Cargo Monitoring System and Device

The present invention relates to a cargo monitoring system and device and in particular to such a system optimised for monitoring Dangerous Goods, General Cargo and Baggage in transit.

It is common practice for substances defined by the United Nations Committee of Experts and the International Atomic Energy Agency as "Dangerous Goods" to be transported by various modes of transport. Li these circumstances, regulations and technical instructions provide a detailed and robust framework within which all transporters of Dangerous Goods must operate. Fundamental to the transportation of Dangerous Goods is the use of containers and packaging as set out in the applicable Regulations and Technical Instructions. These are used as a means of trying to prevent leakage or damage from any impacts which may occur during handling and transportation.

As an additional precaution, the transport vehicle may be fitted with smoke detection systems. If smoke is detected, an alarm may be output. This may trigger the operation of either a manual or automatic fire suppression system and/or may alert the vehicle operator (e.g. a driver, pilot or similar) to stop the vehicle and/or contact the emergency services. In the case of an aircraft, emergency response checklists direct the crew to carry out specific drills and to land at the nearest suitable airfield. Once the vehicle has come to rest safely, the emergency services can then deal appropriately with the incident.

Whilst these smoke detection systems can identify the presence of smoke, they have a number of intrinsic failings, some of which are set out as a non-exhaustive list

of examples below. Firstly, they do not determine the existence of any leakages of either fluids or vapours. Next, in the case of a fire, the systems do not respond until a heat source has generated a sufficient quantity of smoke particulates to trigger an alarm. Additionally, if there is more than one package contained in a single hold, there is no indication as to which package has triggered the smoke alarm. Furthermore, there is no direct indication as to the packages location within the hold.

In general terms, the consequences of the existing systems means that there is a time lag between an ignition source generating smoke and the alarm being activated. This increases the potential seriousness of the incident because it allows the fire to intensify and possibly spread.

The difficulties are compounded due to the relative difficulties, or, in some cases, the impossibility of accessing the cargo, particularly in the case of aircraft. Inspection may be required for the purposes of inspection, fire fighting or the preventative relocation of vulnerable packages away from harm.

This situation is further exacerbated in relation to an incident involving

Dangerous Goods. By definition, Dangerous Goods may pose special risks to the vehicle and its occupants, where a leak or fire involving certain substances could have fatal consequences.

New developments and improvements in aviation are allowing aircraft to fly longer distances. This in turn means that there are more routes over inhospitable areas, far removed from suitable airfields into which an aircraft can divert in the event of an emergency. The additional time needed to reach these airfields could be beyond the on-board fire suppression capabilities.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cargo monitoring system and/or device that overcomes or alleviates at least some of the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cargo monitoring device comprising: mounting means for mounting the apparatus upon a container or package; sensing means operable to detect a temperature variation and/or the leakage of a substance from within the container or package and output a signal indicative thereof; and data transmission means operable in response to thereto to transmit data relating to the output of the sensing means to an external device.

By using the above device, individual containers or packages can be monitored rather than the hold as a whole. Furthermore, by directly monitoring the temperature variation of and the presence or absence of a leak, the unsafe condition of a container or package an the resultant potential hazard can be detected earlier and thus appropriate safety action may be taken enhancing the survivability and reducing collateral damage.

The mounting means may be any suitable means including, but not limited to the following: adhesive, adhesive tape or similar, hook and loop fastening means, screws, pins, nails or similar, co-operating snap fitting means.

The sensing means may comprise one or more of the following: a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a moisture sensor or a chemical/biological sensor. By monitoring the output of the or each sensor in the sensing means, the presence or absence of a leak or a temperature variation may be determined. The particular sensors contained in the sensing means may be specifically selected for the detection

of a leak of a particular substance. In particular, chemical or biological sensors, if used, may be adapted to directly detect the presence of a particular substance and/or its break down products. Typically, with respect to temperature variation, a sufficient increase in temperature may be considered indicative of a fire condition or other such energetic reaction. A sufficient decrease in temperature may however be indicative of the leakage of a pressurised substance from the monitored container/package or a neighbouring container/package.

The device may incorporate a control unit. The control unit may be operable to receive the output from the or each sensor in the sensing means and determine whether the output received indicates the presence of a leak. The control means may also be operable to receive the output from the or each sensor in the sensing means and determine whether the output received indicates an unsafe temperature variation.

The control unit may be operable to control the operation of the data transmission means, hi some embodiments, the control unit may operate the data transmission means at predetermined intervals, hi other embodiments the control means may only operate the data transmission means when an unsafe condition is detected.

