Gas monitor testing apparatus, method, and system

• US 7,497,108 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aerionics
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Scheffler, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US11/551,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20080092624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 73/10.1, 73/10.2, 73/10.6, 73/10.7, 73/232, 73/310.5
• US Class Current: 73/23.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 CO or CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/007 Arrangements to check the analyser calibrating gas analysers G01N33/0006
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0072 by generating a test gas

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 fluid coupling apparatus that comprises:

a body removably couplable to the gas monitor so as to be at least partially positioned interior of the gas monitor housing when coupled thereto; and

a fluid passageway carried by the body and having the gas delivery opening for delivering testing gas directly to the gas sensor interior of the gas monitor when coupled thereto.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas delivery opening is generally aligned with the gas sensor when the body is coupled.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid passageway is formed internally of the body.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fluid passageway has a second opening that is located exterior of the gas monitor when the body is coupled, whereby the body is couplable to a source of testing gas.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the body has a tube barb that defines the second opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body has a recess portion constructed to facilitate spacing of the gas delivery opening relative to the gas sensor and to avoid sealing of the gas delivery opening by providing a gap.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the recess portion includes a ramp portion that is adapted to avoid jamming of the gas sensor against the body, and to provide a gap between the gas delivery opening and the gas sensor to avoid sealing of the gas delivery opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body has a portion carrying at least one projection thereon adapted to engage a surface of the gas monitor for limiting displacement of the body relative to the gas monitor housing and for facilitating coupling of the body to the gas monitor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body includes at least a first stop segment adapted to engage a surface of the gas monitor for limiting displacement of the body relative to the gas monitor housing and for facilitating coupling of the body to the gas monitor, and for aligning the gas delivery opening relative to the gas sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the body includes at least another stop segment adapted to engage an interior portion of the gas monitor for at least limiting rotational displacement of the body relative to the gas monitor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body further includes a recess formed intermediate the length thereof adjacent a portion of the fluid passageway for receiving the testing gas from the fluid passageway, and being adjacent the gas delivery opening whereby the testing gas can travel to the gas delivery opening;

and, a gas sealing member seals the recess to ensure that testing gas does not leak and ensuring that the testing gas flows to the gas delivery opening.

12. the gas monitor system comprising:

the gas monitor apparatus;

a fluid coupling apparatus for fluidly coupling a source of testing gas to the gas monitor apparatus;

the gas monitor apparatus includes an enclosure; and

, an electronic control assembly within the enclosure;

the electronic control assembly including the gas sensor for providing readings of gas proximate thereto;

the fluid coupling apparatus including a body removably couplable to the gas monitor apparatus and at least partially positioned interior of the enclosure when coupled thereto; and

, a fluid passageway carried by the body and having an opening for delivering the testing gas directly to the gas sensor.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the gas delivery opening is generally aligned with the gas sensor when the body is coupled.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the body includes at least a first stop segment adapted to engage a surface of the gas monitor for limiting displacement of the body relative to the enclosure and for facilitating coupling of the body to the gas monitor and alignment of the gas delivery opening relative to the gas sensor.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the body includes at least another stop segment adapted to engage an interior portion of the gas monitor for at least limiting rotational displacement of the body relative to the gas monitor.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the fluid passageway is formed internally of the body.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the fluid passageway has a second opening that is located exterior of the monitor when the body is coupled.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the body has a tube barb that defines the second opening.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the body has a recess portion constructed to facilitate spacing of the gas delivery opening relative to the gas sensor and to avoid sealing of the gas delivery opening by providing a gap.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the recess portion includes a ramp portion that is adapted to avoid jamming of the gas sensor against the body, and to provide the gap between the gas delivery opening and the gas sensor and to avoid sealing of the gas delivery opening by providing the gap.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the body has a portion carrying at least one projection thereon adapted to engage a surface of the enclosure for limiting displacement of the body relative to the enclosure and for facilitating coupling of the body to the gas monitor.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the body further includes a recess formed intermediate the length thereof adjacent a portion of the fluid passageway for receiving the testing gas from the fluid passageway, and being adjacent the gas delivery opening whereby the testing gas can travel to the gas delivery opening;

and, a gas sealing member seals the recess to insure that the testing gas does not leak and insuring the testing gas flows to the gas delivery opening.

23. A method of testing the gas monitor, which method comprises:

providing the gas monitor apparatus that includes an enclosure, and the gas sensor within the enclosure;

providing a fluid coupling apparatus for fluidly coupling a source of testing gas to the gas monitor;

coupling the fluid coupling apparatus to the gas monitor apparatus so as to be at least partially within the enclosure and proximate the gas sensor; and

,

applying testing gas to the gas sensor from the fluid coupling apparatus so that testing gas is applied directly to the gas sensor.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein providing the fluid coupling includes providing a body removably couplable to the gas monitor apparatus so as to be positioned at least partially interior of the enclosure when coupled thereto, and, a fluid passageway carried by the body and having an opening aligned with gas sensor for delivering testing gas directly to the gas sensor interior of the enclosure.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the applying of testing gas includes coupling a tube from the source of testing gas to the body.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the coupling includes aligning the opening of the fluid passageway relative to the gas sensor and in spaced relationship thereto.

27. A test kit comprising:

at least one tubing element; and

, a fluid coupling apparatus adapted to couple a source of testing gas to the gas monitor;

the fluid coupling apparatus including a body removably couplable to the gas monitor so as to be positioned at least partially interior of the gas monitor housing when coupled thereto; and

, a fluid passageway carried by the body and having an opening for delivering testing gas directly to the gas sensor interior of the gas monitor when coupled thereto.

28. The test kit of claim 27, further comprising:

a regulator to be coupled to the tubing element; and

, a gas canister as the source of testing gas.

29. The test kit of claim 28, wherein the body includes at least a first stop segment adapted to engage surface of the gas monitor for limiting displacement of the body relative to the gas monitor housing, for facilitating coupling of the body to the gas monitor, and for aligning the gas delivery opening relative to the gas sensor.

30. The test kit of claim 29, wherein the body includes at least another stop segment adapted to engage an interior portion of the gas monitor for at least limiting rotational displacement to the body relative to the gas monitor.

31. The test kit of claim 27, wherein the gas delivery opening is generally aligned with the gas sensor when the body is coupled.

32. The test kit of claim 27, wherein the fluid passageway is formed internally of the body.

33. The test kit of claim 32, wherein the fluid passageway has a second opening that is located exterior of the gas monitor when the body is coupled so as to be coupled to the source or testing gas.

34. The test kit of claim 33, wherein the body has a tube barb that defines the second opening.

35. The test kit of claim 27, wherein the body has a recess portion constructed to facilitate spacing of the gas delivery opening relative to the gas sensor and to avoid sealing of the gas delivery opening by providing a gap.

36. The test kit of claim 35, wherein the recess portion includes a ramp portion that is adapted to avoid jamming of the gas sensor against the body, and to provide the gap between the gas delivery opening and the gas sensor and to avoid sealing of the gas delivery opening by providing the gap.

37. The test kit of claim 27, wherein the body has a portion carrying at least one thereon adapted to engage a surface of the gas monitor for limiting displacement of the body relative to the gas monitor housing and for facilitating coupling of the body to the gas monitor.

38. The test kit of claim 27, wherein the body further includes a recess formed intermediate the length thereof adjacent a portion of the fluid passageway for receiving the testing gas from the fluid passageway, and being adjacent the gas delivery opening whereby the testing gas can travel to the gas delivery opening;

and, the gas sealing member seals the recess to ensure that the testing gas does not leak and ensuring it flows to the gas delivery opening.