WO2003046679A2

WO2003046679A2 - Locking system for means of transportation

Info

Publication number: WO2003046679A2
Application number: PCT/IL2002/000937
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ofer Katz
Original assignee: Magal Security Systems Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-11-25
Filing date: 2002-11-24
Publication date: 2003-06-05
Also published as: AU2002353469A1; IL146736A; WO2003046679A3

Abstract

A system and a method for locking parked transportation means (e.g. - airplanes, moored ships, trucks etc.) (30), comprising means (50) for locking, which is physically engageable upon locking to a component (60) of the transportation means, and a wireless electronic seal (110) mounted on the locking means, and being integrative therein upon sealing. At least one wireless data reader (80, 82) located at a known point in relation to the site in which the wireless electronic seal is mounted, and intended to receive a transmission from the wireless electronic seal. A control center (100) is linked to the wireless data reader, for decoding and analyzing the transmissions received from the wireless electronic seal, and thereby providing indications on the wireless electronic seal being in proximity to the known point (where the wireless data reader is located), and on the locking status of the locking means.

Description

Locking System for Means of Transportation

Field of the Invention The present invention refers to a locking and alarm system in general, and to a system for locking means of transportation (hereinafter: transportation means), such as an aircraft while on the ground, yachts moored in a marina, or trucks parked in a parking lot, in particular. An alarm system is integrated with said locking system, activated in case of break in attempts or actual unauthorized movements of said transportation means locked by the locking system.

Background of the Invention

Transportation means, such as aircraft, yachts or trucks, remain at times for a considerable periods in a static state, parked at a known and fixed parking site; e.g. - an aircraft that is parked at the tarmac, in a hangar or at an airfield's parking area; a yacht is moored at a pier in the marina or anchored in an anchorage; a truck is parked in a trucks parking lot.

All these transportation means share one feature in common: they can be stolen and used for terror attacks. Acts of terror by crashing a kidnapped airplane unto a sensitive target was already proved to be an absolutely likely occurrence as actually happened on September eleventh 2001 (crashing kidnapped airplanes into the Twin Towers in New York City and into the Pentagon in Washington). An aircraft being flown and directed to its target by a kidnapper, who possesses even minimal flying capabilities, was defined as an "intelligent bomb" being used by the terrorists.

Another possibility, which is being considered is that terrorists might attempt to steal an airplane parked on the ground, and to take off with it for accomplishing an act of terror, as said - a scenario that turned to be a looming and imminent possibility. Moreover, in view of the expected rise in safety means during the flight, as well those before boarding a flight (as when performing a pre-control of the passengers prior to take-off), so that as a result of this improved cautionary means, it will be more difficult for the terrorists to seize control over an airplane in flight, thus driving them to resort to other initiatives, such as breaking in into a parked but ready airplane, and taking off on their "mission". Considered from this aspect, opportunity makes the thief. The development of aviation gave rise to a wide distribution of aircraft and airfields. In many airfields, airplanes are parked with filled fuel tanks and practically ready for take off. All that is needed is a pilot, and as it has already materialized, there may well exist the possibility of a terrorist being capable of acting as a pilot. Many of the airplanes are light aircraft, among them airplanes for chemical and pesticides spraying purposes, which could be used by terrorists for dispersing chemical, toxic or bacteriological substances. The airplanes are scattered over airfields, part of which are in remote locations and without any peripheral protection.

Sometimes the airplanes are tied to the ground (for example - the wings are tied to the ground at anchoring posts fixed in advance to protect the airplane from gusts of wind), or the cockpit of the plane is locked, or starting the engine of the plane requires turning an extractable suitable key (as in a car). However, this concerns simple means of tying and locking, which are easy to disconnect, break or circumvent.

Consequently, at the time before the present invention, it was possible, for example, to break in into a light aircraft parked on a remote landing strip, to start up the engine, to taxi it to the take-off runway and to take off, undisturbed. All this could be accomplished with relative ease and without any alarm signal or warning of the theft occurrence. Similar scenarios might take place as the result of a boat being stolen from a marina and directed to cause a collision, or as the result of a truck being stolen from a parking lot. On the other hand, in various other fields, the protection and alarm systems technologies have since been improved. Thus, for example, in the field of vehicle protection, locking devices are known which make it difficult to break in into the vehicle, or at least, require considerable time for it (e.g. - locks adapted to lock the steering wheel of the car or the gearshift lever, or a device for locking the wheels of the vehicle - the so-called "Denver Shoe").

