Vacuum monitoring and mitigation system
OwnerMichael P. Gies, Roger S. Jussel +1inventors
InventorsMichael P. Gies, Roger S. Jussel, Charles E. Hellums
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum monitoring and mitigation system is described. Embodiments of the vacuum monitoring and mitigation system can be implemented in a combined-use vacuum system to help mitigate high oxidizer levels that may damage vacuum pumps of the combined-use vacuum system. The vacuum monitoring and mitigation system can determine when an oxidizer level is above a predetermined threshold and introduce a mitigating gas into the combined-use vacuum system to lower the oxidizer level.
Claims20
A method of implementing a vacuum monitoring and mitigation system, the method comprising:
- providing the vacuum monitoring and mitigation system, the system including:
- a control module;
- a vacuum pressure sensor adapted to measure pressure;
- an oxygen sensor adapted to measure a concentration of oxygen;
- a mitigating gas supply;
- and
- a valve fluidly connected to the mitigating gas supply;
- monitoring a combined-use vacuum system, the valve being fluidly connected to the combined-use vacuum system;
- and
- introducing a mitigating gas into the combined-use vacuum system from the mitigating gas supply based on determining an oxidizer level in the combined-use vacuum system is above a predetermined threshold.
A method of implementing a vacuum monitoring and mitigation system, the method comprising:
- installing the vacuum monitoring and mitigation system in a combined-use vacuum system, the vacuum monitoring and mitigation system including:
- a control module;
- a vacuum pressure sensor located in a vacuum line of the combined-use vacuum system;
- a mitigating gas supply;
- a valve located downstream of the vacuum pressure sensor, the valve fluidly connecting the mitigating gas supply to the vacuum line;
- a first oxidizer sensor located (i) in the vacuum line, (ii) downstream of the valve, and (iii) upstream of a vacuum pump of the combined-use vacuum system;
- and
- a second oxidizer sensor located upstream of the valve;
- introducing a mitigating gas into the combined-use vacuum system from the mitigating gas supply based on determining an oxidizer level in the vacuum line of the combined-use vacuum system is above a predetermined threshold.
A method of implementing a vacuum monitoring and mitigation system in a combined-use vacuum system in a medical facility, the method comprising:
- receiving data from a vacuum pressure sensor located upstream of a vacuum pump manifold in a vacuum line of the combined-use vacuum system;
- receiving data from an oxygen sensor located downstream of the vacuum pressure sensor in the vacuum line;
- analyzing data received from the oxygen sensor and the vacuum pressure sensor;
- determining (i) an oxidizer level based on the data received from the oxygen sensor and (ii) if the oxidizer level is above a predetermined threshold;
- determining if a pressure level in the combined-use vacuum system is above a predetermined pressure threshold based on the data received from the vacuum pressure sensor;
- and
- introducing a mitigating gas when (i) the oxidizer level is above the predetermined threshold and (ii) the pressure level in the combined-use vacuum system is above the predetermined pressure threshold;
- wherein a mitigating gas supply storing the mitigating gas is fluidly connected to the combined-use vacuum system via a valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.