The required API number display consists of 14 digits with 4 separator dashes which specifies the state, the county, the unique well identifier, 2 sidetrack digits and 2 event/sequence code characters. In case of a major emergency at a particular location, US federal agencies may also be involved under “Emergency Support Function #9”. 
     In case of an accident or a terrorist attack on a remote gas-production facility, all emergency responders need a simple, quick, universal system to provide their crews with detailed, updated technical data on many important matters including: property control-ownership, health and safety risks, emergency-contact data for responsible managers  1  supervisors, building drawings, wiring and electrical power equipment locations, piping and control valves for fluids handled at the site, dangerous materials storage, etc. 
     In contrast to past practice of merely posting a minimal, API-compliant, flat metal ID sign near the well-head or pipeline access, the present warning system includes an active display of wind direction and velocity are the possible formation of a drift plume due to accidental release of hazardous gases. In addition, the apparatus confirms the visitor&#39;s identity, facilitates RFID data interchanges and enables secure web links to offsite data on selected critical factors pertinent to accidents at the site. The present invention is an integrated warning and security system for gas production facilities which is also able to confirm the identity of each emergency responder prior to allowing wireless display, on a laptop computer, of information critical for a range of particular emergency-management scenarios. 
     A number of US Federal agencies, particularly DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security), are active in monitoring sites where dangerous materials or toxic chemicals are handled in order to assist in prevention of terror attacks and managing emergency responses in case of a situation which may threaten the health of regional populations. These agencies include: Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Transportation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and U.S. Agency for International Development. 
     The present invention is an apparatus and advanced system of information display adjacent the entrance of a site where large quantities of toxic fluids may be released in an accident or by terrorist attack. The displays of the system are configured to present just the appropriate information reasonable and specific to the particular visitor&#39;s purpose. For example a gas-production-reporting compliance inspector for a State Resources Commission would not be interested in complex modeling data on the probable extent and concentration profiles of a toxic-release plume under certain weather conditions—which would be critical for high-level FEMA managers. The following discloses apparatus and inherent-intrinsic use methods thereof along with a system of triage-ordered display sequences of action items tailored especially to meet the needs of visitors including: regular business calls, regulatory and law enforcement site visitors as well as those of possible emergency responders. 
     Few other moments in recent history present such challenges for conventional signage and hazard displays. In the case of a facility drawing massive quantities of hydrocarbons from deep within the earth or ocean, the technology for fluid recovery has far outstretched the capability for dealing with massive accidental or intentional releases above ground. Effective emergency management depends upon having a response plan ahead of time which anticipates the probable scenarios and identifies and ranks the optimal responses. These were the missing links in dealing with the recent release of crude oil in the Gulf of Mexico. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A wind-articulated, warning sign system responsive to oblique wind currents acting external to surfaces of its exposed, non-flat-sheet and non-fabric structural elements and which provides a functional-airfoil-cross-section with surface configured to display and provide emergency critical technical data for specific classes of regular and emergency visitors to the entrance portal of an industrial site where large quantities of dangerous substances, including, radioactive, flammable, explosive, corrosive, oxidizing, asphyxiating, biohazardous, toxic, pathogenic, or allergenic substances are handled and which substances might be released by accident or by terrorist attack and dispersed by winds into the local environment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective overview of a warning sign system  100 . 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a perspective front and rear view of said warning sign system  100 , with a one or more faces (which can comprise a first face  202   a  and a second face  202   b ) over said sign portion  102 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an elevated rear view of said warning sign system  100 . 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate an elevated side and front view of said warning sign system  100  without said first face  202   a.    
         FIG. 5  illustrates a rear view of said warning sign system  100  with a one or more indicia  502  on said second face  202   b.    
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a perspective overview and an elevated top view of said warning sign system  100  with a plurality of air flows  600 . 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a perspective overview and an elevated top view of said warning sign system  100  in a field  704 . 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a perspective overview and an elevated top view of said bottom  110  and said lower bearing assembly  116   b.    
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a perspective front side detailed view of said upper bearing assembly  116   a  and a perspective overview of said upper bearing assembly  116   a , with each detached from said sign portion  102 . 
         FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D and 10E  illustrate a perspective overview of said sign portion  102  with a handheld reader  1003 , a short range communication chip  1019 , a system-on-a-chip  1020 , a component diagram  1010 , and an encasement  1022  for said system-on-a-chip  1020 . 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate shows five typical, traditional risk/warning images indicating different hazards from toxic-poisonous to flammable/explosive classifications. 
         FIG. 11B  illustrates how the basic components of the Denso•type QR code are meshed with the superimposed traditional, specific-class warning image. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Described herein is a warning sign system. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers&#39; specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective overview of a warning sign system  100 . In one embodiment, said warning sign system  100  can comprise a sign portion  102  and a mast  104 . In one embodiment, said sign portion  102  can comprise a plurality of ribs (which can comprise a first rib  106   a , a second rib  106   b , and a third rib  106   c ), a top  108 , a bottom  110 , a plurality of mast apertures (which can comprise a first mast aperture  112   a , a second mast aperture  112   b , a third mast aperture  112   c , an upper mast aperture  112   d , and a lower mast aperture  112   e ), a upper plug assembly  114 , an upper bearing assembly  116   a  (not illustrated here), a lower bearing assembly  116   b , and a lower collar  118 . In one embodiment, said upper bearing assembly  116   a  and said lower bearing assembly  116   b  can be collectively referred to as a one or more bearing assemblies. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a perspective front and rear view of said warning sign system  100 , with a one or more faces (which can comprise a first face  202   a  and a second face  202   b ) over said sign portion  102 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an elevated rear view of said warning sign system  100 . In one embodiment, said sign portion  102  can rotate freely on an central axis  302 ; wherein, said central axis  302  can comprise a central axis of said mast  104 . In one embodiment, said sign portion  102  can attach to said mast  104  at a first distance  304  above a bottom  306  of said mast  104 . In one embodiment, said first distance  304  can be a second distance  308  below a top  310  of said mast  104 . In one embodiment, a portion of said mast  104  above said first distance  304  can comprise an upper portion  312  and the remainder of said mast  104  can comprise a lower portion  314 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate an elevated side and front view of said warning sign system  100  without said first face  202   a.    
       FIG. 5  illustrates a rear view of said warning sign system  100  with a one or more indicia  502  on said second face  202   b . In one embodiment, said one or more indicia  502  can comprise a computer readable printed code  504  (such as a bar code, a QR code, or similar), a one or more symbols  506 , and/or a one or more printed text warnings  508 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a perspective overview and an elevated top view of said warning sign system  100  with a plurality of air flows  600 . In one embodiment, said sign portion  102  can comprise an air foil like shape having a leading edge  602 , a trailing edge  604  and said one or more faces, as illustrated. In one embodiment, unlike many air foils, said sign portion  102  does not have an asymmetrical shape. For example, in one embodiment, said sign portion  102  can be substantially symmetrical about a horizontal axis  606 . Accordingly, unlike an aviation air foil which creates lift, said sign portion  102  can create an equilibrium as between said plurality of air flows  600  flowing past said one or more faces. Accomplishing this equilibrium can comprise allowing said sign portion  102  to rotate freely on said central axis  302  of said mast  104 . Accordingly, said sign portion  102  rotates relative to said mast  104  to create an equilibrium in said plurality of air flows  600  around said sign portion  102 . Accordingly, said horizontal axis  606  can be aligned with a prevailing winds  608 . 