Another example, in the field of security for containers, the tampers proof seal technology is known for locking containers. In addition to the physical difficulty involved in breaking the seal, the seal also emits an indication of the fact that the container was opened in the course of its transportation (at the time when the container arrived in the port and the seal apparently remained "closed" as before). It is implemented by a wireless electronic seal, which, from the time it has been locked, enables reading the data transmitted from it. Such a seal technology is described, for example, in the Internet site www.higtek.com. The present invention, as it is described hereinunder, adopts the protection and alarm signals technologies presented by us above, and integrates them into a comprehensive alarm system and into a device for locking transportation means, such as an airplane while on the ground, a yacht anchored in a marina, or a truck in parking lot. Summary of the Invention

One of the goals of the present invention is to provide a physical locking device for transportation means, for example - mechanical locking of the airplane while it is parked on the ground.

In accordance with said example of locking transportation means, such as an airplane, it provides, according to the present invention, the implementation of a locking device, which does not necessitate any physical tying of the airplane parked in the airfield, to anchoring posts fixed in the ground. In other words, the implementation of the present invention does not require fixed anchors (which are usually located in the parking area of the airplanes for tying the wings, to protect against gusts of wind, as cited). Moreover, a protection device, embodied in accordance with the present invention will be a movable, compact in its size and relatively lightweight, features which enable mobility of the device onboard the transportation means proper. Thus, according to the preceding example of locking the transportation means, such as an airplane, the pilot, after landing, will dismantle the locking device from its place inside the airplane and lock the airplane at the place where he parked the airplane. Before take off, he will release the device and store it in the airplane.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a comprehensive alarm system, which will allow a sufficient margin of time between the time the alarm signal due to an intrusion attempt is received and the physical intrusion into the locking device itself. The physical intrusion into the device is difficult in itself, and therefore, the alarm transmitted to the system, into which the tampered locking device is integrated, is given from and about the time of starting the effort to break in into the locking device.

An additional goal of the present invention is to provide the above cited locking and alarm system, and this without the need for physical tying of the locking device to vulnerable sensitive components of the transportation means. Thus, according to said example relating to the locking of transportation means such as an airplane, the use of a locking device according to the present invention does not necessitate connecting it to an avionics related component of the planes, for example - to the propeller of a light airplane, where any bump to it could create a safety - aviation failure.

The present invention achieves these objectives by using a system comprising a locking means (hereinafter: the locking means), which is adjusted upon locking, to mechanically engage a component in the transportation means to be locked (e.g. - a light airplane, a yacht, a truck). A wireless electronic seal is mounted unto the locking means and is integrated therein upon being locked, so that it will be enabled to transmit after the locking means would have been connected to the component of the transportation means, as said. In accordance with the invention, at least one wireless data reader is placed at a known point relative to the site where the transportation means is likely to park (as per the above cited examples that we presented, namely - the parking area in the airfield, the pier in the marina, or the truck parking lot). The wireless data reader is adjusted to receive transmissions from the wireless electronic seal mounted in said locking means. A control center is linked to the wireless data reader for decoding and analyzing the transmission received from the wireless electronic seal, which are read by the wireless data reader. In this manner, the system will give an indication of the location of the transportation means in relation to the point where the wireless data reader is located, and an indication of the locking status of the locking means. In a preferred configuration of the present invention, the system is applied to locking a transportation means such as a light airplane when parked in the parking area of an airfield. The device for locking is in the configuration of a mobile "Denver Shoe"; adjusted to be mounted on the wheel of the airplane, and a movable remote control unit enabling the activation and de-activation of the wireless electronic seal in an encoded communication.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for locking a transportation means during parking is embodied in the invention, while, according to the example of application of the present invention for locking a light airplane during parking, the method constitutes the parking of the airplane at the site, the location of which is known as it relates to the wireless data reader, locking of the airplane by way of a mechanical engagement between the locking means and a fixed solid airframe part of the airplane (e.g. - a wheel), and activation of the wireless electronic seal mounted in the locking means, so that it will be activated for transmitting to the wireless data reader, in the event of an intrusion into the locking means, or of its removal. Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures, in which:

Figure No. 1 is an illustration of the application of a system according to the present invention, for the purpose of locking airplanes during their parking in a parking area of an airfield.

Figure No. 2 is a schematic illustration of an example of locking means according to the present invention, an example presenting the "Denver Shoe" configuration for locking a wheel component, the "Shoe" being illustrated in an "open" position - before it is mounted on the wheel.

Figure No. 2a is a schematic illustration of the locking means, which is illustrated in Figure No. 2, in a "closed" position, but before locking.

