EQUIPMENT FOR MEASURING GASES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS

Abstract

A measurement equipment for measuring gases and environmental parameters, made up of sensors (4) for measuring the parameters that influence air quality, odors, leak detection, fugitive emissions, pollutants, the presence of certain gases in the atmosphere, etc., having a housing (1) configured to incorporate removable cartridges (3) in which sensors (4) are housed, associated in an assembly unit with respective specific electronic boards (5) which are connected to a central electronic board (6) arranged in the housing (1) that recognizes the sensors (4). A cartridge (3) configured to be coupled to the measurement equipment for measuring gases and environmental parameters.

Claims

1. A measurement equipment for measuring gases and environmental parameters, made up of sensors (4) for measuring the parameters that influence air quality, comprising a housing (1) configured to incorporate removable cartridges (3) in which sensors (4) are housed, associated in an assembly unit with respective specific electronic boards (5) which are connected to a central electronic board (6) arranged in the housing (1) that recognizes the sensors (4).

2. The measurement equipment for measuring gases and environmental parameters according to claim 1, wherein the central electronic board (6) has multiple standard connection ports in which the connections of the unitary assemblies of sensors (4) with their specific electronic boards (5) are established.

3. The measurement equipment for measuring gases and environmental parameters according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of holes (2) in the housing (1) configured to house the cartridges (3) in order to establish a connection with the central electronic board (6) through a connector (7) at the bottom of said holes (2).

4. The measurement equipment for measuring gases and environmental parameters according to claim 1, wherein there are connected to the central electronic board (6) temperature and humidity measurement probes which are arranged with their end at the same height level as the end measurement surfaces (10) of the sensors (4) housed in the cartridges (3).

5. The measurement equipment for measuring gases and environmental parameters according to claim 1, wherein the central electronic board (6) is connected to an electronic communications board (20).

6. The measurement equipment for measuring gases and environmental parameters according to claim 1, wherein a grid (21) that prevents sunlight and strong air currents from striking the end measurement surfaces (10) of the sensors (4) is arranged above the cartridges (3).

7. The measurement equipment for measuring gases and environmental parameters according to claim 1, wherein a protective cover (22) that allows the passage of air through side openings is provided, covering the entire assembly of the equipment.

8. A cartridge (3) configured to be coupled to the measurement equipment for measuring gases and environmental parameters according to claim 1, comprising therein structures (9), located at different heights, on which the unitary assemblies of sensors (4) with their specific electronic boards (5) are supported, in the assembly inside said cartridges (3).

9. The cartridge (3) according to claim 8, wherein the assembly arrangement inside the cartridges (3) all the sensors (4) are arranged with an end measurement surface (10) located at one and the same height level.

10. The cartridge (3) according to claim 8, further comprising a lid (11) that presses on the unitary assembly of the sensor (4) with its specific electronic board (5) which is housed inside the cartridge (3), said lid (11) comprising an opening (15), with which the end measurement surface (10) of the sensor (4) coincides.

11. The cartridge (3) according to claim 8, further comprising complementary mini sensors for measuring temperature and humidity connected to the specific electronic boards (5) of the sensors (4) by means of connectors (18), with the connectors being arranged at the same height level as the end measurement surfaces (10) of the sensors (4) housed in the cartridge (3).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of equipment for measuring air quality, according to the invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the body of the measurement equipment, with a housing cartridge for a sensor in an exploded arrangement according to the assembly position.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the measurement equipment seen from the bottom.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the unitary assembly of a sensor associated with its specific electronic board, for incorporation in the measurement equipment according to the invention.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the body of a housing cartridge for a sensor for assembly in the measurement equipment of the invention, showing the inside of said body.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the body of a cartridge housing therein a unitary assembly of a sensor and its specific electronic board.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a closing lid of a cartridge of the equipment object of the invention.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the lid of the preceding figure seen from the bottom.

[0036] FIG. 9 is a plan view of measurement equipment according to the invention, incorporating a grid above the cartridges housing the measurement sensors.

[0037] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of measurement equipment according to the invention, incorporating a protective cover over the entire assembly making up the equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The object of the invention relates to equipment for measuring gases and parameters that influence, for example, air quality, odors, leak detection, fugitive emissions, pollutants, the presence of certain gases in the atmosphere, etc., comprising a housing (1) provided with holes (2) intended for fitting therein housing cartridges (3) for sensors (4) in charge of measuring gases and environmental parameters.

