Abstract:
A emergency sign emits a non-electrical light and sounds a non-electrical alarm when an elevated level of heat is sensed, such heat from a fire, to provide a combined light and a sound alert signals. The light results from the mixing of a chemical compound having chemiluminescent properties. The light illuminates indicia located on the face plate of the sign. The alarm is sounded by releasing compressed gas from a cartridge and directing the released gas through a whistle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the field of fire alarms. The alarms are heat activated non-electric light emitting and sound generating devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During a fire in a building structure, such as a residential home, apartment building or office building, electric power may terminate whereby electrical light and electrical sound alarms are rendered useless in cases of emergency. Also, often batteries in conventional battery operated fire and smoke detectors are not routinely changed and neglected by home and building owners. The batteries eventually discharge rendering the alarms inoperative. Electric sparks from electric alarm systems may ignite gases or chemicals present in the environment during a disaster situation. 
     Marman et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,924 disclose a fire and smoke detection control system that senses the temperature of the fire using a thermocouple. This device does not include a non-electric light system. 
     Harley in U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,775 discloses a fire detection system that monitors a plurality of zones and indicates the area on a building where a fire is located. This system does not disclose a non-electric light emitting system. 
     Krueger in U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,294 discloses a heat sensing system for detecting a fire. This system is electrically operated and does not disclose a non-electric light emitting system. 
     Lui in U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,434 discloses a multistaged heat detection system. The system likewise does not teach a non-electric light emitting system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a non-electric alarm system that emits non-electrical chemiluminescent light and produces a non-electrical, high decibel audible alert signal when the alarm system is subjected to a predetermined heat level from a heat source, such as a fire. The alarm system has a housing having a front plate and a back plate surrounding an inner core having a chamber for accommodating a chemiluminescent solution to emit chemiluminescent light visible through indicia located on the front plate. An admixing member connected to the back plate functions to prepare and deliver the chemiluminescent solution to the chamber. The admixing member has a plurality to tubes. At least one of the tubes contains a first solution. The other tubes contain a second solution separate from the first solution. A sound alarm is connected to the back plate adjacent the admixing member. The sound alarm is operable to produce an audible sound alert. An actuation mechanism operably connected to the admixing member and sound alarm is responsive to a predetermined heat level to simultaneously activate the admixing member and the sound alarm thereby simultaneously causing the first and second solutions to be moved from the tubes into the chamber to prepare the chemiluminescent solution, illuminate the indicia and produce an audible sound alert. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a light and sound alarm system of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the alarm system of FIG. 1 with the back plate removed showing the sign chamber; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the actuation and chemical mixing mechanisms of the alarm system; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a modification of the alarm system of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the control valve of the alarm system of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a light and sound alarm system of the invention, indicated generally at  10 . Alarm system  10  is responsive to heat build-up resulting from an enclosed fire to simultaneously provide a light source and an audible alert signal. Alarm system  10  can be used as a primary alarm system or in connection with existing alarm systems to provide additional safety in cases of fire. 
     Alarm  10  has a generally rectangular shaped housing  111  having a pan-shaped front plate  12  connected to a back plate  13  with fasteners  16 . Front plate  12  has indicia  14 , such as the word EXIT, mounted on the front surface thereof to indicate a way out of an enclosed space of a building. Indicia  14  can be other words and in any language or an outline of a pictogram, such as an arrow or chevron, to designate a point of departure from the building. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a generally rectangular core  17  is accommodated by housing  11  of alarm  10 . Core  17  has a chamber  18  for receiving a chemical solution that produces chemiluminescent light. Chamber  18  has an inner portion  20  having a shape substantially the same as the shape of indicia  14  to illuminate indicia  14 . Core  17  has a plurality of holes  19  for accommodating fasteners  16 . Core  17  is removable from housing  11  for cleaning of chamber  18  before recharging alarm  10 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a spring-loaded admixing member having syringe-type action, indicated at  21 , is secured to back plate  13 . Admixing member  21  is used to prepare and move a chemical solution having chemiluminescent properties into chamber  18  of core  17 . Admixing member  21  has a plurality of elongated cylindrical tubes  22 ,  23  and  24  containing chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  that when mixed produce light. Chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  are kept separated in tubes  22  to  24 . When chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  flow together and are combined, the chemicals react to one another, and the atoms begin emitting light. Preferably, outer tubes  22  and  24  are filled with a phenyl oxalate ester and fluorescent dye solution. Middle tube  23  contains an activator solution, such as hydrogen peroxide solution. When the two solutions flow together, the resulting chemical reaction causes the fluorescent dye to emit light. Other chemical solutions can be used to produce chemiluminescent light. 