     In one embodiment, said leading edge  602  can comprise a one or more leading edge lights  622  and said trailing edge  604  can comprise a one or more trailing edge lights  624 . In one embodiment, said one or more leading edge lights  622  and said one or more trailing edge lights  624  can have different colors from one another; wherein, a user of said warning sign system  100  can know which direction the wind is blowing by observing a color of lights pointed toward him, or otherwise, the colors of the lights according to a profile of said warning sign system  100 . One example of this principle can comprise using a red light on said trailing edge  604  for said one or more trailing edge lights  624  and a white light on said leading edge  602  for said one or more leading edge lights  622 , which would correspond to the colors of a car&#39;s headlights and tail lights. Other examples of lighting schemes can be found in aviation and naval vessels which have different colored lights on their extremities so indicate direction of movement in the dark. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a perspective overview and an elevated top view of said warning sign system  100  in a field  704 . In one embodiment, said warning sign system  100  can be used in a field  704  (such as an industrial site) comprising an industrial equipment such as a wellhead  706  which can produce hydrocarbons such as natural gas. In one embodiment, said field  704  can be bordered on one side by a public road  702  and said wellhead  706  can be accessible by a private road  708 . In one embodiment, said wellhead  706  can produce a toxic chemical being hazardous to the health of animals and humans; In one embodiment, said toxic chemical can escape from said wellhead  706  into a toxic zone  714  and then dissipate across said field  704  in a plume  712 . In one embodiment, said warning sign system  100  can be a first distance  716  from said public road  702  and said wellhead  706  can be a second distance  718  from said warning sign system  100 . 
     In one embodiment, said toxic zone  714  can comprise a 300 ppm concentration of said toxic chemical and said plume  712  can comprise a 10 ppm. In one embodiment, said toxic chemical can comprise H 2 S. In one embodiment, said first distance  716  and said second distance  718  can each comprise 200 meters, but they need not be identical in length. 
     In one embodiment, said field  704  can comprise an oil or gas field site where hazardous substances may be released. In one embodiment, said plume  712  can comprise a 10-ppm H 2 S concentration profile about 1 meter above the ground), a plume-dimension scale (meters measured approximately along its axis) and the security system of the present invention (airfoil pointing element adjacent entry road). The source for this hypothetical plume (said plume  712 ) is a ruptured trans-critical fluid injection line. The escaping fluid components (mol. fractions) are: CO 2  (0.51), H 2 S (0.45) and CH 4  (0.04). The RPID tags of the security system are positioned with a clear field of view of a vehicle approaching along said public road  702  and/or said private road  708 . For this example, a visitor would be able to see the site features and the warning sign movements/displays from the public road. 
     In one embodiment, said mast  104  can be planted in a ground surface of said field  704  or to a fence or pole surrounding said field  704 . In one embodiment, said warning sign system  100  is attached at a gate to said field  704 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a perspective overview and an elevated top view of said bottom  110  and said lower bearing assembly  116   b . In one embodiment, said upper bearing assembly  116   a  can be attached to said top  108  and said lower bearing assembly  116   b  can be attached to said bottom  110 . In one embodiment, said one or more bearing assemblies can allow said sign portion  102  to rotate freely on said central axis  302  relative to said mast  104 . In one embodiment, said one or more bearing assemblies can comprise a plurality of bearings (which can comprise a first bearing  802   a , a second bearing  802   b  and a third bearing  802   c ). In one embodiment, said plurality of wheels can interface with a portion of said mast  104  providing a bearing for said sign portion  102  to rotate upon. 
     In one embodiment, attaching said sign portion  102  to said mast  104  can comprise: sliding a sleeve  804  having a retainer pin  806  said second distance  308  down said mast  104 ; attaching said sleeve  804  to said mast  104 ; sliding said top  310  and said upper portion  312  of said mast  104  through said plurality of mast apertures of said sign portion  102 ; sliding said retainer pin  806  through a notch  808  in said lower collar  118 ; and attaching said upper plug assembly  114  to said top  310  of said mast  104 . 
     In one embodiment, said lower collar  118  and said upper plug assembly  114  can be aligned such that said sign portion  102  does not develop lift as said plurality of air flows  600  increase since said leading edge  602  can have a 1 degree nose down angle and therefore have a 1 degree downward thrust holding said sign portion  102  on said mast  104   
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a perspective front side detailed view of said upper bearing assembly  116   a  and a perspective overview of said upper bearing assembly  116   a , with each detached from said sign portion  102 . 
     In one embodiment, said one or more bearing assemblies can releaseably attach to said sign portion  102 . For example, in one embodiment, said upper bearing assembly  116   a  can releaseably attach to said top  108  and said lower bearing assembly  116   b  can releaseably attach to said bottom  110 . In one embodiment, said one or more bearing assemblies can attach to said sign portion  102  with a one or more screws such as a first set of screws  902   a  and a second set of screws  902   b.    
