GB2358268A

GB2358268A - Safety apparatus providing protection from combustion products

Info

Publication number: GB2358268A
Application number: GB0025635A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-10-20
Filing date: 2000-10-18
Publication date: 2001-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-18
Also published as: AU6663500A; GB2358268B; IES20000844A2; CA2324046A1; GB9924696D0; GB0025635D0

Abstract

Safety apparatus for protecting living creatures from the effects of accumulated combustion products (such as carbon monoxide and/or smoke) in an enclosed or confined space, comprises a combustion product detector 4, a combustion product extractor 6, and an audio or visual alarm 8. The extractor 6 may be an extraction fan, which is activated in response to detection of combustion products by the detector, and which moves the combustion products from the space within which the combustion products have been detected to the external atmosphere so that the combustion products may disperse. The extractor, when actuated, may operate for a predetermined period of time, for example thirty minutes, or it may operate until the detector no longer detects the combustion products. A reactive chemical may be used to extract a product such as carbon monoxide. An alarm signal may be transmitted to a remote location. The combustion products may be formed by a gas burner.

Description

2358268 Safety AlDl:)aratus This application relates to safety apparatus,

and in particular, to apparatus for protecting living creatures from the effects of accumulated combustion products (such as carbon monoxide and/or smoke) in a potentially contaminated enclosed or confined space.

It is well known that respiring life forms are adversely affected by the inhalation of carbon monoxide, smoke and other combustion products above a certain level. Indeed, inhalation of carbon monoxide, smoke and other combustion products can lead to death. As carbon monoxide is is effectively colourless and odourless, an individual or animal that is inhaling carbon monoxide generally becomes ill or overcome by the gas without realising why.

Carbon monoxide often results from incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels in a burner. Faulty gas burners are often a source of carbon monoxide in buildings; carbon monoxide is also formed in internal combustion engines, and can build up when the engine is run in a confined space.

Smoke furthermore also frequently arises as a result of incomplete combustion.

According to the present invention there is provided safety apparatus for combatting possible exposure to combustion products, said apparatus comprising detection means for detecting at least one combustion product within a potentially contaminated space (typically an enclosed or confined space); extraction means for extracting combustion products from said space, alarm means; and means for initiating said alarm means in response to detection of said combustion product(s) by the detection means.

The detection means, the alarm means and the means for initiating the alarm means are preferably all provided in a common housing. The extraction means may be provided in the same housing, or a separate housing.

The detection means may include suitable electrical circuitry and components. - Such circuitry and components are known and readily available. Such circuitry generally operates at a low voltage, and may either be powered by mains electricity suitably transformed to an appropriate current and voltage, or an alternative power source such as a battery.

The extraction means may be adapted to move volumes of gas from the potentially contaminated space.A particularly preferred extraction means is an extractor fan, which preferably moves the combustion products such as carbon monoxide and/or smoke from the potentially contaminated space to a different location, most preferably to the external atmosphere so that the combustion products may disperse.

In an alternative embodiment, the extraction means may comprise a suitable reactive chemical for reacting with carbon monoxide (which can be either absorbed or chemically converted into a different, less dangerous gas or solid).

Such chemical extraction means may be uncovered or exposed on receipt of a signal from the detection means.

The extraction means is typically arranged to be initiated bydetection of combustion products such as carbon monoxide and/or smoke by the detection means. The initiation means may be responsive to an electrical signal from the detection means, or to an electromagnetic radiation signal.

The extraction means may include a timer such that the extraction means operates for a predetermined period of time, such as about 30 minutes. Alternatively, the extraction means may operate until the detection means nq-. longer detects combustion products, at which point the extraction means may be inactivated (for example, by switching off an extraction fan, or by covering of chemical extraction means).

The alarm means is, most preferably, an audio and/or visual signal generator. The exact nature of the alarm signal generated depends on the location and environment in which it is intended to site the alarm means. A suitable visual alarm means may include flashing lights, while a suitable audio alarm means may include a siren or other warning sound.

The alarm means is arranged to be initiated or activated by a signal from the detection means. Again the signal may be electrical or in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The alarm means may be arranged to operate continuously until manually reset, or for a predetermined period of time. In the former case, the alarm is preferably provided with a manually operable reset control; in the latter case a timer is preferably provided to cut off the alarm after a predetermined time.

It is particularly preferred that the apparatus is arranged to ensure that both the alarm and the extraction means run simultaneously, and are both arranged to be inactivated simultaneously.

It is particularly preferred that, where the apparatus of the present invention is to be used in a domestic dwelling, the alarm means is an audible siren, such a siren being Qf_ sufficient volume that an occupant of the dwelling may be roused from sleep by the siren, the siren being such that is it continues to sound until manually reset by an operator.