     Tubes  22 ,  23  and  24  fit into holes in a transverse plate or bracket  38  secured to housing  11 . A plurality of plungers  34 ,  36  and  37  are moveable through tubes  22  to  24  to force chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  to flow from the tubes through lines  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  and  31  into chamber  18 . Lines  26  to  29  and  31  are flexible plastic tubing adapted to carry chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47 . Lines  26  to  29  and  31  can be cleaned with soap and water after use. 
     Middle line  27  attached to the outer end of middle tube  23  and outer line  28  attached to the outer end of outer tube  24  are coupled to an intermediate line  29  with a coupler  32 . Outer line  26  attached to the outer end of outer tube  22  and the opposite end of intermediate line  29  are coupled to outlet line  31  with a coupler  33 . Outlet line  31  extends through opening  30  in back plate  13 . Line  31  is in open communication with the top of chamber  18 . Chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  flowing from lines  26 ,  27  and  28  flow together in lines  29  and  31  and into the top of chamber  18 . As chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  mix together and fill chamber  18  the chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  chemically react to emit light and illuminate indicia  14 . 
     The heads of plungers  34 ,  36  and  37  are attached to a moveable bar  39  which is biased toward bracket  38  with a pair of springs  41  and  42 . Springs  41  and  42  extend linearly from bar  39  to pole anchors  74  and  76  attached to back plate  13  adjacent the outer ends of bracket  38 . As shown in FIG. 4, springs  41  and  42  extend through notches  77  and  78  in the outer ends of bracket  38  to anchors  74  and  76 . A heat responsive release, indicated at  51 , connected to bar  39  controls the actuation of admixing member  21 . Release  51  has a catch arm  53  pivotally attached to back plate  13  with a pivot pin  55 . Arm  53  has an upwardly directed inner end that engages a hook latch  54  which is connected to bar  39  to hold admixing member  21  in a loaded position, as shown in FIG. 2. A center link  52  engages the opposite end of arm  53  to maintain the engagement of arm  53  and latch  54 . Link  52  is a V-shaped fusible metal member, such as metal soldered together using a binary eutectic alloy, or easily melted alloy metals, that melts when elevated temperatures are present thereby releasing arm  53 . Link  52  can be other heat responsive members which releases from arm  53  when the heat in the enclosed area surrounding link  52  exceeds a predetermined heat level. For example, link  52  can be a glass bulb filled with liquid glycerin which breaks and releases arm  53  when heated. When link  52  releases arm  53 , arm  53  pivots, as shown by arrow  59  in FIG. 4, to release latch  54 . Spring bar  39  is moved toward bracket  38  with springs  41  and  42 , as shown by arrow  43  in FIG. 4, thereby moving plungers  34 ,  36  and  37  through tubes  22  to  24  discharging chemical solutions from the tubes. 
