GB2355831A

GB2355831A - Gas supply leak detection and control

Info

Publication number: GB2355831A
Application number: GB0019146A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Fox
Original assignee: A FOX SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: A FOX SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1999-08-06
Filing date: 2000-08-07
Publication date: 2001-05-02
Also published as: GB0019146D0; GB9918462D0

Abstract

A device and system for the detection of gas levels in an area is particularly well suited for use in domestic premises to avoid the build up of potentially poisonous and harmful gases in the premises. The system allows for the detection at regular intervals of gas levels and/or constituents in an area via one or more gas sensors mounted in the area, and then compares the results with predesignated parameters. If the detected gas levels or constituents exceed the parameters, then control means 12 are activated to close the supply 8 of gas into the area. Audible or visual alarms 16 can also be generated, and signalled to a remote location 18.

Description

2355831 Gas Detection Device The invention which is the subject of this

application is a device and system for the detection of gas and a means for preventing the continuous supply of said gas if the detection indicates a certain level or quantity of gas in the area. It is envisaged that the system is particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, useful in relatively enclosed areas of a domestic premises such as kitchens, garages,, caravans or the like where a build-up of gas which is poisonous to humans can be potentially fatal.

In many premises, such as houses, caravans, garages, there is at least one gas appliance or an appliance which generates a gas which can be released into the area. Many appliances use natural gas which is supplied to the premises from a mains supply and a particular risk to occupants of the premises is that poisoning can occur if, for example, the appliances do not operate correctly, or there is a leakage of the gas or so on. If this occurs and is not detected, the r6sults can range from headaches, dizziness, sleepiness through to brain damage and even death through prolonged or excessive exposure.

At the present time, and due to increased publicity of these problems, it is possible to obtain indicators which provide a visual, and/or audible indication if a particular gas or mixture of gases level is greater than a predetermined safety level. These devices do provide a valuable indication but have one main problem in that they cannot themselves prevent the continued generation of the dangerous gas in the area and so do not act in any way to reduce the level of gas. For this to happen, the person or persons at risk have to be able to view or hear the alarm, and then take action and while this may be an obvious step for a person in normal conditions, the occurrence of panic and/or disorientation of able bodied persons, 2 and for persons who are old, infirm, or perhaps unable to look after themselves properly, can mean that the task of preventing further generation of gas may be difficult or indeed impossible.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device and system which allows for the detection of levels of gas or gases in an area and, if the level exceeds a predetermined level, to take action to prevent the further generation of said gas or gases.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for the detection and control of gas or gases in an area in which the device is located, said device comprising a sensing means for detecting the level of a gas or gases in the area, a comparison means for comparing the detected gas level and /or gas constituents with predesignated gas parameters and control means for controlling the supply of gas into the area and/or to appliances in the area and wherein said means is responsive to the comparison of detected and predesignated gas parameters so that if the detected gas parameters differ from the predesignated gas parameters, the control means closes the supply of gas to the area.

The comparison which occurs can be with respect to levels of certain gases and/or the presence of certain gases.

Typically, the control means for the gas supply will normally be in an open condition to allow the use of appliances connected thereto and it is only when the gas level which is detected is greater than a predesignated gas level, that the control means will be moved to a closed position thereby preventing the further supply of gas into the area or appliances and hence preventing the further generation of gas into the area. It is envisaged that the predesignated gas level will be such that detected gas levels below the same are safe for humans and any gas levels above the same is increasingly dangerous 3 to humans and where the generation of further gas when the gas level is exceeded, is not desirable.

In one embodiment, the control means is provided at the point of supply of gas into the area or to the premises in which the area is provided or, alternatively, a control means may be provided for each appliance in the area or premises so that if, for example, a number of appliances use gas, and it can be possible to determine which of the appliances is producing the gas into the area, a control means for that appliance can be moved to a closed position to prevent further gas entering the area but the remainder of the appliances can still be used as the control means for those appliances remain in an open position.

It is envisaged that in addition to the control means being moved to a closed position, an audible and/or visual alarm can be generated in the area and/or the premises. Yet further, in one embodiment, an alarm signal will be generated to a third party and/or a remote location. It is envisaged that this alarm will be sent via a telephone line and may be in the form of a pre-recorded message, e-mail or text message.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a system for the control of a gas supply into an area, said system comprising a, device mounted in the area which collects a sample of gas from the area at regular intervals, analyses the sample of gas to determine the gases present and the levels of the same, comparing the results with a predesignated set of gas parameters stored in a memory and said device can communicate with control means for the gas supply or supplies into the area such that if the detected results are outside the predesignated set of parameters the control means are rendered operable to shut off the supply or supplies of gas to the area.

4 It is envisaged that the air samples will be taken at intervals of for example 1 to 2 hours, and if the gas levels detected in the sample are below those of the predesignated levels then the control means for the gas supply will remain in an open position and allow normal operation of the gas appliance.

