Method and apparatus for controlling a valve during a hazard event
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for controlling a valve during the detection of a hazard event. A hazard event is defined as an event that may endanger the health or safety of people or the environment from contamination of hazardous material carried by a vehicle. The hazard event may be detected from a condition of the vehicle, an input received from a vehicle operator, or a message received from a remote location. After detecting a hazard event, a valve located on the vehicle is controlled to prevent contamination from the hazardous material being transported.
1. A method for controlling a valve located on a vehicle, comprising:
detecting a hazard event;
transmitting a status message indicative of the hazard event to a remote location;
receiving a second message in response to the status message, the second message comprising instructions for controlling the valve; and
controlling operation of the valve upon detection of the hazard event.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hazard event is detected from a condition of the vehicle.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hazard event is detected form an input received from a vehicle operator.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hazard is detected from a message received from a remote location.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hazard event is detected when a sensed parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold.
6. Apparatus for controlling a valve located on a vehicle, comprising: means for detecting a hazard event;
means for operating the valve;
a transceiver being operable to transmit a status message to a remote location upon detecting the hazard event, the transceiver being further operable to receive a second message sent in response to said status message, the second message comprising instructions for controlling the valve; and
means for controlling the operating means in response to the hazard event.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the means for detecting the hazard event comprises means for detecting the hazard event from a condition of the vehicle.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the means for detecting the hazard event comprises means for detecting the hazard event from an operator input.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the means for detecting the hazard event comprises means for detecting the hazard event from a message received from a remote location.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the means for detecting the hazard event comprises means for sensing a parameter onboard the vehicle.
11. Apparatus for controlling a valve located on a vehicle, comprising:
a transducer for detecting a parameter onboard the vehicle:
a solenoid for controlling operation of the valve;
a processor for determining a hazard event from the detected parameter; a transmitter for transmitting a status message, indicative of a hazard event, to a remote location; said processor being operable to receive a second message, including instructions for controlling the valve, in response to the status message, and sending a signal to the solenoid to control operation of the valve.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the transducer comprises an operator input device for receiving an operator input, wherein the hazard event is detected from the operator input.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the transducer comprises a vehicle parameter sensor, wherein the hazard event is detected from the vehicle parameter sensor.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the transducer comprises a receiver for receiving a message from a remote location, wherein the hazard event is detected form the message received from the remote location.