Carbon monoxide sensor for vehicle compartment

• US 6,448,888 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reginald L. Horner, Sylvia Horner
• Original Assignee: Reginald L. Horner, Sylvia Horner
• Inventors: Horner, Reginald L., Horner, Sylvia
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/571,148
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/632, 340/438, 180/271, 73/232
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms

Abstract

A carbon monoxide(CO) sensor system and method in combination with a vehicle passenger compartment. At least one CO sensor within the vehicle compartment is utilized to activate a warning light on the dashboard of a vehicle. After a short period of time, and audible warning is given to the occupants of the vehicle. After a further short period of time, power to the vehicle engine is cut off to eliminate the source of the dangerous CO condition.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle having a passenger compartment(10), an engine(30) and an engine exhaust pipe(31),

carbon monoxide sensor means(21,22) for detecting excess levels of carbon monoxide within said passenger compartment,

signal light indicator means(41) electronically connected to said carbon monoxide sensor to warn an operator of a dangerous condition,

a first time delay means(51) electronically connected to said combination,

audible alarm means(42) connected to said first time delay for providing a further warning to an operator,

second time delay means(52) electronically connected to said audible alarm means,

engine cutoff means(60) connected to said second time delay means for cutting off power to said engine upon the continued presence of a hazardous carbon monoxide condition,

wherein said vehicle passenger compartment(10) has a forward area(11) having the first carbon monoxide sensor(21) therein and a rear area(12) having the second carbon-monoxide sensor(22) therein,

wherein each of said carbon monoxide sensors(21,22) has a line means(41a) extending to the signal light indicator(41) for turning off the indicator(41) when carbon monoxide returns to a zero or safe level in the forward and rear areas,

wherein each of said carbon monoxide sensors(21,22) has a line means(42a) extending to the audible alarm(42) for turning off the audible alarm when carbon monoxide returns to a zero or safe level in the forward and rear areas, wherein the combination includes a third time delay means(53) having a duration of five minutes for automatically activating a reset switch(70) to enable engine restart,

the combination being devoid of manual clearing means for the reset switch(70).