Modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring systems and devices

Devices, methods, and systems for a modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system are described herein. One modular monitoring unit, includes a base having a plurality of sampling tubes mounted thereon, at least one pump, and at least one detector module that is releasably attached to the base, wherein the pump draws air from one of the sampling tubes into a particulate sensing chamber within the detector module.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to modular devices and systems for aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring.

BACKGROUND

Some smoke detection systems have a number of sample points spaced around a building that are connected via sampling tubes to a remotely located single central detector apparatus that samples air taken from the sample points to determine if smoke or a fire is present in an area of the building. For example, such systems may be referred to as very early smoke detection apparatus (VESDA) systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring systems and devices. Embodiments of the present disclosure use tubes to sample air, smoke, and/or gas from locations in a building.

There are multiple embodiments of the system proposed. In one embodiment, a system has an individual air pump which draws air through the sampling tubes and/or through the sensing components of a detector module. In some embodiments, each detector module (which has two small tubes associated with it, in the embodiment shown inFIG.3A) can have one pump per sampling tube. In another embodiment, a system has a common pump which provides overall pumping to draw air through a plurality (e.g., all) of the sampling tubes.

In some embodiments, the system has detector modules that can be individually removed and/or replaced. This can be beneficial as individual modules can be selectively removed for maintenance or repair without having to disconnect the sampling tubes. In such embodiments, the sampling tubes can be connected to the base of the device (the device is also referred to as a unit herein) and the modules can have releasable connections to the connectors on the base that can be reconnected when a replacement module is positioned, thereby reconnecting the sampling tubes associated with the module to the replacement module.

In various embodiments, each module has an air filter associated with it. The filter traps contaminants drawn in through the sampled air. This reduces or prevents contaminants, such as dust, pollen, viruses, undesirable chemicals, and bacteria, from being circulated through a building.

In some implementations, the air filter is detachable and/or replaceable from the detector module without having to remove the detector module itself. This can be beneficial as the technician does not have to disassemble the detector module, saving timing and the possibility of an error occurring during reassembly.

For common pump embodiments: The pump can be a module which can be readily removed and replaced if it fails, without having to dismantle any other parts of the system.

The pump also can be a module which can be sized in power and air flow capacity to suit the number of tubes and the length of tubes connected to the pump. That is, different capacity pump modules can be plugged in to suit different installed tube configurations which saves cost and power.

In such an embodiment, there can be a common vacuum manifold running from the pump along the inside of the rear mounting of the module. This structure enables a common vacuum pump to engage simply without having to have individual pump vacuum connections going to each module.

These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice one or more embodiments of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that mechanical, electrical, and/or process changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing.

As used herein, “a”, “an”, or “a number of” something can refer to one or more such things, while “a plurality of” something can refer to more than one such things. For example, “a number of components” can refer to one or more components, while “a plurality of components” can refer to more than one component.

FIG.1is an illustration of a perspective view of a modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1, the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device100includes a base102onto which a number of detector modules104are attached thereto. The base102includes a number of components thereon. For example, the base includes a cable conduit112(large tube) that allows cabling to be routed through the interior of the conduit and connected to the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device via an aperture in the device.

The cable conduit112connects to a cable management module108portion of the base102. The cable management module108has a housing with a cover to keep connections for power and data communication to and from the device out of sight and secure from tampering. The cable conduit also provides those functions. In the embodiment ofFIG.1, the cable management module is located on the left side of the device, however, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited.

In the embodiment ofFIG.1, next to the cable management module is a communications module110. The communications module110includes an easy access reset button (316ofFIG.3) on the front. The communication module110also can include other operational buttons and/or dials within the housing and a cover (318ofFIG.3) to also keep them out of sight and secure from tampering. In some embodiments, the cover can be or have a portion that is at least partially translucent, allowing a technician to see the status of the buttons/dials (e.g., their current settings), so the technician can see their status, but the buttons/dials are not accessible to be tampered with.

In some embodiments, the covers of one or more modules of the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device can be secured such that they need to be removed by a tool (specialized tool carried by a technician). In this manner, it is likely that those wishing to tamper with the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device will not be able to access the internal components of the modules.

