US 4,055,844 A · Detection system

Abstract

A static fluid system for detecting a selected change in an ambient condition. The system includes an elongate closed fluid line having a selected absolute pressure and pressure means to maintain the line pressure. Sensing means in the line respond to selected changes in ambient conditions to open the line and change the line to ambient pressure. Signal means responds to the change in line pressure, and flow restricting means in the line maintains the line pressure under normal ambient conditions and precludes re-establishment of the line pressure when the sensing means is activated to open the fluid line.

Claims13

Dependent claims

In a fluid detection system including a sealed fluid line having an established absolute fluid line pressure, sensing means in fluid continuity with said line, an independent supply reservoir of fluid under a selected absolute pressure, coupling means joining said reservoir in fluid communication only with said line, and restricting orifice means coupled to said line between said independent reservoir and sensing means producing a first fluid flow rate from said reservoir into said line, the improvement comprising a generally T-shaped temperature-responsible sensing element having a base portion in fluid continuity with the line and having a core portion extending transversely from and in fluid communication with said base portion, and a fusible core emplaced in said core portion to close said element, said core being responsive to a selected temperature change to open said core portion and change said line pressure at a second flow rate greater than said first flow rate, and further wherein the rate of response of said core to said temperature change is variable by varying the length of said core in said core portion.

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pessure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditions of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid flow at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising a ventilation monitoring system including a pressure-responsive valve coupled to said line and biased normally closed to maintain the fluid integrity of said line and air-flow detection means coupled with said valve, said air flow detection means being arranged to maintain said valve closed under selected normal air flow conditions in said line environment and further arranged to open said valve and change said line pressure to ambient pressure in response to a selected air flow change;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to signal activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

4 more elements

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pressure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditions of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising a fluid level monitoring system including a pressure-responsive valve coupled to said fluid line and biased normally closed to maintain the fluid integrity of said line and a fluid level detection float means coupled to said valve and arranged to move said valve from said closed position to an open position in response to a selected change in fluid level detected by said float means;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to signal activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

4 more elements

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pressure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditios of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid flow at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising a system for detecting the shifting of a selected structure including orifice means coupled to said fluid line;
and defining a valve seat;
means joining said orifice means to said structure;
and a movable valve positioned on said valve seat and maintaiing said orifice normally closed, said valve further arranged to open said orifice in reponse to selected shifting of said structure;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to signal activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

7 more elements

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pressure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditions of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid flow at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising a structure fault-shift detector including first and second shiftable members coupled to said fluid line and each defining a conduit to maintain the fluid continuity of said line;
and means joining said members to said structure across a fault therein with said members engaged and said conduits in fluid alignment;
whereby movement of said structure along said fault shifts said members and breaks the fluid integrity of said line by disaligning said conduits;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to signal activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

6 more elements

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pressure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditions of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid flow at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising an explosion detection system including a pair of spaced pressure-responsive valves biased into a normally closed position and a movable air-flow detector positioned between said valves, said detector being arranged to respond to an explosive increase in air flow to engage and open one of said valves;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to signal activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

4 more elements

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pressure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditions of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid flow at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising a smoke detection system including a melt union included within said fluid line and having a fusible core portion closing said union;
a heating element adjacent said core portion;
and circuit means connected to said heating element and operative to energize said element in response to the presence of a selected quantity of smoke adjacent said union, with the energization of said element heating said fusible core portion for removal from said union to break the fluid continuity of said line;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to said activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

05/462,456Filed 19 Apr 1974 · continuation in part

Priority

11 Jun 1973

Granted

25 Oct 1977

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G08B 19/00
Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions
B60C 23/20
Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles;…:…
G08B 13/20
Burglar, theft or intruder alarms: actuation by change of fluid pressure
G08B 17/04
Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion: hydraulic or pneumatic actuation of the alarm, e.g. by change of fluid pressure

Abstract

Claims13

Dependent claims

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pessure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditions of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid flow at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising a ventilation monitoring system including a pressure-responsive valve coupled to said line and biased normally closed to maintain the fluid integrity of said line and air-flow detection means coupled with said valve, said air flow detection means being arranged to maintain said valve closed under selected normal air flow conditions in said line environment and further arranged to open said valve and change said line pressure to ambient pressure in response to a selected air flow change;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to signal activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

4 more elements

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pressure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditions of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising a fluid level monitoring system including a pressure-responsive valve coupled to said fluid line and biased normally closed to maintain the fluid integrity of said line and a fluid level detection float means coupled to said valve and arranged to move said valve from said closed position to an open position in response to a selected change in fluid level detected by said float means;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to signal activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

4 more elements

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pressure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditios of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid flow at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising a system for detecting the shifting of a selected structure including orifice means coupled to said fluid line;
and defining a valve seat;
means joining said orifice means to said structure;
and a movable valve positioned on said valve seat and maintaiing said orifice normally closed, said valve further arranged to open said orifice in reponse to selected shifting of said structure;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to signal activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

7 more elements

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pressure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditions of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid flow at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising a structure fault-shift detector including first and second shiftable members coupled to said fluid line and each defining a conduit to maintain the fluid continuity of said line;
and means joining said members to said structure across a fault therein with said members engaged and said conduits in fluid alignment;
whereby movement of said structure along said fault shifts said members and breaks the fluid integrity of said line by disaligning said conduits;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to signal activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

6 more elements

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pressure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditions of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid flow at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising an explosion detection system including a pair of spaced pressure-responsive valves biased into a normally closed position and a movable air-flow detector positioned between said valves, said detector being arranged to respond to an explosive increase in air flow to engage and open one of said valves;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to signal activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

4 more elements

A static fluid system for detecting a change in ambient conditions comprising:

a closed elongate fluid line having an absolute fluid line pressure differing from the absolute ambient pressure of the line environment;
means coupled to said line to maintain said line pressure in said closed fluid line;
a plurality of means for sensing ambient conditions positioned in said line and adapted to normally maintain the fluid continuity and closed static fluid integrity of said line, at least one of said sensing means being responsive to a first selected change in the ambient conditions of the line environment and at least one other of said condition-sensing means being responsive to a second selected change in said line environment, said sensing means being operative to open said closed fluid line to a fluid flow at an initial flow rate which changes said line pressure to said ambient pressure;
one of said sensing means comprising a smoke detection system including a melt union included within said fluid line and having a fusible core portion closing said union;
a heating element adjacent said core portion;
and circuit means connected to said heating element and operative to energize said element in response to the presence of a selected quantity of smoke adjacent said union, with the energization of said element heating said fusible core portion for removal from said union to break the fluid continuity of said line;
means coupled to said line for creating a signal in response to the change of said line pressure to ambient pressure, said signal creating means connected to said activation means through connecting means separate from said fluid line;
and
means for restricting fluid flow from said pressure maintaining means to said line both before and after the change of said line pressure, said flow restricting means having an effective flow area such that the fluid flow therethrough is substantially lower than said initial flow rate, said restricting means also being operative to permit fluid flow into said line to compensate for line leakage and to preclude the re-establishment of said line pressure when said line is opened by sensing means.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Detection system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13

Detection system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13