Figure No. 2b is a schematic illustration of the locking means, which is illustrated in Figures 2 - 2a, in a locked position. Figure No. 2c is a schematic illustration of the locking means, which is illustrated in

Figures Nos. 2 and 2a, in a "closed" position, but before locking, with a mobile remote control device lying also on the "Shoe".

Figure No. 3 is a schematic illustration of another example of a locking means device according to the present invention, constituting an example in the configuration of a lock with a cable.

Figure No. 4 is a schematic illustration of another application configuration of the present invention, where the system is not integrated into a peripheral system, but is activated as an autonomous-individual system.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

Referring to Fig. No. 1 , this figure is an illustration of an application of System 10 according to the present invention, for the locking of light airplanes 30, 30', 30", while parked in the parking area 40 of an airfield. It will be emphasized and understood by any person skilled in the art that the invention is described in respect to transportation means of the type of light airplanes, as said. However, it is also suitable for applications to locking of transportation means of different types (as cited, e. g., yachts in a marina, trucks in a parking lot, and similar entities).

System 10 constitutes different locking means, each of which is adjusted upon locking, to mechanically engage a component of light airplanes 30, 30', 30". According to the illustrated example (and as will be explained in respect to Figures 2 - 2c), the device for locking is in the configuration of a "Denver Shoe" 50 (refer to the enlarged section (the inset) of the illustration). The component in airplanes, to which "Denver Shoe" 50 is adapted to connect mechanically upon locking, is a wheel of the relevant airplane (in the inset section of the illustration - wheel 60 in airplane 30).

According to the illustrated example, a security fence 70 (not being part of the invention) fences the parking lot 40. On its posts, on which a second component of the system that is the subject of the invention, namely the mounted wireless data reader 80. In the illustrated example, it refers to two wireless data readers 81 and 82, that are located at a distance one from each other and are intended to receive a communication within known ranges (marked 81' and 82'). Placing the wireless data readers in such a configuration creates, in fact, cells covering the parking area 40.

In accordance with the illustrated example, a data line implemented by cable 90 connects the wireless data readers 81 and 82 to a remote control center 100. A control center 100 may be located as part of the control tower of the airfield and integrated into a ground traffic control system of the airfield. Cable 90 transmits the transmission data that is received by the wireless data reader (in the illustrated example - 81 and 82), in a communication that could be a digital data communication, for example - RS 485.

Referring again to the enlarged section of the illustration, the locking means integrates into its structure a wireless electronic seal 110, or in another terminology known in the art - a wireless lock. On locking the "Denver shoe" 50 onto wheel 60, the transmitter included in the wireless electronic seal 110 is activated ("set"). Upon being set, it will enable the transmission of indications to the wireless data reader 82 when it is in the reception radius cell 82', in which the airplane 30 is parked.

As we will see in the following, the indications which will be transmitted, will enable the control center 100 to provide information on the airplane 30 whether it is in the parking area 40 or it is leaving it (while the locking means is still set), as well as about the locking position of shoe 50.

Let's refer now to Fig. No. 2. The figure is a schematic illustration of an example depicting the locking means according to the present invention. The illustrated example is similar to the configuration of the "Denver Shoe" 50 for locking a wheel component 60, which was illustrated in the inset of Figure 1.

The "Denver Shoe" 50 is illustrated in "open" position - prior to being mounted on the wheel 60 (which is not illustrated). The Shoe is designed in a typical and known structure of several arms 200, which are adapted to embrace the wheel on mounting. One of the arms - 210 - is movable in such a manner as to allow the mounting of the shoe onto the wheel. In the illustrated example, the movable arm 210 rotates around an axis (not illustrated). As will be understood by any person skilled in the art, "shoe" 50 could be manufactured with a telescopically movable arm, and not just with a rotating arm, as illustrated in the example.

Included in the base 220 of the shoe 50 is a lock (not shown), for locking the movable arm 210 in a manner known and familiar to any person skilled in the art. An extractable key 230 is used for locking and opening the lock, thereby enabling securing and releasing the movable arm 210.

In the illustrated example, a rail 240 is mounted unto the movable arm 210. Mounted inside the rail 240, and in a manner allowing shifting along the length of the rail 240, is a sliding assembly of wireless electronic seal 110 - assembly 250. Mounted on base 220 is a second assembly - a static assembly of a wireless electronic seal 110 - assembly 260. The assemblies are mounted in a relatively specific location, which we will explain in the following.

