Methods and systems for detecting manhole events
AssigneeNovinium, Inc.
InventorsGlen John Bertini, David C. Busby, Weston Philips Chapin Ford, Jeffrey Andrew Thomas
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Abstract
A system for use with a connection comprising a terminus opening into an underground vault. The system includes a perturbation detector and a system controller. The perturbation detector is configured to detect values of each of one or more properties and transmit a signal encoding the values to the system controller. The system controller is configured to receive the signal, use at least one of the values to determine whether a fire is occurring or has occurred, and alert a user when the system controller determines that the fire is occurring or has occurred.
Claims18
A system for use with a connection extending between different first and second underground vaults, the connection comprising a wall and a terminus opening into the first underground vault, the wall defining an annulus, a cable extending through the annulus and outwardly therefrom beyond the terminus, a flow comprising one or more gases flowing through the annulus alongside the cable, the system comprising:
- a flow restrictor comprising a restriction device and a through-channel, the restriction device being configured to be installed in the annulus alongside the cable and to restrict the flow through the annulus, the through-channel being configured to allow a concentrated flow of the one or more gases to flow therethrough;
- a perturbation detector configured to detect a value of a property of the concentrated flow and to transmit a signal encoding information based on the value;
- and
- a system controller configured to receive the signal, use the signal to determine whether a fire is occurring or has occurred, and alert a user when the system controller determines that the fire is occurring or has occurred.
A method comprising:
- obtaining, by a system controller, an estimated temperature of a cable within an annulus of a connection to an underground vault, the connection having a terminus and a flow restrictor installed at or near the terminus, the flow restrictor comprising an open-ended through-channel interconnecting the annulus of the connection with the underground vault;
- obtaining, by the system controller, a channel temperature inside the open-ended through-channel;
- determining, by the system controller, an exothermic event is likely occurring when the channel temperature is greater than the estimated temperature by more than a threshold amount;
- and
- alerting, by the system controller, a user when the system controller determines the exothermic event is likely occurring.
A method for use with an annulus of a connection interconnecting first and second underground vaults, the connection having a first terminus and a first flow restrictor installed at or near the first terminus, the first flow restrictor comprising a first open-ended through-channel interconnecting the annulus of the connection with the first underground vault, the connection having a second terminus and a second flow restrictor installed at or near the second terminus, the second flow restrictor comprising a second open-ended through-channel interconnecting the annulus with the second underground vault, the method comprising:
- obtaining, by a system controller, a first flow direction of one or more gases flowing inside the first open-ended through-channel;
- obtaining, by the system controller, a second flow direction of one or more gases flowing inside the second open-ended through-channel;
- determining, by the system controller, a gas-creating-event is occurring in the annulus of the connection when the first flow direction is toward the first underground vault and the second flow direction is toward the second underground vault;
- and
- alerting, by the system controller, a user when the system controller determines the gas-creating-event is occurring in the annulus of the connection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.