STORAGE DEVICE FOR STORING A GAS MEASURING DEVICE, STORAGE DEVICE AND GAS DETECTOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING THE GAS DETECTOR

Abstract

A storage device (20) stores a gas measuring device (10). The gas measuring device (10) has at least one electrochemical sensor (11) for measuring the concentration of a gas. The storage device (20) has a temperature control device (21) for controlling the temperature of the electrochemical sensor (11). A system (40) includes such a storage device (20) and a gas measuring device (10) that is stored therein. The temperature control device (21) is arranged at the storage device (20) such that the temperature control device (21) is located opposite the electrochemical sensor (11) of the gas measuring device (10) during the temperature control. A process for storing a gas measuring device (10) in such a storage device (20) includes controlling the temperature of the electrochemical sensor (11) of the gas measuring device (10) by the temperature control device (21) during the storage.

Claims

1. A storage device for storing a gas measuring device, wherein the gas measuring device has at least one electrochemical sensor for measuring a concentration of a gas, the storage device comprising a temperature control device for controlling a temperature of the at least one electrochemical sensor.

2. A storage device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the temperature control device is configured to provide a first operating mode for cooling and a second operating mode for heating.

3. A storage device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the temperature control device comprises a Peltier element.

4. A storage device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the storage device is configured to cool the electrochemical sensor during storage to a predefined storage temperature and to maintain the at least one electrochemical sensor at the storage temperature.

5. A storage device in accordance with claim 4, wherein: the storage device comprises an operating device or an operating device is operatively connected to the storage device by one or more of a wired connection, a wireless connection and a wireless interface of the storage device; and the operating device is configured to initiate a heating of the at least one electrochemical sensor from the storage temperature to an operating temperature during the storage.

6. A storage device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one acoustic and/or visual output device, which is configured to acoustically and/or visually output at least one piece of information concerning the temperature control of the at least one electrochemical sensor.

7. A storage device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a charging device for charging an energy supply unit of the gas measuring device.

8. A storage device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one of a testing unit for testing a sensitivity of the gas measuring device and a calibrating unit for calibrating the gas measuring device.

9. A storage device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a storage shell for storing the gas measuring device; and a cap arranged at the storage shell and moveable relative to the storage shell, wherein the temperature control device is arranged in the cap, so that the temperature control device is moveable in a direction toward the at least one electrochemical sensor and in a direction away from the at least one electrochemical sensor.

10. A system comprising: a gas measuring device comprising at least one electrochemical sensor for measuring a concentration of a gas; and a storage device comprising a temperature control device for controlling a temperature of the electrochemical sensor, the gas measuring device being stored in the storage device, wherein the temperature control device is arranged at the storage device such that the temperature control device is located opposite the at least one electrochemical sensor of the gas measuring device during the temperature control.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a sealing element arranged at least partially around the temperature control device and projecting in a direction of the gas measuring device wherein the sealing element encloses the at least one electrochemical sensor at least partially during the temperature control.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the temperature control device is configured to provide a first operating mode for cooling and a second operating mode for heating.

13. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the temperature control device comprises a Peltier element.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein: the storage device is configured to cool the electrochemical sensor during storage to a predefined storage temperature and to maintain the at least one electrochemical sensor at the storage temperature; the storage device comprises an operating device or an operating device is operatively connected to the storage device by one or more of a wired connection, a wireless connection and a wireless interface of the storage device; and the operating device is configured to initiate a heating of the at least one electrochemical sensor from the storage temperature to an operating temperature during the storage.

15. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the storage device further comprises an output device configured to provide at least one of an acoustic output and a visual output of information concerning the temperature control of the at least one electrochemical sensor.

16. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the storage device further comprises a charging device for charging an energy supply unit of the gas measuring device.

17. A system in accordance with claim 10, further wherein the storage device further comprises one or more of a testing unit configured to testing a sensitivity of the gas measuring device and a calibrating unit configured to calibrate the gas measuring device.

