Smoke alarm and air cleaning device

• US 5,451,929 A
• Filed: 01/22/1993
• Issued: 09/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Newtron Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Newtron Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Adelman, Roger, Duty, Michael S., Attermeyer, Donald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/007,668
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/521, 340/628, 340/627, 340/693, 340/586, 340/607, 55/21, 55/213, 55/274, 55/270, 367/197-199, 236/1 R, 236/21 R, 165/11.1
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/10 by separation, e.g. by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/117 by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence

Abstract

An air cleaner with a smoke alarm unit for a forced air recirculating system is disclosed. The smoke alarm unit is housed within a module that fits within the frame of the air cleaner with minimal impact on the cleaning ability of the cleaner. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a battery capacity tester and air cleaner functionality detector are included in the module. Signals from the battery tester and functionality detector are used by the smoke alarm unit to drive an alarm generator with different signals to produce distinguishable alarms for a smoke condition, low battery condition, and an air cleaner failure. A control unit may receive any of the alarm conditions to execute different control actions in the forced air system.

Claims

1. A module for integrating a functionality detector and a smoke detector within an air cleaner, said module comprising:

a housing having a receptacle in which said functionality detector, said smoke detector and a power source are mounted, said housing having a front surface, a rear surface, and an edge interposed between said front and rear surfaces;

an air flow path extending into said housing from said air cleaner to said receptacle for providing an air sample to said smoke detector; and

means operatively connected to said housing for reducing airflow velocity within said air flow path before said air flow enters said receptacle whereby said air sample is provided to said smoke detector at a velocity effective for detecting smoke.

2. The module of claim 1 further comprising:

a mounting sleeve for mounting said housing within a frame of the air cleaner, said mounting sleeve having a front surface and a rear surface,

a front flange extending from said front surface of said sleeve; and

a rear flange extending from said rear surface of said sleeve, said rear flange extending further from said rear surface of said sleeve than said front flange extends from said front surface of said sleeve so that air flowing by said front flange is blocked by said rear flange to reduce airflow velocity in the vicinity of the airflow velocity reducing means.

3. The sleeve of claim 2 wherein

said airflow velocity reducing means being incorporated in said sleeve so that said sleeve provides at least a portion Of Said air flow path for air flowing from said air cleaner to said smoke detector in said housing.

8. The module of claim 2, said sleeve further comprising:

a key formed between said front surface and said rear surface; and

said housing having a slot formed therein to receive said key whereby said key prevents said housing from being mounted in said sleeve incorrectly and said key resets electronics mounted within said receptacle of said housing.

4. The housing of claim I said airflow velocity reducing means further comprising:

a stall chamber for reducing airflow velocity, said stall chamber forming part of said airflow path and having an inlet in communication with said air cleaner.

5. The module of claim 4, said airflow velocity reducing means further comprising:

an expansion chamber having a volume greater than said stall chamber to reduce airflow velocity of air entering said expansion chamber from said stall chamber; and

a bridge separating said expansion chamber from said stall chamber, said bridge having a plurality passageways formed therein to reduce the pressure differential between said expansion chamber and said stall chamber.

6. The housing of claim 5 wherein said passageways are larger in diameter than said inlet to said stall chamber.

7. The housing of claim 5 wherein said passageways are U-shaped grooves.

9. A furnace controller for responding to an acoustical alarm from an alarm unit associated with a forced recirculating air system, the alarm unit generating the acoustical alarm in response to a sensed condition of the recirculating air system comprising:

means for sensing an acoustical signal;

means for converting a sensed acoustical signal to an electrical signal;

means for determining whether said electrical signal corresponds to the acoustical alarm generated by the alarm unit; and

means for controlling the furnace in response to said determining means determining that said electrical signal corresponds to the acoustical alarm from the alarm unit.

10. The controller of claim 9, said determining means further comprising:

means for filtering said electrical signal so that said filtered electrical signal has an amplitude that corresponds to an amplitude of frequency components within a sensed acoustical signal, said frequency components being in a predetermined range; and

means for generating an alarm signal in response to said filtered electrical signal having an amplitude above a predetermined threshold, said alarm signal being coupled to said controlling means.

11. The controller of claim 10, said filtering means further comprising:

means for separating said electrical signal into a first filtered electrical signal and a second filtered electrical signal, said first filtered electrical signal having an amplitude that corresponds to said frequency components within said sensed acoustical signal, said frequency components being in said predetermined range and said second filtered electrical signal having an amplitude that corresponds to frequency components within said sensed acoustical signal, said frequency components being below a predetermined frequency;

means for detecting said first and said second filtered signals, said detecting means generating a signal indicative of which of said first and second filtered signals are greater than said predetermined threshold; and

said alarm signal generating means generating said alarm signal in response to a signal indicative of said first filtered electrical signal being detected and said second filtered electrical signal not being detected.