     In one embodiment, said upper plug assembly  114  can be a portion of said upper bearing assembly  116   a , and said lower collar  118  can be a portion of said lower bearing assembly  116   b.    
     In one embodiment, said upper bearing assembly  116   a  can comprise a socket  906  capable of receiving a dowel rod  904 , both of which can be aligned with said central axis  302  of said mast  104 . In one embodiment, a portion of said top  108  of said mast  104  can attach to said dowel rod  904  and rotate thereupon. 
     In one embodiment, said sleeve  804  can provide a protective barrier between said lower bearing assembly  116   b  of said sign portion  102  and said mast  104 . In one embodiment, said sleeve  804  can comprise an anti-corrosive material, or said mast  104  can be made of such an anti-corrosive material. 
       FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D and 10E  illustrate a perspective overview of said sign portion  102  with a handheld reader  1003 , a short range communication chip  1019 , a system-on-a-chip  1020 , a component diagram  1010 , and an encasement  1022  for said system-on-a-chip  1020 . 
     In one embodiment, said handheld reader  1003  can comprise a predetermined personal handheld devices including a known, portable RFID tag reader and/or a smartphone for graphic web access and for transferring spoken or key-entered passwords, said devices allowing confirmation of a particular level of security clearance and enabling physical access to the site and, if needed, maximum-security-web-access to critical site information prior to entry therein. 
     In one embodiment, said warning sign system  100  can further comprise said short range communication chip  1019  and said system-on-a-chip  1020  either of which can be attached to a portion of said sign portion  102  (such as a first location  1002   a  at said lower collar  118 , a second location  1002   b  at a portion of said bottom  110 , or a third location within said one or more faces. In every case, attention is given to ensure that a weight of said sign portion  102  does not alter a balance of said sign portion  102  along said horizontal axis  606 . 
     In one embodiment, said short range communication chip  1019  can comprise an NFC chip, an RFID, or another short range communication protocol and system, as is known in the art. 
     In one embodiment, said system-on-a-chip  1020  can comprise a processors  1005 , a memory  1006 , a communication hardware components  1007 , a digital compass  1011 , a location sensor  1012 , a temperature sensor  1014 , a one or more LEDs  1016 , a chemical sensors  1017  and a power system  1018 . In one embodiment, said location sensor  1012  can comprise a GPS sensor. Said temperature sensor  1014  can comprise a probe  1022  for sensing a temperature at or around said one or more computers. Said one or more LEDs  1016  can be lighted to provide a visible signal from said system-on-a-chip  1020 . Said power system  1018  can comprise a battery, attached to and powering said system-on-a-chip  1020 . 
     In one embodiment, more than one of said warning sign system  100  can be distributed across said field  704 ; wherein, said system-on-a-chip  1020  of a first warning sign can communicate with the same component on a second warning sign. Accordingly, said warning sign system  100  can comprise a distributed network of warning signs, as would be obvious to one in the art. 
     In one embodiment, data collected by said system-on-a-chip  1020  can be collected on a server and processed into useful information at said server. 
     In one embodiment, said system-on-a-chip  1020  can be stored in said encasement  1022 . 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate shows five typical, traditional risk/warning images indicating different hazards from toxic-poisonous to flammable/explosive classifications. Such images form the user-friendly link of the present “logical QR emblems” when they are superimposed onto the basic data-matrix cluster. While these known graphics illustrate a few warning classes, other graphics which are also used in the present invention include: logo symbols of a particular government agency/business or ideograph symbols of selected professions/activities relevant to the site. 
       FIG. 11B  illustrates how the basic components of the Denso•type QR code are meshed with the superimposed traditional, specific-class warning image. The legend (below) identifies each feature. 
     At this point the Applicants wish to incorporate by reference a discussion made in their previous (and currently co-pending) application. Specifically, utility application Ser. No. 13/066,382 at ¶¶[0024]-[0150]. 
     Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”