Patent Publication Number: US-10765896-B2

Title: Wells rescue device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to a well rescue device for rescuing a victim from a well with a narrow diameter such as, but not limited to, a water well and a bore well. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Often victims fall in uncovered or abandoned water wells and rescuing the victims poses great challenge. Typically such water wells are around 30 to 60 cm in diameter and hundreds of meters in depth. When a victim falls in such water wells, there is little room to allow rescue personnel to go inside the water well to rescue the victim. 
     In such cases, rescue devices are typically used for rescuing the victim. However, such rescue devices are not able to provide ample support to the victim while lifting the victim from the well. Without adequate support, the victim may be injured while being rescued. 
     Thus, there is a need for an improved well rescue device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The accompanying figures together with the detailed description below forms part of the specification and serves to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  illustrate a simplified side diagram and a simplified front diagram respectively of a well rescue device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4A , and  FIG. 4B  illustrate a support assembly of a well rescue device in accordance with the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a gripper assembly of a well rescue device in accordance with the embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an adjustment assembly of a well rescue device in accordance with the embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily a well rescue device. Accordingly, components of the well rescue device have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article or composition that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article or composition. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or composition that comprises the element. 
     Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, the invention provides a well rescue device. The well rescue device includes a support assembly, a seating assembly and a gripper assembly. In accordance with various embodiments, the support assembly includes two holding arms that are configured to hold the victim. The two holding arms are configured to hold one or more of a shoulder portion and a chest portion of the victim from two sides. In accordance with various embodiments, the seating assembly includes an extendable seat rod and a seat attached at an end of the seat rod. The seat is configured to move relative to the extendable seat rod in order to facilitate positioning of the seat relative to the victim. In accordance with various embodiments, the gripper assembly includes a gripper that is configured to facilitate positioning of the victim relative to one or more of the support assembly and the seating assembly. 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  illustrate a simplified side diagram and a simplified front diagram respectively of a well rescue device  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , well rescue device  100  includes a support assembly  102 , a seating assembly  104 , a gripper assembly  106  and an adjustment assembly  108 . 
     Support assembly  102  includes two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ configured to hold a victim  112 . Two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ are configured to hold one or more of a shoulder portion and a chest portion of victim  112  from two sides as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Each of two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ includes an inflatable air bag. The gap between two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ is adjustable in order to facilitate positioning of two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ relative to one or more of the shoulder portion and the chest portion of victim  112 . Support assembly  102  is described in detail in conjunction with description of  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4A , and  FIG. 4B . 
     Seating assembly  104  includes an extendable seat rod  114  and a seat  116 . The length of extendable seat rod  114  can be adjusted to appropriately position seat  116  underneath victim  112 . The length of extendable seat rod  114  can be adjusted by utilizing adjustment assembly  108 . In one implementation, the length of extendable seat rod  114  is 1990 millimeter (mm) when completely extended and 1025 mm when completely shortened. Seat  116  is attached with extendable seat rod  114  at an end of extendable seat rod  114 . Further, seat  116  is configured to move relative to extendable seat rod  114  in order to facilitate positioning of seat  116  relative to victim  112 . For example, seat  116  can open or close depending on the position of victim  112 . In one embodiment, seat  116  is a flexible basket. The flexible basket can be a basket with three legs and a net in between the three legs. Further, the flexible basket can be designed to integrate with extendable seat rod  114  when closed and convert to an open basket configuration when open. The flexible basket can be unfolded to the open position for securing victim  112 . The flexible basket can be folded and unfolded by utilizing a linear actuator  118 . 
     Gripper assembly  106  includes a gripper arm  120  and a gripper  122  configured to facilitate positioning of victim  112  relative to one or more of support assembly  102  and seating assembly  104 . Gripper  122  can be a two finger gripper. Gripper  122  can manipulate position of victim  112  to create appropriate space such that seat  116  can be positioned underneath victim  112 . Alternatively, gripper  122  manipulates position of victim  112  so that two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ can be appropriately positioned relative to one or more of the shoulder portion and the chest portion of victim  112 . Gripper assembly  106  is described in detail in conjunction with description of  FIG. 5 . 
