Dangerous condition warning device incorporating a replaceable sensor and apparatus to prevent the sensor from being improperly installed

• US 5,896,091 A
• Filed: 10/10/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coleman Safety & Security Products, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE), Ranco Incorporated of Delaware (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Soderlund, Ernest E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/949,054
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686, 340/679, 340/693, 340/632, 340/633, 340/634, 340/506, 340/507, 340/686.1, 340/686.4, 340/693.5
• US Class Current: 340/686.4
• 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 29/22 Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement

Abstract

A dangerous condition warning device for issuing an alarm when a dangerous condition is sensed incorporates a circuit including a replaceable dangerous condition sensor, a processor coupled to the sensor for periodically determining the ambient concentration of a potentially dangerous substance (e.g., CO) and a horn to issue alarm signals if indicated, the processor also periodically checking the integrity of the sensor, and the device incorporates sensor placement apparatus for facilitating removing and correctly replacing a sensor of suspect integrity. The sensor has an outer periphery and a reduced dimension portion employed as first and second electrodes. The sensor placement apparatus includes a sensor receptacle; a first contact member positioned to contact the reduced dimension portion of the sensor when the sensor is correctly emplaced and to electrically connect to the outer periphery of the sensor when the sensor is incorrectly emplaced. A second contact member is positioned to contact the outer periphery of the sensor when the sensor is both correctly and incorrectly emplaced. Thus, when the sensor is incorrectly installed, an electrical short results to which the processor responds by issuing an alarm to signify incorrect sensor installation.

Claims

1. In a dangerous condition warning device adapted to issue an alarm when a dangerous carbon monoxide concentration is sensed, which dangerous condition warning device incorporates a dangerous condition monitoring device circuit including a replaceable carbon monoxide sensor, a processor coupled to said carbon monoxide sensor for periodically determining the ambient concentration of carbon monoxide and to issue warning and alarm signals if indicated, said processor also periodically checking the integrity of said carbon monoxide sensor, a horn for sounding warnings and alarms and a power source, the improvement in which:

A) said replaceable carbon monoxide sensor has a generally cylindrical outer periphery and a reduced dimension portion, a first electrode in electrical contact with said outer periphery and with an electrically conductive bottom portion and a second electrode in electrical contact with said reduced dimension portion;

B) said dangerous condition warning device further incorporates sensor placement apparatus for facilitating removing and correctly replacing a carbon monoxide sensor of suspect integrity comprising;

1) a generally cylindrical receptacle dimensioned to receive said carbon monoxide sensor into a first end thereof with said electrically conductive portion disposed lowermost when said carbon monoxide sensor is correctly installed, said receptacle further including an aperture through a second end thereof and a gasket disposed intermediate said receptacle second end and an installed dangerous condition sensor;

2) a first contact member positioned and configured with respect to said receptacle;

a) to contact said reduced dimension portion of said carbon monoxide sensor when said carbon monoxide sensor is correctly placed in said receptacle; and

b) to contact said electrically conductive bottom portion of said carbon monoxide sensor when said carbon monoxide sensor is incorrectly placed in said receptacle;

3) a second contact member positioned and configured to contact said outer periphery of said carbon monoxide sensor when said carbon monoxide sensor is both correctly and incorrectly placed in said receptacle;

such that, when a carbon monoxide sensor is incorrectly placed in said receptacle, an electrical short condition appears across said first and second contact members; and

C) said processor responds to an electrical short condition appearing across said first and second contact members by issuing an alarm to signify incorrect carbon monoxide sensor installation.

2. In a dangerous condition warning device adapted to issue an alarm when a dangerous condition is sensed, which dangerous condition warning device incorporates a dangerous condition monitoring device circuit including a replaceable dangerous condition sensor, a processor coupled to said dangerous condition sensor for periodically determining the ambient concentration of a potentially dangerous substance and to issue warning and alarm signals if indicated, said processor also periodically checking the integrity of said dangerous condition sensor, an audio annunciator for sounding warnings and alarms and a power source, the improvement in which:

A) said replaceable dangerous condition sensor has an outer periphery and a reduced dimension portion, a first electrode in electrical contact with said outer periphery and a second electrode in electrical contact with said reduced dimension portion;

B) said dangerous condition warning device further incorporates sensor placement apparatus for facilitating removing and correctly replacing a dangerous condition sensor of suspect integrity comprising;

1) a receptacle shaped and dimensioned to receive said dangerous condition sensor into a first end thereof;

2) a first contact member positioned and configured with respect to said receptacle;

a) to contact said reduced dimension portion of said dangerous condition sensor when said dangerous condition sensor is correctly placed in said receptacle; and

b) to electrically connect to said outer periphery of said dangerous condition sensor when said dangerous condition sensor is incorrectly placed in said receptacle;

3) a second contact member positioned and configured to contact said outer periphery of said dangerous condition sensor when said dangerous condition sensor is both correctly and incorrectly placed in said receptacle;

such that, when a dangerous condition sensor is incorrectly placed in said receptacle, an electrical short condition appears across said first and second contact members; and

C) said processor responding to an electrical short condition appearing across said first and second contact members to issue an alarm to signify incorrect dangerous condition sensor installation.

3. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 2 in which said outer periphery is electrically coupled to an electrically conductive bottom portion of said dangerous condition sensor which is disposed lowermost in said receptacle when said dangerous condition sensor is correctly installed.

4. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 3 in which said reduced dimension portion is disposed uppermost in said receptacle when said dangerous condition sensor is correctly installed.

5. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 4 in which said receptacle includes an aperture through a second end thereof and a gasket disposed intermediate said receptacle second end and an installed dangerous condition sensor.

6. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 3 in which said receptacle includes an aperture through a second end thereof and a gasket disposed intermediate said receptacle second end and an installed dangerous condition sensor.

7. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 2 in which:

A) said receptacle is generally cylindrical; and

B) said outer periphery of said dangerous condition sensor is generally cylindrical and is electrically coupled to an electrically conductive bottom portion of said dangerous condition sensor which is disposed lowermost in said receptacle when said dangerous condition sensor is correctly installed.

8. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 7 in which said reduced dimension portion is disposed uppermost in said receptacle when said dangerous condition sensor is correctly installed.

9. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 8 in which said receptacle includes an aperture through a second end thereof and a gasket disposed intermediate said receptacle second end and an installed dangerous condition sensor.

10. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 7 in which said receptacle includes an aperture through a second end thereof and a gasket disposed intermediate said receptacle second end and an installed dangerous condition sensor.

11. The dangerous condition warning device of claim 2 in which said receptacle includes an aperture through a second end thereof and a gasket disposed intermediate said receptacle second end and an installed dangerous condition sensor.