Photoelectric Smoke Sensor Tube With Anti-Static Optic Window

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Smoke detectors in air ducts often experience false alarms and frequent maintenance due to dust and debris accumulation, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

A smoke detector design featuring a photoelectric detection system with a removable optic tube that absorbs infrared light, has anti-static and hydrophobic properties, and uses multi-angle light detection to distinguish smoke from other conditions, along with a cleaning port for maintenance, reducing dust accumulation and improving detection accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the smoke detector is installed in the air duct with the optic components inside the air flow pathway, then the detection coverage is improved, but dust and debris accumulate on the optic components causing false alarms and requiring frequent maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoiddust accumulation on optic components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The optic tube is designed as a separate, removable component that can be independently accessed for cleaning without disassembling the entire detector. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to easily reach the optic components located within the air flow pathway and clean them, resolving the contradiction between maintaining detection reliability and preventing dust accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A cleaning port is introduced as an intermediary access point that allows cleaning media (such as compressed air or liquid) to reach the optic components within the air flow pathway. This intermediary structure enables effective cleaning of dust and debris from the optic tube without requiring direct disassembly of the detector housing, thus maintaining detection reliability while addressing dust accumulation issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of repair

If the optic tube is made removable for cleaning, then maintenance ease is improved, but the structural complexity of the detector increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optic tube is segmented as a separate, removable component with dedicated cleaning ports, allowing it to be independently accessed and cleaned. This segmentation provides easy maintenance while adding minimal structural complexity, as the optic tube can be simply inserted and removed from the detector housing without requiring complex disassembly mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If multi-angle light detection is used to distinguish smoke from other conditions, then detection precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system utilizes multi-angle light detection by positioning light receivers at different angles relative to the light emitter. This dimensional approach to detection allows the system to distinguish smoke particles from other conditions (such as dust or steam) based on the angular distribution of scattered light, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring overly complex electronic processing systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The solution effectively reduces false alarms and maintenance needs by accurately differentiating smoke from other conditions and facilitating easy cleaning, enhancing the reliability and longevity of smoke detection in air ducts.

Implementation Method 1

The optic tube includes an optic window located adjacent to the at least one light emitter and the at least one light receiver. The optic tube may absorb infrared light.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

When smoke is present in the optic chamber, the light receiver receives more light due to that light being reflected from the smoke particles.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 3

A photoelectric smoke detector is a type of smoke detector that works based on light reflection principals and generally includes a light emitter, a light receiver and an optic chamber.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 4

The optic tube may have anti-static or hydrophobic properties.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnti-static properties: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 5

The optic tube may have anti-static or hydrophobic properties.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic properties: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP3958230B1Photoelectric smoke sensor tube
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 CARRIER CORP
  • EP3958230B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3958230B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3958230B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A smoke detector (10) for an air duct includes a photoelectric detection system (70) and an air flow pathway (20) in fluid communication with the air duct. The air flow pathway (20) includes an inlet (30), an optic tube (50), and an outlet (40). The photoelectric detection system (70) includes a circuit board (60) having at least one light emitter (90) and at least one light receiver (100) mounted thereon. The optic tube (50) passes through the circuit board (60) and between the at least one light emitter (90) and at least one light receiver (100).