Air quality sensor/interruptor

Abstract

An air quality sensor and interrupter system includes an air quality sensor to measure the air quality around a gas appliance and an appliance shut-off device to turn off the gas appliance in response to a signal from the sensor indicating unsafe air. Unsafe air can be indicated by a measurement of 18.5% or less oxygen in the air.

1 . An air quality sensor and interrupting system, comprising: 
 an air quality sensor configured to measure the quality of air proximate to a gas appliance and generate a signal when unsafe air is detected; and    a gas shut off device configured to turn off at least one portion of the gas appliance in response to the signal sent from the air quality sensor.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas shut off device comprises: 
 a transmitter configured to receive the signal from the sensor and transmit a second signal; and    a receiver configured to receive the second signal and to shut off the gas appliance in response.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are in wireless communication.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion comprises a fuel outlet of the fossil fueled appliance.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fueled appliance is an indoor gas appliance.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein unsafe air is detected if the oxygen level of the air is approximately 18.0% or less.  
   
   
       7 . A method for operating a gas appliance, comprising: 
 sensing an air quality of air proximate to the gas appliance;    determining whether the air quality is unsafe; and    turning off at least a portion of the gas appliance if the air quality is unsafe.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gas appliance is an indoor fossil fueled appliance.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sensing comprises measuring an oxygen level in the air.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the air quality is determined as unsafe if the oxygen level is approximately 18.0% or less.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , turning off comprises shutting down a gas outlet of the gas appliance.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising keeping the gas appliance turn off until the air quality is no longer determined unsafe.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising sending a signal to turn off the gas appliance.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein sending the signal comprises: 
 sending a first signal indicating unsafe air quality;    sending a second signal indicating the gas appliance is to be turned off; and    sending a third signal to turn off the gas appliance.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first, second, or third signals is sent wirelessly.  
   
   
       16 . A system for operating a gas appliance, comprising: 
 means for measuring an air quality of air proximate to the gas appliance; and    means for turning off at least a portion of the gas appliance if the measured air quality is determined unsafe.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the gas appliance is an indoor gas appliance.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the means for measuring measures an oxygen level in the air.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the air quality is determined as unsafe if the oxygen level is below a predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising means for transmitting signals to the gas appliance for turning off the gas appliance.