Airborne particle exhaust system

• US 5,067,394 A
• Filed: 08/02/1990
• Issued: 11/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Cavallero
• Original Assignee: Thomas Cavallero
• Inventors: Cavallero, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Application Number:
  US07/562,036
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 98/42.04, 98/42.03, 98/42.06
• US Class Current: 454/341
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence

Abstract

Harmful or hazardous airborne particles are drawn from rooms, hallways, or work areas by a duct work which is coupled to a vacuum system. When hazardous airborne particles are detected, the vacuum system is activated to evacuate the particles from the area. The system can also be activated manually to exhaust airborne pollutants. The system exhausts airborne particles to the outside of a building or into a filter. In an emergency, occupants of a burning or contaminated structure are provided with an initially greater period of time in which to effect an escape before the atmosphere within the structure becomes lethal. When under manual control, the occupant'"'"'s of the structure are able to control the quality of air in the structure and enjoy a healthier, safer environment.

Claims

1. A central vacuum cleaning device, incorporating a safety device, the safety device comprising:

means for detecting airborne particulants;

means responsive to said detecting means remotely locatable therefrom and for supplying a vacuum for operating said vacuum cleaning device as a safety device in response to said detecting means and for otherwise operating said vacuum cleaning device as a central vacuum cleaner;

means coupled to said vacuum means remotely locatable therefrom and for porting detected airborne particulants from a structure in response to said vacuum means when said vacuum cleaning device is operated in response to said detecting means as a safety device and for porting particles collected when said vacuum cleaning device is operated as a central vacuum cleaner;

means coupled to said vacuum means remotely locatable therefrom and for discharging said airborne particulants collected by said porting means at a collection or dispersal location when said vacuum cleaning device is operated in response to said detecting means as a safety device.

2. The safety device of claim 1, further comprising alarm means for indicating system actuation.

3. The safety device of claim 1, wherein said vacuum means is operable in response to actuation of a manual control means.

4. The safety device of claim 1, wherein said vacuum means is operable at a plurality of selected power levels.

5. The safety device of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum port operable under manual control as a cleaning means for removing undesirable particles from a structure.

6. In a central vacuum cleaner system situated in a structure and operable at least one vacuum port for collecting undesired particles and for routing said particles to a collection point, an exhaust system for withdrawing contaminated air from said structure, comprising:

means for operating said central vacuum cleaner system as a safety device in response to a detecting means and for otherwise operating said vacuum cleaning system as a central vacuum cleaner, said means being remotely locatable from said central vacuum system for actuating said central vacuum system;

means, coupled to said central vacuum system and remotely locatable therefrom, within said structure for porting said contaminated air from said structure when said central vacuum cleaner system is operated in response to said detecting means as a safety device and for porting particles collected when said central vacuum cleaning system is operated as a central vacuum cleaner; and

means, coupled to said central vacuum cleaner system and remotely locatable therefrom, for discharging said contaminated air from said structure when said central vacuum cleaning system is operated as a safety device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said means for actuating is operable in response to user selection.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said means for actuating is operable in response to an environmental hazard.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said environmental hazard is a combustion by product.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein operation of said actuating means operates an alarm means for indicating said actuation.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said discharging means is operable to collect airborne particles contained in said contaminated air.