Gas flow, pressure and BTU/hour analyzer with a smart device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11609111-B2
Application number	US-201916725768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2019
Priority date	Dec 31, 2018
Publication date	Mar 21, 2023
Grant date	Mar 21, 2023

Abstract

A system monitors gas flow and pressure to a gas appliance in a fluid network comprising an analyzer. The analyzer has a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and an interior in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. At least one sensor is coupled to the analyzer and configured to generate at least one signal related to gas being supplied to the gas appliance. A smart device communicates with the analyzer, wherein the smart device has a user interface and is configured to monitor, store and display data. The smart device can present any or all of a plurality of parameters such as the flow of gas, a capacity of the flow of gas, a temperature, a pressure of the gas and the like to a user based on signals from sensors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of installing and servicing a gas appliance comprising the steps of:
temporarily installing an analyzer upstream from an inlet of the gas appliance for an installation or servicing time period, the analyzer having at least one sensor; and
connecting a smart device to the analyzer using a short range wireless communication protocol for receiving at least one signal from the at least one sensor.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein, the at least one signal comprising a first signal relating to a flow of gas being supplied to the gas appliance, and a second signal relating to a pressure of the gas being supplied to the appliance, wherein the smart device calculates a gas flow capacity based on the first signal.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a first quick-connect fitting for an inlet of the analyzer;
providing a second quick-connect fitting for an outlet of the analyzer; and
providing indicia on the analyzer configured to identify the inlet and the outlet of the analyzer.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing indicia on the analyzer configured to indicate a warning condition, a power on/off condition, and a wireless communication active status.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first signal is generated by a differential pressure sensor and the second signal is generated by a barometric pressure sensor.

6. A method for monitoring gas flow and pressure to a gas appliance in a fluid network, the method comprising the steps of:
temporarily installing an analyzer upstream from an inlet of the gas appliance for an installation or servicing time period, wherein the analyzer includes:
a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and an interior in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet; and
a first pressure sensor;

generating, via the first pressure sensor, a first signal relating to a flow of gas being supplied to the gas appliance;
communicating with the analyzer via a smart device using a short range wireless communication protocol, wherein the smart device includes a user interface and is configured to monitor, store, and display data; and
presenting, via the smart device, the flow of gas and a capacity of the flow of gas to a user based on the first signal.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 , further comprising the step of generating, via a second pressure sensor included in the analyzer, a second signal relating to a pressure of the gas being supplied to the appliance.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 , further comprising the step of generating, via a third pressure sensor included in the analyzer, a third signal relating to an ambient barometric pressure.

9. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the first pressure sensor of the analyzer is a differential flow sensor.

10. The method as recited in claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
communicating, with the analyzer and/or the smart device, with a safety shut-off valve connected to the fluid network; and
selectively actuating, with the analyzer and/or the smart device, the safety shut-off valve based upon the first signal being outside a predetermined value.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the analyzer and/or the smart device selectively actuates the safety shut-off valve based upon a signal from a temperature sensor in communication with the analyzer and/or the smart device.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
communicating, with the analyzer and/or the smart device, with an accelerometer; and
selectively actuating, with the analyzer and/or the smart device, the safety shut-off valve based upon a signal from the accelerometer sensor.

13. The method for monitoring gas flow and pressure to a gas appliance in a fluid network, the method comprising the steps of:
halting a flow of gas into the fluid network using a shut-off valve;
temporarily installing an analyzer into the fluid network using quick-connect fittings for an installation or servicing time period, downstream of the shut-off valve and upstream of the gas appliance;
commencing the flow of gas into the fluid network using the shut-off valve;
sensing, via a sensor in the analyzer, a differential pressure reading across an inlet and outlet port of the analyzer;
relaying, via the analyzer, the differential pressure reading to a smart device using a short range wireless communication protocol; and
presenting to a user, via the smart device, data relating to the differential pressure reading.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising the step of setting an analyzer gas sample rate via the smart device.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising the step of selecting a parameter to display on the smart device based on the differential pressure reading, the parameter selected from the group consisting of: pressure in the fluid network, ambient, BTU, flow, movement, and temperature.

Assignees

• Watts Regulator Co

Inventors

• Angus Michael T
• Fisk Kevin
• Huber Richard
• Campbell R Craig
• Davis George
• Meurer Matthew
• Parks Robert

Classifications

• G06Q50/06

  Energy or water supply · CPC title

• H04L2012/2841

  Wireless · CPC title

• G01P1/06

  Indicating or recording devices, e.g. for remote indication (indicating or recording in general G01D; registering or indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00) · CPC title

• G01L19/0092

  Pressure sensor associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration or temperature (G01L9/025, G01L9/045, G01L9/065, G01L9/085, G01L9/105, G01L9/125, G01L19/02, G01L19/04 take precedence; measuring two or more variable G01D21/02; temperature sensors with pressure compensation G01K1/26) · CPC title

• G01L19/143

  Two part housings · CPC title