Patent ID: 8734973
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: G08B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A system for lowering a battery of a smoke detector, the smoke detector being configured for mounting from the ceiling of a structure, the system comprising: a housing that contains: a battery wire having a battery connector; a spool that rotates to collect or pay out the battery wire, the battery wire acting as a tether and including a conductor; a battery pack that is configured for accepting a battery for the smoke detector and for supporting the battery connector, the battery pack being attached to the battery wire and being electrically connected through the conductor to a smoke detection device; an electric motor that is connected to the spool such that the rotation of the electric motor in one direction retracts the tether and rotation of the electric motor in another direction pays out the tether, allowing the battery pack to be supported away from the housing while remaining connected to the battery wire, the electric motor being controlled by a programmed control module that is connected to a low-voltage detector that is connected to the battery connector, the programmed control module being programmed to actuate the electric motor to rotate in the direction that pays out the tether in response to a low voltage condition detected in the battery pack by the low-voltage detector and cause the electric motor to retract the tether and move the battery pack towards the housing in response to an acceptable voltage condition in the battery pack.