Referring to Fig. No. 2a, this is a schematic illustration of the locking means 50, which is illustrated in figure No. 2, in a "closed" position, albeit before locking. In the position in which the device is illustrated (for illustration purposes without the wheel which it is designed to embrace in mounting), upon rotation of the movable arm 210 to the position of wheel embracing, the movable arm 210, and mounted on it - rail 240 and the sliding assembly 250 of the wireless electronic seal 110, are placed opposite the static assembly 260 of the wireless electronic seal 110. In this specific location, the extractable key 230 of the lock is placed between them.

Referring now to Figure No. 2b, this figure is a schematic illustration of the locking means - shoe 50, which is illustrated in figures No. 2 - 2a, in a locked position, and physically embracing wheel 60.

To lock shoe 50 onto wheel 60, the lock mounted in the base 220 of the shoe 50 is locked, and the key 230 is removed. Thereafter, the sliding assembly 250 of wireless electronic seal 110 is moved along rail 240, to connect to the static assembly 260 of the wireless electronic seal 110. Thus, in this configuration which is derived directly from the relative location of the different components, wireless electronic seal 110 is correctly aligned and physically blocking the access to the lock opening (after key 230 was extracted).

Let's refer now to Fig. No. 2c. This is a schematic illustration of the locking means - shoe 50, the one that is illustrated in figures No. 2 and No. 2a, in a "closed" position, but before locking, with a mobile remote control device 270 lying also on shoe 50. The mobile remote control device 270 is used to remotely set or activate the wireless electronic seal

110, and to de-activate it by an encoded transmission.

As described above, the wireless electronic seal technology in itself has been known and familiar for a long time. On connecting the assemblies to one another, and on activating the system, the wireless electronic seal (or "lock") is activated to transmit at any time when somebody attempts to break the seal (as long as it is not de-activated by the remote control).

As will be understood by any person skilled in the art, there is no limitation to combine and integrate additional sensors into the wireless electronic seal. For example - arms 200 (Fig. No. 2) of shoe 50 can be wired by conducting wires, so that any attempt to bend or break the arms, will also result in triggering the wireless electronic seal 110 to transmit an alarm signal.

Moreover, it will be understood by any person skilled in the art that a system according to the present invention will not necessitate only a locking means being in the "Denver Shoe" configuration, as described in Figures 2 - 2c, above. Referring to Fig. No. 3, the figure constitutes a schematic illustration of an additional example of a locking means according to the present invention, namely an example in the configuration of a lock 300 with, preferably, a cable 320. Cable 320 can comprise an electric conductor 322, twisted into a steel cable 324, that is linked to the wireless electronic seal 310, so that conductor 322 is activated to react to an intrusion attempt, activating the wireless electronic seal 310 into transmitting. In another configuration, the cable might comprise an optical fiber interwoven into a steel cable that is linked to the wireless electronic seal, so that the fiber would react to an intrusion attempt, triggering the wireless electronic seal into transmitting. However, it is clear therefore that the system is not restricted only to an application with transportation means on wheels. Also a locking device such as the one illustrated in figure No. 3 can lock a boat moored at a pier in a marina or anchored in a bay (for example - by tying the steering wheel with cable 320 to any rigid part of the boat).

Referring to Fig. No. 4, this presents a schematic illustration of an additional configuration of the present invention, wherein the system 410 is not integrated into the peripheral system, but is rather activated as an autonomous - independent system. In this configuration, a wireless data reader 480 is connected to another component in the system - a cellular dialing modem 499. Thus, cellular telephone 499' of the owner of the transportation means, or of someone on his behalf, accompanied by the cellular dialing modem 499, is used as the control center of the system. Cellular telephone 499' receives indications in the event of an attempt to open or break the wireless lock 411 or remove the lock out of the wireless data reader 480 receiving range 480'.

Moreover, from the aforesaid description and the accompanying figures, it is evident that the application of the present invention embodies a general method for locking a parked transportation means, a method that implements the steps of -

Parking of the transportation means in a site whose location is known as related to the wireless data reader (see in figure 1 - parking of airplane 30 in the parking area 40, being within the receiving range 82' of wireless data reader 82, or in figure 4 - airplane 430 being within the receiving range 480' of wireless data reader 480 located in the airplane). The method furthermore implements the step of locking of the transportation means by providing a mechanical engagement of a device - locking means, to a component in the transportation means (see the physical connection to a wheel component 60 in figures 1 and 2b, and likewise also in the configuration which is illustrated in figure 4). In addition, the method enables the step of activation of a wireless electronic seal, which is mounted in the locking means, so that it will be possible to trigger it to transmit to the wireless data reader, in the event of an intrusion into the aforesaid locking means or giving an indication (e. g., non-reception), in the event of it being moved away from the wireless data reader (see the locking of wheel 60 and the activation of the wireless electronic seal 110 by an encoded remote control device 270 in figures 1 and 2 - 2c, and likewise in the configuration illustrated in figure 4).

