Self-testing combustible gas and hydrogen sulfide detection apparatus
First Claim
1. An automated testing apparatus for detection of a chemical substance, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a detector having a sensor operable to detect the presence of a chemical substance;
(b) a storage container for storing a testing material;
(c) a burst valve assembly in fluid communication with the storage container, the burst valve assembly comprising a burst valve, the burst valve operable to control an amount of the testing material releasable from the storage container through the burst valve assembly such that the burst valve assembly is operable to deliver a quantity of the testing material through the burst valve assembly, the burst valve assembly being positioned in relation to the sensor such that the burst valve assembly is operable to deliver the quantity of testing material in close proximity to the sensor, such that the testing material can be detected by the sensor;
(d) a testing control module in communication with the burst valve assembly, and the Detector, the testing control module operable to provide a signal to activate the burst valve and to initiate flow of the testing material from the storage container through the burst valve assembly;
(e) a local user interface panel in communication with the testing control module, and proximate to the sensor so that the local user interface panel is exposed to environmental conditions at the sensor, the local user interface panel having an indicator selected from the group consisting of a failed test indicator, warning condition indicator, critical condition indicator, and combinations thereof;
(f) a supplemental storage container in fluid communication with the storage container and the burst valve assembly, the supplemental storage container operable to reduce the pressure exerted on the burst valve assembly due to the testing material; and
(g) a field connector, wherein the supplemental storage container further comprises outer threads and a seat, the field connector having inner threads that are operable to engage the outer threads on the supplemental storage container, such that when the inner threads engage with the outer threads, a threaded connection is formed between supplemental storage container and the field connector, wherein the threaded connection is operable to cause a downward force to be exerted on the storage container, such that the storage container engages with the seat and forms the fluid communication with the supplemental storage container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated testing apparatus for remotely performing a testing sequence to ensure that a sensor is functioning. The apparatus can include a detector, a storage container, a burst valve in fluid communication with the storage container, a testing control module in communication with the storage container and the burst valve, and a remote user interface remotely located from the detector. Preferably, the automated testing apparatus can simplify the testing procedure, increase the frequency of sensor testings, thereby notifying operations of sensor failures in a more timely fashion without the need for an operator to check the sensor locally.
54 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An automated testing apparatus for detection of a chemical substance, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a detector having a sensor operable to detect the presence of a chemical substance; (b) a storage container for storing a testing material; (c) a burst valve assembly in fluid communication with the storage container, the burst valve assembly comprising a burst valve, the burst valve operable to control an amount of the testing material releasable from the storage container through the burst valve assembly such that the burst valve assembly is operable to deliver a quantity of the testing material through the burst valve assembly, the burst valve assembly being positioned in relation to the sensor such that the burst valve assembly is operable to deliver the quantity of testing material in close proximity to the sensor, such that the testing material can be detected by the sensor; (d) a testing control module in communication with the burst valve assembly, and the Detector, the testing control module operable to provide a signal to activate the burst valve and to initiate flow of the testing material from the storage container through the burst valve assembly; (e) a local user interface panel in communication with the testing control module, and proximate to the sensor so that the local user interface panel is exposed to environmental conditions at the sensor, the local user interface panel having an indicator selected from the group consisting of a failed test indicator, warning condition indicator, critical condition indicator, and combinations thereof; (f) a supplemental storage container in fluid communication with the storage container and the burst valve assembly, the supplemental storage container operable to reduce the pressure exerted on the burst valve assembly due to the testing material; and (g) a field connector, wherein the supplemental storage container further comprises outer threads and a seat, the field connector having inner threads that are operable to engage the outer threads on the supplemental storage container, such that when the inner threads engage with the outer threads, a threaded connection is formed between supplemental storage container and the field connector, wherein the threaded connection is operable to cause a downward force to be exerted on the storage container, such that the storage container engages with the seat and forms the fluid communication with the supplemental storage container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An automated testing apparatus for detection of a chemical substance, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a detector having a sensor operable to detect the presence of a chemical substance; (b) a storage container for storing a testing material; (c) a burst valve assembly in fluid communication with the storage container, the burst valve assembly comprising a three-way burst valve, the three-way burst valve operable to control an amount of the testing material releasable from the storage container through the burst valve assembly such that the burst valve assembly is operable to deliver a quantity of the testing material through the burst valve assembly, the burst valve assembly being