18. A process for storing a gas measuring device in a storage device for storing the gas measuring device, wherein the gas measuring device has at least one electrochemical sensor for measuring a concentration of a gas, the storage device comprising a temperature control device for controlling a temperature of the electrochemical sensor, the process comprising the steps of: storing the gas measuring device in the storage device; and controlling a temperature of the at least one electrochemical sensor of the gas measuring device with the temperature control device during the storage.

19. A process in accordance with claim 18, wherein the at least one electrochemical sensor is cooled during the storage to a predefined storage temperature, wherein the storage temperature is in a range of 1° C. to 8° C.

20. A process in accordance with claim 13, wherein: the at least one electrochemical sensor is heated during the storage from a storage temperature to an operating temperature; and a heating rate of the heating is in a range of 2 K/minute to 12 K/minute.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In the drawings:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of a system according to the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a side view of a second exemplary embodiment of a system according to the present invention; and

[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic view concerning an exemplary embodiment of a process according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Referring to the drawings, elements having the same function and mode of operation are always designated by the same reference numbers in FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of a system 40 according to the present invention. The system 40 has a storage device 20 and a gas measuring device 10 stored therein. The storage device 20 has an essentially U-shaped housing in the side view. The housing of the storage device 20 is configured in this case as a clip or as a clamp, which can be fastened to the gas measuring device 20. The storage device 20 may have mounting or fastening devices, not shown, which are configured corresponding to the gas measuring device 10. The storage device 20 may have, for example, one or more groove-like recesses, into which the gas measuring device 10 can be inserted. As a result, an unintended separation of the gas measuring device 10 can be avoided thereby. Further, the storage device 20 may have a data interface, not shown, for coupling with the gas measuring device 10.

[0039] The gas measuring device 10 has at least one electrochemical sensor 10 for detecting at least one gas in the surrounding area. The gas measuring device 10 may be set up to measure a gas concentration of the at least one gas to be detected. The electrochemical sensor 11 correspondingly has at least one liquid electrolyte, which has, for example, organic components and/or inorganic salts and/or may be dissolved in water.

[0040] The storage device 20 has a housing section and a cap 26 arranged therein in an articulated manner. The housing section has an essentially L-shaped configuration in this exemplary embodiment, but it may also have other shapes. The cap 26 is arranged at the housing section by means of a hinge 28 and can be rotated and/or tilted in the direction of the gas measuring device 10 and away from same. Provisions may be made in this connection for the gas measuring device 20 to be clamped between the cap 26 and the housing section of the storage device 26. A distance between the cap 26 and the housing section may be configured for this purpose corresponding to the thickness of the gas measuring device 10 and/or the hinge 28 may be spring-loaded in order to press the gas measuring device 10 to the housing section by means of the cap 26.

[0041] A temperature control device 21 in the form of a Peltier element is arranged in the cap 26 in the direction of the gas measuring device 10. The temperature control device 21 is located opposite and adjacent to the electrochemical sensor 11 during the storage of the gas measuring device 10 in the storage device 20. The temperature control device 21 has a temperature control surface, which may especially be as large as or larger than a sensor surface of the electrochemical sensor 11 in order to make possible a rapid temperature control of the electrochemical sensor 11. The electrochemical sensor 11 is enclosed by a sealing element 27 located at a spaced location from the cap 26. The sealing element 27 is arranged in this case circularly around the temperature control device 21 and is configured as one or more sealing lips.

