US-12618764-B2 - Devices, systems, and methods for controlling insects in a smoke detector device

US12618764B2US 12618764 B2US12618764 B2US 12618764B2US-12618764-B2

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for controlling insects in a smoke detector device are described herein. One insect controlling smoke detector device, includes a housing having a smoke detecting chamber formed therein, a light source directing a light beam through the smoke detecting chamber, a light sensor to receive a portion of the light beam and analyze the received light beam to determine whether smoke particles are present in the chamber, and an insecticide injecting apparatus to inject insecticide into the chamber.

Inventors

Benjamin H. WOLF
Michael Barson
Christopher Dearden

Assignees

HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220527

Claims (5)

1 . An insect controlling smoke detector device, comprising: a housing having a smoke detecting chamber formed therein; a light source directing a light beam through the smoke detecting chamber; a light sensor to receive a portion of the light beam and analyze the received light beam to determine whether smoke particles are present in the chamber; an insecticide release apparatus located in air communication with the smoke detecting chamber via a conduit that creates airborne insecticide within the smoke detecting chamber to cause any insects therein to become detached from an inner surface of the smoke detecting chamber thereby clearing any insects therein from a path of the light beam through the smoke detecting chamber; and a fan located within the conduit between the insecticide release apparatus and the smoke detecting chamber to: move the insecticide from the insecticide release apparatus into the smoke detecting chamber; move the insecticide around within the smoke detecting chamber; and move the insecticide out of the smoke detecting chamber after the insects therein have become detached from the inner surface of the smoke detecting chamber.
2 . The insect controlling smoke detector device of claim 1 , wherein the insecticide is embedded in a solid.
3 . The insect controlling smoke detector device of claim 1 , wherein the insecticide is embedded in a wax material.
4 . The insect controlling smoke detector device of claim 3 , wherein the wax material is heated and the insecticide becomes airborne.
5 . The insect controlling smoke detector device of claim 3 , wherein the wax material is a paraffin wax material.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for insect control in smoke detector devices. BACKGROUND Fire alarm systems around the world rely on people trusting that, when they are activated, that they are giving correct information that there is a real life safety event/emergency. One the biggest causes in people ‘losing faith’ in the alarm being raised is when they have suffered from false alarms. In many instances, the local fire service may even fine the building owner when being incorrectly called out to an event. Accordingly, avoiding false alarms is a key requirement for any building owner. In many places in the world, insects crawling around or flying around in the smoke detector chamber of a smoke detector device can be a major cause of false alarms in fire alarm systems, as it is very difficult for a light source (e.g., a photo LED) sensing apparatus to be able to distinguish between real smoke and small insects. Consequently, an alarm may be raised incorrectly when insects are moving around in the sensing chamber. For example, in Europe, especially around the harvesting season, harvest flies (e.g., Thirp) can invade the smoke detector chamber and give the appearance of smoke which can cause false alarms. In some instances, it may be possible for a technician to manually inject compressed air to shew the insects out of the smoke detector chamber, for example, as part of a maintenance cycle. However, this can be costly, time consuming, and ineffective as the insects may not leave or may return to the chamber. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an example of a process for insect control in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2A is an example of a smoke detector device before utilizing the insect control process in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2B is an example of a smoke detector device during utilization of the insect control process in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Devices, systems, and methods for insect control in a smoke detector device in a fire alarm system are described herein. In the present disclosure, an amount of insecticide or insect irritant can be introduced into the smoke detector chamber which will deter, disturb, or kill the insects within the chamber, thereby no longer interfering with the optical sensing apparatus being used to detect smoke. For example, one insect controlling smoke detector device, includes a housing having a smoke detecting chamber formed therein, a light source directing a light beam through the smoke detecting chamber, a light sensor to receive a portion of the light beam and analyze the received light beam to determine whether smoke particles are present in the chamber, and an insecticide injecting apparatus to inject insecticide into the chamber. Any suitable insecticide or irritant may be used but can preferably be non-harmful to humans. If materials harmful to humans are utilized, they can be used in small quantities or at times when humans are not present in the area where the material will be disbursed when it exits the smoke detector device. Embodiments of the present disclosure can be utilized in self-test equipped devices and non-self-test equipped devices. Regarding self-test equipped devices, traditionally, service of fire alarm event devices included a first user (e.g., such as a technician, engineer, etc.) walking around the facility and visually checking the alarm system components, typically, at the same time as they carry out functional testing of event devices and other components of the alarm system. For example, carrying out smoke testing of smoke detector devices and visual inspection of fire sensors could be accomplished at the same time, as the inspector is close enough to visually inspect each smoke detector device. While the first user is functionally testing and visually inspecting event devices, a second user may typically interpret signals received at the alarm system control panel at the location of the alarm system control panel based on the activities carried out by the first user. Self-test devices are configured to initiate a smoke detection test from a remote device. Self-test devices include a smoke release apparatus that generates particulate similar to smoke particles from an actual fire event and uses the generated particulate to perform a test of the smoke detector device. Self-test device equipped systems can reduce the time it takes to test a fire system and reduce the workforce needed to test the system. As discussed herein, self-testing devices and non-self-test devices can be less effective when insects create false alarms due to their bodies obscuring the light beam passing through the smoke detecting chamber. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present disclosure allow for mitigation of insect issues, thereby improving the ability for th