Combustion products generating and metering device

Claim 2

A combustion products generating and metering device comprising, in combination: a plenum having an inlet and an outlet; a blower module, housed in said inlet of said plenum, having an open rear end and a front end with apertures therein, a first group of said apertures adapted to hold a predetermined quantity of combustible material having a predictable burning rate, and a second group of said apertures being vacant to permit the passage of air into said plenum; a flow control distribution means associated with the outlet of said plenum for receiving and thereafter regulating the flow of the resulting air-combustion products mixture exiting said outlet of said plenum; and a products of combustion type detection device in proximity to said flow control distribution means.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said combustible material is selected from the group consisting of cigarettes and cigars, said first group of said apertures is of a size appropriate for retaining said combustible material, and said second group of said apertures is smaller than said first group of apertures.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein said plenum has housed therein a deflection member to assist in achieving a homogeneous air-combustion products mixture and to properly direct the flow from said outlet.

Claim 5

The method of calibrating the device of claim 1 comprising the steps of weighing said combustible materials before and after a predetermined burning period; measuring the quantity of air drawn in by said blower module during the predetermined burning period; and determining the concentration of the combustion products-air mixture from the ratio of the difference in weight of said combustible materials before and after the predetermined burning period to the quantity of air drawn in during the predetermined burning period.

Claim 6

A combustion products generating and metering device comprising, in combination: a plenum having an inlet and an outlet; a blower module, housed in said inlet, having an open rear end and a front end with apertures therein, a first group of said apertures adapted to be filled with combustible materials having a predictable burning rate and a second group of said apertures being vacant to permit the passage of air into said plenum; and flow control distribution means associated with the outlet of said plenum for receiving and thereafter regulating the flow of the air-combustion products mixture exiting said outlet of said plenum, said flow control distribution means having a fixed plate with perforations therein for covering said outlet and a smaller plate with perforations therein parallel to and in proximity with said fixed plate and covering only a portion thereof, said perforations in both plate being in substantial registry with one another, said smaller plate being movable with respect to said fixed plate so that the registry of said perforations in the plates can be varied.

Claim 7

A combustion products generating and metering device comprising, in combination: a plenum having an inlet and an outlet; a blower module, housed in said inlet, having an open rear end and a front end with apertures therein, a first group of said apertures adapted to be filled with combustible materials having a predictable burning rate and a second group of said apertures being vacant to permit the passage of air into said plenum; and flow control distribution means associated with the outlet of said plenum for receiving and thereafter regulating the flow of the air-combustion products mixture exiting said outlet of said plenum, said flow control distribution means having a fixed plate with perforations therein for covering said outlet and a smaller plate with perforations therein parallel to and in proximity with said fixed plate and covering only a portion thereof, said perforations in both plate being in substantial registry with one another, said smaller plate being movable with respect to said fixed plate so that the registry of said perforations in the plates can be varied.

Claim 8

The device of claim 5 wherein said combustible material is selected from the group consisting of cigarettes and cigars, said first group of said apertures is of a size appropriate for retaining said combustible material, and said second group of said apertures is smaller than said first group of apertures.

Claim 9

The device of claim 5, wherein said plenum has a plurality of inlets, each housing a blower module therein.

Claim 10

The device of claim 7 wherein at least one blower module includes no combustible material and thereby functions to solely provide dilutent air.

Claim 11

In combination with a system for use in a confined area for determining the location, or for evaluating a pRe-existing arrangement, of products of combustion type devices, the improvement comprising, in combination: a plenum having an outlet and an inlet; a blower module, housed in said inlet, having an open rear end and a front end with apertures therein, a first group of said apertures adapted to e filled with combustible materials having a predictable burning rate and a second group of said apertures being vacant to permit the passage of air into said plenum, said blower module further including a controllable blower means housed therein; and flow control distribution means associated with the outlet of said plenum for receiving and thereafter regulating the flow of the air-combustion products mixture exiting said outlet of said plenum.

Claim 12

In combination with a system for use in a confined area for determining the location, or for evaluating a pRe-existing arrangement, of products of combustion type devices, the improvement comprising, in combination: a plenum having an outlet and an inlet; a blower module, housed in said inlet, having an open rear end and a front end with apertures therein, a first group of said apertures adapted to e filled with combustible materials having a predictable burning rate and a second group of said apertures being vacant to permit the passage of air into said plenum, said blower module further including a controllable blower means housed therein; and flow control distribution means associated with the outlet of said plenum for receiving and thereafter regulating the flow of the air-combustion products mixture exiting said outlet of said plenum.

Claim 13

In the system of claim 9 said flow control distribution means including a fixed plate with perforations therein covering said outlet of said plenum, and a smaller plate with perforations therein parallel to and in proximity with said fixed plate and overlaying only a portion thereof, said perforations in said fixed plate and said smaller plate being in substantial registry with one another, said smaller plate being movable with respect to said fixed plate so that the registry of the perforations of the plates can be varied.

Claim 14

In the system of claim 9 said combustible material being selected from the group consisting of cigarettes and cigars, said first group of said apertures being of a size appropriate for retaining said combustible material, and said second of said apertures being smaller than said first group of apertures.

Claim 15

In the system of claim 9, said plenum having a plurality of inlets, each housing a blower module therein.

Claim 16

In the system of claim 12, at least one of said blower modules including no combustible material and thereby functioning to solely provide dilutent air.

Claim 19

The method of claim 14 wherein said combustible materials are selected from the group consisting of cigarettes and cigars.

Claim 22

The method of claim 16 wherein said combustible materials are selected from the group consisting of cigarettes and cigars.