Smoke alarm and air cleaning device
First Claim
1. A module for integrating a functionality detector and a smoke detector within an air cleaner, said module comprising:
- a housing having a receptacle in which said functionality detector, said smoke detector and a power source are mounted, said housing having a front surface, a rear surface, and an edge interposed between said front and rear surfaces;
an air flow path extending into said housing from said air cleaner to said receptacle for providing an air sample to said smoke detector; and
means operatively connected to said housing for reducing airflow velocity within said air flow path before said air flow enters said receptacle whereby said air sample is provided to said smoke detector at a velocity effective for detecting smoke.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air cleaner with a smoke alarm unit for a forced air recirculating system is disclosed. The smoke alarm unit is housed within a module that fits within the frame of the air cleaner with minimal impact on the cleaning ability of the cleaner. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a battery capacity tester and air cleaner functionality detector are included in the module. Signals from the battery tester and functionality detector are used by the smoke alarm unit to drive an alarm generator with different signals to produce distinguishable alarms for a smoke condition, low battery condition, and an air cleaner failure. A control unit may receive any of the alarm conditions to execute different control actions in the forced air system.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A module for integrating a functionality detector and a smoke detector within an air cleaner, said module comprising:
-
a housing having a receptacle in which said functionality detector, said smoke detector and a power source are mounted, said housing having a front surface, a rear surface, and an edge interposed between said front and rear surfaces; an air flow path extending into said housing from said air cleaner to said receptacle for providing an air sample to said smoke detector; and means operatively connected to said housing for reducing airflow velocity within said air flow path before said air flow enters said receptacle whereby said air sample is provided to said smoke detector at a velocity effective for detecting smoke. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 8)
-
-
4. The housing of claim I said airflow velocity reducing means further comprising:
a stall chamber for reducing airflow velocity, said stall chamber forming part of said airflow path and having an inlet in communication with said air cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
-
9. A furnace controller for responding to an acoustical alarm from an alarm unit associated with a forced recirculating air system, the alarm unit generating the acoustical alarm in response to a sensed condition of the recirculating air system comprising:
-
means for sensing an acoustical signal; means for converting a sensed acoustical signal to an electrical signal; means for determining whether said electrical signal corresponds to the acoustical alarm generated by the alarm unit; and means for controlling the furnace in response to said determining means determining that said electrical signal corresponds to the acoustical alarm from the alarm unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An integrated air cleaner and air quality alarm unit for installation in a recirculating forced air system comprising:
-
means for cleaning the air flowing within the system; a functionality detector for detecting a functional degradation of said air cleaning means, said functionality detector generating a service signal in response to detecting said functional degradation of said air cleaning means; a sensor for detecting one of a particulate and a gas in the air flowing within the system, said sensor generating a signal in response to detecting said one of said particulate and said gas; and an alarm generator for generating an alarm in response to one of said service signal from said functionality detector or said signal from said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A controller for a heating appliance, said controller adapted to respond to an acoustical alarm from an alarm unit associated with said heating appliance, the alarm unit generating the acoustical alarm in response to a sensed condition of the heating appliance, wherein the controller comprises:
-
means for sensing an acoustical signal; means for converting a sensed acoustical signal to an electrical signal; means for determining whether said electrical signal corresponds to the acoustical alarm generated by the alarm unit; and means for controlling the heating appliance in response to said determining means determining that said electrical signal corresponds to the acoustical alarm from the alarm unit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
-
Specification