초록 ▼

A hazard-suppression training simulator for training, for example, first responders, is provided. The simulator includes a housing; at least one source of sensation (for example, a visual or an audio sensation) representing a hazardous condition, for example, a fire; at least one sensor adapted to d

A hazard-suppression training simulator for training, for example, first responders, is provided. The simulator includes a housing; at least one source of sensation (for example, a visual or an audio sensation) representing a hazardous condition, for example, a fire; at least one sensor adapted to detect a simulated or an actual hazardous condition suppressant; and a controller adapted to vary the sensation in response to the simulated or the actual suppressant detected by the at least one sensor. The simulator may also include one or more “props” to better simulate an actual hazardous conditions, for example, a trash can or a stove pot that is on fire. The simulated suppressant may be provided by a simulated fire extinguisher, for example, a simulated extinguisher emitting an electromagnetic or sonic signal representing a fire suppressant. A hazard-suppression training method employing this simulator is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hazard suppression training simulator comprising: a three dimensional housing, wherein said housing is a casing defining an interior compartment;at least one source of sensation positioned within said interior compartment of said housing and configured to emit a sensation externally of said hou

1. A hazard suppression training simulator comprising: a three dimensional housing, wherein said housing is a casing defining an interior compartment;at least one source of sensation positioned within said interior compartment of said housing and configured to emit a sensation externally of said housing, wherein said sensation is representative of a hazardous condition;at least one sensor adapted to detect a simulated or an actual hazardous condition suppressant applied to said housing externally of said interior compartment, wherein said sensor is positioned at least partially within said interior compartment of said housing or at least partially on an outer surface thereof;a prop attached to said housing and positioned to interact with the sensation from said at least one source of sensation, wherein said prop is a device or structure shaped to evoke an appearance of an object subject to the hazardous condition, and wherein when said source of sensation is activated to emit said sensation, the sensation and said prop cooperate to simulate that the prop is subject to the hazardous condition; anda controller adapted to automatically vary the sensation in response to the simulated or the actual suppressant detected by the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is adapted to automatically vary the sensation in response to the manner in which the simulated or the actual suppressant is applied. 2. The simulator as recited in claim 1, wherein the simulator further comprises a display panel adapted to visually display the hazardous condition, wherein said display panel and said at least one source of sensation are both coupled to said housing to form a simulator system. 3. The simulator as recited in claim 2, wherein the controller is further adapted to automatically vary a visual display of the hazardous condition on the display panel in response to the suppressant detected by the at least one sensor. 4. The simulator as recited in claim 1, wherein the hazardous condition comprises at least one of fire, smoke, sparks, steam leak, flammable gas leak, toxic fluid leak, hazardous fluid leak, and oxidizing gas leak. 5. The simulator recited in claim 1, wherein the sensation comprises at least one of light, sound, smoke, sparks, fluid, heat, solid material, and smell. 6. The simulator recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to detect at least one of an audible signal, an electromagnetic signal, an ultrasonic signal, a pressure signal, a heat signal, a particle signal, a fluid signal, and a gas vapor signal. 7. The simulator recited in claim 1, wherein the prop comprises at least one of a device, machinery, hardware, furniture, a container, and an enclosure. 8. The simulator recited in claim 7, wherein the device comprises at least one of a motor, an engine, a pump, a generator, a stove, and a storage drum. 9. The simulator recited in claim 7, wherein the container comprises at least one of a box, a can, a trashcan, and a stove pot. 10. The simulator recited in claim 7, wherein the enclosure comprises at least one of a cabinet, a shelf, a locker, a wall section, a roof section, a window, and an electrical enclosure. 11. The simulator recited in claim 7, wherein the hardware comprises at least one of a pipe, a pipe flange, and a valve, a manifold, a pipe sensor, a hose, and a cable. 12. The simulator recited in claim 7, wherein the container comprises a cylindrical container having a bottom and an open top, and wherein the at least one sensor is positioned at the bottom of the cylindrical container and is accessible only from the open top of the container. 13. The simulator recited in claim 1, wherein the simulator further comprises at least one of a simulated electric control panel, a simulated pull station, simulated room lighting, a simulated sprinkler, a simulated gas shutoff valve, a simulated alarm, simulated heat, a simulated door, and a simulated phone. 14. The simulator recited in claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to automatically reduce the sensation when the at least one sensor senses that the simulated or the actual suppressant is applied using proper fire suppressant technique. 15. The simulator as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensation is detectable by a trainee positioned externally of said housing who is positioned to apply the simulated or actual hazardous condition suppressant detected by said at least one sensor. 