Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-30
2001-01-30
Tong, Nina (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S584000, C340S632000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181250
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to heat detection systems and more particularly to fire detection systems that are capable of detecting conditions that indicate the approach of conditions that could result in combustion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fire detection systems for the protection of personnel and property have spawned an entire industry dedicated to the manufacture, sale and installation of systems that provide early warning of the existence of combustion. The most common of these is, of course, the smoke detector, that relies on some sort of optical or ion detector to indicate the presence of smoke. Other systems, such as sprinklers, utilize the heat of combustion to trigger a warning and to inundate an area with a fire-extinguishing medium.
While such systems are highly useful and protective of personnel and property, they serve only to detect combustion after it has occurred. Consequently, a number of systems have been designed and built to detect incipient combustion. One such system designed and operated by Fermi National Laboratory, relies on an early warning system based on an evolved gas signature. Incipient detection systems of this type tend to be site specific due to their mode of operation. Such systems generally operate according to the following steps: 1) an analysis of likely ignition (combustion) scenarios and of the combustible fuels in a given area is performed; 2) the most likely fuel or combination of fuels to initiate combustion is determined; 3) a literature search is performed to determine what gases are given off by this material or combination of materials when heated; 4) detectors for these gases are obtained and either located in the area of interest for protection or connected to a gas sampling system capable of delivering the objective gas to the detector; and 5) upon detection of a predetermined concentration level of the objective/analyte gas an alarm is indicated. While such systems are entirely satisfactory for certain environments, they tend to be site specific, i.e. dependent upon the contents of the particular area of concern, and their installation tends to be time consuming and virtually a separate research project as all combustibles in the area must be characterized, their relative combustibility determined and suitable detection means and apparatus obtained and installed. Also, the introduction, intentionally or otherwise of an “uncharacterized” fuel(s) may negate the value of the entire system.
Yet another method used to detect incipient combustion involves the use of simple temperature detection devices. In such systems, simple thermometric devices or more sophisticated IR temperature sensors are placed proximate the potential source or sources of combustion and upon the attainment of a predetermined temperature an alarm or warning is instituted. Again, these systems are very useful and entirely appropriate for certain applications, however, they are generally not capable of providing coverage of large areas since the thermometer or other temperature sensing device must be located or “focused” in or on a particular small area where combustion is anticipated to occur. Such temperature sensing systems that monitor relatively large areas, are generally not capable of detecting a suitable, detectable temperature rise until after combustion has been initiated. Similarly, while such simple temperature detection systems based upon thermometric devices of one sort or another are capable of detecting the temperature rise of an entire area, they are not well suited to detecting potential temperature rises in a large number of small potential heat sources without the installation of numerous temperature detecting devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a method for the detection of heat, or incipient fire or combustion comprising the steps of: 1) incorporating a temperature-specific indicating agent which emits a specific detectable gas upon attainment of a predetermined temperature in an area where incipient fire is to be detected, 2) providing a gas detector capable of detecting the specifically detectable gas emitted from the temperature-specific indicating agent; 3) detecting the specifically detectable gas; and 4) providing a warning or alarm when the specifically detectable gas reaches a predetermined concentration.
As will be appreciated more fully upon reading of the detailed description below, systems of the type described herein are suitable for use in remote areas where human presence is either not practical or permissible for safety or other reasons, are capable of covering relatively large areas, are not site specific, can be relatively inexpensively manufactured and disseminated, and, in fact, can be used to detect temperature rise even in an area which is generally maintained “cold”, i.e. below room temperature. In brief, the method of the present invention allows for inexpensive monitoring of the temperature of potential fuels, independent of the type of potential fuel, over the entire area of the potential fuel surface.
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Southeastern Universities Research Assn., Inc.
Tong Nina
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