Claims
- 1. A fire arrester kit for use with a clothes dryer having a ventilation path, comprising:
(a.) a fire detector containing a fire sensor, said fire detector in operational contact with a ventilation path of a clothes dryer, said fire sensor capable of sensing for indicators of fire, wherein once an indicator of fire is sensed said fire detector becomes activated and transmits a fire signal, said ventilation path having an upstream side and a downstream side, said ventilation path carrying a flow of air through said dryer from said upstream side to said downstream side of said ventilation path; (b.) means for responding to a fire, said means for responding to a fire in operational communication with said fire detector and capable of receiving said fire signal from said fire detector, wherein once said fire signal is received from said fire detector said means for responding to a fire becomes activated; and (c.) means for extinguishing a fire, said means for extinguishing a fire in operational communication with said fire detector and capable of receiving said fire signal from said detector, wherein once said fire signal is received from said fire detector said means for extinguishing a fire becomes activated.
- 2. The fire arrester kit of claim 1, further comprising:
(a.) an exhaust vent attached to said dryer, where in said flow of air leaves said dryer through said exhaust vent; and (b.) a fire-resistant exhaust hose attached to said exhaust vent, wherein said fire detector is attached to said fire-resistant exhaust hose.
- 3. The fire arrester kit of claim 1, wherein said fire sensor is a smoke sensor.
- 4. The fire arrester kit of claim 1, wherein said fire sensor is selected from a group consisting of heat sensors and chemical sensors.
- 5. The fire arrester of kit claim 1, wherein said means for responding to a fire further comprises an alarm.
- 6. The fire arrester kit of claim 1, wherein said means for responding to a fire further comprises means for disconnecting electrical power to said clothes dryer.
- 7. The fire arrester kit of claim 1, wherein said means for extinguishing a fire further comprises a canister, said canister carrying an extinguishing agent, wherein upon said means for extinguishing a fire receiving said fire signal said extinguishing agent is introduced into said ventilation path from said canister.
- 8. The fire arrester kit of claim 1, wherein said fire detector further comprises a wireless means for communicating said fire signal to said means for responding to a fire and to said means for extinguishing a fire.
- 9. The fire arrester kit of claim 1, wherein said means for responding to a fire further comprises a remote monitoring facility, said remote monitoring facility capable of receiving said fire signal.
- 10. The fire arrester kit of claim 6, wherein said means for disconnecting electrical power to said clothes dryer is a circuit breaker, said circuit breaker being in-line with said dryer's power supply.
- 11. The fire arrester kit of claim 6, wherein said means for disconnecting electrical power to said clothes dryer is a relay having at least one electrical contact, wherein said at least one electrical contact is in-line with said dryer's power supply.
- 12. The fire arrester kit of claim 7, wherein said extinguishing agent is carbon dioxide.
- 13. The fire arrester kit of claim 7, wherein said extinguishing agent is a halon substitute.
- 14. The fire arrester kit of claim 7, wherein said extinguishing agent is selected from a group consisting of pressurized water, dry chemical, nitrogen, and argon.
- 15. A device for drying clothes, said device comprising:
(a.) an enclosure having a ventilation path, said ventilation path having an upstream side and a downstream side, said enclosure having an enclosure front and an opposing enclosure back, said enclosure having an enclosure bottom and an opposing enclosure top; (b.) a rotatable drum carried within said enclosure and in operational communication with said ventilation path, said drum for carrying wet clothes for drying; (c.) means, attached to said drum, for rotating said drum; (d.) means for creating and directing a flow of air through said ventilation path, said flow of air traveling from said upstream side to said downstream side of said ventilation path, wherein said flow of air enters said enclosure on said upstream side of said ventilation path and exits said enclosure on said downstream side of said ventilation path; (e.) a heat source in operational connection with said ventilation path, said heat source providing heat to said flow of air prior to said flow of air entering said drum; (f.) an exhaust vent attached to said enclosure, said exhaust vent located on said downstream side of said ventilation path; (g.) means for detecting a fire in operational contact with said flow of air through said ventilation path, said means for detecting a fire capable of sensing for indicators of fire and for transmitting a fire signal upon sensing an indicator of fire; (h.) a means for producing an alarm in communication with said means for detecting a fire, said means for producing an alarm capable of receiving said fire signal, said means for producing an alarm becoming activated upon receipt of said fire signal; (i.) means for shutting down said heat source in operational communication with said means for detecting a fire, wherein said means for shutting down said heat source is capable of receiving said fire signal; and (j.) means for introducing an extinguishing agent into said ventilation path, said means for introducing an extinguishing agent in operational communication with said ventilation path and in operational communication with said means for detecting a fire, wherein said means for introducing an extinguishing agent is capable of receiving said fire signal and for introducing an extinguishing agent into said ventilation path upon receipt of said fire signal.
- 16. The device for drying clothes as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for detecting a fire further comprises at least one fire sensor in operational communication with said flow of air through said ventilation path, wherein each of said at least one fire sensor is capable of activating said means for detecting a fire so that said fire signal is transmitted by said means for detecting a fire.
- 17. The device for drying clothes as recited in claim 15, wherein said at least one fire sensor is a plurality of fire sensors, said plurality of fire sensors located in a plurality of locations throughout said ventilation path.
- 18. The device for drying clothes as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for creating and directing a flow of air through said ventilation path further comprises:
(a.) a fire-resistant exhaust hose attached to said exhaust vent, wherein said means for detecting a fire is attached to said fire-resistant exhaust hose; and (b.) a blower in operational connection with said ventilation path, said blower causing said flow of air through said ventilation path.
- 19. The device for drying clothes as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for shutting down said heat source further comprises a means for disconnecting electrical power to said heat source, said means for disconnecting electrical power to said heat source becoming activated by said fire signal.
- 20. The device for drying clothes as recited in claim 15, wherein said alarm produced by said means for producing an alarm is selected from a group consisting of an audible fire alarm, a visual fire alarm and a remote fire alarm, said remote fire alarm notifying a remote monitoring facility of said fire signal.
- 21. The device for drying clothes as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for shutting down said heat source further comprises a time delay means for disconnecting electrical power to said heat source after becoming activated by said fire signal while maintaining electrical power to said blower for a pre-selected period of time, wherein after said pre-selected period of time said time delay means disconnects electrical power to said blower.
- 22. The device for drying clothes as recited in claim 15, further comprising a wireless communication means for sending said fire signal from said means for detecting a fire and for receiving said fire signal by said means for producing an alarm, by said means for shutting down said heat source, and by said means for introducing an extinguishing agent.
- 23. The device for drying clothes as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for introducing an extinguishing agent further comprises:
(a.) an extinguishing agent canister for holding said extinguishing agent and for introducing said extinguishing agent into said ventilation path; (b.) means for monitoring the capability of said extinguishing agent canister to introduce said extinguishing agent into said ventilation path, wherein said monitoring means emits an alarm when said extinguishing agent canister becomes incapable of introducing said extinguishing agent into said ventilation path; and (c.) a wireless communications means for activating said means for introducing an extinguishing agent.
- 24. The device for drying clothes as recited in claim 15, further comprising an air intake vent having a removable filter on said enclosure, wherein said flow of air enters said enclosure through said air intake vent, said removable filter capable of preventing airborne material from entering said ventilation path.
- 25. The device for drying clothes as recited in claim 16, wherein said at least one fire sensor in a smoke sensor.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/286,902, filed on Apr. 27, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. Applicant claims the priority date benefits of that application.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60286902 |
Apr 2001 |
US |