Typically there will be provided a number of sensing means at different locations in a premises each of which is provided to collect and analyse samples of air.

It is envisaged that the system and apparatus will also include means for inputting manual instructions so that the gas supply control means can be manually instructed to move to a closed position, to allow, for example maintenance of gas appliances to take place, and it may also be possible to cancel the alarm if the reason for the alarm is known to the person and is a false alarm.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 illustrates a device and system in accordance with the current invention.

The invention comprises a means for collecting a gas sample 2 in an. area in which the device is mounted. The sample is then analysed to identify the gases present and the levels of gases present.

The results of the analysis are then passed to a system control unit 4 and a comparison takes place between the detected gas data and predesignated gas parameters held in a memory in the system control unit. If the comparison indicates gas levels and constituents within the predesignated parameters then the gas supply 8 is allowed to pass to the appliances 10 in the area as normal. However if the gas levels or gases present exceed those predesignated parameters a signal 6 is sent via a communications link to a gas supply control means 12 which causes the same to move to a closed position and hence prevent a further supply of gas into the area or premises and prevent the use of appliances.

It is possible as an alternative that the gas supply control means are provided for each of the appliances so that the gas can still be supplied into the premises but one of the appliances may, for example, be shut down if it is identified by the control system as having gas being supplied thereto at that time and/or being the reason for the increase in gas levels. For this to occur it signals are received from each of the appliances which indicate the operation of the same at each instant.

The provision of a single control means to prevent the supply of any gas into the area or premises in general is the most practical option. In addition to sending a signal to the control means to close the gas supply, the system control unit may also generate a visual and/or audible alarm 16 and may also deliver a message to a remote party via a communications link such as a telephone line 18, to indicate what has happened. It is also possible that a manual input function will be provided, 14, which allows the manual input of control signals.

A plurality of sensor units can be provided as part of the system and device, each of which is capable of detecting a range of gases, including carbon monoxide at different locations in the area or premises. In an alternative embodiment each unit is calibrated equivalently to react to given tolerances, i.e. in parts per million of each gas. When a tolerance parameter is exceeded, the respective sensor unit can produce an audible alarm and transmit a signal to the system control unit. It is preferred that each sensor unit can 6 contain a self test function which simulates detection of gas so as to allow the checking of correct operation at regular intervals.

The system control unit constantly listens for signals from the sensor unit and it is preferred that the sensor units will be provided to detect a range of poisonous gases which may be produced by gas appliances. lt is also preferred that signals from the sensor units to the control system and to the gas supply control means will be sent by wireless communication and that each of the system control units and sensor units will be battery powered for independent operation.

Finally, it is of use to note that the device and system of the current application will be equally operable in respect of fixed or mains gas supplies to premises or, alternatively with relation to portable gas supplies from tanks or bottles.

7

Claims

1. A device for the detection and control of gas or gases in an area in which the device is located, said device comprising a sensing means for detecting the level of a gas or gases in the area, a comparison means for comparing the detected gas level and /or gas constituents with predesignated gas parameters and control means for controlling the supply of gas into the area and/or to appliances in the area and wherein said means is responsive to the comparison of detected and predesignated gas parameters so that if the detected gas parameters differ from the predesignated gas parameters, the control means closes the supply of gas to the area.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the control means for the gas supply is normally in an open condition to allow the use of appliances.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device comprises a plurality of sensor units in the area communicable with a system control unit.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the control means is provided at the point of entry of the supply of gas into the area monitored.

A device according to claim 1 wherein the control means is located at the point of entry of the gas supply into the premises in which the monitored area is located.

6 A device according to claim 1 wherein control means are provided for each gas supply to appliances in the area.

8 7 A device according to claim 6 wherein the control means detect gas flowing through the gas supply to which the same are connected, and upon detection of an excessive gas levels or gas constituents those control means which detect gas flow are operated to close the supply of gas.

8 A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein an audible and/or visual alarm is generated in the area and/or the premises upon the detected gas level or constituents exceeding the predesignated gas Parameters.

9 A device according to claim 8 wherein the device is connected by communication means to a remote location at which an audible and/or visual alarm can be generated..

A device according to any preceding claim wherein the control means can be moved to a closed position by a person manually entering an instruction into the device, regardless of the detected gas level.

11 A device according to claim 10 wherein the control means also asks as the control tap for the gas supply into the area.

12 A system for the control of a gas supply into an area, said system, comprising a device mounted in the area which collects a sample of gas from the area at regular intervals, analyses the sample of gas to determine the gases present and the levels of the same, comparing the results with a predesignated set of gas parameters stored in a memory and said device can communicate with control means for the gas supply or supplies into the area such that if the detected results are outside the predesignated set of parameters the control means are rendered operable to shut off the supply or supplies of gas to the area.

9 13 A system according to claim 12 wherein a number of sensing means are provided in different areas of a premises each of which is provided to collect and analyse samples of gas.

14 A device as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A system as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.