Multi-condition sensor systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10126196-B2
Application number	US-201615223482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2016
Priority date	Jul 29, 2016
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A multi-condition sensor, comprising a housing defining a component cavity, a pressure input tube disposed through the housing, a fault actuator disposed within the component cavity of the housing and in pressure communication with the pressure input tube through the housing, wherein the fault actuator is configured to extend and contract as a function of pressure from the pressure input tube, an alarm actuator disposed within the component cavity of the housing opposite the fault actuator and configured to be actuated by the fault actuator and to extend to a maximum fault position, and an adjustable alarm contact disposed on an opposite side of the alarm actuator within the component cavity and configured to be adjusted to a predetermined extension length from the housing to provide a predetermined alarm contact position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-condition sensor electrical system for determining the state of the multi- condition sensor, comprising: a first resistor in series with a power input line and a first electrode of the multi-condition sensor; a second resistor disposed in series with a power return line and a contact electrode of the multi-condition sensor and configured to receive current from the first resistor in a first sensor state; a third resistor in parallel with a signal out line, wherein the signal out line is in series with the first resistor and wherein the third resistor is in series with the first resistor and the third resistor is disposed between the first resistor and the power return line; and a fourth resistor in series between a second electrode of the multi-condition sensor and the power return line, and configured to receive current from the first resistor in a second sensor state and not to receive current from the first resistor in a third sensor state.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor state is a high pressure condition that causes electrical communication between the first resistor and the second resistor within the sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor state is a normal operating condition in which there is electrical communication between the first resistor and the fourth resister through the sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third sensor state is a fault condition where the first resistor is not in electrical communication with the fourth resistor.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the multi-condition sensor.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the multi-condition sensor includes a housing defining a component cavity; a pressure input tube disposed through the housing; a fault actuator disposed within the component cavity of the housing and in pressure communication with the pressure input tube through the housing, wherein the fault actuator is configured to extend and contract as a function of pressure from the pressure input tube; an alarm actuator disposed within the component cavity of the housing positioned opposite the fault actuator and configured to be actuated by the fault actuator and to extend to a maximum fault position, wherein the maximum fault position is such that the alarm actuator cannot move further in a direction towards the fault actuator; and an adjustable alarm contact disposed on an opposite side of the alarm actuator within the component cavity and configured to be adjusted to a predetermined extension length from the housing to provide a predetermined alarm contact position; wherein each of the fault actuator, the alarm actuator, and the adjustable alarm contact are conductive, wherein, in a normal operating condition, the fault actuator and the alarm actuator are in contact such that extension of the fault actuator due to pressure increase in the pressure input tube moves the alarm actuator toward the adjustable alarm contact, and such that contraction of the fault actuator causes the alarm actuator to extend toward the maximum fault position, wherein, in a high pressure condition in the pressure input tube, the alarm actuator is moved by the fault actuator to contact the adjustable alarm contact at the predetermined extension length, and wherein, in a low pressure condition in the pressure input tube, the fault actuator is separated from the alarm actuator after the alarm actuator reaches the maximum fault position;
wherein the fault actuator is configured to bridge electrical communication between the first resistor and the fourth resistor in the normal operating condition, wherein the alarm actuator is configured to bridge electrical communication between the first resistor and the second resistor in the high pressure condition, and wherein the first resistor, the third resistor, and the signal out are in electrical communication via the alarm actuator.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the fault actuator and the alarm actuator include bellows.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the housing includes a conductive portion and a non-conductive base.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fault actuator is attached to and in electrical communication with the conductive portion of the housing.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the alarm actuator is attached to the non-conductive base.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the alarm actuator is attached to the non-conductive base via a metal washer that is brazed to the non-conductive portion.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a first electrode in electrical communication with the alarm actuator through the non-conductive base and a second electrode in electrical communication with the conductive portion of the housing.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the adjustable alarm contact includes a conductive threaded member disposed through the non-conductive base.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the adjustable alarm contact includes a conductive calibration bellows disposed in the component cavity and configured to be contacted and actuated by the threaded member.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the threaded member is disposed through the non-conductive base via a threaded insert that is brazed to the non-conductive base and configured to matingly receive the threaded member.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the threaded insert is made of stainless steel.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the non-conductive base is ceramic.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a state determination device configured to receive electrical signals from the signal out line and the power return line and to determine the state of the multi-state sensor.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first resistor and the third resistor have the same resistance values, and wherein the second resistor has less resistance value than the fourth resistor, wherein the fourth resistor has less resistance value than the first resistor and the third resistor.

Assignees

• Kidde Tech Inc

Inventors

• Wallace Steven
• Codispoti Benjamin
• Coreth Lawrence A
• Frasure David W

Classifications

• G01L9/0035

  using variations in ohmic resistance · CPC title

• H01H37/00

  Thermally-actuated switches · CPC title

• G01L19/12 Primary

  Alarms or signals · CPC title

• H01H35/00

  Switches operated by change of a physical condition (operated by change of magnetic or electric field H01H36/00; thermally-actuated switches H01H37/00) · CPC title

• G01L9/0033 Primary

  Transmitting or indicating the displacement of bellows by electric, electromechanical, magnetic, or electromagnetic means (G01L9/0008 takes precedence) · CPC title