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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12339152-B2
Application number	US-202318156222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2023
Priority date	Dec 31, 2018
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

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 system for monitoring gas flow and pressure to a gas appliance in a fluid network comprising:
an analyzer configured for temporary installation in-line and upstream of a fluid network, including:
a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and an interior in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet; and a first pressure sensor configured to generate a first signal related to a flow of gas being supplied to the gas appliance; and

a device configured to communicate with the analyzer, wherein the device has a user interface and is configured to monitor, store and display data, wherein the device can present the flow of gas and a capacity of the flow of gas to a user based on the first signal,
wherein the analyzer is loaded with performance curves generated using ambient air, the performance curves being a set of differential pressure readings across an expected range of gas flow values.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second pressure sensor configured to generate a second signal related to a pressure of the gas being supplied to the appliance.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensor is a differential flow through pressure sensor with an inlet port and an outlet port.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a safety shut-off valve connected to the fluid network and in communication with the analyzer and/or the device, wherein the analyzer and/or the device selectively actuates the safety shut-off valve based upon the first signal being outside a predetermined value.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fluid network has a section of flexible tubing between the gas appliance and a source of gas, further comprising,
a quick connect male fitting coupled to the inlet;
a quick-connect female fitting coupled to the outlet:
a quick connect female connector configured to connect the flexible tubing and the quick-connect male fitting; and
a quick connect male connector configured to connect the flexible tubing and the quick, connect female fitting so that,
in normal operation, the quick-connect female and male connectors complete the section by connecting together so that an entirety of the gas flow passes through the section, and
in test operation, the male and female fittings couple to the female and male connect respectively, for temporarily inserting the analyzer in-line so that an entirety of the gas flow passes through the analyzer while still passing to the gas appliance.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing defines clip mounts and further comprising a battery pack have a clip configured to engage the clip mounts to retain the battery pack to the housing.

7. The system as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a third pressure sensor configured to generate third signal related to an ambient barometric pressure.

8. The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the housing has an interior divided into a flow portion and an electronics portion with an inlet passage and an outlet passage extending between the flow portion and the electronics portion, the first pressure sensor being in the electronics portion with the inlet port being aligned to the inlet passage and the outlet port being aligned to the outlet passage, and
further comprising a flow tube extending between the inlet and the outlet in the flow portion, the flow tube having: an outlet orifice aligned with the inlet passage; an inlet orifice aligned with the outlet passage; and an obstruction between the outlet orifice and the inlet orifice to create a pressure differential so that gas flow from the inlet to the outlet passes through the flowtube with a scavenge portion of the gas flow passing out the outlet orifice, through the inlet passage and into the inlet port of the differential pressure sensor and when the scavenge portion exits the outlet port, the scavenge portion passes though the outlet passage into the inlet orifice back into the fluid network.

9. The system as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with the analyzer and/or the smart device, wherein the analyzer and/or the device selectively actuates the safety shut-off valve based upon a signal from the temperature sensor.

10. The system as recited in claim 4 , further comprising an accelerometer in communication with the analyzer and/or the device, wherein the analyzer and/or the device selectively actuates the safety shut-off valve based upon a signal from the accelerometer sensor.

11. The system as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) in the interior having the first pressure sensor mounted thereto and including a wireless communication module.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising: a memory configured to store data related to the first signal and the second signal; a Bluetooth module configured to connect with and send the data to the device; and a WiFi module configured to connect with and send the data to a network.

13. A system for monitoring gas flow and pressure to a gas device, the system comprising:
an analyzer configured for temporary installation in-line and upstream of a fluid network, the analyzer including:
a housing having an elongated flowtube with an inlet for receiving an entirety of the gas flow and an outlet:
an obstruction situated in the elongated flowtube to create a pressure differential so that a portion of the gas entering the elongated flowtube is scavenged; and
a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the elongated flowtube that generates a signal related to a pressure of the scavenged gas; and

a device using a wireless communication protocol for receiving the signal from the pressure sensor, the device having a user interface and is configured to monitor, store and display data, wherein the device can present the flow of gas and a capacity of the flow of gas to a user based on the signal,
wherein the analyzer is loaded with performance curve generated using ambient air, the performance curves being a set of differential pressure readings across an expected range of gas flow values.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a second pressure sensor in the housing to read an ambient barometric pressure.

15. The system as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having the pressure sensor mounted thereto and including a wireless communication module.

16. The system as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a safety shut-off valve in communication with the analyzer and/or the device, wherein the analyzer and/or the device selectively actuates the safety shut-off valve based upon the signal related to a pressure of the scavenged gas being outside a predetermined value.

17. The system as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with the analyzer and/or the device, wherein the analyzer and/or the device selectively actuates the safety shut-off valve based upon a signal from the temperature sensor.

18. A system for monitoring a gas flow and a pressure of the gas flow to a gas appliance in a fluid network comprising:
an analyzer configured for temporary installation in-line and upstream of a fluid network, including:
a first pressure sensor configured to generate a first signal related to a flow of gas being supplied to the gas appliance;
a housing defining an inlet for ingress of the gas flow, an outlet for egress of the gas flow, and an interior in fluid communication with the inlet and t

Assignees

• Watts Regulator Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G05D7/0635

  by action on throttling means (G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01P15/00

  Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration · 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

• G01L19/086

  for remote indication · CPC title

• G01K13/00

  Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes · CPC title