Smoke detector having an integral piezo-electric buzzer

• US 4,306,229 A
• Filed: 06/23/1980
• Issued: 12/15/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nohmi Bosai Kogyo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nohmi Bosai Kogyo Company Limited
• Inventors: Okazaki, Toshiaki, Tamura, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myer, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US06/161,911
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 340/629, 340/630, 340/384 E, 340/594, 250/574, 250/381
• US Class Current: 340/629
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• 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 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/122 using piezoelectric driving means G10K9/121 takes precedence

Abstract

A fire detector comprises a piezo-electric element attached to a vibrating portion which is part of a component constituting the detector. The component having the vibrating function may be a casing or an electrode or any other suitable member. The piezo-electric buzzer is thus incorporated in the detector to form a simple and compact fire detector with an alarm device.

Claims

1. A smoke detector comprising:

a base;

a housing having at least one aperture, said housing operatively connected to said base, said base and said housing forming a smoke detection region therebetween;

first and second electrodes, respectively operatively mechanically connected to said base and said housing, whereby said smoke detection region is between said first and second electrodes;

a radiation source located within said smoke detection region and operatively connected to said base for emitting radiation in said smoke detection region;

a detector circuit means electrically operatively connected to said first and second electrodes for providing an electrical signal in response to smoke entering said smoke detection region through said at least one aperture, said smoke affected by said emitted radiation;

a piezo-electric element operatively mechanically connected to one of said first and second electrodes and electrically connected to said detector circuit means, said piezo-electric element vibrating said one of said first and second electrodes to which it is mechanically operatively connected in response to said electrical signal from said detector circuit means for producing an audible alarm, whereby said audible alarm is indicative of the presence of smoke.

2. A smoke detector as in claim 1, wherein said radiation source is mounted within a cylindrical rod, said rod operatively mechanically connecting one of said first and second electrodes to said base.

3. A smoke detector as in claim 1, wherein part of said housing forms one of said first and second electrodes.

4. A smoke detector as in claim 1, wherein said second electrode is mechanically connected to said housing so as to partially cover said at least one aperture.

5. A smoke detector as in claim 4, further comprising a ring member, said ring member mechanically connecting said second electrode to said housing.

6. A smoke detector comprising:

a base;

a housing having at least one aperture, said housing operatively connected to said base, said base and said housing forming a smoke detection region therebetween;

a light emitter source located within said smoke detection region and operatively connected to said base for emitting light in said smoke detection region;

a detector means including a light sensor mechanically operatively connected to said base for providing an electrical signal in response to smoke entering said smoke detection region through said aperture;

a piezo-electric element operatively mechanically connected to said housing and electrically connected to said detector means, said piezo-electric element vibrating a portion of said housing in response to said signal from said detector means for producing an audible alarm, whereby said audible alarm is indicative of the presence of smoke.

7. A smoke detector as in claim 6, wherein said portion of said housing vibrated by said piezo-electric element comprises a vibrating plate mechanically connected over an aperture in said housing.

8. A smoke detector as in claim 6, wherein said vibrating portion of said housing comprises a hollow cylindrical member having a vibrating plate mounted thereon, said vibrating plate spaced apart from an aperture in said housing, and wherein said hollow cylindrical member comprises said at least one aperture, whereby smoke enters said smoke detection region through said hollow cylindrical member.