Internet of things gas lock pressurization tightness tester and testing method

Abstract

This invention relates to an IoT-based gas valve pressure testing instrument and method for airtightness testing, comprising a housing and a pressure testing chamber, a high-pressure pump, and a low-pressure pump housed within the housing. A connecting pipe is located at the front end of the housing, and the front end of the pressure testing chamber is sealed to the rear end of the connecting pipe. A state switching valve is located at the front end of the pressure testing chamber. A temperature sensor and a pressure sensor are mounted on the connecting pipe. Both the high-pressure pump and the low-pressure pump are sealed to the pressure testing chamber. This invention avoids the influence of the temperature difference between the pressurized gas temperature and the ambient temperature of the pipeline, making the test simpler, faster, and more accurate. It can be used for airtightness testing of main building pipelines as well as branch pipelines connected to gas meters, offering greater flexibility.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of combustion safety technology, specifically to an Internet of Things (IoT) gas valve opening and pressurization airtightness tester and test method. Background Technology

[0002] In the construction of gas pipeline networks, it is necessary to test the air tightness of gas pipelines (pressure testing) before new pipelines are put into operation. The existing technology mainly uses a U-tube to complete the test. This method usually involves first filling an appropriate amount of water into the U-tube, then connecting one end of the U-tube to the valve of the gas pipeline to be tested through a hose, and connecting the other end to a hose so that the tester blows air into the U-tube. The tester then observes the change in the water level difference on both sides of the U-tube to determine whether there is a leak in the gas pipeline. Generally, depending on the test location, the pressure range of the gas blown in by the tester is usually between 5 kPa and 15 kPa.

[0003] However, when turning on the gas in a new house, the volume of the pipeline between the gas meter and the stove valve is only a few hundred to a thousand milliliters. Therefore, changes in gas temperature can significantly affect the gas pressure in the pipeline. In actual operation, the temperature of the gas blown into the U-tube is usually around 30 degrees Celsius, while the ambient temperature is generally 10 to 25 degrees Celsius. This temperature difference causes changes in the pressure difference on both sides of the water level in the U-tube. Therefore, testers usually need to wait until the temperature of the gas blown into the U-tube matches the ambient temperature of the gas pipeline (about half an hour or even longer) before they can judge whether there is a leak in the gas pipeline by observing the change in the water level difference on both sides of the U-tube. Otherwise, the existence of the temperature difference will cause the water level difference on both sides of the U-tube to be inaccurate, leading to inaccurate testing. This also makes the entire testing operation time-consuming. Furthermore, due to different local temperatures, testers often rely on personal experience to determine whether to start the test, which can easily lead to inaccurate gas tightness testing and create safety hazards. At the same time, traditional gas tightness testing often cannot record the testers, the testing process, the test results, and user information in real time, making it impossible to track accidents and trace construction later.

[0004] In addition to the branch pipes introduced into each household, the gas pipeline testing of newly built buildings also includes the airtightness test of the main pipes passing through each floor. Furthermore, since the gas pressure of the main pipes and branch pipes is different, the testing requirements are also different. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an IoT gas valve opening and pressurization air tightness tester and test method, which can avoid the influence of the temperature difference between the pressurized gas temperature and the pipeline ambient temperature, and the test is simpler, faster and more accurate.

[0006] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0007] An IoT-based gas valve opening and pressurization airtightness tester includes an outer casing and a pressurization chamber, a high-pressure pump, and a low-pressure pump disposed within the outer casing. The outer casing has a connecting pipe at its front end, and the front end of the pressurization chamber is sealed to the rear end of the connecting pipe. A state switching valve is provided at the front end of the pressurization chamber. A temperature sensor and a pressure sensor are provided on the connecting pipe. Both the high-pressure pump and the low-pressure pump are sealed to the pressurization chamber.

[0008] The front end of the high-pressure pump is sealed to the rear end of the pressure chamber, and the low-pressure pump is located on one side of the pressure chamber and connected to the pressure chamber through a low-pressure pump pipeline.

[0009] The outer casing is equipped with a venting solenoid valve, which is located on one side of the pressure chamber and connected to the pressure chamber via a venting valve pipeline.

[0010] The outer casing contains an upper mounting plate, a lower mounting plate, and an inner shell. Temperature and pressure sensors are first mounted on the connecting pipe. Then, the high-pressure pump, pressurizing chamber, and connecting pipe are sequentially connected and clamped and fixed by the upper and lower mounting plates. A state-changing valve is placed in a gap between the upper and lower mounting plates. The low-pressure pump and venting solenoid valve are then connected to the pressurizing chamber via corresponding pipes. The inner shell is fitted onto the front end of the upper and lower mounting plates, and the connecting pipe extends from the front end of the inner shell. An opening is provided on the inner shell for the knob of the state-changing valve to protrude.

