Granted Patent B2

US 12,405,191 · App. 17/739,771 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Inventor: Pere Moix Olivé (Barcelona, ES)

Assignee: KIDDE FIRE PROTECTION, LLC

G01N1/24G01M99/00G01N2001/245

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. An aspirating detection system ( 1 ) for detecting a fire event in a monitored environment ( 100 ), the aspirating detection system ( 1 ) comprising:

an aspirator ( 2 ) for sampling air from the monitored environment ( 100 );

a vibration sensor ( 3 ) configured to monitor a vibration signature of the aspirator ( 2 ); and

a control module ( 4 ) in communication with the vibration sensor ( 3 );

wherein the control module ( 4 ) is configured to determine if the aspirator ( 2 ) requires maintenance based on the vibration signature of the aspirator ( 2 );

wherein the control module ( 4 ) is configured to:

compare the vibration signature of the aspirator ( 2 ) to an operational range; and

if the vibration signature of the aspirator ( 2 ) is not within the operational range, determine that the aspirator ( 2 ) requires maintenance;

wherein the vibration sensor ( 3 ) is configured to monitor an initial vibration signature of the aspirator ( 2 );

wherein the control module ( 4 ) is configured to determine a relative threshold for maintenance based on the initial vibration signature, the relative threshold for maintenance defining an upper limit and a lower limit of the operational range.

2. An aspirating detection system ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control module ( 4 ) is configured to:

compare the initial vibration signature to an initial range; and

if the initial vibration signature is not within the initial range, determine that the aspirator ( 2 ) requires maintenance.

3. An aspirating detection system ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vibration sensor comprises a first vibration sensor ( 3 A) configured to monitor a first vibration signature of the aspirator ( 2 ), and a second vibration sensor ( 3 B) configured to monitor a second vibration signature of the aspirator ( 2 ).

4. An aspirating detection system ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aspirator ( 2 ) comprises an impeller ( 12 ).

5. A method of determining when an aspirator ( 2 ) for an aspirating detection system ( 1 ) requires maintenance, the method comprising:

monitoring a vibration signature of the aspirator ( 2 );

determining if the aspirator ( 2 ) requires maintenance based on the vibration signature;

comparing the vibration signature to an operational range and if the vibration signature is not within the operational range, determining that the aspirator ( 2 ) requires maintenance;

monitoring an initial vibration signature of the aspirator ( 2 );

determining a relative threshold for maintenance based on the initial vibration signature; and

defining an upper limit and a lower limit of the operational range based on the relative threshold and the initial vibration signature.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 , the method comprising:

comparing the initial vibration signature to an initial range; and

if the initial vibration signature is not within the initial range, determining that the aspirator ( 2 ) requires maintenance.

7. A method of calibrating a control module ( 4 ) for an aspirating detection system ( 1 ), the method comprising:

determining an initial vibration signature of an aspirator ( 2 );

comparing the initial vibration signature to an initial range;

if the initial vibration signature is not within the initial range:

determining that the aspirator ( 2 ) requires maintenance;

if the initial vibration signature is within the initial range:

determining a relative threshold for maintenance based on the initial vibration signature; and

defining an upper limit and a lower limit of an operational range based on the relative threshold and the initial vibration signature.

Assignments (4)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (33)