     Adjustment assembly  108  is configured to move one or more of support assembly  102 , seating assembly  104  and gripper assembly  106 . In one implementation, adjustment assembly  108  is positioned at a top end of well rescue device  100 . Adjustment assembly  108  includes adjustment devices such as, but not limited to, electric motors and actuators. The actuators of adjustment assembly  108  can be configured to control rotation of well rescue device  100  inside the well. 
     Optionally, well rescue device  100  includes a camera  124  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In one implementation, camera  124  is a wide angle camera which provides a video feed of victim  112  inside the well. 
       FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4A , and  FIG. 4B  illustrate support assembly  102  of well rescue device  100 . Support assembly  102  includes two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ configured to hold victim  112 . Each of two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ includes an inflatable air bag such as air bags  302 ,  302 ′ for firmly holding victim  112 . Inflatable air bags  302 ,  302 ′ can be inflated using an air compressor (not illustrated in figures). The air compressor can be a part of well rescue device  100  or an external air compressor. Both inflatable air bags  302 ,  302 ′ are shown in an inflated state in the  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The gap between two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ is adjustable in order to facilitate positioning of two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ relative to one or more of the shoulder portion and the chest portion of victim  112 . The gap between two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ can be adjusted by utilizing adjustment assembly  108 . For example, the electric motor can be mounted at the top of support assembly  102  to facilitate adjustment of the gap between two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′. In one implementation, the distance between two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ is 97 mm when two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ are completely contracted and 365 mm when two holding arms  110 ,  110 ′ are completely extended. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates gripper assembly  106  of well rescue device  100 . As illustrated, the length and position of gripper arm  120  can be adjusted such that gripper  122  can be used to appropriately position victim  112 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates adjustment assembly  108  of well rescue device  100 . Adjustment assembly  108  includes a pin or a hook structure  602  illustrated in  FIG. 6 , two linear actuators  604 ,  604 ′ and electric motors  606 ,  608 ,  610  and  612 . Hook structure  602  can be a steel hook in order to facilitate connecting a rope for moving well rescue device  100 . Linear actuators  604 ,  604 ′ can be used to control rotation of well rescue device  100  inside the well. In one implementation, the distance between linear actuators  604 ,  604 ′ is 650 mm when linear actuators  604 ,  604 ′ are fully extended. In one implementation, electric motor  606  and electric motor  612  is connected with gripper assembly  106  (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ), wherein electric motor  606  is used to adjust the length of gripper arm  120  (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) and electric motor  612  is used to move gripper assembly  106  (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) horizontally. Further, electric motor  608  is connected with seating assembly  104  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) to adjust the length of extendable seating rod  114  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). In addition, electric motor  610  is connected with seating assembly  104  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) to move seating assembly  104  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) horizontally. 
     Consider a scenario where a victim is trapped in a portion of a well. In accordance with the scenario, firstly the well rescue device is lowered to the portion of the well where the victim is trapped. Thereafter, based on the orientation of the victim, one or more of the gripper, the support assembly and the seating assembly are controlled. In this, the gripper can be used to adjust the orientation of the victim. Alternately, the gripper can be used to provide support while adjusting one or more of the support assembly and the seating assembly by holding the victim in a steady position. In case, the victim is at the bottom of the well, the gripper can be used to lift the victim for appropriately positioning the seat. The support assembly and the seating assembly can be controlled either simultaneously or one after the other for appropriately positioning the support assembly and the seating assembly relative to the victim. In this, the holding arms of the support assembly are appropriately oriented and the space between the holding arms is adjusted in order to firmly hold the victim. Further, the extendable seat rod&#39;s length is optionally adjusted as per the victim&#39;s orientation and/or dimension in order appropriately position the seat underneath the victim. Thereafter, the seat is opened to provide the seating support to the victim. Once the victim is secured to the well rescue device, the well rescue device is pulled out to bring the victim out of the well. 
     Various embodiments of the invention provide a well rescue device for rescuing a victim from a well. The two holding arms of well rescue device firmly hold the victim while lifting the victim from the well. Further, the seating assembly of the well rescue device prevents the victim from falling further into the well while lifting the victim from the well. In addition, the gripper is used to adjust the victim in order to better position the victim for rescue, thereby reducing/minimizing chances of the victim getting injured during the rescue. 
     Those skilled in the art will realize that the above recognized advantages and other advantages described herein are merely exemplary and are not meant to be a complete rendering of all of the advantages of the various embodiments of the invention. 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.