Tunnel monitoring sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9494564-B2
Application number	US-201314105502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2013
Priority date	Dec 21, 2012
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A tunnel monitoring sensor for monitoring environmental conditions in a tunnel comprises a first sensor module which outputs an obscuration signal, a second sensor module which outputs a first gas concentration signal, a common housing for the first and second sensor modules and an electronic logic unit which is preferably accommodated in the housing, which receives the obscuration signal and the gas concentration signal and which outputs a combined environmental condition signal on the basis of a link of the obscuration signal and of the gas concentration signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tunnel monitoring sensor ( 11 , 11 ′) for monitoring environmental conditions in a tunnel comprising:
a first sensor module ( 22 ) which outputs an obscuration signal ( 23 );
a second sensor module ( 25 ) which outputs a first gas concentration signal ( 27 );
a common housing ( 12 ) for the first and second sensor modules ( 22 , 25 ); and
an electronic logic unit ( 31 , 31 ′) which receives the obscuration signal ( 23 ) and the gas concentration signal ( 27 ) and which outputs a combined environmental condition signal ( 33 ) on the basis of a link of the obscuration signal ( 23 ) and the gas concentration signal ( 27 ),
wherein the combined environmental condition signal represents a report on the current state in the tunnel, including possible disturbances and hazards; and
wherein the first sensor module ( 22 ) comprises a scattered light sensor and is arranged completely within the housing ( 12 ), with the housing ( 12 ) having at least one air inlet opening ( 19 ).

2. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electronic logic unit ( 31 , 31 ′) is accommodated in the housing ( 12 ).

3. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first sensor module ( 22 ) and the second sensor module ( 25 ) are configured for outputting respective digital signals ( 23 , 27 ), with the electronic logic unit ( 31 , 31 ′) outputting a combined digital environmental condition signal ( 33 ) on the basis of a logical connection of the digital obscuration signal ( 23 ) and of the digital gas concentration signal ( 27 ).

4. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the logical connection includes a pattern recognition.

5. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the electronic logic unit ( 31 , 31 ′) outputs the combined digital environmental condition signal ( 33 ) via a standard digital interface.

6. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the electronic logic unit ( 31 , 31 ′) outputs the combined digital environmental condition signal ( 33 ) via a PROFIBUS interface.

7. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising at least one further sensor module ( 26 ) which outputs a further gas concentration signal ( 28 ), with the first gas concentration signal ( 27 ) and the further gas concentration signal ( 28 ) relating to different target gases and the electronic logic unit ( 31 , 31 ′) outputting the combined environmental condition signal ( 33 ) on the basis of a link of the obscuration signal ( 23 ), of the first gas concentration signal ( 27 ) and of the further gas concentration signal ( 28 ).

8. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second sensor module ( 25 ) is attached to a wall section of the housing ( 12 ), with a measuring head ( 29 ) of the second sensor module ( 25 ) extending into the outside space through a leadthrough of the wall section.

9. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising at least one further sensor module which outputs a temperature signal and/or a humidity signal, with the electronic logic unit ( 31 , 31 ′) outputting the combined environmental condition signal ( 33 ) on the basis of a link of the obscuration signal ( 23 ), of the first gas concentration signal ( 27 ) and additionally of the temperature signal and/or of the humidity signal.

10. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electronic logic unit ( 31 , 31 ′) is configured for outputting an error signal which indicates a functional status of the first sensor module ( 22 ) and/or of the second sensor module ( 25 ).

11. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first sensor module ( 22 ) and/or the second sensor module ( 25 ) comprises/comprise a memory device in which calibration parameters of the respective sensor module ( 22 , 25 ) are stored.

12. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first sensor module ( 22 ) and/or the second sensor module ( 25 ) comprises/comprise a microprocessor.

13. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the microprocessor(s) is/are configured for carrying out a self-test of the respective sensor module ( 22 , 25 ).

14. The tunnel monitoring sensor in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one connector for an additional sensor module located outside the housing ( 12 ) is provided at the housing ( 12 ).

15. A tunnel monitoring method for monitoring environmental conditions in a tunnel, comprising the steps of:
generating an obscuration signal ( 23 ) by means of a first sensor module ( 22 ) arranged in a housing ( 12 );
generating a first gas concentration signal ( 27 ) by means of a second sensor module ( 25 ) arranged in the housing ( 12 );
linking the obscuration signal ( 23 ) and the gas concentration signal ( 27 ) to one another; and
generating a combined environmental condition signal ( 33 ) on the basis of the link,
wherein the combined environmental condition signal represents a report on the current state in the tunnel, including possible disturbances and hazards; and
wherein the first sensor module ( 22 ) comprises a scattered light sensor and is arranged completely within the housing ( 12 ), with the housing ( 12 ) having at least one air inlet opening ( 19 ).

16. A tunnel monitoring sensor ( 11 , 11 ′) for monitoring environmental conditions in a tunnel comprising:
a first sensor module ( 22 ) which outputs an obscuration signal ( 23 );
a second sensor module ( 25 ) which outputs a first gas concentration signal ( 27 );
a common housing ( 12 ) for enclosing the first and second sensor modules ( 22 , 25 ), said housing ( 12 ) including at least one air inlet opening ( 19 ); and
an electronic logic unit ( 31 , 31 ′) which receives the obscuration signal ( 23 ) and the gas concentration signal ( 27 ) and which outputs a combined environmental condition signal ( 33 ) on the basis of a link of the obscuration signal ( 23 ) and the gas concentration signal ( 27 ),
wherein the first sensor module ( 22 ) comprises a scattered light sensor and is arranged completely within the housing ( 12 ), and
wherein the combined environmental condition signal represents a report on the current state in the tunnel, including possible disturbances and hazards.

Assignees

• Sick Ag

Inventors

• Bonisch Andreas
• Convent Jurgen

Classifications

• G01N21/538

  for determining atmospheric attenuation and visibility · CPC title

• G01N33/0009 Primary

  General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment (devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state G01N1/22) · CPC title

• G01N33/007

  Arrangements to check the analyser (calibrating gas analysers G01N33/0006) · CPC title

• E21F17/18 Primary

  Special adaptations of signalling or alarm devices (for mine lifts B66B; gas-sensitive devices per se G01N) · CPC title

• G01N21/47

  Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection (G01N21/25, G01N21/41 take precedence {G01N21/55 takes precedence}) · CPC title