HVAC safety shutoff system

Abstract

An emergency system is disclosed for venting smoke-filled air outside of a building during a fire in which the air conditioning and/or heating system forms part of the emergency system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An emergency system for discharging smoke-filled air from a building through an air conditioner and/or furnace unit including a conventional return duct, a conventional discharge duct and a blower comprising: 
 (a) a smoke detector positioned in the path of the smoke-filled air through the unit;    (b) a first flow control valve in said conventional discharge duct;    (c) a vent duct having one end connected to said unit and the opposite end communicating with the atmosphere outside of the building;    (d) a second flow control valve in said vent duct; and    (e) electrical control means actuated by said smoke detector and connected to each of said flow control valves for closing said first flow control valve and opening said second flow control valve for preventing circulation of the smoke-filled air in the building and venting the smoke-filled air to atmosphere outside of the building.    
     
     
         2 . The emergency system of    claim 1    wherein at least one of said first and second flow control valves comprises a damper.  
     
     
         3 . The emergency system of    claim 1    wherein at least one of said first and second flow control valves comprises a plurality of louvers.  
     
     
         4 . The emergency system of    claim 1    wherein at least one of said first and second flow control valves is controlled by a motor.  
     
     
         5 . The emergency system of    claim 1    wherein at least one of said first and second flow control valves is controlled by a solenoid.  
     
     
         6 . The emergency system of    claim 1    wherein said electrical control means include override switches for actuating said first and second flow control valves.  
     
     
         7 . The emergency system of    claim 1    wherein said electrical control means include solid state circuit means for actuating said first and second flow control valves.  
     
     
         8 . The emergency system of    claim 1    wherein said unit is a central air conditioner unit.  
     
     
         9 . The emergency system of    claim 1    wherein said unit is central heating unit.  
     
     
         10 . The emergency system of claim wherein said unit is a combined central air conditioning and heating unit.  
     
     
         11 . The emergency system of    claim 1    wherein one of said first and second flow control valves comprises a damper biased to the closed position.  
     
     
         12 . An emergency smoke shut off system for use with an air handler having a blower and a normal discharge opening comprising: 
 (a) a housing of a size and shape to be mounted above the air handler;    (b) said housing including a first discharge opening for flowing air during normal operation; and    (c) said housing including a second vent opening for venting smoke-filled air during a fire.    
     
     
         13 . The shut off system of    claim 12    wherein said first discharge opening extends horizontally and said second vent opening extends vertically.  
     
     
         14 . The shut off system of    claim 12    including first flow control means for opening and closing said first discharge opening.  
     
     
         15 . The shut off system of    claim 12    including second flow control means for opening and closing said second vent opening.  
     
     
         16 . The shut off system of    claim 14    including a smoke detector, and actuator means connected to said smoke detector for closing said first flow control means when smoke is detected by said smoke detector.  
     
     
         17 . The shut off system of    claim 15    including a smoke detector, and actuator means connected to said smoke detector for opening said second flow control means when smoke is detected by said smoke detector.  
     
     
         18 . The shut off system of    claim 16    wherein said first flow control means comprise a plurality of louvers.