[0042] The temperature control device 21 is controlled by means of a control unit 29 of the storage device 20. The temperature control device 21 has the operating modes heating and cooling. The control unit 29 has corresponding functions for controlling the operating modes. These functions may be stored in a memory of the control unit 29. The storage device 20 further has an operating device 22 and an output device 23. The operating device 22 is configured as a push switch in this exemplary embodiment. The operating device 22 is used to operate the temperature control device. By operating the operating device 22, a signal is outputted to the control unit 29 thereto, which signal initiates a start of an operating mode for storing the gas measuring device 10 and thus for initiating a temperature control of the temperature control device 21 such that the temperature of the electrochemical sensor is controlled such that this temperature will reach a predefined storage temperature. The temperature control of the temperature control device 21 is initiated by a repeated operation of the output device 23 such that the temperature of the electrochemical sensor 11 is controlled to a predefined operating temperature, at which this electrochemical sensor is immediately ready for use. Further, the output device 23 is configured in this exemplary embodiment as a light with two LEDs of different light colors. The control device 29 is set up to allow a red LED of the lamp to light up when the electrochemical sensor 11 does not have the operating temperature and a green LED of the lamp when the electrochemical sensor 11 has the operating temperature.

[0043] The storage device 20 according to this exemplary embodiment is supplied with electric power by means of a supply terminal 30 of the storage device 20 and of a power cable connected thereto, as a result of which the temperature control device 21 is operated. As an alternative, the storage device 20 may be equipped, for example, with an energy storage device, for example, with a battery or with a fuel cell, or with a solar cell.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a second exemplary embodiment of a system 40 according to the present invention. The system 40 has the same configuration in this second exemplary embodiment as the system 40 according to the first exemplary embodiment in respect to the electrochemical sensor 10 of the gas measuring device 10, the operating device 22, the control unit 29, the hinge 28, the supply terminal 30 and the output device 23.

[0045] Unlike in the first exemplary embodiment, the storage device 20 of the second exemplary embodiment does, however, have a storage shell 25, in which the gas measuring device 10 is stored. The gas measuring device 10 lies on the storage shell 25 for this purpose. The housing section of the storage device 20 is shaped in this case as a storage shell 25. The storage shell 25 has an upwards extending projection, so that the storage shell 25 is essentially U-shaped. The projection may be in contact with the gas measuring device 10 and prevent the gas measuring device 10 from being displaced. The gas measuring device 10 is thus located securely in the storage device 20.

[0046] The storage device 20 and/or the storage shell 25 further have a charging device 24. This charging device 24 is configured in this case as an inductive charging device, which charges an energy supply unit 12 in the form of a power storage device of the gas measuring device 10 during the storage. As an alternative, the charging device 24 may be equipped with a supply terminal, for example, with a jack or with a plug, which is coupled with a corresponding supply terminal, for example, a plug or a jack, of the gas measuring device 10.

[0047] Further, the storage device 20 and/or the system 40 have a testing unit 32 and a calibrating unit 33. The testing unit 32 and the calibrating unit 33 are configured in this case as a common device. The testing unit 32 and the calibrating unit 33 are coupled fluidically by means of a gas line to a gas port 31 of the storage device 20 and are thus arranged externally in relation to the storage device 20. As an alternative, they may, however, also be arranged within the housing of the storage device 20. The testing unit 32 and the calibrating unit 33 are coupled fluidically to a gas container 34 in the form of a gas cylinder. The gas container 34 contains the gas to be detected by the electrochemical sensor 11. The cap 26 may have an opening or nozzle, not shown, which is coupled with the gas port 31 and which releases gas in the direction of the electrochemical sensor 11. Further, the gas measuring device 10 may be coupled for information exchange or for control technology to the storage device 20, especially to the control unit 29. Gas can be sent by means of the testing unit to the electrochemical sensor 11, where the gas measuring device 10 measures a concentration and outputs same to the storage device 20. The storage device 20 may correspondingly indicate by means of, for example, an alarm sound or an instruction message at the output device 23, which may be configured for this purpose, for example, as a screen or as a speaker, when the sensitivity or the response time of the gas measuring device 10 is not in a predefined range. Further, gas can be sent by means of the calibrating unit 33 to the electrochemical sensor 11, where the gas measuring device 10 measures a concentration, outputs this same concentration to the storage device 20 and the gas measuring device 10 then calibrates the gas measuring device 10 on the basis of a deviation determined by the calibrating unit 34 on the basis of a known gas concentration in the gas container 34.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a process according to the present invention. A temperature-vs-time diagram of the temperature T of the electrochemical sensor 11 of the gas measuring device 10 is shown.

