TESTING PERFORMANCE OF GAS MONITORS

• US 20080173066A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Nanea, Cristian D., Scheffler, Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/007 Arrangements to check the analyser calibrating G01N33/0006

Abstract

Method, apparatus, and system are utilized for testing the performance of a gas monitor against predetermined monitor characteristics to determine if performance of the gas monitor is validated in a manner whereby testing gas is directly delivered to the gas sensor.

Claims

1. A method of testing performance of a gas sensor assembly, comprising:

providing a fluid coupling apparatus;

applying a testing gas adjacent a gas sensor assembly from the fluid coupling apparatus;

obtaining a first reading value of testing gas;

storing the first reading value;

obtaining a second gas sensor assembly reading value;

determining a rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values of the gas sensor based on a difference of the first and second reading values relative to a testing time interval therebetween; and

determining if a gas sensor assembly passing condition exists based on a comparison of the rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values to at least a first predefined rate-of-rise value of the gas sensor assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the passing condition exists if the rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values at least reaches the first predefined rate-of-rise value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the passing condition exists if the rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values does not exceed a second predefined rate-of-rise value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predefined rate-of-rise value if at least reached is indicative of a passing condition that validate operation of the gas sensor assembly.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing time interval is about 1 minute.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the second predefined rate-of-rise value if exceeded is indicative of a condition that the gas sensor assembly is not being validated.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a preliminary step of determining if a testing threshold value is obtained before applying the testing gas to obtain the first reading value, which testing threshold value is a minimum value for which the gas sensor assembly is validated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing gas concentration is applied at a specific concentration value associated to the gas sensor assembly.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second predetermined rate-of-rise values define bounds of acceptable validating performance of the gas sensor assembly.

10. A method of testing performance of a gas monitor apparatus, comprising:

providing a field test kit assembly;

applying a testing gas adjacent a gas monitor apparatus from the field test kit assembly;

obtaining a first reading value of testing gas;

storing the first reading value;

obtaining a second reading value of testing gas;

determining a rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values based on a difference of the first and second reading values relative to a testing time interval therebetween; and

determining if a gas monitor apparatus passing condition exists based on a comparison of the rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values to at least a first predefined rate-of-rise value of a gas monitor apparatus.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the passing condition exists if the rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values at least reaches the first predefined rate-of-rise value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the passing condition exists if the rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values does not exceed a second predefined rate-of-rise value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and the second predetermined rate-of-rise values define bounds of acceptable validating performance of a gas monitor apparatus.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the first and the second predetermined rate-of-rise values include a safety factor.

15. A method of testing performance of a gas monitor apparatus, comprising:

selecting a testing gas concentration;

applying a testing gas having the selected concentration adjacent a gas monitor apparatus;

obtaining a first reading value of testing gas;

storing the first reading value;

obtaining a second reading value of testing gas;

determining a rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values based on a difference of the first and second reading values relative to a testing time interval therebetween; and

determining if a gas monitor apparatus passing condition exists based on a comparison of the rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values to at least a first predefined rate-of-rise value of a gas monitor apparatus.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected concentration of testing gas would trigger a gas monitor alarm.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the testing time interval between obtaining the first and second reading values is no more than about 1 min.