Abstract:
An emergency device actuator absence notification system and method therefore capable of notifying an observer or system supervisor of the presence and operability of the emergency device actuator and also capable of notifying an observer or system supervisor of the absence or inoperability of the emergency device actuator.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to fire prevention and, more specifically, to an emergency device actuator absence notification system capable of detecting when a fire prevention relay device, commonly referred to as an actuator, such as a solenoid for triggering a sprinkler system or other fire extinguishing mechanism, is removed or disconnected from the system and thereafter warning those monitoring the system of the absence of the actuator, and also capable of communicating the presence and operability of the aforementioned actuator to those monitoring the system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is often the case that warning devices designed to notify a person of an emergency, or even designed to address the emergency situation itself, are not equipped with any means for notifying an individual of when the actuator used to address an emergency is removed or inoperable, as in the case of maintenance. 
     This invention addresses this problem by providing a supervisory switch contained within an emergency device actuator absence notification system that is capable of detecting the presence or absence of the emergency device actuator, and is capable of transmitting differing signals representing the presence or absence of the actuating device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an emergency device actuator absence notification system combined with an actuator of a fire prevention system or other emergency prevention system having the ability to notify users of the presence or absence of the actuator. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An emergency device actuator absence notification system is disclosed, comprising a rigid planar member, a transducer housing coupled to the planar member, and a transducer located within the transducer housing. The device further comprises a pair of electrical contact points located on the transducer, a lever having a first end coupled to the transducer within the transducer housing and passing through a lever opening in the transducer housing causing the lever to have a second end external to the transducer housing, the lever having electrically conductive and flexible properties causing the lever to rest in a first position when the lever has no external forces acting upon it, and being so positioned as to become in contact with both of the electrical contact points when the lever is depressed and caused to be in a second position, thereby causing the electrical contact points to become in electrical contact with one another. The transducer is capable of emitting a plurality of signals depending upon a state of the transducer, the state of the transducer being dependent upon one of the existence and nonexistence of electrical contact between the electrical contact points, which is in turn dependent upon a position of the lever, and electrical leads having first ends coupled to the transducer and capable of transmitting the plurality of signals from the transducer, the electrical leads passing through an electrical lead opening in the transducer housing and having second ends external to the transducer housing. 
     Also disclosed is a method of monitoring the presence and absence of an emergency device actuator comprising producing a signal indicating the presence of the emergency device actuator when the emergency device actuator is so situated with respect to an emergency device actuator absence notification system when the emergency device actuator is in use and in contact with the emergency device actuator absence notification system, and producing a signal from the emergency device actuator absence notification system indicating an absence of the emergency device actuator when the emergency device actuator is no longer in contact with the emergency device actuator absence notification system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of an emergency device actuator absence notification system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevated perspective view of the emergency device actuator absence notification system taken from a second angled position. 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the emergency device actuator absence notification system in its working environment, with an actuator shown just prior to being placed upon the lever. 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the emergency device actuator absence notification system in its working environment, with the actuator shown in its resting and working position, resting upon the lever. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the emergency device actuator absence notification system with the transducer housing made transparent and represented by dotted lines to show the features of the transducer contained within the transducer housing, and with the lever coupled to the transducer in its upward position, corresponding to a “system offline” signal across the electrical leads. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the emergency device actuator absence notification system with the transducer housing made transparent and represented by dotted lines to show the features of the transducer contained within the transducer housing, and with the lever coupled to the transducer in its downward position, corresponding to a “system ready” signal across the electrical leads. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , an embodiment of an emergency device actuator absence notification system  10 , referred to generically as an emergency device actuator absence notification system  10 , is disclosed. The emergency device actuator absence notification system  10  comprises a transducer  12  (shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and partially shown in  FIG. 1 ). The transducer  12  rests upon a flat planar member  14  and housed within a transducer housing  16 . The transducer  12  is held securely by a pair of fastening mechanisms  22  (shown in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 6 ) coupled to the transducer housing  16  as well as coupled to the transducer  12 . The transducer  12  is coupled to a lever  18  (shown in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 6 ) and to a pair of electrical leads  20 , the lever  18  and the electrical leads  20  being both partially housed within the transducer housing  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the transducer  12  has a pair of electrical contact points  34 . The contact points  34  are positioned in relation to the lever  18  so that when the lever  18  is in its downward position the lever  18  causes the electrical contact points  34  to be in electrical contact with one another via the lever  18 . Accordingly, the lever  18  is made of a sufficiently electrically conductive and flexible material and is so connected to the transducer  12  so that when no force acts upon the lever  18 , the lever  18  remains in an upward position and does not form an electrical connection between the pair of electrical contact points  34 , the lever  18  being capable of becoming in contact with both electrical contact points  34  when a sufficient downward force is applied to it. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the electrical leads  20  are also both partially exposed through an electrical lead opening  26  in the transducer housing  16 . In accordance with one embodiment, the electrical lead opening  26  may having threading  27  to enable coupling with a wire housing or other structure (not shown) Also present in the planar member  14  is a hole  17  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) beyond the edge of the range of motion of the lever  18  for placement about a post  30  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) when the emergency device actuator absence notification system  10  is in its working environment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  the present embodiment of an emergency device actuator absence notification system  10  is shown in a typical working environment, and the interaction of the emergency device actuator absence notification system  10  with an emergency device actuator  32  is shown. When the emergency device actuator  32  is in its working position (shown in  FIG. 4 ), the emergency device actuator  32  is situated so that it is also placed about the same post  30  that passes through the hole  17  of the emergency device actuator absence notification system  10 . This causes the emergency device actuator  32  to slide down the post  30  and to rest on the lever  18  and the planar member  14 , thereby causing the depression of the lever  18 . The depression of the lever  18  causes the lever  18  to form an electrical connection with the two electrical contact points  34  (shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) and thereby causes the transducer to produce a “system ready” signal across its electrical leads  20 . When the emergency device actuator  32  is removed from its working position (shown in  FIG. 3 ), the inherent characteristics of the lever  18  and its connection to the transducer  12  causes the lever  18  to rest in its upward position, whereby the electrical contact points  34  are not in electrical contact with one another, thereby causing the transducer to produce a “system offline” signal across its electrical leads  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a transparent view of the transducer housing  16 , the electrical lead opening  26 , and the rigid planar member  14  is shown.  FIG. 6  shows the details of the transducer  12  and the lever  18  with the lever  18  shown in its downward position. In the downward position, the lever  18  corresponds to the state of the emergency device actuator absence notification system  10  as it is shown in  FIG. 4 , whereby the lever  18  creates electrical contact between the electrical contact points  34 . The connection of both contact points  34  by the lever  18  causes the transducer  12  to produce a “system ready” signal across the electrical leads  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a transparent view of the transducer housing  16 , the electrical lead opening  26 , and the rigid planar member  14  is shown.  FIG. 5  shows the details of the transducer  12  and the lever  18  with the lever  18  shown in its upward position. In the upward position, the lever  18  corresponds to the state of the emergency device actuator absence notification system  10  as it is shown in  FIG. 3 , whereby the lever  18  causes the electrical contact points  34  to be electrically insulated from one another, thereby causing the transducer  12  to produce a “system offline” signal across its electrical leads  20 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.