Safety circuit

Details Safety circuit Safety circuit

1999-01-29

2001-04-17

Lieu, Julie (Department: 2633)

Communications: electrical

Condition responsive indicating system

Specific condition

C340S632000, C340S628000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06218951

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to devices used to detect the presence of toxic, explosive or otherwise dangerous gases; temperature; humidity; light; particulate; or other environment parameters, and more particularly to devices used to detect the presence of toxic, explosive, or dangerous gases; temperature; humidity; light; or other environment parameters and permit the operation or actuation of a device when the monitored environmental parameter is in the safe range.
2. Description of the Related Art
Toxic and explosive gas detectors have been used in many different areas. The first gas detector was probably the canary used in mining to indicate toxic atmospheres. Since the use of the canary began there have been many developments in gas detecting technology. Currently gas detectors are used to detect the presence of propane, carbon monoxide, gasoline vapors, hydrogen, oxygen and other gases. Typical sensor or detector locations are: 1) the bilge of a recreational or commercial vessel; 2) the inside of a house; 3) enclosed spaces prior to entry; and 4) areas where dangerous gases may be present due to manufacturing or transportation.
The detectors currently on the market merely provide an indication that a hazard is present or a value of the environmental parameter monitored or measured. This indication may be a warning alarm, a warning light, or meter indication. However, these detectors will not take any other action to prevent an explosion, fire, injury, death, or property damage in the event that an unsafe environment exists. The inability of these detectors to either act in the event an unsafe condition is detected or to permit action only when the environment is safe results in unnecessary injuries, deaths, and damage or destruction of valuable property by fire, explosion, toxic gas, or other environmental hazards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has solved the problems cited above and generally comprises a safety circuit. There is a power supply that supplies power to the sensor and to the logic circuits. The sensor could be one of any number of sensors depending on the environment variable which it is desired to detect or monitor and the size of the space for the detector to fit in. The logic circuits use the signal from the sensor to determine when a safe condition exists. When the logic circuits determine that a safe environment is present, the logic circuits send a signal to the power control circuit which will permit the operation of a device which, if operated in an unsafe environment could endanger personnel and/or property. The results of operating a device in an unsafe environment could include, but are not limited to, fire; explosion; injury or death of personnel, or any other undesirable event.
The unsafe environments include, but are not limited to, the presence of hazardous temperature; light; high or low humidity; excessive vibration; smoke; toxic, explosive, flammable, or other dangerous gas; or toxic, explosive, flammable, or other hazardous particulate.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3778799 (1973-12-01), Bendayan
patent: 4788529 (1988-11-01), Lin
patent: 5517181 (1996-05-01), Gray et al.
patent: 5546009 (1996-08-01), Raphael
patent: 5565853 (1996-10-01), Jun-Young
patent: 5801634 (1998-09-01), Young et al.

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