In an alternative embodiment, the alarm means may be arranged to transmit a predetermined signal from the detection means to a remote location. Such transmission may be by way of electromagnetic radiation, e.g. by radio waves or infra red waves, or by a hard wired electronic conductor, for instance by way of a telephone line, or by transmission of electronic data via an electronic mail system such as the Internet.

The apparatus of the present invention will preferably be powered by a mains power supply, the detection means and, optionally the alarm means, being typically operated at low voltage which has been transformed from a mains power supply. If the extraction means is electrically powered, it is preferred that it should operate at mains voltage and -5current.

The apparatus of the present invention will be further described and explained, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying illustration, which shows a schematic arrangement for apparatus of the present invention.

With reference to the figure, a carbon monoxide and/or smoke safety apparatus according to the present invention (2) comprises a carbon monoxide and/or smoke detector (4), a carbon monoxide and/or smoke extractor fan(6), and an audio alarm (8).

The safety apparatus (2) is powered by a mains power source (10) operating at standard mains voltage, e.g. at 220 - 240 volts AC in UK. Within the apparatus of the present ihvention, the power supply is split with the extractor fan (6) operating at mains voltage and the carbon monoxide and/or smoke detector(4) and alarm (8) operating at a reduced voltage produced by a transformer (12). Transformer (12) is protected from overload by a fuse (14) (typically rated at about 5 amps).

The carbon monoxide and/or smoke detector (4) is configured so that a test switch (16)allows a user to emulate the detection of carbon monoxide and/or smoke by the detector (4), to ensure that the rest of the apparatus (2) is working correctly. In addition, so as to aid a user to ensure that the apparatus is correctly connected to an electrical supply, there is provided a power indication light (18). Power light (18) is wired directly into the low voltage power supply so that. a user can always ensure that the apparatus is provided with an operational electrical power supply.

When the detector (4) detects carbon monoxide and/or smoke, or when the test switch (16) is actuated, the detector (4) [or switch (16)] causes the completion of a circuit which in turn causes the alarm (8) to start sounding. Additionally, an alarm light (20) is illuminated and a 10 relay switch (22) activated.

Relay switch (22) may be- a standard relay switch,and- causes a hitherto open circuit that includes the extractor fan (6), to be closed and thus completed when relay switch is (22) is closed. Relay switch (22) as shown in the figure is a three terminal relay switch of which one terminal is spare. This allows further circuitry to be incorporated with the apparatus of the present invention if so desired without undue difficulty.

Extractor fan (6) is, in use, typically set into a wall, preferably towards the vertically uppermost part of the potentially contaminated space in which carbon monoxide and/or smoke may accumulate. The fan preferably vents to 25 atmosphere outside the building that encloses the potentially contaminated space. The extractor fan is generally situated toward the vertically uppermost region of the space because carbon monoxide or smoke will, in a still room, rise (they are both less dense than air) Included in the circuit powering the extractor fan (6) is a timer (24) Timer (24) is arranged to cause the extractor fan (6), once activated, to continue operating for a predetermined time period. That predetermined time period can either be factory set at, say, 30 minutes, or may be set in relation to the volume of the space which is to be cleared of carbon monoxide and/or smoke. The time period for which timer (24) causes the extractor fan (6) to operate should be sufficient to cause a sufficiently large volume of gas to be extracted f rom the space in which the carbon monoxide and/or smoke has been detected, so as to lower the concentration of carbon monoxide and/or smoke in that space to an acceptable, safe, level.

The embodiment of the invention has been described above by way of example only. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 Safety apparatus for combatting possible exposure to combustion products, said apparatus comprising detection means for detecting at least one combustion product within a potentially contaminated space; extraction means for extracting combustion products from said space; alarm means; and means for initiating said alarm means in response to detection of said combustion products by the detection means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1,including means for supplying electrical power supply to said detection means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said extraction means is adapted to move volumes of gas from said space.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said gas movement means comprises an extractor fan.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said fan is arranged to extract said combustion products to ambient atmosphere.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said extraction means comprises a chemical for reacting with carbon monoxide.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said initiation means is responsive to an electrical signal triggered by said detection means.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said initiation means is responsive to an electromagnetic radiation signal triggered by said detection means.

9. Apparatus according __to any one of the preceding claims, which includes timing means for operation of said extraction means for a predetermined period of time.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which includes means for inactivating said extraction means when said detection means no longer detects said combustion products.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said alarm means is an audio and/or visual signal generator.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said visual signal comprises flashing lights.

13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said alarm means includes transmission means for transmitting a predetermined signal from the detection means to a location remote from said space.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said transmission means is arranged to transmit said signal by electromagnetic radiation, such a radio waves or infra-red waves.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said transmission means is arranged to transmit said signal via an electrical or electronic conductor, such as a telephone line.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said transmission means is arranged to transmit said predetermined signal in the form of electronic data, is via an electronic mail system, such as the Internet.

17. Safety apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.