positioned in relation to the sensor such that the burst valve assembly is operable to deliver the quantity of testing material in close proximity to the sensor, such that the testing material can be detected by the sensor; (d) a testing control module in communication with the burst valve assembly and the detector, and in fluid communication with the three-way burst valve so that the testing control module can monitor pressure within the storage container, the testing control module operable to provide a signal to activate the three-way burst valve and to initiate flow of the testing material from the storage container through the burst valve assembly; (e) a remote user interface remotely located from the detector so that the remote user interface is not exposed to environmental conditions at the detector, the remote user interface in communication with the testing control module, wherein the remote user interface is operable to receive a detection signal from the testing control module and output a discernible signal that is operable to indicate whether the sensor is functioning; (f) a supplemental storage container in fluid communication with the storage container and the burst valve assembly, the supplemental storage container operable to reduce the pressure exerted on the burst valve assembly due to the testing material; and (g) a field connector, wherein the supplemental storage container further comprises outer threads and a seat, the field connector having inner threads that are operable to engage the outer threads on the supplemental storage container, such that when the inner threads engage with the outer threads, a threaded connection is formed between supplemental storage container and the field connector, wherein the threaded connection is operable to cause a downward force to be exerted on the storage container, such that the storage container engages with the seat and forms the fluid communication with the supplemental storage container. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An automated testing apparatus for detection of a chemical substance, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a detector having a sensor operable to detect the presence of a chemical substance; (b) a storage container for storing a testing material; (c) a burst valve assembly in fluid communication with the storage container, the burst valve assembly comprising a burst valve, the burst valve operable to control an amount of the testing material releasable from the storage container through the burst valve assembly such that the burst valve assembly is operable to deliver a quantity of the testing material through the burst valve assembly, the burst valve assembly being positioned in relation to the sensor such that the burst valve assembly is operable to deliver the quantity of testing material in close proximity to the sensor, such that the testing material can be detected by the sensor; (d) a testing control module in communication with the burst valve assembly, and the detector the testing control module operable to provide a signal to activate the burst valve and to initiate flow of the testing material from the storage container through the burst valve assembly; and (e) a remote user interface remotely located from the detector, the remote user interface in communication with the testing control module, wherein the remote user interface is operable to receive a detection signal from the testing control module and output a discernible signal that is operable to indicate whether the sensor is functioning; (f) a supplemental storage container in fluid communication with the storage container and the burst valve assembly, the supplemental storage container operable to reduce the pressure exerted on the burst valve assembly due to the testing material; and (g) a field connector, wherein the supplemental storage container further comprises outer threads and a seat, the field connector having inner threads that are operable to engage the outer threads on the supplemental storage container, such that when the inner threads engage with the outer threads, a threaded connection is formed between supplemental storage container and the field connector, wherein the threaded connection is operable to cause a downward force to be exerted on the storage container, such that the storage container engages with the seat and forms the fluid communication with the supplemental storage container.
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26. An automated testing apparatus for detection of a chemical substance, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a detector having a sensor operable to detect the presence o a chemical substance; (b) a storage container for storing a testing material; (c) a burst valve assembly in fluid communication with the storage container, the burst valve assembly comprising a burst valve, the burst valve operable to control an amount of the testing material releasable from the storage container through the burst valve assembly such that the burst valve assembly is operable to deliver a quantity of the testing material through the burst valve assembly, the burst valve assembly being positioned in relation to the sensor such that the burst valve assembly is operable to deliver the quantity of testing material in close proximity to the sensor, such that the testing material can be detected by the sensor; (d) a testing control module in communication with the burst valve assembly and the detector, the testing control module operable to provide a signal to activate the burst valve and to initiate flow of the testing material from the storage container through the burst valve assembly; (e) a local user interface panel in communication with the resting control module, and proximate to the sensor so that the local user interface, panel is exposed to environmental conditions at the sensor, the local user interface panel having an indicator selected from the group consisting of a failed test indicator, warning condition indicator, critical condition indicator, and combinations thereof; (f) means for measuring the pressure of the testing material within the storage container; and (g) means for calculating the amount of testing material flowing through the burst valve assembly based on the amount of time the burst valve is in an open position and the pressure difference of the storage container between a closed position and the open position of the burst valve.
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Specification