ELECTRICAL POWER LINE MOUNTED FIRE WARNING SYSTEM
An electrical power line mounted fire warning system and a method of monitoring and providing a fire warning using the same are provided. An electrical power line mounted fire warning system includes: a plurality of sensor nodes, each including a housing mountable on an electrical power line, a plurality of sensors supported by the housing and including an IR sensor and/or a bolometer to detect a fire, and optionally including an electromagnetic sensor to detect at least one of a spark, a current surge of the electrical power line, or a line short of the electrical power line, a microcontroller configured to determine existence of a fire or a fire risk based on one or more parameters detected by the plurality of sensors, and a communication device.
1 . An electrical power line mounted fire warning system comprising:
a plurality of sensor nodes, each comprising:
a housing mountable on an electrical power line;
a plurality of sensors supported by the housing and comprising an IR sensor and/or a bolometer to detect a fire;
a microcontroller configured to determine existence of a fire or a fire risk based on one or more parameters detected by the plurality of sensors; and
a communication device configured to send a signal away from the sensor node when the microcontroller determines existence of a fire or a fire risk.
2 . The electrical power line mounted fire warning system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensor nodes further comprises an electromagnetic sensor to detect at least one of a spark, a current surge of the electrical power line, or a line short of the electrical power line.
3 . The electrical power line mounted fire warning system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensor nodes further comprises a camera.
4 . The electrical power line mounted fire warning system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a temperature sensor.
5 . The electrical power line mounted fire warning system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises an accelerometer.
6 . The electrical power line mounted fire warning system of claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring station, wherein the communication device is configured to send the signal to the monitoring station.
7 . The electrical power line mounted fire warning system of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is configured to send the signal to a neighboring sensor node of the plurality of sensor nodes, and the neighboring sensor node is configured to receive the signal.
8 . The electrical power line mounted fire warning system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensor nodes is configured to be powered from the electrical power line.
9 . The electrical power line mounted fire warning system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a humidity sensor.
10 . The electrical power line mounted fire warning system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a light sensor.
11 . The electrical power line mounted fire warning system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a smoke detector.
12 . A method of monitoring and providing a fire warning, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of sensor nodes, each comprising:
a housing mountable on an electrical power line;
a plurality of sensors supported by the housing and comprising an IR sensor and/or a bolometer to detect a fire;
a microcontroller configured to determine existence of a fire or a fire risk based on one or more parameters detected by the plurality of sensors; and
a communication device configured to send a signal away from the sensor node when the microcontroller determines existence of a fire or a fire risk; and
mounting the plurality of sensor nodes on one or more electrical power lines.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of sensor nodes further comprises an electromagnetic sensor to detect at least one of a spark, a current surge of the electrical power line, or a line short of the electrical power line.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of sensor nodes further comprises a camera.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises a temperature sensor.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises an accelerometer.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the communication device sends the signal to a monitoring station when the microcontroller determines existence of a fire or a fire risk.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the communication device sends the signal to a neighboring sensor node of the plurality of sensor nodes when the microcontroller determines existence of a fire or a fire risk, and the neighboring sensor node receives the signal.
19 . A sensor device comprising:
a housing mountable on or in proximity of an electrical power line, wherein the housing is mounted on or adjacent to a power pole or a transformer;
a plurality of sensors supported by the housing and comprising an IR sensor and/or a bolometer to detect a fire;
a microcontroller configured to determine existence of a fire or a fire risk based on one or more parameters detected by the plurality of sensors; and
a communication device configured to send a signal away from the sensor node when the microcontroller determines existence of a fire or a fire risk.
20 . A fire warning system comprising:
a plurality of sensor nodes, each comprising:
a housing mountable on an electrical power pole or by a transformer;
a plurality of sensors supported by the housing and comprising an IR sensor to detect a fire;
a microcontroller configured to determine existence of a fire or a fire risk based on one or more parameters detected by the plurality of sensors; and
a communication device configured to send a signal away from the sensor node when the microcontroller determines existence of a fire or a fire risk.