Method for operating a gas concentration monitoring system, gas-measuring device, central unit, gas concentration monitoring system as well as computer program product

• US 10,371,682 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Berndt, Malte, Kaneblei, Ingo, Ostermann, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivera Vargas, Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US14/360,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20150106033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,442 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0006 Calibrating gas analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 CO or CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0044 Sulphides, e.g. H2S
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0065 using more than one threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0073 Control unit therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2200/00 Transmission systems for measured values, control or similar signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture

Abstract

A method is provided for operating a gas concentration monitoring system as well as a gas-measuring device, a central unit, a gas concentration monitoring system as well as computer program product. The safety of persons or the safety of a situation is determined with respect to at least one hazardous gas. The concentration of the gas is provided to a memory and analysis device. A measured value rating number is determined for a preset period of use. A number of instances, of the measured concentration values exceeding of a preset gas concentration limit value is input. A safety code is determined from at least one of: the measured concentration values, the measured value rating numbers and from the a total number of instances in which a gas concentration limit value was exceeded.

Claims

1. A gas measuring arrangement comprising:

a plurality of mounting sites configured to perform one of a calibration test and a bump test with a test gas, the calibration test with the test gas determining calibration parameters, the bump test being more rapid than the calibration test, said mounting sites being spaced from each other;

a plurality of portable gas measuring devices, each of said plurality of portable gas measuring device being portable relative to each other and said plurality of mounting sites, said plurality of gas measuring devices being selectively movable into different parts of an operating area, said each gas measuring device including a gas sensor measuring a gas concentration in the respective parts of the operating area surrounding a respective said gas measuring device, said each gas measuring device storing measured values of the gas concentration, said each gas measuring device being configured to be selectively docked in one of said plurality of mounting sites and configured to be selectively removable from a respective said mounting site, said each gas measuring device being configured to be movable around a predetermined part of the operating area relative to said central unit and other said gas measuring devices;

said each gas measuring device being configured to cooperate with the test gas of a respective one of said mounting sites to perform the one test, said each gas measuring device having a desired interval between the one test, said each gas measuring device recording test data indicating performance or nonperformance of the one test at one of the desired intervals;

a central unit connected to said mounting sites, and receiving the stored measured values and the test results for each of said gas measuring devices when the gas measuring devices are arranged in said mounting sites, said central unit generating a safety code based on the stored measured values, and performance or nonperformance of the one test, from all of the plurality of gas measuring devices, said safety code identifying a safety situation of the different parts of the operating area;

an output device connected to said central unit, said output device receiving and displaying the safety code and informing an operator of the safety situation in the predetermined operating area.

2. An arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said mounting sites perform both the calibration test and the bump test;

said each gas measuring device cooperating with said respective mounting site to perform both tests, said each gas measuring device having a separate desired interval between the both tests, said each gas measuring device recording test data indicating performance or nonperformance of the both tests at the desired intervals;

said central unit determines the safety code from a weighted addition of the measured values of the gas concentration and a number of non-performed bump tests and calibration tests of all said gas measuring devices.

3. An arrangement in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said central unit determines the safety code as a numerical value with a range from zero at one end of the range with the other end being upwardly opened, the numerical value of zero for the safety code indicating a safe value and higher numbers being less safe.

4. An arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the stored measured values include information regarding a duration of gas concentrations exceeding a gas concentration limit value, said central unit also determines the safety code from the duration of gas concentrations exceeding a gas concentration limit value.

5. A method for determining a safety situation of an operating area with respect to gas, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of gas measuring devices, each of said gas measuring devices comprising at least one gas sensor measuring at least one gas concentration;

selectively moving the plurality of gas measuring devices through different parts of an operating area;

operating the plurality of gas measuring devices in the different parts of the operating area to measure gas concentrations in the respective different parts of the operating area;

providing a plurality of mounting sites configured to perform one of a calibration test and a bump test with a test gas, the calibration test with the test gas determining calibration parameters, the bump test being more rapid than the calibration test, the mounting sites being spaced from each other;

performing the one of the calibration test and bump test with the test gas of a respective one of the plurality of mounting sites, the each gas measuring device having a desired interval between the one test, the each gas measuring device generating test data indicating performance or nonperformance of the one test at one of the desired intervals;

transmitting the test data and the stored measured values to a central unit;

generating a safety code based on the stored measured values, and performance or nonperformance of the one test, from all of the plurality of gas measuring devices, said safety code identifying a safety situation of the different parts of the operating area;

displaying the safety code;

operating the operating area as a function of the safety code.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, further comprising an acceleration sensor in said plurality of gas measuring devices for detecting accelerations acting on the gas-measuring device.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the gas-measuring device is designed to generate new data upon receiving a reset signal.

8. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said plurality of gas measuring devices are designed to generate data that contains at least one of:

an identification number of the gas-measuring device; and

model number of the gas-measuring device; and

gas concentration measured data detected with the gas sensor within a use interval of the gas-measuring device; and

an operating time, especially use interval duration, of the gas-measuring device; and

acceleration values detected with an acceleration sensor within a use interval of the gas-measuring device; and

a user identification number for identifying a user of the gas-measuring device.