Emergency alarm and evacuation system

• US 3,969,720 A
• Filed: 07/18/1975
• Issued: 07/13/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shiro Nishino
• Original Assignee: Shiro Nishino
• Inventors: Nishino, Shiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/597,208
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 340/371, 340/227.1, 340/378, 340/326, 340/332, 340/309.4
• US Class Current: 340/815.69
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

An emergency alarm and evacuation system for directing persons to an emergency exit. The system includes an alarm, a plurality of indicator units arranged in a line toward the emergency exit, and an operating unit coupled to the alarm and being operable in response to an output signal from the alarm to successively energize the indicator units in the direction of the exit. The indicator units each have a light and a buzzer so as to generate both an audible and visual indication at a common point whereby persons may be guided by the sounds, the visual indications, or both, depending upon the smoke or noise conditions.

Claims

1. An emergency alarm and evacuation system for indicating the direction and location of an emergency exit comprising an alarm which when activated produces an electrical output signal, a plurality of indicator units arranged in a line toward said emergency exit, said indicator units each including electrically operated means for generating an audible and visual indication upon being energized, and an operating unit coupled to said alarm and being operable in response to an output signal from said alarm to successively energize said indicator units to produce a simultaneous visual and audible indication at each unit which if followed lead to said exit.

2. The emergency alarm and evacuation system of claim 1 in which said operating unit includes a power circuit and an operating circuit, and means electrically coupling said power circuit to said operating circuit in response to a signal from said alarm.

3. The emergency alarm and evacuation system of claim 2 in which said coupling means includes a self-holding relay with a normally open contact in a line connecting said power circuit to said operating circuit, said self-holding relay being energized in response to an output signal from said alarm to close said contact and thereby electrically connect said power circuit to said operating circuit.

4. The emergency alarm and evacuation system of claim 3 in which each of said indicator units each have a lamp and buzzer in a separate closed circuit, and said operating circuit includes changeover means for successively energizing the circuit of each indicator unit.

5. The emergency alarm and evacuation system of claim 4 in which said changeover means is a changeover contact piece of a count relay, and means for causing said changeover contact piece to be moved to electrically couple successive indicator unit circuits to said power circuit.

6. The emergency alarm and evacuation system of claim 5 in which said means for moving said count relay changeover contact pieces includes a timer relay having an output contact that successively moves between on and off positions to interrupt current flow to said count relay.

7. The emergency alarm and evacuation system of claim 6 in which said operating circuit includes a rotary switch having a plurality of contacts, said indicator units each having a closed circuit connected to one of said rotary switch contacts, and said count relay changeover contact piece being movable to successively close said rotary switch contacts.

8. The emergency alarm and evacuation system of claim 4 in which said operating circuit includes an induction motor coupled to said power circuit and being energized upon energization of said self-holding relay for moving said changeover means to successively energize said indicator units.

9. The emergency alarm and evacuation system of claim 4 in which said operating circuit includes a delay timer associated with each said operating unit circuit, said delay timers each being operable to delay the energization of its respective indicator unit circuit upon energization of said self-holding relay.