Remote fire extinguisher station inspection

• US 8,701,495 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: En-Gauge, Inc.
• Original Assignee: En-Gauge, Inc.
• Inventors: McSheffrey, John J. Jr., McSheffrey, Brendan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US13/664,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/700
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/084 for small-sized storage vessels, e.g. compressed gas cylinders or bottles, disposable gas vessels, vessels adapted for automotive use
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0119 with flat end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/032 with substantially vertical main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0111 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0173 lockable
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0329 manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/03 Control means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/034 using wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/036 using alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0439 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0478 Position or presence
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/015 Facilitating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/04 using an independent energy source, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0754 Fire extinguishers
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/00 Measuring the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by mechanical or fluid pressure-sensitive elements G01L11/004 takes precedence; transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements by electric , e.g., photoelectric or magnetic means G01L9/00; measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/14 : involving the displacement of magnets, e.g. electromagnets

Abstract

An apparatus for remote inspection of fire extinguishers at one or a system of fire extinguisher stations includes, e.g., at each fire extinguisher station: a detector for lack of presence of a fire extinguisher in its installed position at the fire extinguisher station; a detector for out-of-range pressure of contents of the fire extinguisher at the fire extinguisher station; a detector for an obstruction to viewing of or access to the fire extinguisher at the fire extinguisher station; and a device for transmission of inspection report information from the fire extinguisher station to a remote central station.

Claims

1. An apparatus for remote inspection of portable tanks, the apparatus comprising:

a portable tank defining a volume;

a gauge disposed in communication with the volume defined by the portable tank, the gauge detecting and displaying a pressure condition of a content contained within the volume with a gauge pointer;

a Reed switch sensor that detects an out-of-range pressure condition of the content contained within the volume based upon a proximity of the gauge pointer to a position indicating the out-of-range pressure condition;

an electronic circuit including a timer set to actuate at least one of a visual signal and an audio signal after a recommended period between inspections of the gauge, unless the timer is reset during the recommended period; and

an electronic circuit disposed in communication with the gauge and adapted to signal to a remote central station upon detection of the out-of-range pressure condition by the Reed switch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional sensors for detecting at least one predetermined condition other than the out-of-range pressure condition.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one predetermined condition includes a lack of presence of a portable tank in its installed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one predetermined condition includes an obstruction to viewing of or access to the portable tank.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable tank is a fire extinguisher.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gauge pointer includes a magnet and the Reed switch is responsive to a proximity of the magnet as the portable tank approaches the out-of-range pressure condition.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the out-of-range pressure condition includes a low-pressure condition, the at least one Reed switch positioned to detect the low-pressure condition.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the out-of-range pressure condition includes a low-pressure condition and a high-pressure condition, and the at least one sensor includes a first Reed switch positioned to detect the low-pressure condition and a second Reed switch positioned to detect the high-pressure condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the Reed switch is mounted generally in a plane of the gauge scale.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the Reed switch is mounted at a rear surface of the gauge scale.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the out-of-range pressure condition includes a low-pressure condition.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the out-of-range pressure condition includes a high-pressure condition.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit includes at least one detector for at least one predetermined external condition, the at least one detector for the at least one predetermined external condition being adapted to initiate a signal to the remote central station upon detection of the at least one predetermined external condition.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one predetermined external condition includes movement of the portable tank relative to its installed position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one predetermined external condition includes removal of the portable tank from its installed position.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one predetermined external condition includes removal of the portable tank from its installed position.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one detector includes an electronic tether engaged and in an electronic communication between the remote central station and the portable tank, and wherein a movement of the portable tank relative to its installed position dislodges engagement of the tether and severs the electronic communication.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the movement of the portable tank relative to its installed position to dislodge engagement of the tether includes removal of the portable tank from its installed position.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit includes male and female electrical/communication connector elements cooperatively defined between the portable tank and the remote central station.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a bracket for mounting the portable tank to a support, the bracket adapted to position the portable tank in the installed position for cooperative mating engagement of the male and female electrical/communication connection elements.