System and method for suppressing the spread of fire and various contaminants

• US 7,102,529 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Firekiller Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Firekiller Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Whitney, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/462,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20050046563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 340/628, 340/629, 340/632, 340/577, 340/584, 340/693.6, 700/276, 700/278
• US Class Current: 340/628
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/24 Operating or controlling mechanisms emergency operation of doors and windows E05F1/002, E05F15/72
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion

Abstract

Systems and methods for suppressing the spread of fire, fire-related toxins, and other biological and chemical hazards are disclosed. In embodiments of the present invention a controller shuts off the flow of electrical current to the fan of a residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in response to an electrical signal emitted by a detector, such as a smoke, heat, or biochemical detector. Embodiments of the present invention may include a variety of additional features as well, including a notification device and an electrical panel shut off.

Claims

1. A system for suppressing the spread of contaminants, the system comprising:

an HVAC interface in communication with a residential HVAC system;

a receiver operable to receive a signal indicating the presence of a contaminant from an environmental condition detector; and

a processor in conmiunication with said receiver and said handler residential HVAC system and operable to receive said signal from said receiver, and in response, send a signal to said HVAC interface to cause said residential HVAC system to be shut down.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises a wireless receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver comprises a differential wired receiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said HVAC interface is electrically coupled to a thermostat.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a programming port in communication with said processor.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a modem in communication with said processor.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network interface in communication with said processor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said network interface comprises an Ethernet network interface.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter in communication with said processor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said environmental condition detector comprises a smoke detector.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reset in communication with said processor and operable to reactivate said residential HVAC system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said reset is further operable to stop a notification.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said biochemical hazard comprises mold, anthrax, or carbon monoxide.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said environmental condition detector is configured to detect a biochemical hazard.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said contaminant is indicative of the presence of a fire.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said HVAC interface is electrically coupled to said residential HVAC system.

17. A system for suppressing the spread of contaminants, the system comprising:

a signal detector interface in communication with an environmental condition detector;

a transmitter in communication with a residential HVAC system; and

a processor in communication with said signal detector interface and said transmitter and operable to receive a first signal from said signal detector interface and send a second signal to said transmitter, the second signal configured to cause said residential HVAC system to be shut down.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said environmental condition detector comprises a smoke detector.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said environmental condition detector comprises a sprinkler system.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said transmitter comprises a differential wired transmitter in communication with said processor.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter and said receiver comprises a wireless receiver.

23. The system of claim 17, further comprising a programming port in communication with said processor.

24. A system for suppressing the spread of contaminants, the system, comprising:

a first environmental condition signaling device, comprising;

a signal detector interface in communication with an environmental condition detector,

a transmitter, and

a first processor in communication with said signal detector interface and said transmitter and operable to receive a signal from said signal detector interface and send a signal to said transmitter; and

a first access point, comprising;

an HVAC interface electrically coupled to a residential HVAC system,

a receiver operable to receive a signal from said transmitter indicating the presence of a contaminant,

a second processor in communication with said receiver and said HVAC interface and operable to receive said signal from said receiver, and in response, send a signal to said HVAC interface to cause said residential HVAC system to be shut down; and

a reset in communication with said processor and operable to reactivate said residential HVAC system.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said transmitter comprises a differential wired transmitter and said receiver comprises a differential wired receiver.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said HVAC interface is electrically coupled to a thermostat.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising at least one programming port in communication with at least one of said first environmental condition signaling device and said first access point.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising a modem in communication with said access point.

29. The system of claim 24, further comprising a network interface in communication with said access point.

30. The system of claim 24, further comprising a second environmental condition signaling device.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising a third environmental condition signaling device.

32. The system of claim 24, further comprising a second access point.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising a third access point.

34. A method for suppressing the spread of contaminants, the method comprising:

receiving a message at an HVAC interface in communication with a residential HVAC system from a transmitter, said message indicating detection of a contaminant by an environmental condition detector; and

initiating an automated shut down procedure for said residential HVAC system in response to said message.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a signal from said environmental condition detector indicator indicating the presence of a contaminant;

generating said message indicating the reception of said signal; and

transmitting said message.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising performing a notification procedure.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said notification procedure comprises:

initiating a connection;

assembling a notification message; and

transmitting said notification message.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said notification message comprises a prerecorded voice message.