Abstract: Low frequency alarm tones emitted by life safety devices are more like to notify sleeping children and the elderly. Disclosed herein is a life safety device equipped with a novel, compact, quarter-wave, folded resonant cavity which significantly increases the low frequency (400-700 Hz square wave) acoustic efficiency of an audio output transducer when the folded resonant cavity is acoustically coupled to the transducer forming an audio output apparatus. The folded resonant cavity is comprised of undulating, annular, acoustic passages to significantly reduce the length of the resonant cavity, thereby permitting the audio output apparatus to fit within the housing of conventional size life safety devices such as, but not limited to, residential and commercial smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Battery powered embodiments of the audio output apparatus comprising a folded resonant cavity passed audibility tests for low frequency alarm tones in smoke alarms specified by UL217.

Abstract: Low frequency alarm tones emitted by life safety devices are more like to notify sleeping children and the elderly. Disclosed herein is a life safety device equipped with a novel, compact, quarter-wave, folded resonant cavity which significantly increases the low frequency (400-700 Hz square wave) acoustic efficiency of an audio output transducer when the folded resonant cavity is acoustically coupled to the transducer forming an audio output apparatus. The folded resonant cavity is comprised of undulating, annular, acoustic passages to significantly reduce the length of the resonant cavity, thereby permitting the audio output apparatus to fit within the housing of conventional size life safety devices such as, but not limited to, residential and commercial smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Battery powered embodiments of the audio output apparatus comprising a folded resonant cavity passed audibility tests for low frequency alarm tones in smoke alarms specified by UL217.

Abstract: An ambient condition detector incorporates speech recognition circuitry for the receipt of verbal commands in a selected language. The commands can be used to initiate functions, such as tests of various components of the detector, or over-all detector operation. Test results can be reported audible, for example by tones, verbally or optically. Recognizable commands and messages can be pre-recorded and not user alterable. Other types of functions can be verbally initiated. Alternately, the user can expand upon the pre-recorded set of commands, or, can record a user specific set of commands.

Abstract: An ambient condition detector outputs an alarm comprising a tonal pattern comprising at least two distinctly different pitch tones in one embodiment of the invention. Another embodiment comprises a detector whereby a user can select a pitch tone to be output within a tonal pattern alarm when the detector senses an ambient condition. Options include verbal output to indicate the type of ambient condition sensed and/or the location of the detector sensing the ambient condition.

Abstract: Due to the presence of various environmental condition detectors in the home and businesses such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, natural gas detectors, etc., each having individual but similar sounding alarm patterns, it can be difficult for occupants of such dwellings to immediately determine the specific type of environmental condition that exists during an alarm condition. The present invention comprises an environmental condition detector using both tonal pattern alarms and pre-recorded voice messages to indicate information about the environmental condition being sensed. Single-station battery-powered and 120VAC detectors are described as are multiple-station interconnected 120 VAC powered detectors. The pre-recorded voice messages describe the type of environmental condition detected or the location of the environmental condition detector sensing the condition, or both, in addition to the tonal pattern alarm. Provisions are made for multi-lingual pre-recorded voice messages.

Abstract: The internal combustion engine relies on air injection for ignition instead of Otto cycle spark or Diesel cycle fuel injection. Cylinder pairs are connected by a cylinder-connecting valve, which opens near top-dead-center on the compression stroke injecting high-pressure air from one cylinder into a second cylinder containing an air-fuel mixture thereby inducing detonation ignition at top-dead-center. During the expansion stroke, the cylinder-connecting valve remains open and provides equal pressure on both cylinders, which is substantially higher than possible in an Otto cycle. Constant volume heat addition makes this engine more efficient than the Diesel cycle. Compared to conventional engines, the absence of spark ignition or high pressure fuel injectors makes this engine more economical, more reliable, and scalable down to small sizes where fuel metering limitations of Diesel fuel injectors become problematic.

Abstract: A system for identifying the location of a fire extinguisher includes a fire detector with a wireless transmitter. When the detector goes into alarm, it not only emits a local audible alarm, it also transmits wirelessly a signal receivable by a fire extinguisher locating unit. This unit includes a receiver and circuitry for detecting the received alarm indicating signal. It also includes audible output circuitry, for example, speech synthesis circuitry, and optionally, an optical indicator. Upon detection at the unit of the alarm indicating signal, the speech synthesizing circuitry can be activated to indicate verbally the location of the extinguisher. Simultaneously, if desired, the illuminatable output device, such as a light bulb or light emitting diode, can be energized to provide a visual indication of extinguisher location.

Abstract: An ambient condition detector incorporates voice recognition circuitry for the receipt of verbal commands in a selected language. The commands can be used to initiate functions, such as tests of various components of the detector, or over-all detector operation. Test results can be reported audible, for example by tones, verbally or optically. Recognizable commands and messages can be pre-recorded and not user alterable. Other types of functions can be verbially initiated. Alternately, the user can expand upon the pre-recorded set of commands, or, can record a user specific set of commands.

Abstract: The battery powered or 120 VAC powered environmental condition detector of the present invention is designed to provide an early warning of the presence of an environmental condition (smoke or carbon monoxide gas or natural gas or propane gas or any multiple combination of these offending agents) to persons in remote areas of a building. The detector sensing the environmental condition emits an audible tonal pattern alarm, while transmitting a radio signal directly to other environmental condition detectors to activate their alarms and to activate an electronically stored human voice recording (or synthesized voice) that indicates the location of the environmental condition detector sensing the environmental condition, or the type of environmental condition, or both.

Abstract: The battery powered or 120VAC powered environmental condition detector of the present invention is designed to provide an early warning of the presence of an environmental condition (smoke or carbon monoxide gas or natural gas or propane gas or any multiple combination of these offending agents) to persons in remote areas of a building. The detector sensing the environmental condition emits an audible tonal pattern alarm, while transmitting a radio signal directly to other environmental condition detectors to activate their alarms and to activate an electronically stored human voice recording (or synthesized voice) that indicates the location of the environmental condition detector sensing the environmental condition, or the type of environmental condition, or both.

Abstract: The battery powered smoke detector of the present invention is designed to provide an early warning of the presence of an environmental condition of fire or smoke to persons in remote areas of a building with respect to the location of the environmental condition. The smoke detector sensing the environmental condition emits an audible alarm of continuous tone, while emitting a frequency modulated radio signal directly to other like smoke detectors to activate their alarms in a manner indicative of the location of the smoke detector sensing the environmental alarm condition. Rechargeable light modules separate from the smoke detector are included that receive the frequency modulated radio signal from the smoke detector sensing the environmental alarm condition and illuminate paths of egress for the duration of the alarm condition or in case of 120VAC power failure. All components of the system are easy to install due to the modular design and conventional power sources.

Abstract: A pulse combustor having thermally induced pulse combustion in a continuously flowing system is described. The pulse combustor is fitted with at lease one elongated ceramic body which significantly increases the heat transfer area in the combustion chamber of the combustor. The ceramic body or bodies possess sufficient mass and heat capacity to ignite the fuel-air charge once the ceramic body or bodies are heated by conventional spark plug initiated combustion so as to provide repetitive ignition and combustion of sequentially introduced fuel-air charges without the assistance of the spark plug and the rapid quenching of the flame after each ignition in a controlled manner so as to provide a selective control over the oscillation frequency and amplitude. Additional control over the heat transfer in the combustion chamber is provided by employing heat exchange mechanisms for selectively heating or cooling the elongated ceramic body or bodies and/or the walls of the combustion chamber.