EXPLOSION PROTECTION SENSOR FOR GAS APPLIANCES

• US 20030154932A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GSBS Development Corp. (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Edwards Systems Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Schell, Michael B., Valenta, Rod J., Kouznetsov, Andrian I.
• Granted Patent: US 6,626,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 122/504
• CPC Class Codes: F23M 2900/11021 Means for avoiding accidental fires in rooms where the combustion device is located
• CPC Class Codes: F23M 2900/13003 Energy recovery by thermoelectric elements, e.g. by Peltier/Seebeck effect, arranged in the combustion plant
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/205 with furnace tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/12 Preventing or detecting fluid leakage
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/20 characterised by control inputs
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/223 in the water storage tank
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/345 Control of fans, e.g. on-off control control of fans of heat pump units F24H15/375
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/36 of burners
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2035 using fluid fuel
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/20 using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A device for sensing a dangerous condition includes a sensor that provides a signal when a dangerous condition is sensed by the sensor. A power source is provided which is in communication with the sensor. The power source supplies the sensor with power. A trigger is provided which is in communication with the sensor. The trigger is activated by the signal to prevent the dangerous condition from producing a harmful effect. In one embodiment of the invention the power source is a thermoelectric power supply and the sensor is a self calibrating sensor.

Claims

1. A device for sensing a dangerous condition comprising:

a sensor that provides a signal when a dangerous condition is sensed by said sensor;

a power source in communication with said sensor, said power source supplying said sensor with power; and

a trigger in communication with said sensor, said trigger activated by said signal to prevent said dangerous condition from producing a harmful effect.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said power source is a thermoelectric power source.

3. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said power source is located in an area that experiences sudden temperature changes.

4. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said power source is located in an area that experiences a constant differential in temperature.

5. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor is a self-calibrating sensor.

6. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a calibrator that periodically measures background concentration levels.

7. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor is an infrared sensor.

8. A system for sensing a dangerous condition comprising:

a sensing means for detecting a dangerous condition and providing a signal indicating that said dangerous condition has been detected;

a power source means for supplying said sensing means with power, said power source means in communication with said sensor; and

a trigger means for preventing said dangerous condition from producing a harmful effect when activated, said trigger means in communication with said sensor means and activated by said signal.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said power source means is a thermoelectric power source.

10. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said power source means is located in an area that experiences sudden temperature changes.

11. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said power source means is located in an area that experiences a constant differential in temperature.

12. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said sensor means is a self-calibrating sensor.

13. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said sensor means comprises a calibrating means for measuring background concentration levels.

14. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said sensor means is an infrared sensor.

15. A method of preventing a harmful effect of a dangerous condition comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor with power from a power source;

using the sensor to determine if there is a dangerous condition; and

preventing the dangerous condition from producing a harmful effect when the sensor detects a dangerous condition.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said sensor is provided with power from a thermoelectric power source.

17. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said sensor is provided with power from a power source located in an area that experiences sudden temperature changes.

18. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said sensor is provided with power from a power source located in an area that experiences a constant differential in temperature.

19. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said sensor is a self-calibrating sensor.

20. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said sensor is an infrared sensor.