Method and system to enable selective smoke detection sensitivity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016104358-A1
Application number	US-201414512447-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 12, 2014
Priority date	Oct 12, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

There is provided a method to enable selective smoke detection sensitivity onboard an aircraft. The method has the step of installing one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies. The method further has the step of electrically or wirelessly coupling the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies installed onboard the aircraft to one or more sensitivity selector controls installed onboard the aircraft. The method further has the step of selecting an alarm setpoint sensitivity level from two or more alarm setpoint sensitivity levels for each of the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies, based on sensitivity level determination factors of one or more of a mission type of the aircraft, a cargo type on the aircraft, a compartment zone specific area type on the aircraft, and an occupancy state on the aircraft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method to enable selective smoke detection sensitivity onboard an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
installing one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies onboard the aircraft; electrically or wirelessly coupling the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies installed onboard the aircraft, to one or more sensitivity selector controls installed onboard the aircraft; and selecting an alarm setpoint sensitivity level from two or more alarm setpoint sensitivity levels for each of the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies, based on sensitivity level determination factors comprising one or more of a mission type of the aircraft, a cargo type on the aircraft, a compartment zone specific area type on the aircraft, and an occupancy state on the aircraft.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of maintaining the selected alarm setpoint sensitivity level until a user changes the selected alarm setpoint sensitivity level to a different alarm setpoint sensitivity level.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of autonomously varying the selected alarm setpoint sensitivity level in real time using one or more sensors, a controller, and a system logic of the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating an alarm signal responsive to the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies measuring and detecting a smoke density level in an aircraft area that meets a predetermined threshold of the alarm setpoint sensitivity level.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of electrically or wirelessly coupling the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies comprises electrically or wirelessly coupling the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies to one or more sensitivity selector controls comprising a smoke sensitivity selector control switch located on or proximate to each of the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of electrically or wirelessly coupling the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies comprises electrically or wirelessly coupling the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies to one or more sensitivity selector controls comprising a smoke sensitivity selector control switch located in one or more aircraft areas comprising a cockpit, a cabin/passenger area, a main deck cargo bay, an electrical equipment bay, a forward cargo bay, a wing box, an aft cargo bay, a bulk cargo bay, a closet, a stowage compartment, a lavatory, a crew rest compartment, and a galley.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting the alarm setpoint sensitivity level comprises selecting the alarm setpoint sensitivity level remotely or proximate to each of the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting the alarm setpoint sensitivity level comprises using a master sensitivity selector control to select and set the alarm setpoint sensitivity level for all of the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies at one time, or comprises using a selective sensitivity selector control to select and set the alarm setpoint sensitivity level for one or more at a time of the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting the alarm setpoint sensitivity level comprises selecting the alarm setpoint sensitivity level based on the sensitivity level determination factor of an environmental control system setting.

10 . A method to enable selective smoke detection sensitivity onboard an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
installing one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies onboard the aircraft; and using the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies onboard the aircraft to autonomously vary in real time its alarm setpoint sensitivity level, selected from two or more alarm setpoint sensitivity levels, based on sensitivity level determination factors comprising one or more of an aircraft system status and an aircraft configuration status.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of increasing or decreasing the alarm setpoint sensitivity level, based on the sensitivity level determination factor of a cargo area air conditioning system on or off status.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of generating an alarm signal responsive to the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies measuring and detecting a smoke density level in an aircraft area that meets a predetermined threshold of the alarm setpoint sensitivity level.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of using the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies comprises autonomously varying the selected alarm setpoint sensitivity level in real time using one or more sensors, a controller, and a system logic of the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of using the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies comprises autonomously varying the selected alarm setpoint sensitivity level in real time, based on the sensitivity level determination factors comprising one or more of, a mission type of the aircraft, a cargo type on the aircraft, a compartment zone specific area type on the aircraft, an occupancy state on the aircraft, a smoke density level in an aircraft area, a moisture content in the aircraft area, a temperature of the aircraft area, a type of gas present in the aircraft area, a concentration of gas present in the aircraft area, an aircraft engine operating status, an air speed of the aircraft, an altitude of the aircraft, an aircraft door open or door closed status, an environmental control system setting on the aircraft, an environmental control system configuration on the aircraft, and an aircraft air conditioning system on or off status.

15 . A system to enable selective smoke detection sensitivity onboard an aircraft, the system comprising:
one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies installed onboard the aircraft, each sensitivity selectable smoke detector assembly comprising:
a sensitivity selectable smoke detector device;
one or more sensors electrically or wirelessly coupled to the sensitivity selectable smoke detector device;
a controller coupled to the sensitivity selectable smoke detector device;
a system logic coupled to the sensitivity selectable smoke detector device or to the controller, the system logic configured to autonomously vary in real time two or more alarm setpoint sensitivity levels, based on sensitivity level determination factors comprising one or more of an aircraft system status and an aircraft configuration status;
one or more system inputs measured by the one or more sensors and input into each sensitivity selectable smoke detector device, or input into the controller, for processing by the system logic; and
a system output generated when the alarm setpoint sensitivity level is triggered.

16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a safeguard assembly coupled to the one or more sensitivity selectable smoke detector assemblies, the safeguard assembly comprising one or more of a software based safeguard assembly, a physical based safeguard assembly, and

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Meier Oliver C

Classifications

• G08B17/10 Primary

  Actuation by presence of smoke or gases {, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means} · CPC title

• G08B29/22

  Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement · CPC title

• B64D45/00

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D2045/009

  Fire detection or protection; Erosion protection, e.g. from airborne particles · CPC title