Programmable atmospheric stabilizer

• US 5,074,137 A
• Filed: 02/06/1991
• Issued: 12/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald J. Harris, Steven E. Hamilton
• Original Assignee: Ronald J. Harris, Steven E. Hamilton
• Inventors: Hamilton, Steven E., Harris, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US07/652,312
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 73/31.01, 73/31.02, 73/432.1, 340/506, 340/511, 340/517, 340/521, 340/588, 340/584, 340/628, 340/632-634
• US Class Current: 73/31.02
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3418 in a controlled atmosphere, e.g. partial vacuum, comprising only CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00306 Housings, cabinets, control panels (details)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00316 Detecting door closure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0065 using more than one threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow

Abstract

A programmable atmospheric stabilizer uses one or more sensors for detecting the condition of potentially hazardous materials within a container or some other enclosed atmosphere. The sensors connect to a first threshold detector which activates a first order correcting device when the sensor detects a first order hazard. The sensor also connects to a second threshold detector which activates a second correcting device when the sensor detects a second order hazard. The first correcting device may be a fan, and the second correcting device may include an alarm. A variety of different sensors can be connected to one monitoring unit and a variety of different correcting devices can be activated by the monitoring unit. Each monitor can be connected to a central location where the sensed levels and the activity of the correcting devices can be monitored. The threshold levels at which each of the correcting devices are activated can be adjusted independently and when the monitors are coupled to a central control unit the correcting devices can be controlled from the central location. The monitor acts independently and is suitable for different applications including hazardous storage containers, manufacturing plants, parking structures, and office buildings.

Claims

1. A programmable environment monitor and control system comprising:

a plurality of satellite monitors, each monitor having an input port for receiving signals from a sensor and an output port for transmitting a correction signal to a correcting device; and

a central control unit in communication with each monitor having a display for displaying a representation of the signal received at each monitor input port and a control panel for controlling the correction signal transmitted at each monitor output port.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one monitor comprises a control circuit for generation a correction signal in response to the input port signal and providing the correction signal to the corresponding output port of the monitor independent of the central control unit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the input port of at least one monitor is adapted to receive a variable signal, and wherein said at least one monitor comprises a control circuit having:

an adjustable threshold detector for detecting when the signal received at the input port exceeds an adjustable threshold; and

a correction signal generator for providing a correction signal to the corresponding output port when the input port receives a signal which exceeds the threshold.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the central control unit comprises means for adjusting the threshold.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the central control unit comprises means for receiving the correction signal.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the control circuit also comprises a second adjustable threshold detector for detecting when the input signal exceeds a second adjustable threshold and a second correction signal generator for providing a second correction signal to the output port when the input port receives a signal which exceeds the second threshold.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the central control unit comprises means for adjusting the first threshold and means for adjusting the second threshold.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the central control unit comprises means for receiving the first correction signal and means for receiving the second correction signal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the central control unit comprises means for transmitting a correction signal to the output port of a monitor independent of the corresponding input port signal.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the central control unit comprises a control circuit for generating a correction signal for transmission to the output port of a monitor in response to the signal received at the input port of said monitor.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the control unit comprises means for storing information received from the monitors.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the storing means comprises a printer.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the control unit comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating the presence of a hazardous condition to a telephone system in response to the signal received at an input port.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the control unit comprises means for transmitting a signal indicating the presence of a hazardous condition to a telephone system in response to a correction signal.

15. The system of claim 1 also comprising at least one sensor connected to the input port of each monitor for providing a signal indicating the status of each monitored condition.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to detect carbon monoxide.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to detect chlorine.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to detect ammonia.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to detect temperature.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to detect hydrocarbons.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one satellite monitor further comprises additional input ports for receiving signals from additional sensors.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein each monitor comprises means actuable manually at the monitor for causing a correction signal to be transmitted to a correction device.

22. A programmable environment monitor and control system comprising:

a plurality of satellite monitors, each monitor having an input port for receiving signals from a sensor, a control circuit for interpreting the sensor signal and generating a correction signal in response thereto, an output port for transmitting the correction signal, and an interface in communication with the control circuit; and

a central control unit in communication with the interface of each monitor, the control unit having a display for displaying a representation of each sensor signal and a control panel for controlling the correction signal transmitted by each output port.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the control circuit comprises an adjustable threshold detector for detecting when the sensor signal exceeds an adjustable threshold and generating the correction signal in response to the detection.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the control unit comprises means for adjusting the threshold.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the control circuit comprises a second adjustable threshold detector for detecting when the sensor signal exceeds a second adjustable threshold and generating a second correction signal in response to the second detection.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the control circuit comprises means for adjusting the first threshold and means for adjusting the second threshold.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein each monitor comprises a display for displaying an indication of the sensor signal.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein each monitor comprises means actuable manually at the monitor for causing a correction signal to be transmitted.