16. The simulator as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to detect an actual hazardous condition suppressant. 17. The simulator as recited in claim 2, wherein said prop is positioned immediately adjacent to said display panel such that a visual display of the hazardous condition appears to emanate from said prop by way of said display panel. 18. The simulator as recited in claim 1, wherein said prop is removably attached to said housing. 19. The simulator as recited in claim 18, wherein the prop comprises a plurality of props interchangeably mounted to the housing. 20. The simulator as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is positioned within said interior compartment of said housing. 21. The simulator as recited in claim 1, further comprising a supplementary sensor directly coupled to said prop. 22. The simulator as recited in claim 21, wherein said supplementary sensor is positioned within said prop. 23. A hazard suppression training method comprising: providing a hazard suppression training simulator including a housing having an interior compartment, at least one source of sensation adapted to emit a sensation representative of a hazardous condition, at least one sensor adapted to detect a simulated or an actual hazardous condition suppressant, the sensor positioned at least partially within said interior compartment of said housing or at least partially on an outer surface thereof, and a prop attached to said housing, wherein said prop is a device or structure shaped to evoke an appearance of an object subject to the hazardous condition;emitting, via the at least one source of sensation, the sensation of a simulated hazardous condition externally to said interior compartment of the housing, wherein said sensation and said prop cooperate to simulate that the prop is subject to the hazardous condition;sensing, via the at least one sensor, a simulated or actual hazard suppressant directed toward the prop; andautomatically modifying the provided sensation of the simulated hazardous condition in response to the suppressant detected by the at least one sensor. 24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the simulated hazardous condition suppressant comprises one of a simulated fire extinguisher, a simulated fire hose, and a simulated fire blanket. 25. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the actual hazardous condition suppressant comprises one of a fire extinguisher, a fire hose, and a fire blanket. 26. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the actual hazardous condition suppressant comprises at least one of water, carbon dioxide, Halon, a cloth, a powdered chemical, a foam, an aerosol, or air. 27. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the simulated hazardous condition suppressant comprises at least one of an audible signal, an electromagnetic signal, an ultrasonic signal, a pressure signal, a heat signal, a particle signal, a fluid signal, or a gas vapor signal. 28. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the modifying step includes modifying emission of the sensation in response to the manner in which the simulated or the actual suppressant is applied as detected by the at least one sensor. 29. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the modifying step includes reducing emission of the sensation when the at least one detector detects that the suppressant is applied using proper fire suppressant techniques. 30. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein said simulated or actual hazard suppressant sensed during said sensing step is directed toward the simulator by a trainee positioned externally of said housing. 31. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein said hazard suppression training simulator further comprises a display panel adapted to visually display the hazardous condition, wherein said display panel is coupled to said housing to form a simulator system, and wherein said prop is positioned adjacent to said display panel such that a visual display of said hazardous condition appears to emanate from said prop by way of said display panel. 32. A hazard suppression training simulator comprising: a three-dimensional housing defining an interior compartment, wherein said housing further includes a prop shaped to evoke an appearance of an object to be subjected to a hazardous condition;at least one source of sensation coupled to said housing and adapted to emit a sensation externally of said housing, wherein said sensation is representative of the hazardous condition, and wherein the sensation and the housing cooperate to simulate that the object to be subjected to the hazardous condition is subject to the hazardous condition;at least one sensor coupled to said housing and adapted to detect a simulated or an actual hazardous condition suppressant applied to said housing externally of said interior compartment; anda controller adapted to automatically vary the sensation in response to the simulated or the actual suppressant detected by the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is adapted to automatically vary the sensation in response to the manner in which the simulated or the actual suppressant is applied. 33. The simulator as recited in claim 32, wherein at least one of the sensor and the source of sensation is positioned within the interior compartment. 34. The simulator as recited in claim 32, wherein the controller is positioned within the interior compartment. 35. The simulator as recited in claim 32, wherein the simulator further comprises a display panel adapted to visually display the hazardous condition, wherein said display panel and said at least one source of sensation are both coupled to said housing to form a simulator system, and wherein said housing is positioned immediately adjacent to said display panel such that a visual display of the hazardous condition appears to emanate from said housing by way of said display panel. 36. The hazard suppression training simulator as recited in claim 32, wherein said housing is manually carryable.