S.C.DOUBLEJOHN Prodservice S.R.L., produced an "Equipment used to rescue people confined in narrow spaces, model JJ-15". The equipment was designed and manufactured in order to rescue people confined in narrow spaces such as wells, fountains, caves, water ducts etc.
The electronic part can also be used to investigate buildings destroyed by natural disasters and where survivors may still exist. The investigation probe having small dimensions can be introduced between the ruins in order to investigate, assess and analyse the existing situations, in order to prevent undesirable events which might appear in the course of rescue operations.
The electronic equipment can also be used to inspect technological ducts. Being equipped with the investigation probe, the inspector can communicate with the other members of the team, exchanging technical information and broadcasting images from the inspection place.
This equipment consists of two parts: the electronic equipment and the mechanical equipment.
The electronic equipment is made of the "Investigation Probe" (I.P.) wire connected, up to 100 m long, to the "Central Unit" (C.U.).
C.U. has the role to monitor and control the rescue activities, through video and audio system, a 7 inch-LCD video monitor, a microphone and a loud speaker, connected to a controller module; the microphone and the loud speaker of the I.P. are as well connected to this controller module. Due to this controller module, the audio connexion is extremely sensitive, permitting the weakest vital signs to be sensed, such as heavy breathing with moaning, when I.P. is close to the confined person.
I.P. wire connected to the C.U. disposes of a video camera, a LED diode mini projector of high light intensity and power saving, a microphone and loud speaker. Due to the audio/video communication system, communication connexions may be established with persons being in extreme situations in order to assess their physical and psychological estate. The fact that there is a communication channel increases the person's hope to be rescued. I.P. can be introduced in numerous narrow spaces, difficult to access, through a bar made of duct segments of aluminium alloy, which can interconnect easily, rapidly and safely. Being light, it can be easily manipulated by the investigator without any particular physical effort.
Another probe can be connected to the C.U., which it consists of a mini projector and a video camera which is protected in order to be used in aquatic environments, having enough transparency degree to ensure usability of the images broadcasted by the camera and rendered on the monitor. The equipment can be charged by the electric network 230V/50 Hz c.a. or by its own accumulator which ensures an energetic independence of almost 6h at its total capacity. For emergency situations, it can be connected for charging to an exterior accumulator.
In case of natural disaster, the fact that the equipment is charged from a source independent from the electric network makes it to be highly used; used as well in places where there is no other power source.<> The mechanical equipment consists of square section tubes of aluminium alloy. The particular composition of the tubes ensures a high mechanical endurance. The 2 metre tubes are easily, rapidly and safely interconnected until they reach the wanted length. The first segment has a particular construction permitting it to become "L-shaped" and thus becoming kind of a "chair".
Due to the existence of the investigation probe I.P., the rescue operation is permanently monitored by the recue team which is able to change the rescue type when unforeseen situations appear. The mechanical equipment is completed by a subassembly for position stabilisation which is jointly connected to the first tube segment.
This subassembly stabilises the position of the confined person, during the extraction operation, through another system of circular section tubes of aluminum alloy.