On the right side of the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device illustrated inFIG.1, a number of detector modules104-1. . .104-N (referred to generally as modules104) are provided. These detector modules each contain one or more sensors that sense one or more environmental elements in the sampled air moving through the one or more tubes connected to the detector. Sensors can, for example, detect particulate, such as smoke particles, or gases, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and/or detect other environmental elements that may indicate less than desirable air quality.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG.1, each detector104is connected to multiple channels/tubes114. The modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device embodiment illustrated inFIG.1also includes five detector modules104each having two channels, meaning this device can sample on ten channels, however the number of modules and/or channels per module is not so limited. The embodiment ofFIG.1also includes a mounting bracket150for mounting the device to a wall or rack.

FIG.2is an illustration of a top view of a modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2shows the cable conduit212mounted to the top of the base202behind the cable management module208and the multiple sampling tubes214connected to the top of the base202. In this embodiment, the tubes214are arranged such that the tubes are provided in pairs with each pair aligned with a detector module204. The embodiment ofFIG.2also includes a mounting bracket250that can be used to mount the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device to a wall or to a wall mounted rack, as illustrated inFIGS.4and8.

FIG.3Ais an illustration of a perspective view of a modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device with one of the detector modules removed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As inFIG.1,FIG.3Aalso shows the cable conduit312, the cable management module308and the communication module310, with reset button316and cover318.FIG.3Aalso provides a more detailed view of the interior components of the base as well as the detector module and its filter module/cover.

As shown inFIG.3A, the detector modules are independently removeable from the base302of system300. Each detector module also has a cover thereon that is removable. The cover can have a display320that indicates a status condition of the individual detector. In some embodiments, the cover can be a filter module as described in more detail below.

FIG.3Aalso illustrates that the base302can have a number of tube connections that connect the tubes314to its associated detector module and circuitry connections for providing connections for power and data transmission purposes of the components of the module, such as for sensing components and data collection. Similar connections are also shown on the front surface of the detector. These connections can be used for attachment of other modules that can be added on (e.g., gas sensing module and/or air quality module, added to a smoke sensing module) to the detector module. In the embodiment ofFIG.3Athe base302can include a pump to facilitate movement of air through the tubes314and through the modules304.FIG.3Aalso shows the mounting bracket350attached to the back side of the base302.

In some embodiments, each detector module can also have a filter that can be removed from the detector module without disassembling the detector module. Such functionality can thereby save the technician's time during maintenance of the system.

FIG.3Bis an illustration of a perspective view of a detector module of a modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG.3B, the module304has multiple particulate sensing chamber inlets324-1and324-2, multiple particulate sensing chambers328-1and328-2, multiple particulate sensing chamber outlets330-1and330-2, multiple flow sensing chamber inlets336-1and336-2, multiple flow sensing chambers338-1and338-2, and multiple flow sensing chamber outlets326-1and326-2. The embodiment ofFIG.3Balso shows the removable filter322having multiple inlets332-1and332-2and outlets334-1and334-2.

In use, the module304is connected, via inlets324and outlets326to corresponding inlet and outlet ports of the base302ofFIG.3A, such that the air to be tested can be communicated from tubes314to the module304. A first air sampling path is represented by components324-1,328-1,330-1,332-1,334-1,336-1,338-1, and326-1; while a second air sampling path is represented by components324-2,328-2,330-2,332-2,334-2,336-2,338-2, and326-2.

As can be understood from the layout of the module shown, in the embodiments ofFIGS.3A and3B, the module304including the filtering cap322can be used with air from two sampling tubes314. However, some embodiments may have more or less air sampling paths designed therein.

Each air sampling path draws air in from one of the tubes314and tests the air to see if it contains smoke, undesired chemicals, or a threshold level of particulate (by using a sensor in the particulate sensing chamber designed to identify one or more such particles). Additionally, being modular in design, the sensors can be easily changed to repurpose a unit to sense a different type of particle which can be beneficial in some implementations.

Once the air has passed through the particulate chamber, it passes out through the outlet330and into the inlet332of the filter. The filter reduces or removes the amount of particulate in the air as this particulate may be harmful or may contaminate the device or area around the device if not removed or reduced.

Once filtered, the air exits the outlet334of the filter322and enters the inlet336of the flow sensing chamber338. The flow sensor determines that a threshold level of air is passing through the air sampling path (e.g., from the space being sampled). This information can be utilized, for example, to determine whether the device is operating correctly and whether the particulate sensing data is accurate, among other uses for the data. Once the air has passed through the flow sensing chamber, it exits the module through outlet326.

