GB2472027A

GB2472027A - Air pressure safety controller for inflatable bag, stopper, bladder or pneumatic flap valve system used for sealing pipes etc for containing spills etc

Info

Publication number: GB2472027A
Application number: GB0912679A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Morrie Back
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-22
Filing date: 2009-07-22
Publication date: 2011-01-26
Also published as: GB0912679D0

Abstract

An air safety system controller 7 that applies, monitors, records and alarms through the analysis of the pressure created by a small volume of air generated by an electrical pump 4 and injected into the feed line 3 of an inflatable bag, stopper, bladder, non-return valves 1 inflation system, located within a drain, gully, duct, pipe, etc, for the purpose of closing of the drain, etc in the event of a spill, fire, smoke, flood or fire water, to contain the flow and or to allow service. Alarm outputs would be automatically generated via sounders 8, signal lamps 9, low power radio 11, SMS text or GPRS 10. The system also is capable of battery operation 6 which it self monitors and optionally operation via a solar panel 13. This controller 7 also includes compensation for atmospheric pressure variations 5b and temperature 15 and would be able to service a single or multiple inflation systems within its physical reach and signal other alarm systems via relay 12.

Description

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Air Pressure Safety Controller This invention relates to an air pressure safety controller that automatically monitors and alarms through the analysis of air pressure within a feed line, the integrity of a pneumatic air system that automatically inflates bags, stoppers, bladders or pneumatic non-return valves for the purpose of closing off drains, sewers, pipes, gullies or ducts to contain spills, pollution, smoke, fire, floods, fire water, etc. Normally the items listed are pre-mounted in an un-inflated state away from the normal flow within the drain, gully, sewer, pipe or duct, etc. and are inflated only when the drain, etc, has to be sealed off in an emergency or for service. However, if the bag, stopper, bladder or the air delivery pipe should develop a leak there is no way of knowing this until it is too late and the inflation process fails.

Testing for leakage of the bag, stopper, bladder, pneumatic flap valve or air feed line by full operation on a regular basis is undesirable as this requires human intervention to firstly inspect that the bag has inflated, then a period of time is required up to an hour to examine for slow leaks and finally and most critically at the end of the test the bags, bladders, stoppers or valves, etc, have to be correctly deflated anlor re-folded back out of the way of the flow, this requires inspection.

In many critical applications such as spill, flood, smoke, fire, pollution and fire water containment, failure due to air leakage can be serious, however, for the above reasons regular testing is very expensive in terms of labour and disruption of operating sites.

Also on a number of sites casual entry into the drainage system for inspection is actually prohibited under the Confined Space Regulations.

Regular full testing also has its weaknesses in that the test result is only valid up until the point that the test was conducted, thereafter if a fault develops this can go un-detected until the next scheduled test or an incident.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes addition of a controller within the system that applies a small volume of air to the system, just sufficient to fill the system with a positive pressure above atmosphere yet below the point where pressure is sufficient for inflation of the bags, stoppers or bladders or the actuation of a pneumatic non-return valve. The pressure is constantly monitored by means of an electronic transducer within the controller and corrected for atmospheric pressure variations, temperature and normal long term drift with time. The job of the controller is then to determine if a leak has occurred or is developing, its magnitude and importance raising an alarm as is necessary by a variety of means including an internal relay contact, electronic switching device, optional low power radio message, a sounder, optional optical fibre communication, a signal lamp or optional SMS text message.

Preferably, the controller would be manufactured to operate at very low quiescent current levels permitting operation from batteries and/or solar panels.

Preferably, the controller would be manufactured from materials such that also it can be used in areas where there is risk of explosion due to flammable gases or liquids. * 2

Preferably, the controller would be manufactured from materials whereby it can be mounted outdoors in harsh environments.

Preferably, the controller would be able to send alarm messages by any means of wireless communications such as low power radio, GPRS or SMS text messaging.

Preferably, the controller would self learn / self calibrate itself as the required normal level of air required above which an alarm level would be set.

Preferably, the controller would create a log file with time and date for events.

Preferably, the controller would monitor the condition of its own battery andlor solar power source.

Preferably, the controller would be able to monitor more than one bag, stopper, bladder, pneumatic non-return valve, etc, attached to the same pump.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawing.

Fig 1: shows the controller plus the peripheral components that it interacts with to form a complete system. Inside the controller 7 there is a microcontroller device 7a that controls the functions hereafter described. The controller 7 switches on and off the electrical air pump 4 via electrical switching device 4a. The air pump 4 is connected to the inflatable bag, bladder, stopper or pneumatic non-return valve 1 via a length of air hose or pipe 2 into which a "1" connection 3 is inserted from which an air feedback line 5 goes directly back into the controller 7. Within the controller there is a pressure transducer 5a that measures air pressure within the feedback air line and a second transducer that measures atmospheric 5b pressure. The controller using the pressure readings from 5a and 5b automatically adjusts the pump 4 such than inflation or actuation in 1 is minimal and hence does not obstruct flow. The pressure achieved is then automatically monitored, logged and analysed by 7a against time.

Simultaneously, the controller's battery 6 is monitored via battery control circuit 6a along with the function of the optional solar panel 13 via the solar charge and regulator circuit 1 3a. If any system failure is detected ranging from excessive pressure leakage, high pressure, through to a low battery, an alarm is raised and the event is logged by the microcontroller 7a against the time stated by the real time clock 14. The event is notified as an audible alarm sound via 8 and a flashing light/s via 9.

Optionally, a message can be sent by the controller via SMS text or GPRS 10, low power radio 11 or to an external alarm circuit triggered via relay 12. To prevent false alarms the controller 7 includes a temperature sensor 15 and atmospheric air pressure compensation Sb.