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

• US 20050046563A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firekiller Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Firekiller Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Whitney, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,102,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• 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 fire suppression system, comprising:

an air handler interface electrically coupled to an air handler;

a receiver operable to receive a signal indicating the presence of a fire from a fire presence indicator;

a processor in communication with said receiver and said air handler and operable to receive said signal from said receiver, and in response, send a signal to said air handler interface to cause said air handler to be shut down.

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

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

4. The fire suppression system of claim 1, wherein said air handler interface is electrically coupled to a thermostat.

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

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

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

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

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

10. A fire suppression system, comprising:

a signal detector interface in communication with a fire presence indicator;

a transmitter; and

a 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.

11. The fire suppression system of claim 10, wherein said fire presence indicator comprises a smoke detector.

12. The fire suppression system of claim 10, wherein said fire presence indicator comprises a sprinkler system.

13. The fire suppression system of claim 10, wherein said transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter.

14. The fire suppression system of claim 10, wherein said transmitter comprises a differential wireless transmitter in communication with said processor.

15. The fire suppression system of claim 10, further comprising a programming port in communication with said processor.

17. The fire suppression system of claim 14, wherein said transmitter comprises a wirelesss transmitter and said receiver comprises a wireless receiver.

16. A fire suppression system, comprising:

an first fire signaling device, comprising;

a signal detector interface in communication with a fire presence indicator,

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 air handler interface electrically coupled to an air handler,

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

a second processor in communication with said receiver and said air handler and operable to receive said signal from said receiver, and in response, send a signal to said air handler interface to cause said air handler to be shut down.

18. The fire suppression system of claim 16, wherein said transmitter comprises a differential wired transmitter and said receiver comprises a differential wired receiver.

19. The fire suppression system of claim 16, wherein said air handler interface is electrically coupled to a thermostat.

20. The fire suppression system of claim 16, further comprising at least one programming port in communication with at least one of said first fire signaling device and said first access point.

21. The fire suppression system of claim 16, further comprising a modem in communication with said access point.

22. The fire suppression system of claim 16, further comprising a network interface in communication with said access point.

23. The fire suppression system of claim 16, further comprising a second fire signaling device.

24. The fire suppression system of claim 23, further comprising a third fire signaling device.

25. The fire suppression system of claim 16, further comprising a second access point.

26. The fire suppression system of claim 25, further comprising a third access point.

27. A method for fire suppression, comprising:

receiving a message from a transmitter indicating activation of a fire presence indicator; and

initiating a shut down procedure for an air handler.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a signal from said fire presence indicator indicating the presence of a fire;

generating said message indicating the reception of said signal; and

transmitting said message.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising performing a notification procedure.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said notification procedure comprises:

initiating a connection;

assembling a notification message; and

transmitting said notification message.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said notification message comprises a prerecorded voice message.

32. A method for minimizing collision of data packets during transmission of data signals comprising:

(a) determining the presence of an existing transmission;

(b) if no transmission is present, transmitting a message;

(c) generating a pseudo random number;

(d) calculating a delay comprising the sum of a fixed time interval and the pseudo random number;

(e) pausing for an interval equal to said delay; and

(f) repeating steps (a) through (e).