Consequently, a system according to the invention, or any system which would apply the method embodied therein, will enable receiving an alarm signal in a control center in any event of -

An attempt to open or break the lock; sawing the lock or its arms (in case of a locking device of the "Denver Shoe" type with wiring using sensors in the arms), or cutting the cable (in case of a locking device in the configuration of a lock with a cable); bending the arms (in case of a locking device of the "Denver Shoe" type with wiring of sensors in the arms); moving the wireless electronic seal or "lock" to outside of the range of the cell of the wireless data reader' cell in which the wireless electronic seal is activated; an attempt to move the transportation means with the wireless electronic seal activated on it to outside of the range of the wireless data reader's cell, in which the wireless electronic seal is activated; as well as in case of tampering with or ruining the wireless data reader or moving the device of transmission from it (e.g. cutting a communication cable, etc.).

It will be appreciated by persons who are skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described above. Rather the scope of the present invention is only defined by the claims, which follow.

Claims

1. A system for locking a parked transportation means, comprising means for locking, which is physically engageable upon locking to a component of said transportation means; and a wireless electronic seal mounted on said locking means, and being integrative therein upon sealing; and at least one wireless data reader, located at a known point in relation to the site in which said a wireless electronic seal is mounted, and intended to receive a transmission from said wireless electronic seal, and a control center, which is linked to said wireless data reader, for decoding and analyzing the transmissions received from said wireless electronic seal, and thereby providing indications on said wireless electronic seal being in proximity to said point, and on the locking status of said locking means.

2. A system for locking a parked transportation means according to claim 1 , wherein said transportation means is a light airplane.

3. A system for locking a parked transportation means in accordance with any of the claims 1 and 2, wherein -

The said locking means is in a "Denver Shoe" type device, and the component in said transportation means, to which said locking means is physically engaeable upon locking, is a wheel of said transportation means.

4. A system for locking a parked transportation means according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein - said locking means is in the configuration of a lock with a cable.

5. A system for locking a parked transportation means according to claim 4, wherein- said cable comprises at least one electric conductor, interwoven into a steel cable, which is linked to said wireless electronic seal, thereby the reaction of said conductor to an intrusion attempt triggers said wireless electronic seal to transmit.

6. A system for locking a parked transportation means according to claim 4 wherein- said cable comprises at least one optical fiber, interwoven into a steel cable, which is linked to said wireless electronic seal, so that the reaction of said fiber to an intrusion attempt triggers said wireless electronic seal to transmit.

7. A system for locking a parked transportation means according to any of the claims 1 s to 6, wherein- said locking means comprises in addition a mechanical lock, which is activated by an extractable key, and said mechanical lock is located in relation to said wireless electronic seal, so that upon locking of said wireless electronic seal, opening of said wireless electronic seal is required in order to allow access to the o keyhole of said lock.

8. A system for locking a parked transportation means according to any of claims 1 to 7, comprising, in addition, a remote control device to activate or de-activate said wireless electronic seal.

9. A system for locking a parked airplane according to claim 2, wherein said known s point in relation to the site where said wireless electronic seal can be mounted, is located along a fence protecting parking area of said airplane.

10. A system for locking a parked transportation means according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein - the linking between said control center to said wireless data reader is by 0 means of a communication cable transmitting data in RS 485 type of data communication.

11. A system for locking a parked transportation means according to claim 1 , wherein- said control center comprises a cellular communication modem adapted to transmit transmissions received from said wireless data reader. 5

12. A method for locking a parked transportation means, comprising the steps of - parking of said transportation means in a site the location of which is known in respect of a wireless data reader, and locking said transportation means by way of physically engaging a locking means to a component in said transportation means, and 0 activation of a wireless electronic seal being mounted in said locking means, thereby enabling said wireless electronic seal to transmit to said wireless data reader, in the event of an intrusion into said locking means, or if moving it away from said wireless data reader.

13. A method for locking a parked transportation means according to claim 12, wherein said transportation means is a light airplane.

14. A method for locking a parked transportation means according to any of claims 12 and 13, wherein said activation of said wireless electronic seal is preformed by an encoded remote control device.