Thermal direction unit

a technology of heat source and direction unit, which is applied in the direction of optical radiation measurement, fire alarm radiation actuation, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of obstructing firefighter's vision, difficult to identify the source of smoke, and the inability of firefighters to loca

US20060289762A1Inactive Publication Date: 2006-12-28HACKNEY RONALD F +1
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2006-12-28
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

A device, and method for its use, which may be worn by a firefighter for detecting the source of a fire in a smoke-filled or noisy environment, the device having directional infrared sensors for detecting the direction of maximum or minimum intensity of infrared radiation in two or more directions relative to the wearer and reporting at least the direction of maximum or minimum intensity to the wearer by a tactile indicator contacting the skin of the wearer.
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Description

CROSS-REFERENCE

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending International Application No. PCT / US2005 / 011980, filed Apr. 7, 2005, the benefit of priority of which is claimed, and which in turn claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 560,467, filed on Apr. 7, 2004, the benefit of priority of which is also claimed, the contents of both applications being incorporated herein in their respective entireties by reference, and which are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by their mention in the background.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for detecting the direction of a heat source. More particularly, the invention relates to a device that may be worn and used for detecting and indicating, preferably by a tactile indication to the wearer, the direction of maximum or minimum infrared radiation relative to the wearer. The present invention also relates to methods for u...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0024] The configuration of a preferred embodiment of the thermal direction unit (TDU) of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-6, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout. The following preferred TDU embodiment is described for illustrative purposes only, and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims herein.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 1, the construction of a preferred thermal direction unit 100 embodiment is illustrated, in which the TDU comprises an upper casing 101 affixed to a lower casing 102 to form an essentially toroidal structure having one or more interior cavities. The materials of the upper and lower casings may be any rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible material capable of withstanding the rigors of a firefighter's environment. A TDU within the scope of the present invention may be constructed from flexible materials and derive its rigidity in whole or in part from its attachment to a helmet. Preferably, the up...