     A compressed air alarm, indicated at  62 , is secured to back plate  13  adjacent syringe  21 . Air alarm  62  is simultaneously activated to produce a high decibel audible sound when syringe  21  is activated to move chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  from tubes  22 ,  23  and  24  and collect the solutions in chamber  18  to produce light. Alarm  62  has a generally cylindrical housing  63  with a chamber  64  accommodating a cartridge  66  containing a compressed gas, such as compressed carbon dioxide gas. The outer circumference of cartridge  66  is slightly less than the width of chamber  64  so that cartridge  66  has a sliding fit with housing  63 . A removable cap  67  threaded on the lower end of housing  63  allows access to chamber  64  to inspect or replace cartridge  66 . A spring-loaded actuator  71  extending through an opening in the top of housing  63  has an inner end  73  adapted to be moved into the top end of cartridge  66  to release the compressed gas contained in the cartridge  66 . A spring  72  surrounding actuator  71  engages the top of housing  63  and a collar extending outwardly from inner end  73  to bias end  73  toward the top of cartridge  66 . 
     A catch arm  56  pivotally attached to back plate  13  with a pivot pin  58  has a downwardly extended end  60  that engages a hook latch  57  connected to the outer end of actuator  71  to hold actuator  71  in a loaded position, as shown in FIG.  4 . Center link  52  engages the opposite end of arm  56  to maintain the engagement of arm  56  and latch  57 . When link  52  releases arm  56 , arm  56  pivots, as shown by arrow  61  in FIG. 4, to release latch  57 . Actuator  71  is moved toward cartridge  66  with spring  72  thereby moving end  73  into the top of cartridge  66  releasing compressed gas contained therein. The compressed gas released from cartridge  66  moves through an downwardly directed outlet tube  68  and through a whistle member  69  thereby producing a high decibel audible sound to audibly alert persons within hearing range of a high temperature occurrence, such as an enclosed fire. Link  52  simultaneously holds arms  53  and  56  in engagement with latches  54  and  57 . When link  52  releases arms  53  and  56 , the arms  53  and  56  pivot in opposite directions simultaneously resulting in the emission of light and production of sound. 
     In use, when elevated temperatures are present link  52  releases arms  53  and  56  allowing the arms  53  and  56  to pivot and release latches  54  and  57 . Spring bar  39  is moved toward bracket  38  with springs  41  and  42  thereby moving plungers  34 ,  36  and  37  forwardly through tubes  22 ,  23  and  24  and discharging chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  into lines  26 ,  27  and  28 . Chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  flow together through lines  29  and  31  into chamber  18  to illuminate indicia  14 . Simultaneous with the delivery of chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47  to chamber  18  to produce chemiluminescent light, spring-loaded actuator  71  is driven into the top end of cartridge  66  since arms  53  and  56  are simultaneously released from latches  54  and  57 . The high pressure gas contained in cartridge  66  is released and flows out of outlet  68  into whistle member  69  to produce a sound alert having a predetermined duration and decibel level. 
     To recharge alarm system  10 , core  17  is removed from housing  11  and cleaned with a cleaning solution, such as soap and water. Tubes  22 ,  23  and  24  and lines  26  to  29  and  31  are also cleaned with a cleaning solution. Spring bar  39  is separated from bracket  38  and tubes  22  to  24  are filled with chemical solutions  44 ,  46  and  47 . Arm  53  is pivoted to a transverse position to move the downwardly directed end of arm  53  into engagement with latch  54  attached to bar  39  to hold bar  39  in a retracted position, as shown in FIG.  4 . Actuator  71  is separated from cartridge  66  and held in a retracted position by pivoting arm  56  to a transverse position moving end  60  into engagement with latch  57 . Link  52  is replaced to simultaneously hold arms  53  and  56  in engagement with latches  54  and  57 . The spent compressed gas cartridge  66  is removed from housing  63  by removing cap  67  from the lower end of housing  63 . A new cartridge is inserted into housing chamber  64 . Cap  67  is tighten on the lower end of housing  63  to enclosed the new cartridge in chamber  64 . 
