Smoke detector apparatus with emergency escape indicator

• US 6,133,839 A
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ellul Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ellul Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Ellul, Joseph A. Jr., Padova, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/289,032
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 340/584, 340/628, 340/539, 340/629, 340/331, 340/332, 340/531, 340/825.06, 340/825.36, 340/825.54
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits

Abstract

A warning apparatus provides an alarm indication of the location of an exit from an enclosure or room in the event of a detected fire as well as the safety of the exit. An alarm housing is located remote from a smoke detector on or in proximity to a surface of the exit. The smoke detector output is an ultrasonic frequency signal generated upon detection of a fire. The ultrasonic signal is detected by a receiver carried by the alarm which activates the alarm. The alarm is in the form of at least one, and preferably both of a visible light and an audible alarm mounted within the alarm housing. A temperature sensor on the alarm housing detects the temperature of the exit surface and deactivates the alarm if the temperature exceeds the predetermined safe temperature. A test circuit is included in the smoke detector or on a separate transmitter which, when activated, transmits an ultrasonic signal to the receiver to test the proper operation of the alarm.

Claims

1. A warning apparatus comprising:

a detector capable of sensing and generating an output signal indicative of a fire in an enclosure having at least one escape exit;

a transmitter responsive to the output signal of the detector for transmitting a signal frequency upon receiving the output signal from the detector;

at least one distinct alarm carried in a housing remote from the detector and adapted to be fixedly mounted on a surface in the enclosure in close proximity to the escape exit of the enclosure;

a receiver, carried with the alarm and responsive to the signal frequency from the transmitter means, the receiver activating the alarm upon receiving the signal frequency from the transmitter means; and

a temperature sensor coupled to the alarm and disposed in the housing in a position for sensing the ambient temperature of the surface of the enclosure adjacent to the alarm and indirectly the temperature of an opposing side of the surface, the temperature sensor generating an output signal upon detecting a temperature above a predetermined threshold temperature, the output signal deactivating the alarm to indicate an unsafe state of use of the escape exit.

2. The warning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor carried with the alarm.

3. The warning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alarm comprises:

at least one of a visible light and an audible alarm.

4. The warning apparatus of claim 3 herein the visible light comprises a pulsed strobe.

5. The warning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alarm comprises:

a housing, the receiver and temperature sensor mounted in the housing.

6. The warning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the alarm comprises one of a visible light and an audible alarm.

7. The warning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the alarm comprises both a visible light and an audible alarm.

8. The warning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and the receiver comprise an ultrasonic frequency transmitter and an ultrasonic frequency responsive receiver.

9. The warning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an optocoupler coupling the output of the temperature sensor to a switch; and

the switch selectively connecting electrical power to the alarm.

10. The warning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a test transmitter generating a test signal frequency, when activated; and

the receiver activating the alarm upon receiving the test signal frequency.

11. A warning apparatus comprising:

a detector capable of sensing and generating an output signal indicative of a fire in an enclosure having at least one escape exit;

a transmitter responsive to the output signal of the detector for transmitting a signal frequency upon receiving the output signal from the detector;

at least one distinct alarm remotely mounted from the detector on a surface in close proximity to the escape exit, the alarm including a light source capable of generating visible light;

a receiver, carried with the alarm and responsive to the signal frequency from the transmitter means;

a first switch responsive to an output of the receiver for connecting electrical power to the alarm;

a temperature sensor, coupled to the alarm, for sensing the ambient temperature adjacent to the alarm, the temperature sensor generating an output signal upon detecting a temperature above a predetermined threshold temperature; and

a second switch responsive to the output signal of the temperature sensor for deactivating the first switch to deactivate the alarm.

12. A warning apparatus for indicating a safe exit from an enclosure having at least one exit in the event of a fire, the warning apparatus comprising:

a detector capable of sensing and generating an output signal indicative of a fire in an enclosure having at least one escape exit;

a transmitter responsive to the output signal of the detector for transmitting a signal frequency upon receiving the output signal from the detector;

an alarm formed of at least one of a visible light and an audible alarm carried in a housing and adapted to be remotely mounted from the detector in close proximity to the at least one exit of the enclosure;

a receiver, carried with the alarm and responsive to the signal frequency from the transmitter means, the receiver activating the alarm upon receiving the signal frequency from the transmitter means; and

a temperature sensor, coupled to the alarm and disposed in the housing, for sensing the ambient temperature adjacent to the alarm, the temperature sensor generating an output signal upon detecting a temperature above a predetermined threshold temperature, the output signal deactivating the alarm.

13. The warning apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the alarm comprises both a visible light and an audible alarm.

14. The warning apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor carried with the alarm.

15. The warning apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a test transmitter generating a test signal frequency, when activated; and

the receiver activating the alarm upon receiving the test signal frequency.

16. The warning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the test transmitter is remote from the receiver.

17. A warning apparatus for indicating a safe exit from an enclosure having at least one exit in the event of a fire, the warning apparatus comprising:

a detector capable of sensing and generating an output signal indicative of a fire in an enclosure having at least one escape exit;

a transmitter responsive to the output signal of the detector for transmitting a signal frequency upon receiving the output signal from the detector;

an alarm formed of at least one of a visible light and an audible alarm adapted to be remotely mounted from the detector in close proximity to the at least one exit;

a receiver, carried with the alarm and responsive to the signal frequency from the transmitter means;

a first switch responsive to an output of the receiver for connecting electrical power to the alarm;

a temperature sensor, coupled to the alarm, for sensing the ambient temperature adjacent to the alarm, the temperature sensor generating an output signal upon detecting a temperature above a predetermined threshold temperature; and

a second switch responsive to the output signal of the temperature sensor for deactivating the first switch to deactivate the alarm.

18. The warning apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

an optocoupler coupling the output of the temperature sensor to a switch; and

the switch selectively connecting electrical power to the alarm.