The device may be provided with data receiving means in addition to data transmission means. Data received by the data receiving means may be output to the control means. In such embodiments, the control unit may be operable to control the data transmission unit only in response to the receipt of data via the data receiving means.

The data transmission means and the data receiving means are preferably wireless data transmission and receiving means. Most preferably both the data transmission means and the data receiving means are RF (radio frequency) data transmission and receiving means.

The control means may comprise a data storage means. The data storage means may store a unique identification code. Preferably, this code is transmitted each time the data transmission means is operated. The data storage means may also store data relating to any of the following: the identity of the monitored substance, the origin of the monitored substance, the intended destination of the monitored substance. This data may be transmitted each time the data transmission means is activated or only on particular occasions. The data storage means may store data relating to the output of the sensing means. This may include a historical record of the output of the or each sensor in the sensing means.

The device may be provided with an internal power source. In RF embodiments, the device may incorporate energy scavenging means such that the device can operate as a passive tag.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a cargo monitoring system comprising one or more communicator units fitted within a cargo area, the communicator units operable to receive data signals from one or more devices in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention mounted on containers or packages positioned within the cargo area.

In the system of the second aspect of the present invention the devices may incorporate any or all of the features of the first aspect of the present invention, as desired or as appropriate.

The cargo area may be a warehouse or an area within a warehouse. Alternatively, the cargo area may be a cargo hold of a transport vehicle or an area within a cargo hold of a transport vehicle. The transport vehicle may be any suitable form of transport vehicle including but not limited to bicycles, motorcycles, cars, vans, lorries, trains or similar, boats or aircraft including fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, or any fonn of unmanned air vehicle.

The or each communicator unit may be connected to a central processor unit.

The processor unit may be operable to determine whether signals received by a communicator unit indicate the occurrence of a leak or an unsafe temperature variation in a monitored container. The processor unit may be operable to initiate an alarm if it is determined that a leak or an unsafe temperature variation has occurred in a monitored container or package.

The alarm may be output via alarm means provided so as to alert the operator of the vehicle. The alarm means may be audio and/or visual alarm means and may be implemented either as a stand alone unit or may be incorporated into an existing monitoring/alarm system.

The system may additionally or alternatively comprise an external transmitter unit which may be operable to transmit an alarm signal to an external authority. The external transmitter unit may be operable to transmit data via a wireless or fixed line network. In some embodiments, the external transmitter unit may be operable to

transmit a RF signal directly to a suitable receiver. Suitable external authorities may include but are not limited to, the control centre of the transport company, the local emergency services or the local traffic control services including air traffic control, railway signalling control or the coast guard, if appropriate.

The processor unit may incorporate data storage means. The data storage means may be operable to store data indicating the substances contained in each monitored container. Accordingly, when a leak or unsafe temperature variation is detected the warehouse/vehicle operator and/or an external authority may be informed as to the identity of the substance that has exceeded its set parameters. Additionally, the warehouse/vehicle operator and/or the external authority may be informed as to the identity of any other potentially dangerous substances contained in the hold. This allows the warehouse/vehicle operator and/or the external authority to assess the risks caused by the leak and to determine the safest way of dealing with the unsafe condition.

In embodiments with more than one communicator unit, the difference in the signals received from one monitoring device at two or more of the communicator units may be used to determine the location of a monitored container or package within the hold. The processing unit may be operable to compare the locations of all monitored containers or packages in the hold and to determine whether a particular arrangement of containers or packages results in an unacceptable risk. This may be affected by Regulations or Technical Instructions pertaining to the segregation of substances, their location in the vehicle, or the prohibition of the carriage of certain substances.

Depending on the nature of the monitored substance, its position within the cargo area and the other substances in the cargo area, the processor unit may be manually or automatically operable to directly initiate a safety system such as a fire extinguishing or suppression system when a leak or unsafe temperature variation is detected. In such cases, caution should be exercised with regard to the selection of appropriate extinguishing or suppression agents to ensure that they do not react with the monitored substances on board.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport vehicle comprising a cargo hold wherein the cargo hold is fitted with a cargo monitoring system according to the second aspect of the present invention.

The transport vehicle may be any suitable form of transport vehicle including but not limited to bicycles, motorcycles, cars, vans, lorries, trains or similar, boats or aircraft including fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, or any form of unmanned air vehicle.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a goods warehouse comprising a cargo storage area wherein the cargo storage area is fitted with a cargo monitoring system according to the second aspect of the present invention.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment will now be described further herein, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a cargo monitoring device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a monitored container or package within a cargo hold; and

Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of a cargo monitoring system according to the present invention.

