The invention relates to smoking detection devices.
In aircraft, there are smoke alarm systems in various regions of the aircraft. In the cargo compartment and in toilets, a smoke alarm is issued by smoke detectors that are exposed to environmental air. The (smoke-laden) air reaches the smoke detector by way of convection. Convection not only depends on the thermodynamic conditions but also on the airflow imposed by the air conditioning system. In order to ensure that an adequate quantity of air flows around the smoke detector, several solutions exist.
In cargo compartments, for example, a smoke detector which is installed in the ceiling region in a type of hood is used. A so-called smoke guide plate ensures that smoke reaches into a measuring chamber of the detector rather than diffusing into the upper volume region of the hood.
However, the above-mentioned generally known solution does not take into account thermodynamic and climatic conditions in a cargo compartment with high flow rates in certain air inflow and outflow systems.
There may be a need to create a smoke detection device which works reliably even under difficult thermodynamic and climatic conditions encountered in transportation vehicles, such as aircraft and other environmental conditions.
In one example of the invention, smoke guide ridges that are used as turbulence elements as well as a smoke detector are installed in a hood. These smoke guide ridges may be used to generate wake turbulence and/or smoke turbulence. In this way, situations in which smoke moves past the smoke detector without entering its measuring chamber may be prevented. Furthermore, the smoke guide ridges may be used, after the turbulence has been generated, to lead the smoke in a targeted way to the measuring chamber of the smoke detector.
In one example, the ridges are symmetrically arranged in the hood in order to ensure that smoke turbulence creation occurs independently of the direction of the hood. For example, the hood may be arranged on the left hand side or on the right hand side of an air outlet. However, in other examples, asymmetrical solutions may be utilized. In one example, the ridges extend in a substantially perpendicular direction in relation to the direction of flow of an airstream.
The drawings provide some examples of the invention.
This detailed description and drawings provide specific examples of the invention, but the invention should not be limited merely to the examples disclosed. Instead, the invention should be limited only by the claims that may eventually issue. Many variations in the invention will be readily apparent to those familiar with the field based on the drawings and description provided. Below, identical or similar components and elements in the different views of the figures have the same reference characters.
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Furthermore, there are additional ridges 6a-6c between the smoke detectors 3a, b, which ridges 6a-6c extend in a substantially parallel direction in relation to the ridges 4, 5. In this example, ridge 6a is located between a left edge 7 of the hood 2 and the smoke detector 3a. Also, ridge 6b is between the smoke detectors 3a and 3b, and ridge 6c is between the smoke detector 3b and a right edge 8 of the hood 2. In this example, the ridges 6a-6c are aligned in a substantially parallel direction in relation to the ridges 4, 5.
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Although the invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments, it goes without saying that modifications and alterations can be made without leaving the scope of protection of the invention, in particular in relation to the arrangement of the ridges or the turbulence elements in the hood 2. The arrangement and alignment of the turbulence elements and the ridges within the hood 2 depend on the particular thermodynamic and climatic conditions that prevail in a cargo compartment of an aircraft.
According to these examples, only two smoke detectors are provided in the hood of the smoke detection device. However, any other desired number of smoke detectors may be installed in the hood. Furthermore, the material of the turbulence elements and of the hood can for example be metal, plastic or any other suitable material.
In addition it should be pointed out that “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and “a” or “one” does not exclude a plural number. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that characteristics or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference characters in the claims are not to be interpreted as limitations.
Alternative combinations and variations of the examples provided will become apparent based on this disclosure. It is not possible to provide specific examples for all of the many possible combinations and variations of the embodiments described, but such combinations and variations may be claims that eventually issue.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2005 024 407.6 | May 2005 | DE | national |
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/685,266 filed May 27, 2005 and of the German Patent Application No. 10 2005 024 407.6 filed May 27, 2005, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60685266 | May 2005 | US |