Method and apparatus for detection of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions

• US 20070296570A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Simplexgrinnell LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Barrieau, Mark P., Brighenti, Donal D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,619,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/525
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/12 Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors

Abstract

A fire alarm system includes a fire alarm control panel (FACP) and an addressable signaling line circuit (SLC) operably coupled to the FACP for communicating with addressable components, including a plurality of sensors. The sensors can include a plurality of atmospheric sensors operably coupled to the SLC and each configured to provide information about their local atmospheric environment. Also provided is a mobile robot addressable and dispatchable by the fire alarm control panel (FACP) to an area indicated by sensors that are detecting a hazardous or potentially hazardous condition. The robot has mobile sensors that are configured to obtain verification of the hazardous or potentially hazardous condition and the robot is further configured to communicate the verification to the FACP.

Claims

1. A fire alarm system comprising:

a fire alarm control panel (FACP);

an addressable signaling line circuit (SLC) operably coupled to the FACP for communicating with addressable components, including a plurality of sensors;

a plurality of atmospheric sensors operably coupled to the SLC and each configured to provide information about their local atmospheric environment; and

a mobile robot addressable and dispatchable by said fire alarm control panel (FACP) to an area indicated by said sensors detecting a hazardous or potentially hazardous condition, said robot having mobile sensors configured to obtain verification of the hazardous or potentially hazardous condition and further configured to communicate the verification to the FACP.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said atmospheric sensors are configured to detect unusual obscuration values before a pre-set alarm trip point is reached, and said robot includes a mobile sensor or sensors configured to obtain verification of the obscuration condition.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said robot further comprises a mobile combination sensor on a telescoping pole, said mobile combination sensor deployable to ceiling level.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of atmospheric sensors further comprise magnetically activated switches and said robot further comprises a magnet configured to activate said magnetically activated switches to send a signal to the FACP.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said robot further is supplied with an extinguishing agent and a mobile sensor configured to find a source of combustion, and said robot is configured to extinguish the source of combustion using said extinguishing agent.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said atmospheric sensors further comprise a homing signal emitter and said robot further comprises a mobile detector configured to detect a homing signal emitted by said homing signal emitter so that the robot can navigate to an area of concern.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said homing signal emitter emits an ultrasonic homing signal.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1 installed in a building and further wherein rooms of said building are provided with door ports or openings through which said robot can insert a mobile sensor.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8 wherein access to said rooms is provided by a door key system, wherein said door key system is configured to grant access to said robot when smoke is detected by said robot.

10. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said robot further comprises a camera configured to record all or some of the actions of said robot.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said robot is provided with mobile sensors configured to follow guide markers.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said guide markers comprise ultraviolet (UV) colored tracks, and said mobile sensors configured to follow guide markers comprise mobile UV sensors.

13. A mobile robot addressable and dispatchable by a fire alarm control panel (FACP) to an area indicated by local atmospheric sensors as having a hazardous or potentially hazardous condition, said robot having mobile sensors configured to obtain verification of the hazardous or potentially hazardous condition and further configured to communicate the verification to the FACP.

14. A robot in accordance with claim 13 wherein said mobile sensors further comprise a mobile sensor configured to obtain verification of an obscuration condition.

15. A robot in accordance with claim 13 wherein said robot further comprises a magnet configured to activate magnetically activated switches to send a signal to the FACP.

16. A robot in accordance with claim 13 wherein said robot further comprises a mobile combination sensor on a telescoping pole, said mobile combination sensor deployable to ceiling level.

17. A robot in accordance with claim 13 wherein said robot further is supplied with an extinguishing agent and a mobile sensor configured to find a source of combustion, and said robot is configured to extinguish the source of combustion using said extinguishing agent.

18. A robot in accordance with claim 13 wherein said robot further comprises a mobile detector configured to detect a homing signal emitted by a homing signal emitter so that the robot can navigate to an area of concern.

19. A method for detecting a hazardous or potentially hazardous condition, said method comprising:

detecting a signal from a sensor capable of providing information about local atmospheric conditions in a room;

dispatching a mobile robot to a room in which a signal was received from the sensor before a pre-set alarm trip point is reached; and

using mobile sensors on the robot to confirm that a hazardous or potentially hazardous condition does or does not exists.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein the hazardous or potentially hazardous condition is an early stage of a fire, and said method further comprises utilizing mobile sensors on the robot to locate the fire or smoldering embers, and expelling an extinguishing agent from the robot in the direction of the fire or the smoldering embers.