Testing performance of gas monitors

• US 7,805,974 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Raevis; Robert R
• Application Number:
  US12/055,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20080173066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/1.06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/007 Arrangements to check the analyser calibrating gas analysers 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 capable of monitoring a toxic gas, comprising:

providing a gas sensor assembly capable of monitoring a toxic gas;

providing a fluid coupling apparatus;

applying a testing gas adjacent the 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;

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 and if the rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values does not exceed a second predefined rate-of-rise value.

2. 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.

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

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predefined rate-of-rise value if exceeded is indicative of a condition that the gas sensor assembly is not being validated.

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

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the specific concentration of testing gas would trigger a gas monitor alarm.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second predetermined rate-of-rise values define bounds of acceptable validating performance of the gas sensor assembly.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing gas comprises carbon monoxide.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the toxic gas comprises carbon monoxide.

10. A method of testing performance of a gas sensor assembly capable of monitoring a toxic gas, comprising:

providing a gas sensor assembly capable of monitoring a toxic gas;

providing a fluid coupling apparatus;

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;

applying a testing gas adjacent the 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.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the testing gas comprises carbon monoxide.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the testing time interval between obtaining the first and second reading values is no more than about 1 min.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the testing gas concentration is applied at a specific concentration value that would trigger a gas monitor alarm.

14. 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;

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 and if the rate-of-rise value of the first and second reading values does not exceed a second predefined rate-of-rise value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and the second predetermined rate-of-rise values define bounds of acceptable validating performance of a gas monitor apparatus.

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

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the testing time interval between obtaining the first and second reading values is no more than about 1 min.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the testing gas comprises carbon monoxide.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the testing gas concentration is applied at a specific concentration value that would trigger a gas monitor alarm.