[0039] The sensors (4) that are arranged in the cartridges (3) are each associated with a specific electronic board (5), with the assembly of each sensor (4) with its specific electronic board (5) forming an assembly unit that is assembled in the cartridge (3) for incorporation in the measurement equipment. In this way, the sensor (4) is tested, characterized and calibrated, being validated and housed in the cartridge (3) from the factory for incorporation in the measurement equipment. The cartridge (3) with the specific electronic board (5) associated with the sensor (4) has a memory and the specific parameters for a correction algorithm of that sensor (4), such that it is only necessary to incorporate the cartridge (3) in the corresponding hole (2) of the housing (1), passing all the information from the cartridge (3) to the measurement equipment that is read by a central electronic board (6) to adjust its algorithm so as to be able to calculate the measurement magnitude.

[0040] This configuration makes it possible to do without a skilled technician, since in said assembly operation the user who receives the cartridge (3) with the sensor (4) already tested, characterized and calibrated at the factory only has to incorporate said cartridge (3) in the hole (2) of the measurement equipment being considered. This configuration also allows combining several sensors and assembling them in the different holes (2) of the measurement equipment, regardless of the type of sensor (4) incorporated in the cartridge (3).

[0041] To establish the connection between the cartridge (3) and the measurement equipment, the central electronic board (6) is provided with multiple standard connection ports, with respect to which the cartridges (3) containing the unitary assemblies formed by the different sensors (4) with their specific electronic boards (5) can be electrically connected through a connector (7) that each hole (2) of the housing (1) has at the bottom. In this way, connection pins (23) of the specific electronic board (5) are connected to a connector (8) that the cartridges (3) have therein, which in turn connects to the connector (7) of the assembly hole (2) in the housing (1).

[0042] Once the connection is established, the central electronic board (6) recognizes the cartridge (3), with the type of sensor (4) which is connected in any of the holes (2) or connection ports thereof, by reading the memory thereof included in the specific electronic board (5) of the sensor (4), being adapted particularly by means of the algorithm specific to said sensor (4) for the function that it has to perform in relation to the measurement of the environmental parameters measured by the connected cartridge (3).

[0043] These features ensure the highest quality and precision of the measurement, simplify and reduce the cost of production, testing, characterization, calibration, validation, assembly and maintenance of the measurement equipment, since the incorporation of the sensors (4) only requires placing the cartridges (3) in the assembly holes (2) in the housing (1), whereby each unit of the sensor (4) with its specific electronic board (5) is connected with the central electronic board, which automatically identifies the sensors (4) that are connected, particularly adapting the sensors to carry out their function in the measurement equipment, without requiring the intervention of a skilled expert, given that the sensors (4) do not have to be configured in said assembly.

[0044] Moreover, said condition of unity between each sensor (4) with its specific electronic board (5) and the specific parameters for its associated algorithm also has a positive impact on the replacement of the sensors (4) when they cease to be operational due to their limited service life given that, in order to replace a sensor (4), it is only necessary to remove the cartridge (3) comprising the sensor (4) along with its specific electronic board (5) from the corresponding housing hole (2) and introducing a new cartridge (3) with the new sensor (4) in its place, with the new sensor (4) automatically being ready for operation. The exchanged cartridge (3) will be discarded or can be reused in the manufacture of a cartridge (3) with a new sensor (4) configured during its manufacture.

[0045] In addition, the cartridges (3) have therein a configuration formed by structures (9), preferably in the form of protuberances and/or steps, as can be seen in FIG. 5. Said structures, on which the units formed by the sensors (4) with their specific electronic boards (5) are supported, are located at different heights so that, in each case, the corresponding sensor (4) has an end measurement surface (10) arranged at a set level. In this way, the end surface (10) is always in direct contact with the air. The end measurement surfaces (10) of the sensors (4) of all the cartridges (3) of the measurement equipment must correspond at said level so that the measurements of the environmental parameters performed are correct.

[0046] Any type of sensor (4) can therefore be incorporated in each cartridge (3) of the measurement equipment, regardless of its height and shape, providing versatility to the cartridge (3) for the different sensor standards existing on the market. By means of being supported on the corresponding structures (9) inside the cartridge (3), each sensor (4) can be placed with its end measurement surface (10) at the suitable height, whereby the cartridge (3) and accordingly the measurement equipment is universal in terms of the sensors (4) with which they can be equipped.

