BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present subject matter relates generally to terminating the production of an undesirable gas such as carbon monoxide (“CO”). More specifically, the present disclosures relate to systems and methods for stopping the production of a toxic gas, such as carbon monoxide, from a gas source, such as a furnace.

CO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is toxic to humans at concentrations above approximately 35 parts per million. It is often produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Common sources of CO found in homes and other inhabited structures are due to improperly vented, improperly operated, or malfunctioning engines or appliances that burn fossil fuels, including motor vehicles, stoves, clothes dryers, water heaters, generators, and furnaces.

Unfortunately, CO cannot be detected by human senses because it has no color, odor, or taste. Thus, it is possible for dangerous or deadly concentrations of CO to quickly accumulate undetected in an occupied and enclosed space within a residence or other building. This characteristic is why CO is sometimes referred to as the “silent killer.” To combat this dire problem, CO detectors may be used to detect the presence of CO. The detectors, if they are used at all, are typically positioned where CO may accumulate, and concentrations of CO will trigger an audible alarm in the detector. The audible alarm, however, must be heard by individuals to alert them of potential danger. Once CO is detected, the source of the CO must then be investigated to terminate its production.

Such CO mitigation techniques, however, are insufficient to resolve the unfortunately dangerous and common problem of CO leakage. First of all, homeowners, for example, must takes steps to acquire a CO detector and properly position, operate, and maintain the detector to benefit from the technology. Second, the audible alarm of a CO detector may fail, thus allowing CO to continue to accumulate undetected. Even if the audible alarm of a CO detector does not fail, some person must be around to hear the alarm; otherwise CO will continue to accumulate undetected as well. Third, even if CO is detected, a long time span may occur between when the CO is first produced and when it is eventually stopped at its source, thus allowing deadly concentrations of the gas to collect during that time span. Finally, the process of accessing and investigating an appliance, for example, to shut off the fuel source contributing to CO production, unnecessarily exposes the investigator to the deadly toxin at the appliance.

In light of the foregoing, there remains a pervasive unmet need in the art for systems and methods for detecting and terminating the production of undesirable gases such as CO.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To meet one or more of the needs described above, the present disclosure provides novel and inventive apparatus and methods for detecting and terminating production of undesirable gases, such as CO, at a potential source, such as a household appliance. Although the below descriptions of the apparatus and methods may be described with reference to the detection and termination of CO, it is to be appreciated that the apparatus and methods may be applied as to the detection and termination of other gases as well.

One embodiment is directed to a system that includes a CO detector that is operatively associated with a potential source of CO, such as a household appliance having a fuel supply, wherein the operation of the source may be affected by the detector. The CO detector is preferably, but optionally, installed within the potential source of CO. The system may be in communication with a control board of the potential source of CO. For example, the control board of the potential source of the CO may be one that provides or regulates power to the potential source of CO. During normal operation of the system, when CO concentrations about the source are below a maximum threshold, the system communicates with the control board to allow the control board to supply power to the potential source of CO. However, when CO concentrations about the source are above a maximum threshold, the system communicates with the control board to cut off power to the potential source of CO. In this regard, the potential source of CO is rendered incapable of contributing to the unacceptable concentration of CO about the source because it's no longer powered and thus incapable of burning fuel.

In one embodiment, the system is in communication with a gas valve (e.g., and electronic gas valve) of a fuel supply of the potential source of CO, such as a natural gas supply line, via a wired or wireless connection. During normal operation of the system, when CO concentrations about the source are below a maximum threshold, the system communicates with the fuel supply to cause the gas valve thereof to remain open and provide the source with fuel. However, when CO concentrations about the source are above a maximum threshold, the system communicates with the fuel supply to cause the gas valve thereof to close and interrupt the supply of fuel to the potential source of CO. In this regard, the potential source of CO is rendered incapable of contributing to the unacceptable concentration of CO about the source because it's no longer burning fuel. Additionally, the system may include a light emitting diode that is lit when the detector causes the gas valve of the fuel supply to close.

In one embodiment, the system is operatively coupled to a potential source of CO, such as a furnace, and a thermostat. The system is operable to power (e.g., turn on or off) the thermostat via, for example, a power line from the system to the thermostat. The thermostat is operably coupled to the potential source of the CO and is operable to turn on or off the burning of fuel by the potential source of the CO. For example, the thermostat may be operably coupled to a potential source of the CO, such as a furnace, via a control line that turns on or off the furnace allowing the furnace to produce heat when turned on. The system includes a CO detector. During normal operation (e.g., no CO detection), the system receives power on a power line from the furnace and provides power to (e.g., turns on or causes to remain on) the thermostat. In this fashion, the thermostat is enabled to turn on or off the furnace, which, when turned on, burns fuel to produce heat, for example. If, however, the CO detector detects CO levels at or above a maximum threshold, the system removes power from (e.g., turns off) the thermostat, thus causing a loss of power on the control line from the thermostat to the furnace. As a result, not only is the furnace turned off, the thermostat is also disabled from turning on the furnace.

In one embodiment, when system detects that CO levels are below a minimum threshold, the system re-applies power to the thermostat, thereby allowing the thermostat to control the burning of fuel by the source of the CO. In another embodiment, the system will not reapply power to the thermostat until a mechanical lock is deactivated from the system.

One advantage of various embodiments described herein is that power to a potential source of a dangerous gas, such as CO, is automatically shut off such that the potential source of CO is disabled from continuing to potentially produce the dangerous gas. Another advantage of various embodiments described herein is that if the potential source of CO, such as a furnace, includes a fan that circulates air, the fan is also disabled from continuing to spread the CO as the fan may also be shut off. Another advantage of various embodiments is to provide systems and methods that result in a change to a fuel supply of a potential source of CO when CO concentrations detected about the source exceed a threshold concentration. Yet another advantage of various embodiments is that the systems and methods disclosed and described herein provide for communication between a CO detector and a fuel supply of a potential CO source that enables automatic changes to the fuel supply that do not require intervention by an individual. Yet another advantage of various embodiments is that the systems and methods disclosed and described herein provide for communication between a CO detector and a fuel supply of a potential CO source that enables expeditious changes to the fuel supply that do not require intervention by an individual.

Among other advantages, new potential sources of CO, such as a household appliance, may be originally improved at manufacture to provide the system disclosed and described herein at relatively low additional cost. Another advantage of embodiments of the present disclosures is that existing potential sources of CO, such as a household appliance, may be retrofit to provide the system disclosed and described herein at relatively low cost. Another advantage of embodiments of the present disclosures is that the systems and methods disclosed and described herein obviate the risk of audible alarm failure in CO detectors. For example, embodiments may include a system that is optionally integrated with a potential CO source, which may obviate the risk of audible alarm failure in a CO detector, and may quickly remediate or shut down a faulty source of CO without requiring intervention by an individual. As such, the time between when CO is first produced and when it is stopped at its source is minimized. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other advantages as well.

