Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Geof Brazier · John P. Clark, III · John E. Smallwood ·
Assignee(s)	BS&B Safety Systems Limited ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P. ·
Primary Examiner	Hezron Williams ·
Assistant Examiner	David A. Rogers ·
Application Number	US10226217
Filing date	08/23/2002
Issue date	01/30/2007
Prior Publication Data	US20030071736 - 04/17/2003
Predicted expiration date	08/23/2022
U.S. Classifications	738/658  · 137/557  · 137/551  · 137/552  · 738/623.82  · 340/603  · 340/606  · 73/52  ·
International Classifications	G08B1900  · G08B2300  ·
Kind Code	B2
Related U.S. Application Data	RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/314,291, filed on Aug. 24, 2001, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Patent Family

Abstract

A system and method of monitoring a pressurized container having an auxiliary device are provided. The system includes a sensor operable to provide a signal representative of at least one operating condition of the pressurized container. The system also includes a control operable to receive the signal from the sensor and generate a warning when the sensed operating condition will impact the operation of the auxiliary device.

Independent Claims | See all claims (41)

1. 1. A monitoring system for a pressurized container having an auxiliary device, the system comprising: a sensor operatively disposed in the pressurized container to generate a signal representing a direct measurement within the pressurized container of at least one operating condition of the pressurized container, the signal generated by the sensor being independent from and unaffected by the condition of the auxiliary device; and a control operably connected to the sensor and operable to receive the signal and monitor the signal to generate a warning when the at least one operating condition of the pressurized container system will adversely impact the intended operation of the auxiliary device.
2. 14. A method of monitoring conditions experienced by a pressurized container having an auxiliary device, the method comprising the steps of: sensing at least one operating condition of the pressurized container; generating a signal representing a direct measurement within the pressurized container of the at least one operating condition of the pressurized container; receiving the signal; monitoring the signal; issuing a warning when the at least one operating condition of the pressurized container will adversely impact the intended operation of the auxiliary device; and wherein the signal generated is independent from and unaffected by the condition of the auxiliary device.
3. 23. A method of monitoring conditions experienced by a pressure reduction device sealingly engaged in a pressurized container having an auxiliary device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a series of signals representing a direct measurement within the pressurized container of at least one operating condition of the pressurized container, each of the signals received representing a direct measurement of the operating condition existing at a particular time; storing each signal in a first memory; receiving a pressure event signal from a pressure event sensor; transmitting a historical set of signals received to a second memory, the historical set containing the signals received during a predetermined time period immediately prior to receipt of the pressure event signal; issuing a warning when the at least one operating condition of the pressurized container will adversely impact the intended operation of the auxiliary device; and wherein the series of signals representing a direct measurement within the pressurized container of at least one operating condition are independent from and unaffected by the condition of the pressure reduction device.
4. 32. A monitoring system for a pressure reduction device sealingly engaged in a pressurized container having an auxiliary device, the system comprising: a pressure event sensor operable to generate an event signal upon activation of the pressure reduction device; a condition sensor disposed in the pressurized container and operable to generate an operational signal representing a direct measurement within the pressurized container of at least one operating condition of the pressurized container for a particular time, the operational signal generated by the condition sensor being independent from and unaffected by the condition of the pressure reduction device; a control operable to receive the signals from the pressure event sensor and condition sensor, the control having a first memory for storing a historical set of operational signals representing a direct measurement within the pressurized container of the at least one operating condition over a predetermined time period and a second memory, the control transferring the historical set of operational signals to the second memory upon receipt of the event signal; and wherein the control is operably connected to the condition sensor and operable to monitor the operational signal to generate a warning when the at least one operating condition of the pressurized container system will adversely impact the intended operation of the auxiliary device.