[0047] Each cartridge (3) is closed at the end with a lid (11), which is fitted to the mouth of the cartridge (3) with an O-ring (12) that ensures a hermetic closure. Preferably, the lid (11) furthermore has a skirt (13), even more preferably it is provided with protrusions (14) on its edge, whereby it presses on the specific electronic board (5) of the sensor (4) that is housed inside the cartridge (3), thereby ensuring the positioning in the assembly inside the cartridge (3) and the electrical connection of the unitary assembly of the sensor (4) with its specific electronic board (5) in the assembly inside the cartridge (3).

[0048] Said lid (11) of the cartridges (3) has an opening (15) with which the end measurement surface (10) of the sensors (4) coincides in their assembly position inside the cartridges (3), such that said end measurement surfaces (10) of the sensors (4) are in contact with the outside air through said opening (15) of the lids (11) to measure the environmental parameters that have to be controlled. According to one embodiment, said opening (15) is arranged off-centered such that it allows the end surface (10) of the different types of sensors (4) to coincide, including those with a rectangular arrangement. It is also provided that said opening (15) is preferably configured to be able to couple at said point the nozzle of a machine or calibration tool that uses a control gas. In this way, by means of a recess (not shown), the fitting thereof is therefore allowed, introducing a specific gas to observe the reaction of the sensor.

[0049] To ensure leak-tightness, in addition to the O-ring (12), it is alternatively provided to arrange a gasket between the end surface (10) of the sensor and the lid (11), such that external elements are prevented from entering the inside of the cartridge through the hole (15). Additionally, the cartridge (3) comprises a gasket that is arranged between the hole (2) of the housing (1) and the outer surface of the cartridge (3), which prevents external elements from entering the equipment through the connector (7).

[0050] Preferably, the lid (11) comprises in the skirt (13) at least one groove in correspondence with a protrusion of the inner wall of the cartridge (3), such that rotation and misalignment of the opening (15) with respect to the sensor (4) are prevented.

[0051] However, it is envisaged to place blind lids (11) in the cartridges (3) that are empty only for the purpose of covering a hole (2) in the housing (1) where no sensor (4) has to be incorporated and the housing (1) is thereby hermetically sealed.

[0052] Given that some factors, such as temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure and others, can affect the measurements made by the sensors (4), distorting the values of said measurements, there can be arranged connected to the central electronic board probes (16) for measuring said factors so that the appropriate corrections on the measurement values provided by the sensors (4) can be made.

[0053] For this to be effective, the measurement of the influencing factors must be performed at the same level/height as the end measurement surfaces (10) of the sensors (4), so the mentioned probes (16) are arranged such that their end is located at said level of the end measurement surfaces (10) of the sensors (4) of the cartridges (3), for which there are envisaged in the housing (1) battlements (17) where said probes (16) are installed in the event that it is necessary to complement the measurement.

[0054] For the same purpose, complementary mini sensors for measuring temperature and humidity, which must in turn be arranged at the same level as the end measurement surfaces (10) of the sensors (4), can be incorporated in the actual specific electronic boards (5) of the sensors (4) by means of connectors (18), so there is provided in the lids (11) of the cartridges (3) a blind hole (19) which can be broken, when required, so that the mini sensors connected to the specific electronic board (5) of the sensor (4) housed inside the corresponding cartridge (3) can come into contact with the outside air through said blind hole.

[0055] The measurement equipment is completed with an electronic communications board (20), with which the central electronic board (6) is connected, such that information is transmitted remotely to maintain traceability of the quality of the measurement and its final validity/expiration date. In this way, the status and information of each sensor is indicated on a display to anticipate its replacement and in the event that it expires, the measurements are invalidated.

[0056] It is envisaged to incorporate in the equipment a grid (21), covering the cartridges (3), preferably made of stainless steel with a specific pattern of cavities and solid parts, which prevents sunlight or strong air currents from directly striking the end measurement surfaces (10) of the sensors (4), the measurement functions of which may be impaired by these factors.

[0057] Similarly, in order to prevent the detrimental impact of sunlight or strong air currents, it is envisaged to incorporate a protective cover (22) over the assembly of the measurement equipment, said cover being provided with openings for allowing the passage of circulating air that comes into contact with the sensors (4), so that the air quality evaluation measurements that the equipment must perform can be carried out. Preferably, the protective cover (22) comprises a canopy in the upper above a gap which results in air inlet openings. This is useful to ensure that the sensors are, at most, always at the same room temperature, regardless of whether there is too much or too little solar radiation. This also is useful so that, in the presence of strong winds, the air flows more quickly between the cover (22) and the housing (1), cooling the equipment more quickly.