Systems and methods for membrane blockage detection in gas detectors
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsJon K. Evju, Robert L. Fillmore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas detector includes a membrane configured to define a sensing chamber of the gas detector; a strain sensor operatively connected to the membrane, the strain sensor configured for generating output signals related to strain in the membrane; and a controller operatively connected to the strain sensor, the controller configured to: determine a strain in the membrane based on the output signals; and determine a condition of the membrane based on the determined strain, wherein the determined condition indicates whether the membrane is blocked.
Claims20
A gas detector comprising:
- a membrane configured to define a sensing chamber of the gas detector;
- a strain sensor operatively connected to the membrane, the strain sensor configured for generating output signals related to strain in the membrane;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the strain sensor, the controller configured to:
- determine a strain in the membrane based on the output signals;
- and
- determine a condition of the membrane based on the determined strain, wherein the determined condition indicates whether the membrane is blocked.
A gas detector comprising:
- a membrane configured to define a sensing chamber of the gas detector;
- a strain sensor operatively connected to the membrane, the strain sensor configured for generating output signals related to strain in the membrane;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the strain sensor, the controller configured to:
- determine a strain in the membrane based on the output signals;
- and
- determine a condition of the membrane based on the determined strain, wherein the determined condition indicates whether the membrane is blocked;
- wherein the strain sensor comprises a resistive conductor operatively connected to the outer surface of the membrane;
- wherein the conductor is placed around at least a portion of the outer surface of the membrane in a zig-zag manner.
A method for detecting membrane blockage in a gas detector comprising a membrane defining a sensing chamber of the detector, and a strain sensor, the method comprising:
- generating, with the strain sensor, output signals related to membrane strain;
- determining a strain in the membrane based on the output signals;
- and
- determining a condition of the membrane based on the determined strain change, wherein the determined condition indicates whether the membrane is blocked.
A method for detecting membrane blockage in a gas detector comprising a membrane defining a sensing chamber of the detector, and a strain sensor, the method comprising:
- generating, with the strain sensor, output signals related to membrane strain;
- determining a strain in the membrane based on the output signals;
- and
- determining a condition of the membrane based on the determined strain change, wherein the determined condition indicates whether the membrane is blocked;
- wherein the determined condition indicates whether the membrane is ruptured or missing.
A gas detector comprising:
- a membrane configured to define a sensing chamber of the gas detector;
- a strain sensor operatively connected to the membrane, the strain sensor configured for generating output signals related to strain in the membrane;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to the strain sensor, the controller configured to:
- determine a strain in the membrane based on the output signals;
- and
- determine a condition of the membrane based on the determined strain, wherein the determined condition indicates whether the membrane is ruptured or missing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.