[0049] The gas measuring device 10 is stored in the storage device 20 during the operating phase 0. The gas measuring device 10 was brought to the operating temperature T.sub.1 and is immediately ready for use in order to detect a gas at a location of use. The gas measuring device 10 is removed from the storage device 20 by a worker at the time t.sub.1 and is used at the location of use. The location of use is relatively warm, so that the ambient temperature T.sub.2 at the location of use is higher than the operating temperature T.sub.1, which may be, for example, in a range of 15° C. to 25° C., and especially in a range of 18° C. to 22° C. The ambient temperature T.sub.2 may correspondingly be, for example, in a range of 25° C. to 40° C. The temperature of the electrochemical sensor 11 correspondingly rises gradually during phase 1 to the ambient temperature T.sub.2 and it remains at this temperature for the time of the use of the gas measuring device 10. The operability of the electrochemical sensor 11 may decrease in the long term at these elevated temperatures, so that the worker will store the gas measuring device 10 after the use in the storage device 20 at the time t.sub.2. Cooling of the electrochemical sensor 11 by means of the temperature control device 21 is initiated at the storage device 20 during the operating phase 2, as a result of which the electrochemical sensor 11 is cooled to a storage temperature T.sub.3. The storage temperature T.sub.3 may be, for example, in a range of 1° C. to 8° C. If the storage device 20 is equipped with a charging device 24 as it is according to the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the energy supply unit 12 of the gas measuring device 10 can be charged at the same time during this phase 2.

[0050] When the storage temperature T.sub.3 is reached at the time t.sub.3, the storage temperature T.sub.3 is maintained by the temperature control device 21 in order to avoid possible harmful effects of higher temperatures on the electrochemical sensor 11. Heating of the electrochemical sensor 11 is initiated at a time t.sub.4 by a worker, who would like to use the gas measuring device 10 again, by means of the operating device 22. For this purpose the temperature control device 21 heats the electrochemical sensor 11, for example, at a heating rate in a range of 2 K/minute to 12 K/minute. The operating temperature T.sub.1 of the gas measuring device 10 is finally reached at the time t.sub.5. If the storage device 20 is configured with a testing unit 33 and/or with a calibrating unit 34, as it is according to the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the gas measuring device 10 can, moreover, be tested and possibly calibrated during phase 5. The worker then removes the gas measuring device 10 at the time t.sub.6 and uses the gas measuring device 10 at the location of use, where the temperature T of the electrochemical sensor 11 rises again.

[0051] It is possible to store and possible to charge the gas measuring device 10 by means of the process according to the present invention at a time during which the gas measuring device 10 was not being used such that the liquid electrolyte in the electrochemical sensor 11 of the gas measuring device 10 was protected from harmful effects of high ambient temperatures. The service life of the electrochemical sensor 11 is thus considerably prolonged. It is thus possible to replace the electrochemical sensor 11 considerably less frequently over the service life of the gas measuring device 10.

[0052] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0053] 10 Gas measuring device [0054] 11 Electrochemical sensor [0055] 12 Energy supply unit [0056] 20 Storage device [0057] 21 Temperature control device [0058] 22 Operating device [0059] 23 Output device [0060] 24 Charging device [0061] 25 Storage shell [0062] 26 Cap [0063] 27 Sealing element [0064] 28 Hinge [0065] 29 Control unit [0066] 30 Supply terminal [0067] 31 Gas port [0068] 32 Testing unit [0069] 33 Calibrating unit [0070] 34 Gas container [0071] 40 System [0072] T Temperature of the electrochemical sensor [0073] T.sub.1 Operating temperature [0074] T.sub.2 Ambient temperature [0075] T.sub.3 Storage temperature