One additional benefit of the modular nature of the design shown inFIG.3Bis that the filter can be easily changed if it becomes dirty or no longer effective for filtering a desired particle. Also, if a different particle is to be filtered, the filter can easily be removed and replaced by a different filter. This can also be the case where a different threshold of filtration is desired. A user can simply remove the current filter322and replace it with one that will filter more or less of the desired particulate.

FIG.4is an illustration of a front view of a rack of multiple modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment ofFIG.4, multiple modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system devices are mounted together on a rack that can be mounted to a wall or the devices can be mounted to the wall directly without a rack.

The modular nature of this system design allows the system to be easily expanded to include monitoring of more channels. For example, the embodiment shown inFIG.4can accommodated 40 channels (2 channels per detector module×5 modules=10 channels per modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device×four devices provided on the rack=40 channels). Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this configuration and more or less channels/detector module, detector modules/device, and/or devices/rack could be utilized.

In the arrangement illustrated inFIG.4, the first cable conduit section can run into the top of a first cable management module of a first modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device, via an aperture in the top of the first cable management module. The first modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device can also have an aperture in the bottom of the first cable management module412-1and a second section of the cable conduit412-2can be positioned between the first modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device and a second modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device such that the second section of the cable conduit runs into the top of the cable management module of the second modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device. In this manner, the communications and power connections (e.g., power cord, data cable) to the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system can be secured between the devices (e.g., between devices400-1,400-2,400-3,400-L via conduit sections412-1,412-2,412-3,412-L).

It should be noted that although illustrated in a similar manner, the sampling tubes are not connected between devices inFIG.4, but rather run from each detector to a particular location (e.g., a different location for each tube) within the building that is to be monitored. In such an arrangement, the mounting bracket and/or shape of the back of the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device can be designed to allow space for the passage of the tubes from other devices on the rack to pass behind the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system devices.

Such a design feature can be seen inFIG.2where the back on the device has a number of recesses formed therein to provide a number of gaps252between the back of the device254and the front of the mounting bracket256. These gaps can be sized and shaped to allow tubes from the device and other devices to pass behind the device shown inFIG.2.

FIG.5is an illustration of a perspective view of a modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment ofFIG.5, the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device includes a pumping module (606inFIG.6). In this implementation, this pumping module provides air flow through the tubes and detector modules for all of the system rather than having separate pumps for each detector and its associated tubes.

FIG.6is an illustration of a perspective view of a modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device with one of the detector modules removed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodiment shown inFIG.6is similar to the embodiment shown inFIG.3A, in that the system601has: a base602with a cable management module608connected to a cable conduit612, connections to one or more sampling tubes614, a communication module610, and a number of detector modules604. However, the embodiment ofFIG.6also includes the pumping module606.

In the arrangement shown, the pumping module606is attached at the right of the detector modules604, but it could be positioned elsewhere on the device (e.g., between communication module610and the left-most detector module (e.g.,104-1ofFIG.1)). Additionally, the pumping module606may be connected to the base602and/or to the mounting bracket.

FIG.7is an illustration of a top view of a modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar toFIG.2,FIG.7shows the cable conduit mounted to the top of the base behind the cable management module and the multiple sampling tubes connected to the top of the base702, but also shows that this device includes a pumping module706. The embodiment ofFIG.7also includes a mounting bracket that can be used to mount the modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system device701to a wall or to a wall mounted rack, as illustrated inFIG.8.

FIG.8is an illustration of a front view of a rack of multiple modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment ofFIG.8, multiple modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system devices (801-1,801-2,801-3,801-M) each having a pumping module806(806-1,806-2,806-3,806-M) are mounted together on a rack that can be mounted to a wall or the devices can be mounted to the wall directly without a rack. As with the above rack structure ofFIG.4, the modular nature of this system design allows the system to be easily expanded to include monitoring of more channels. Again, here the cable conduit can be expanded to include sections between the other devices of the rack and the sampling tubes can be accommodated behind the devices.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide greater flexibility in creating a modular aspirated smoke, gas, or air quality monitoring system by allowing components to be part of a modular system, but to be independently replaceable or, in some cases, upgradable. Additionally, embodiments allow for a greater ability to expand the system in an organized, modular fashion. The embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a system that reduces technician time and system down time.