Gas Monitor, System and Method

• US 20150145685A1
• Filed: 10/06/2014
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strata Products Worldwide, LLC (Strata Worldwide Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Strata Products Worldwide, LLC (Strata Worldwide Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Michaud, Tom, Berube, Michael, Dunkin, Brian, Hakins, David W., Bertosh, Michael W., Albinger, Robert E., Lawler, Cody T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,089,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/632
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A monitor for gases and a mine includes a housing. The monitor includes a battery disposed in the housing. The monitor includes a gas sensor portion powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery which detects a first gas and at least a second gas different from the first gas in the mine. The monitor includes an alarm portion disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery which emits a visual alert and an audible alert when the gas sensor portion senses that either the first or second gas is above a predetermined threshold. The monitor includes a wireless communication portion disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery and the sensor portion, which sends a wireless signal from the housing that the gas sensor portion has sensed of either the first or second gas. The monitor includes a processor disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the wireless communication portion, alarm portion, sensor portion and battery. Alternatively, the monitor includes a terminal portion that has two states, an output configuration state in which an output signal is sent from the processor to a first device, and an input configuration state in which an input signal is received from a second device. A method for monitoring gases in a mine. A system for monitoring gases underground. A method and a system for communicating in a mine. A miner communicator. A method for communicating with a minor. A system for monitoring gases on an oil or gas rig. A remote station. A miner apparatus. A method for a miner. A method for a miner to move through a mine.

Claims

1. A monitor of a communication network for gases in a mine comprising:

a housing;

a battery disposed in the housing;

a gas sensor portion powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery which detects a first gas and at least a second gas different from the first gas in the mine;

an alarm portion disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery which emits a visual alert and an audible alert when the gas sensor portion senses that either the first or second gas is above a predetermined threshold;

a wireless communication portion disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery and the sensor portion, which sends a wireless signal from the housing to the network in the mine that the gas sensor portion has sensed of either the first or second gas; and

a processor disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the wireless communication portion, alarm portion, sensor portion and battery.

2. The monitor of claim 1 wherein the gas sensor portion includes a full range by volume between zero and 100% methane sensor and the wireless communication portion transmits wirelessly from the housing a methane value of methane in the mine sensed by the sensor portion.

3. The monitor of claim 1 wherein the gas sensor portion includes a carbon monoxide sensor and a H2S sensor and the wireless communication portion transmits wirelessly from the housing a carbon monoxide value of carbon in the mine sensed by the sensor portion and an H2S value of H2S in the mine sensed by the sensor portion.

4. The monitor of claim 1 wherein the processor receives a gas value signal from the gas sensing portion and converts the gas value signal into a converted signal form of the gas value which can be sent wirelessly by the communication portion from the housing.

5. The monitor of claim 1 wherein the communication portion includes a transceiver in communication with the processor.

6. The monitor of claim 5 wherein the communication portion includes an amplifier with an internal antenna in communication with the transceiver.

7. The monitor of claim 6 wherein the processor provides the converted signal form of the gas value to the transceiver which then transmits the converted signal form of the gas value wirelessly through the amplifier and the internal antenna from the housing.

8. The monitor of claim 1 wherein the alarm portion includes a visual alarm and an audible alarm and the processor receives an alarm signal from the gas sensor portion and activates the visual alarm and the audible alarm based on the alarm signal.

9. A monitor of a communication network for gases in a mine comprising:

a housing;

a battery disposed in the housing;

a gas sensor portion powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery which detects a first gas and at least a second gas different from the first gas in the mine;

a wireless communication portion disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery and the sensor portion, which sends a wireless signal from the housing to the network in the mine that the gas sensor portion has sensed of either the first or second gas;

at least one input for connection to a remote device which provides a status signal regarding the remote device which is transmitted by the wireless communication portion from the detector; and

a processor disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the wireless communication portion, the input, sensor portion and battery.

10. A method for monitoring gases in a mine comprising the steps of:

detecting with a gas sensor portion a first gas and at least a second gas different from the first gas in the mine, the gas sensor portion powered by a battery and in electrical communication with the battery, the gas sensor portion and the battery disposed in the housing;

emitting with an alarm portion powered by the battery, disposed in the housing and in electrical communication with the battery a visual alert and an audible alert when the gas sensor portion senses that either the first or second gas is above a predetermined threshold; and

sending with a wireless communication portion disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery and the sensor portion a wireless signal from the housing that the gas sensor portion has sensed either the first or second gas.

11. A monitor of a communication network for gases in a mine comprising:

a housing;

a battery disposed in the housing;

a gas sensor portion powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery which detects a first gas and at least a second gas different from the first gas in the mine;

a terminal portion that has two states, an output configuration state in which an output signal is sent from the processor to a first device, and an input configuration state in which an input signal is received from a second device;

a wireless communication portion disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the battery and the sensor portion, which sends a wireless signal from the housing to the network in the mine that the gas sensor portion has sensed of either the first or second gas; and

a processor disposed in the housing, powered by the battery and in electrical communication with the wireless communication portion, alarm portion, sensor portion and battery.

12. A system for monitoring gases underground comprising:

a monitor which detects a gas located in a tunnel underground and determines a gas value of the gas, the monitor having an audio alarm and a visual alarm which is activated what the detected gas is above a predetermined value, and a transceiver which transmits the gas value;

a wireless telecommunications network in the tunnel on which the gas value is transmitted from the monitor; and

a remote station which receives the gas value from the network.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the transceiver receives a signal from the network to change a set point for an alarm condition for the gas to be determined by the monitor.

14. A system for monitoring gases on an oil or gas rig comprising:

a monitor which detects a gas at the rig and determines a gas value of the gas, the monitor having an audio alarm and a visual alarm which is activated when the detected gas is above a predetermined value, and a transceiver which transmits the gas value;

a wireless telecommunications network on which the gas value is transmitted from the monitor, and

a remote station which receives the gas value from the network.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the remote station includes a receiver which receives the gas value from the network, a processor in communication with the receiver which receives the gas value from the receiver, and a display in communication with the processor on which the processor displays an alarm indication when the gas value is above a predetermined level.

16. A remote station which receives gas values of gas monitors from a wireless network comprising:

a receiver which receives the gas values wirelessly from the network;

a processor in communication with the receiver which receives the gas values from the receiver, and

a display in communication with the processor on which the processor displays an alarm indication when the gas value is above a predetermined level.

17. The station of claim 16 including a housing and the processor and the receiver are disposed in the housing and the display is disposed on a face of the housing.