Referring now to figure 1, a cargo monitoring device 100 comprises a control unit 101, a data transmission means 102, a data receiving means 103, a data storage means 104, a sensing means 105 and a power source 106. The sensing means 105 comprises a temperature sensor 105a, a liquid sensor 105b and a specific chemical sensor 105c. The temperature sensor 105a is operable to output a signal to the control means 101 indicative of the temperature local to the temperature sensor 105a. The liquid sensor 105b is operable to output a signal to the control means 101 indicative of the presence or absence of liquid local to the liquid sensor 105b. The specific chemical sensor 105 c is operable to output a signal to the control means 101 indicative of the presence or absence of a specific chemical local to the sensor 105c. In alternative embodiments it is of course possible to provide an alternative number of or selection of sensors.

In operation, as is shown in figure 2, the monitoring device 100 is mounted on a container 10 by means of suitable mounting means (not shown). The control unit 101 is operable to process the output of the sensing means 105 and determine whether the output indicates the likely occurrence of a leak or overheat from the container 10.

The data transmission means 102 is operable to in response to the control unit 101 to transmit data relating to the output of the sensing means 105 and/or the likelihood of the existence of a leak from container 10 to an external device. The data

receiving means 103 is operable to receive signals from an external source and pass those signals to the control unit 101. The control unit 101 can then process the received signals and respond accordingly. In the present embodiment, both the data receiving means 103 and data transmission means 102 are operable to receive/transmit RF (radio frequency) signals.

The data storage means 104 stores data relating to the particular contents of the container 10 and may store historical data relating to the output of the sensing means 105 over time. In some embodiments, the power source 106 may be replaced by an energy scavenging means operable to extract energy from RF signals received by the data receiving means 103.

In use, the monitoring device 100 is operable to transmit signals to one or more communicator units 201. The communicator units 201 are positioned around a hold or warehouse where the container is positioned. The communicator units 201 form part of a monitoring system 200 shown schematically in figure 3.

The communicator units 201 are connected to a central processor unit 202. the central processor unit 202 processes signals received from the communicator units 201 to determine whether they indicate that a monitored container 10 has leaked. If it is determined that the container 10 has leaked or overheated, an alarm may be issued via alarm means 203 or via an external transmitter unit 204. The system 200 is also provided with a data storage unit 205, which stores data relating to the monitored containers 10, such as the nature of the monitored substance and/or sender recipient details. The central processor unit 202 is also operable to determine the location of a monitored container 10 relative to the communicator units 201 based on the received signals.

Typically, the system 200 is fitted to a warehouse or a container hold of a vehicle. In use, a monitoring device 100 is attached to a container 10 carrying a hazardous substance. The sensing means 105 are selected to be appropriate for detecting a leak of the particular hazardous substance. When the container 10 is loaded into the warehouse or hold, the communicator units 201 detect the presence of the monitoring device 100 and store details of the monitoring device 100 and the hazardous substance in the data storage unit 205. The central processor unit 202 furthermore determines the location of the monitoring device 100 and hence the container 10 within the hold.

The processing means 202 may further compare the locations of a plurality of monitored containers 10 in the hold and determine whether their relative locations constitute a hazard. If it is determined that the relative locations constitute a hazard, the alarm means 203 are activated. This then allows the relevant cargo to be reloaded safely.

In transit, the communicator units 201 may regularly interrogate the or each monitoring device 100 in the hold. If it is determined that a leak or overheat has occurred, the alarm means 203 are activated. The alarm means 203 will then inform the operator of the vehicle that a container has leaked or overheated, the substance that has leaked and the location of the container. The vehicle operator can then consider the situation and take appropriate action. Additionally, the external transmission unit 204 may transmit this information to an external authority. The external authority may then consider the data and liase with the vehicle operator to deal with the situation.

In one particular example, a leak of a flammable substance is detected in the hold of an aircraft. The crew of the aircraft are alerted to the nature and location of the leak by the alarm means 203. Simultaneously, this information is conveyed to the airline via the external transmitter unit 204. Depending on the nature of the leak, the aircraft may then be diverted to a suitable airfield where appropriately prepared fire officers may be on standby. Given the knowledge of the nature of and location of the leak, any potential hazard caused by the leak may be dealt with more rapidly and more safely.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment, which is described by way of example only.