House Vent Automatic Closure for Power-Outage Fire Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing house vent systems are vulnerable to forest fires due to the inability of prior technologies to automatically close vents during power outages, which can lead to fire ignition from burning embers.
Innovation Solution
An automatic house vent system connected to a special circuit breaker that automatically closes all house vents during power outages and keeps them closed until manually reset upon power restoration, utilizing solenoid actuators and electromechanical components for mechanical linkage and electrical signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic house vents are connected to standard electrical systems, then vents can be controlled to open and close, but vents remain open during power outages allowing fire embers to enter
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker is designed with inverted logic where power loss automatically triggers vent closure instead of vent opening. The solenoid actuator is configured to hold vents open when powered, but releases to close vents when power is removed, inverting the conventional response to power events
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the solenoid actuators and circuit breaker interconnection before a fire event occurs. When power is removed during a wildfire event, the vents are already positioned to close automatically without requiring active control signals or decision-making during the emergency
2Productivity
If power is restored automatically without manual reset, then electrical service is quickly restored, but house vents remain closed blocking necessary ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker incorporates feedback through its solenoid actuator that monitors the power state and automatically responds to power restoration events. When power is restored, the solenoid receives voltage and automatically trips the breaker to restore ventilation, creating a closed-loop feedback system that eliminates manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting power restoration and resetting the vent closure state without requiring human intervention. The circuit breaker and solenoid actuator work together to autonomously manage the vent state based on power availability, making the system self-regulating
3Reliability
If a special circuit breaker is designed for automatic vent control, then fire safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker is designed with multi-functionality by integrating both standard circuit protection capabilities and automatic vent control functions into a single device. The solenoid actuator serves dual purposes of controlling vent state and triggering breaker tripping, reducing the need for separate control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the circuit breaker control system with the vent actuation system through direct electrical interconnection. The breaker's internal solenoid and contact mechanism are combined with the vent control circuitry, eliminating the need for separate control devices and reducing overall system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents fire ignition by ensuring all house vents remain closed during power outages and until manual reset, enhancing fire safety in forest fire-prone areas by integrating with standard electrical panels and breaker boxes.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid actuator that is capable of opening and closing the house vent
Data Source
AI summary
Automatic house vent is a house vent system that automatically closes all house vents when electrical power is shut off to the house. Automatic house vent is a fire prevention mechanism that closes all house vents in order to prevent burning ambers from entering the house through a house vent and starting a fire from the inside of the house. It is standard procedure during forest fires for the authorities to shut off electrical power to communities in the path of the fire. Each house vent is mechanically opened and closed by an electric solenoid actuator that is connected by electrical wiring to a special circuit breaker located in the house electrical panel or breaker box.