Carbon monoxide safety system

• US 5,576,739 A
• Filed: 08/24/1994
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phy-Con Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Phy-Con Incorporated
• Inventors: Murphy, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowler, Alyssa H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/295,519
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.06, 340/527, 340/578, 340/632, 340/633, 340/634, 73/23.34, 73/31.01, 73/31.02, 73/31.03, 432/36, 432/37, 200/61.03, 431/76
• US Class Current: 340/3.4
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 19/00 Arrangements of controlling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2019/0012 Monitoring the composition of the atmosphere or of one of their components
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2019/0068 Regulation involving a measured inflow of a particular gas in the enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2021/0078 against the presence of an undesirable element in the atmosphere of the furnace
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence

Abstract

Described is a system for measuring noxious gas concentration in an affected space and for controlling the device producing the noxious gas or for decreasing the concentration of the gas in the affected space. The invention is particularly described in relation to measuring carbon monoxide concentration in an automobile garage and for controlling the garage door opener circuit to open the garage door in response to a preselected concentration of carbon monoxide. Also described in particular is a system for deactivating a furnace operating circuit to turn off the furnace in the event of excessive carbon monoxide concentration.

Claims

1. A carbon monoxide gas detector and controller for controlling a device producing the carbon monoxide gas and for decreasing the concentration of carbon monoxide in an affected space, the controller comprising:

a detector for measuring the concentration of the gas, the detector capable of producing a signal when the carbon monoxide concentration reaches predetermined levels, a microprocessor in electrical communication with the detector for receiving the signals from the carbon monoxide detector;

means for visually or audibly indicating a first predetermined level of carbon monoxide gas said means operatively connected to the microprocessor;

a relay in electrical communication with the microprocessor and including a first normally open contact for activating the electrical power circuit of a device for decreasing the concentration of gas in an affected space and a second normally closed contact for deactivating the electrical power circuit of a device producing the gas, when the detector senses a second predetermined level of gas, said microprocessor energizing the relay when the detector senses second predetermined level of gas;

the microprocessor operative to actuate the visual or audible indicating means when it receives a signal from the detector representing the first predetermined level of gas and activating the relay when it receives a signal representing the second predetermined level of gas;

means for deactivating the detector and controller in the event of a malfunction;

the microprocessor capable of sensing a malfunction of the detector and activating visual or audible means for indicating the malfunction.