     A modification of the alarm system, indicated generally at  110 , shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is an alarm system responsive to temperature increase to provide a light source and an audible alert signal. The parts of alarm  110  that correspond to alarm  10  shown in FIGS. 1 to  4  have the same reference number with a prefix  1 . Alarm  110  has a generally rectangular shaped housing  111  having a pan-shaped front plate  112  connected to a plate  113  with a plurality of fasteners  116 . As shown in FIG. 5, a spring-loaded admixing member  121  mounted to back plate  113  is useable to combine chemical solutions contained in tubes  122 ,  123  and  124  of member  121 . When combined the chemical solutions chemically react to produce chemiluminescent light and illuminate alarm  110 . 
     Tubes  122 ,  123  and  124  are mounted on a transverse bracket  138  secured to back plate  113 . Plungers  134 ,  136  and  137  attached to a moveable bar  139  are moved through tubes  122  to  124  to discharge the chemical solutions from the tubes  122  to  124  into lines  126 ,  127  and  128  and move the chemical solutions through lines  129 ,  131  and  182  and into a chamber located within housing  111  to prepare a chemiluminescent solution. Bar  139  is biased toward bracket  138  with springs  141  and  142  extended between anchors  175  and  180  and bar  139 . 
     A solenoid-operated switch, indicated at  174 , connected to lines  131  and  182  controls the actuation of admixing member  121 . Switch  174  has a valve  176  operable to selectively block the flow of the chemical solutions through lines  131  and  182  thereby holding admixing member  121  in a loaded position, as shown in FIG.  5 . Switch  174  has a solenoid  177  connected to a central alarm system, such as a central computerized fire system. Solenoid  177  has a wire coil  178 . When the central alarm system sends a signal to energize coil  178 , a moveable core  179  moves toward coil  178 , as shown by arrow  186  in FIG. 6, to align a gate  181  with a passage  183  in valve  176  and the passages of lines  131  and  182 . This allows the chemical solutions to be discharged from tubes  122  to  124 , flow through lines  131  and  182 , as shown by arrows  187  and  188 , and opening  130  into the alarm chamber to illuminate alarm  110 . 
     Returning to FIG. 5, a compressed air alarm  162  is secured to back plate  113  adjacent syringe  121 . Air alarm  162  is activated to produce a high decibel audible sound alert when air alarm  162  is subjected to a predetermined elevated temperature. Alarm  162  has a housing  163  accommodating a cartridge which contains a compressed gas, such as compressed carbon dioxide gas. When the compressed gas is released from the cartridge, the gas flows out of housing  163  through a downwardly directed outlet  168  and into a whistle member  169 . The lower end of housing  163  has an open end closed with a removable cap  167  to allow access to the cartridge. 
     A catch arm  156  has a downwardly extended end  160  that engages a hook latch  157  to hold compressed air alarm  162  in a loaded position, as shown in FIG.  5 . Arm  156  is pivotally connnected to back plate  113  with a pivot member  158 . A heat responsive release link  189  extending upwardly from a transverse mounting block  184  engages the opposite end of arm  156  to maintain arm  156  in a transverse position thereby maintaining the engagement of end  160  with latch  157 . Preferably, line  189  is a glass bulb filled with liquid glycerin which breaks and releases arm  156  when heated to a predetermined temperature. Link  189  can be other heat responsive members which release arm  156  when heated to a selected heat level. When link  189  releases arm  156 , the arm  156  pivots on pivot member  158  to release latch  157  causing the release of the compressed gas from housing outlet  168  through whistle member  169  thereby producing a relative loud sound alert. 
     Release  151  controls the actuation of compressed air alarm  162  separately from the actuation of admixing member  121 , which is controlled by switch  174 . Release  151  and switch  174  cam be adjusted to activate admixing member  121  and air alarm  162  simultaneously, in succession or at different heat levels. 
     The present disclosure are preferred embodiments of the light and sound alarm system. It is understood that the alarm system is not to be limited to the specific materials, constructions and arrangements shown and described. It is understood that changes in parts, materials, arrangement and locations of structures may be made without departing from the invention.