Devices, systems and methods for testing of gas detectors

• US 20060156789A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bruce, Daniel E., Haverstick, Jon K., Frank, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,530,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.60
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0006 Calibrating gas analysers

Abstract

A testing module for use with a gas detector, includes a plurality of gas inlets and outlets, each outlet being in fluid connection with one of the inlets. Each of the outlets is adapted to mate with and form a fluid connection with one of the inlets of a second like testing module. Gases can then flow from the outlets of the testing module into the inlets of the second like testing module. A gas container module for use with a gas container, includes a plurality of gas inlets and outlets, each inlet being in fluid connection with one of the outlets. Each of the inlets is adapted to mate with and form a fluid connection with one of a the outlets on a second like gas container module. Gases can then flow from the outlets of the second like gas container module into the inlets of the gas container module.

Claims

1. A testing module for use with a gas detector, comprising:

a housing;

a seating connected to the housing and adapted to operably connect the gas detector to the testing module;

a plurality of gas inlets connected to the housing, each gas inlet adapted to pass a gas therethrough;

a plurality of gas outlets connected to the housing, each gas outlet being in fluid connection with one of the gas inlets; and

the plurality of gas outlets being configured on the housing in generally the same configuration as the plurality of inlets are configured on the housing and each of the plurality of outlets being adapted to mate with and form a fluid connection with one of a plurality of inlets of a second like testing module, wherein once such fluid connections are made, gases can flow from the outlets of the testing module into the inlets of the second like testing module.

2. The testing module of claim 1 wherein the testing module further comprises a communication system to receive information and to transmit information.

3. The testing module of claim 2 wherein the communication system is provided to transmit and receive communications between the testing module and the second like testing module when connected.

4. The testing module of claim 1 further comprising a data input system and a data output system.

5. The testing module of claim 1 further comprising a flow control system adapted to provide flow from at least one of the plurality of inlets to the gas detector.

6. The testing module of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inlets are configured in a generally linear configuration.

7. The testing module of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of inlets comprises a barbed connector.

8. A gas container module for use with a gas container, comprising:

a housing;

a seating connected to the housing and adapted to receive the gas container;

a plurality of gas inlets connected to the housing, each inlet adapted to pass a gas therethrough;

a plurality of gas outlets connected to the housing, each inlet being in fluid connection with one of the outlets; and

the plurality of inlets being configured on the housing in generally the same configuration as the plurality of outlets are configured on the housing and each of the plurality of inlets being adapted to mate with and form a fluid connection with one of a plurality of outlets on a housing of a second like gas container module, wherein once such fluid connections are made, gases can flow from the outlets of the second like gas container module into the inlets of the gas container module.

9. The gas container module of claim 8 further comprising a gas container conduit in fluid connection with one of the outlets at a first end, the gas container conduit being adapted to form a connection with the gas container at a second end thereof.

10. The gas container module of claim 9 further comprising a demand regulator in fluid connection with the second end of the gas container conduit.

11. The gas container module of claim 9 wherein there are at least X inlets I₁ through I_x and at least X+1 outlets O₁ though O_x+1, wherein the first end of the container conduit is in fluid connection with outlet O₁, and each inlet I_i is in fluid connection with outlet O_i+1.

12. The gas container module of claim 11 wherein there are at least two inlets I₁ and I₂ and at least three outlets O₁ through O₃, wherein the first end of the gas container conduit is in fluid connection with outlet O₁, inlet I₁ is in fluid connection with O₂ and inlet I₂ is in fluid connection with outlet O₃.

13. The gas container module of claim 12 wherein the outlet O₁ is adapted to mate with and form a fluid connection with inlet I₁′

of the second like gas container module and outlet O₂ is adapted to mate with and form a fluid connection with inlet I₂′

of the second like gas container module.

14. The gas container module of claim 13 further comprising a connector to mate with and form a connection with outlet O₃.

15. The gas container module of claim 12 further comprising an air inlet connected to the housing and being in fluid connection with an air outlet connected to the housing, the air inlet being adapted to mate and form a fluid connection with an air inlet of the second like gas container module.

16. The gas container module of claim 8 further comprising a communication system.

17. The gas container module of claim 16 further comprising a sensor in communicative connection with the communication system, the sensor being adapted to read data from the gas container.

18. The gas container module of claim 8 wherein the plurality of inlets are arranged in a series on a first section of the housing of the gas container module and the plurality of outlets are arranged in a series in a second section of the housing of the gas container module, the gas container module further comprising a container conduit in fluid connection with one of the outlets at a first end, the container conduit being adapted to form a connection with the gas container at a second end thereof, each of the plurality of inlets being in fluid connection with one of the plurality of outlets such that when a plurality of like gas container modules are connected in a series, a gas exiting each outlet is determined by a position in the series of gas container modules of the one of the gas container modules seating a corresponding gas container.

19. A gas detector testing system, comprising:

at least one testing module for use with a gas detector, comprising;

a testing module housing

a seating connected to the testing module housing and adapted to operably connect the gas detector to the testing module;

a plurality of inlets connected to the testing module housing, each inlet adapted to pass a gas therethrough;

a plurality of outlets connected to the testing module housing, each outlet being in fluid connection with one of the gas inlets; and

the plurality of outlets being configured on the testing module housing in generally the same configuration as the plurality of inlets are configured on the testing module housing and each of the plurality of outlets being adapted to mate with and form a fluid connection with one of a plurality of inlets of a second like testing module, wherein once such fluid connections are made, gases can flow from the outlets of the testing module into the inlets of the second like testing module; and

at least one gas container module for use with a gas container, comprising;

a gas container module housing;

a seating connected to the gas container module housing and adapted to receive the gas container;

a plurality of gas inlets connected to the gas container module housing, each gas inlet adapted to pass a gas therethrough;

a plurality of gas outlets connected to the gas container module housing, each gas inlet being in fluid connection with one of the gas outlets; and

the plurality of gas inlets being configured on the gas container housing in generally the same configuration as the plurality of gas outlets are configured on the gas container housing and each of the plurality of gas inlets being adapted to mate with and form a fluid connection with one of a plurality of gas outlets on a gas container housing of a second like gas container module, wherein once such fluid connections are made, gases can flow from the gas outlets of the second like gas container module into the gas inlets of the gas container module;

the plurality of inlets of the testing module being configured on the testing module housing in generally the same configuration as the plurality of gas outlets are configured on the gas container module housing and each of the plurality of inlets of the testing module being adapted to mate with and form a fluid connection with one of the gas outlets of the gas container module, wherein once such fluid connections are made, gases can flow from the gas outlets of the gas container module into the inlets of the testing module.