System for controlling ignition sources when flammable gas is sensed

• US 20060066452A1
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Maple Chase Company
• Inventors: Ashworth, Nicholas, Wallaert, Timothy E., Chapman, John Gilman Jr., Burt, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,176,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms

Abstract

Upon detection of a flammable gas condition, an intelligent thermostat regulates operation of appliances that have sources of ignition which could be the source of or may ignite the flammable gas. This hazardous condition is detected by a flammable gas detector and is communicated to the intelligent thermostat by wired or wireless communications. The intelligent thermostat then communicates with these appliances either via wired or wireless communications. The intelligent thermostat may also provide a visual warning user interface screen to inform the occupant of the hazardous condition, and may signal smoke detectors in the dwelling to sound an audible flammable gas warning. Alternatively, the flammable gas detector may signal the smoke detectors in the dwelling to sound an audible flammable gas warning directly.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the likelihood of igniting flammable gas, comprising the steps of:

receiving a flammable gas warning signal transmitted by an external flammable gas detector; and

disabling a source of ignition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a flammable gas warning signal comprises the step of receiving, by an electronic controller of an appliance including the source of ignition, the flammable gas warning signal transmitted by the external flammable gas detector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a flammable gas warning signal comprises the step of receiving, by a smart circuit breaker box, the flammable gas warning signal transmitted by the external flammable gas detector, and wherein the step of disabling a source of ignition comprises the step of de-energizing at least an electrical circuit supplying electric power to an area corresponding to the location of the external flammable gas detector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a flammable gas warning signal comprises the step of receiving, by a lighting control system, the flammable gas warning signal transmitted by the external flammable gas detector, and wherein the step of disabling a source of ignition comprises the step of disabling lights in an area corresponding to the location of the external flammable gas detector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the flammable gas warning signal comprises the step of receiving by a thermostat the flammable gas warning signal, and wherein the step of disabling the source of ignition comprises the step of transmitting by the thermostat an appliance control signal to an electronic controller of an appliance having the source of ignition commanding the electronic controller of the appliance to disable the source of ignition of the appliance.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of displaying on a user interface display of the thermostat flammable gas warning information.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of transmitting by the thermostat an electrical circuit control signal to a smart circuit breaker box commanding the smart circuit breaker box de-energizing at least an electrical circuit supplying electric power to an area corresponding to the location of the external flammable gas detector.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of transmitting by the thermostat a flammable gas detected signal to at least one hazardous condition detector commanding the hazardous condition detector to sound a flammable gas alarm.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of disabling the source of ignition further comprises the step of disabling by the thermostat a furnace controlled thereby.

10. An appliance control network, comprising:

an appliance having a source of ignition and an electronic controller configured to control the source of ignition;

a flammable gas detector; and

a thermostat operably coupled to the electronic controller of the appliance; and

wherein the flammable gas detector transmits a warning signal upon detection of a flammable gas; and

wherein the thermostat receives the warning signal from the flammable gas detector and transmits an appliance control signal to the electronic controller to disable the appliance'"'"'s source of ignition.

11. The network of claim 10, wherein the thermostat includes a user interface display, and wherein the thermostat displays flammable gas detected warning information on the user interface display upon receipt of the warning signal.

12. The network of claim 10, further comprising a smart circuit breaker box, and wherein the thermostat transmits an electric circuit control signal to the smart circuit breaker box to de-energize at least an electrical circuit supplying electric power to an area corresponding to the location of the flammable gas detector.

13. An appliance, comprising:

a source of ignition;

an electronic controller configured to control the source of ignition; and

wherein the electronic controller is configured to disable the source of ignition upon receipt of a flammable gas warning signal generated by an external flammable gas detector.

14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the electronic controller is configured to communicate with a thermostat, and wherein the flammable gas warning signal is received from the thermostat.

15. A thermostat, comprising:

means for communicating with at least one appliance; and

means for communicating with at least one flammable gas detector.

16. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the at least one appliance comprises a furnace, and wherein the thermostat disables operation of the furnace when the means for communicating with the at least one flammable detector receives a flammable gas warning signal therefrom.

17. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the at least one appliance comprises a hot water heater, and wherein the means for communicating with the at least one appliance is configured to transmit an appliance control signal to the hot water heater to disable the source of ignition of the hot water heater.

18. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the at least one appliance comprises a smart circuit breaker box, and wherein the means for communicating with the at least one appliance is configured to transmit an electric circuit control signal to the smart circuit breaker box to de-energize at least an electrical circuit supplying electric power to an area corresponding to the location of the flammable gas detector.

19. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the at least one appliance comprises a lighting control system, and wherein the means for communicating with the at least one appliance is configured to transmit lighting control signal to the lighting control system to disable lighting in an area corresponding to the location of the flammable gas detector.

20. The thermostat of claim 15, further comprising a user interface display, and wherein the thermostat displays flammable gas warning information on the user interface display when the means for communicating with the at least one flammable detector receives a flammable gas warning signal therefrom.