Tornado alarm system

• US 6,034,608 A
• Filed: 06/22/1999
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry Frank, Michael Frank Johnnie
• Original Assignee: Henry Frank, Michael Frank Johnnie
• Inventors: Frank, Henry, Johnnie, Michael Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US09/338,347
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: 340/601, 340/602, 340/511, 340/521, 340/522, 340/236, 340/690, 340/241, 73/170.16, 73/384, 702/3, 342/26, 364/420, 367/13
• US Class Current: 340/601
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/00 in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A tornado alarm that monitors humidity, static charge in the air and the barometric pressure. Nothing happens until the level of static electricity increases to a set amount over a stored base level and the humidity reaches 100 percent. At this point the first stage alarm is activated. The device sends out an initial blast followed by a report every 60 seconds during this mode of operation. At this point, the user is awakened by the alert. The user then can turn on news reports to verify danger. Once awake, if danger exists, the user can prepare for a tornado and be ready. When the barometric pressure reaches 28 millibars, the third condition is reached. Under most circumstances, a tornado is then immanent. This sets the device into the second stage alert mode. In this mode, a continuous alarm sounds.

Claims

1. A tornado warning device comprising:

a) a means for sensing humidity;

b) a means for sensing barometric pressure;

c) a means for sensing ambient static charge;

d) a central processing unit;

e) whereby the means for sensing humidity, the means for sensing barometric pressure and the means for sensing ambient static charge are connected to the central processing unit;

f) a memory storage unit, connected to said central processing unit;

g) a means for sounding a first stage alarm, whereby said means for sounding a first stage alarm is activated when measured levels of humidity and static charge reach predetermined levels of humidity and static charge that are stored within said memory storage unit; and

h) a means for sounding a second stage alarm, whereby said means for sounding a second stage alarm is activated after said means for sounding a first stage alarm is activated and when a measured level of barometric pressure reaches a predetermined level of barometric pressure stored within said memory storage unit.

2. The tornado warning device of claim 1 wherein the predetermined level of humidity is 100 percent humidity.

3. The tornado warning device of claim 1 wherein the predetermined level of barometric pressure is 28 inches of mercury.

4. The tornado warning device of claim 1 wherein the predetermined level of static charge is between about one hundred twenty-five percent and one-hundred fifty percent of a base level of static charge stored in said memory storage unit.

5. The tornado warning device of claim 4 wherein the central processing unit includes a means for comparing a base level of static charge and an ambient level of static charge.

6. A method of detecting and warning of impending tornadoes comprising the steps of:

a) sensing a ambient relative humidity level;

b) sensing a ambient level of static charge;

c) sensing a level of barometric pressure;

d) comparing the sensed levels of humidity, static charge and barometric pressure to a predetermined level of humidity, static charge and barometric pressure; and

e) sounding an alarm when the sensed levels of humidity, static charge and barometric pressure reach the predetermined level of humidity, static charge and barometric pressure;

wherein the step of sounding an alarm includes;

i) sounding a first level alarm when the sensed levels of humidity and static charge reach the predetermined levels; and

b) sounding a second stage alarm when the sensed level of barometric pressure reaches the predetermined level of barometric pressure.

7. The method of detecting a tornado of claim 6 wherein the predetermined level of humidity is 100 percent humidity.

8. The method of detecting a tornado of claim 6 wherein the predetermined level of barometric pressure is 28 inches of mercury.

9. The method of detecting a tornado of claim 6 further including the steps of:

a) setting a base level of an ambient static charge;

b) storing the base level of an ambient static charge and establishing that level as a predetermined level of static charge;

c) comparing the ambient level of static charge to the predetermined level; and

d) triggering an alarm status when the ambient level of static charge reaches a level between about 125 percent and 150 percent of the base level.