Combination airborne substance detector

• US 20060103521A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marine Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey T. Wisniewski, Karl T. Olinger, Thomas H. Wisniewski
• Inventors: Olinger, Karl T., Wisniewski, Jeffrey T., Wisniewski, Thomas H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/16 Combustible gas alarms

Abstract

A combination airborne substance detection apparatus includes an enclosure, a first module disposed within the enclosure for detecting the presence of a quantity of a first airborne substance, a second module disposed within the enclosure for detecting the presence of a quantity of a second airborne substance, and an alarm module for producing a first perceivable emission when the first substance is detected and for producing a second perceivable emission when the second substance is detected. The first perceivable emission includes at least one of an audible and a visible emission that is distinguishable from the second perceivable emission. The first and second detector modules are each capable of independently and continuously detecting the first and second substances, respectively.

Claims

1. A combination airborne substance detection apparatus comprising:

(a) an enclosure;

(b) a first module disposed within said enclosure for detecting the presence of a quantity of a first airborne substance;

(c) a second module disposed within said enclosure for detecting the presence of a quantity of a second airborne substance; and

(d) an alarm module for producing a first perceivable emission when said first substance is detected and for producing a second perceivable emission when said second substance is detected, said first perceivable emission comprising at least one of an audible and a visible emission that is distinguishable from said second perceivable emission;

wherein said first and second detector modules are each capable of independently and continuously detecting said first and second substances, respectively.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first module and second module constitute a single module capable of sensing a plurality of airborne substances.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first emission is implemented first followed by implementation of said second emission when said first and second substances are at least one of simultaneously or near simultaneously detected.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second airborne substances are each selected from the group consisting of smoke, propane, carbon monoxide, methane, butane, mercury, ethylene oxide, volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, ammonia, combustible gases, cholorfluorocarbons, toxic gases, and optically-detectable gases, and said first substance and said second substance are different group members.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second airborne substances are each selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide and a combustible gas, and said first substance and said second substance are different group members.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said quantity of at least one of said first and second airborne substances is recorded at predetermined intervals from at least one of said first and second modules, respectively.

7. A combination airborne substance detection apparatus comprising:

(a) an enclosure having at least one opening;

(b) a circuit board disposed within said enclosure;

(c) a first electronic sensing device connected to said circuit board, said sensing device located near said at least one opening, said sensing device capable of continuously and independently detecting the presence of a quantity of a first airborne substance;

(d) a second electronic sensing device connected to said circuit board, said sensing device located near said at least one opening, said sensing device capable of continuously and independently detecting the presence of a quantity of a second airborne substance; and

(e) an alarm module for producing a first perceivable emission when said first substance is detected and for producing a second perceivable emission when said second substance is detected, said first perceivable emission comprising at least one of an audible and a visible emission that is distinguishable from said second perceivable emission, wherein said first and second emissions are capable of occurring independently of each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first electronic sensing device and the second electronic sensing device constitute a single electronic sensing device capable of sensing a plurality of airborne substances.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first emission is implemented first, followed by implementation of said second emission, when said first and second substances are at least one of simultaneously or near simultaneously detected.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first and second airborne substances are each selected from the group consisting of smoke, propane, carbon monoxide, methane, butane, mercury, ethylene oxide, volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, ammonia, cholorfluorocarbons, combustible gases, toxic gases, and optically-detectable gases, and said first substance and said second substance are different group members.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first and second airborne substances are each selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide and a combustible gas, and said first substance and said second substance are different group members.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said quantity of at least one of said first and second airborne substances is recorded at predetermined intervals from at least one of said first and second sensing devices, respectively.

13. A method of monitoring concentrations of airborne substances comprising:

(a) continuously detecting the presence of a quantity of a critical airborne substance;

(b) continuously detecting the presence of a quantity of a secondary airborne substance; and

(c) implementing at least one of a first perceivable emission when said critical substance is detected and a second perceivable emission when said secondary substance is detected, where said first perceivable emission is distinguishable from said second perceivable emission;

wherein said first emission is implemented first followed by implementation of said second emission when said critical and secondary substances are at least one of simultaneously and near simultaneously detected.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first and second airborne substances are each selected from the group consisting of smoke, propane, carbon monoxide, methane, butane, mercury, ethylene oxide, volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, ammonia, combustible gases, chlorofluorocarbons, toxic gases, and optically-detectable gases, and said first substance and said second substance are different group members.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first and second airborne substances are each selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide and a combustible gas, and said first substance and said second substance are different group members.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said quantity of at least one of said first and second airborne substances is recorded at predetermined intervals.