12. The controller of claim 10, said filtering means further comprising:

means for generating said filtered electrical signal with a duration corresponding to a duration of said sensed acoustical signal in said frequency range;

means for generating a first alarm signal in response to said filtered electrical signal having a first duration and a second alarm signal in response to said filtered electrical signal having a second duration; and

said controlling means performing a first control action in response to said first alarm signal and a second control action in response to said second alarm signal.

13. An integrated air cleaner and air quality alarm unit for installation in a recirculating forced air system comprising:

means for cleaning the air flowing within the system;

a functionality detector for detecting a functional degradation of said air cleaning means, said functionality detector generating a service signal in response to detecting said functional degradation of said air cleaning means;

a sensor for detecting one of a particulate and a gas in the air flowing within the system, said sensor generating a signal in response to detecting said one of said particulate and said gas; and

an alarm generator for generating an alarm in response to one of said service signal from said functionality detector or said signal from said sensor.

14. The unit of claim 13 wherein said alarm generator generates an alarm in response to said signal from said sensor that is distinguishable from an alarm generated in response to said service signal from said functionality detector.

15. The unit of claim 13, said sensor being one of a carbon monoxide detector, a radon detector, and a natural gas detector.

16. The unit of claim 13, said functionality detector comprising:

timing means for timing a predetermined time period, said timing means generating said service signal in response to expiration of said predetermined time period.

17. The unit of claim 16, said timing means furthering comprising:

defining means for defining said predetermined time period.

18. The unit of claim 17, said defining means further comprising:

selecting means for selecting said predetermined time period from a plurality of predetermined time periods.

19. The unit of claim 16, said timing means further comprising:

alarm timing means for timing an alarm time period, said alarm timing means generating an alarm time signal in response to the expiration of said alarm time period, said timing means generating said service signal in response to said alarm time signal.

20. The unit of claim 19, said alarm timing means repetitively timing said alarm time period and generating said alarm time signal.

21. The unit of claim 13, said functionality detector further comprising:

a pressure differential sensor for measuring a pressure differential across said air cleaning means;

detector means for reading a plurality of said pressure differential measurements and calculating an average of said plurality of readings to establish a reference pressure differential, said detector means adding a predetermined pressure differential to said reference pressure to establish a pressure differential threshold; and

a memory element for storing said pressure differential threshold so that said detector means generates said service signal in response to said pressure differential read from said sensor being greater than said stored pressure differential.

22. A controller for a heating appliance, said controller adapted to respond to an acoustical alarm from an alarm unit associated with said heating appliance, the alarm unit generating the acoustical alarm in response to a sensed condition of the heating appliance, wherein the controller comprises:

means for sensing an acoustical signal;

means for converting a sensed acoustical signal to an electrical signal;

means for determining whether said electrical signal corresponds to the acoustical alarm generated by the alarm unit; and

means for controlling the heating appliance in response to said determining means determining that said electrical signal corresponds to the acoustical alarm from the alarm unit.

23. The controller of claim 22, said determining means further comprising:

means for filtering said electrical signal so that said filtered electrical signal has an amplitude that corresponds to an amplitude of frequency components within a sensed acoustical signal, said frequency components being in a predetermined range; and

means for generating an alarm signal in response to said filtered electrical signal having an amplitude above a predetermined threshold, said alarm signal being coupled to said controlling means.

24. The controller of claim 23, said filtering means further comprising:

means for separating said electrical signal into a first filtered electrical signal and a second filtered electrical signal, said first filtered electrical signal having an amplitude that corresponds to said frequency components within said sensed acoustical signal, said frequency components being in said predetermined range and said second filtered electrical signal having an amplitude that corresponds to frequency components within said sensed acoustical signal, said frequency components being below a predetermined frequency;

means for detecting said first and said second filtered signals, said detecting means generating a signal indicative of which of said first and second filtered signals are greater than said predetermined threshold; and

said alarm signal generating means generating said alarm signal in response to a signal indicative of said first filtered electrical signal being detected and said second filtered electrical signal not being detected.

25. The controller of claim 23, said filtering means further comprising:

means for generating said filtered electrical signal with a duration corresponding to a duration of said sensed acoustical signal in said frequency range;

means for generating a first alarm signal in response to said filtered electrical signal having a first duration and a second alarm signal in response to said filtered electrical signal having a second duration; and

said controlling means performing a first control action in response to said first alarm signal and a second control action in response to said second alarm signal.