[0011] The control system includes an IoT communication module, a central processing unit, a power supply module, and a display screen. The IoT communication module, power supply module, display screen, temperature sensor, and pressure sensor are respectively connected to the central processing unit via lines. The rear end of the housing is provided with a power switch and an external power socket, and both the power switch and the external power socket are connected to the power supply module. The display screen is located on the housing.

[0012] The outer casing has an upper mounting plate and a lower mounting plate inside, and the IoT communication module, central processing unit and power module are respectively located on the corresponding mounting plates.

[0013] The outer casing has a front cover at one end and a rear cover at the other end. The front cover has a through hole for the connecting pipe to pass through, and the rear cover has a power switch, a vent hole, and an external power socket.

[0014] A test method for the IoT gas valve opening and pressurization air tightness tester, wherein the temperature sensor and pressure sensor monitor the temperature and pressure inside the connecting pipe in real time and transmit the data to the central processing unit. The central processing unit calculates the pressure change value inside the connecting pipe due to the temperature difference by combining the obtained ambient temperature of the gas pipeline. Then, the central processing unit subtracts the pressure change value due to the temperature difference from the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor to obtain the pressure test value.

[0015] According to the test method of the IoT gas valve opening and pressurizing airtightness tester, when testing the main pipeline in the building, the tester first rotates the knob of the state switching valve to the "normal" state and selects the gas pressure to be injected. Then, the high-pressure pump is started to pressurize the gas. After the set pressure gas is injected, the tester rotates the knob of the state switching valve to the airtight position.

[0016] A testing method for the gas valve opening and pressurizing airtightness tester according to the Internet of Things is characterized in that: when testing the branch pipe connected to the gas meter in the building, the tester first rotates the knob of the state switching valve to the "normal" state and selects the gas pressure to be injected, then controls the low-pressure pump to start pressurizing, and after injecting the set pressure gas, the tester rotates the knob of the state switching valve to the airtight position.

[0017] The advantages and positive effects of this invention are as follows:

[0018] 1. In use, this invention utilizes a state switching valve to switch between pressurized and airtight states. In the airtight state, temperature and pressure sensors are used to test the gas temperature and pressure inside the connecting pipe. The temperature value obtained by the temperature sensor is transmitted to the control system and combined with the ambient temperature of the gas pipeline obtained by the control system to calculate the pressure change inside the connecting pipe caused by the temperature difference. Then, the control system subtracts the pressure change caused by the temperature difference from the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor to obtain the pressure test value. This avoids the influence of the temperature difference between the pressurized gas temperature and the pipeline ambient temperature. This invention can replace the U-tube in the prior art for testing and does not require a long waiting time like U-tube testing. The testing is simpler and faster, and the testing does not rely on human experience judgment, making the testing more accurate.

[0019] 2. This invention can be used for air tightness testing of main pipelines in buildings as well as for air tightness testing of branch pipelines connected to gas meters, making it more flexible to use. When testing the main pipeline, a high-pressure pump is started to pressurize, and when testing the branch pipeline, a low-pressure pump is started to pressurize. Furthermore, the air tightness test of either the main pipeline or the branch pipeline is not affected by the temperature difference between the pressurized gas temperature and the pipeline ambient temperature.

[0020] 3. The present invention has a compact overall structure and is easy to install. In addition to clamping and fixing components such as the high-pressure pump and the pressurization chamber, the upper and lower mounting plates inside the outer shell can also be used to install the various modules in the control system on their respective mounting plates. Furthermore, this structure facilitates wiring connections, and installers can complete the wiring connection work for each part through the gaps on both sides of the upper and lower mounting plates.

[0021] 4. The control system of the present invention includes an Internet of Things (IoT) communication module for wireless connection with mobile phone APP or laptop terminal, so that testers can directly select the gas pressure to be injected into the gas pipeline to be tested on the mobile phone APP or laptop, or control the opening or closing of devices such as high pressure pump, low pressure pump, and gas relief solenoid valve, thereby further improving the ease of operation of the present invention. In addition, information such as floor unit, tester's name, and test value can also be recorded in real time through mobile phone APP and uploaded to cloud server for storage, thereby facilitating subsequent accident tracking and construction traceability. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is an overall schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the internal structure of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the state transition valve switching to the airtight state.

[0026] Figure 5 for Figure 3 The main view of the structure

[0027] Figure 6 for Figure 2 Another perspective of the structure.

[0028] Figure 7 for Figure 1 Another exploded view of the internal structure of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the location relationship between the main pipes and branch pipes in the building.

[0030] Among them, 1 is the outer shell, 101 is the front cover, 1011 is the connecting pipe, 102 is the rear cover, 1021 is the power switch, 1022 is the vent, 1023 is the external power socket, 103 is the inner shell, 104 is the upper mounting plate, 105 is the lower mounting plate, 2 is the state switching valve, 3 is the temperature sensor, 4 is the vent solenoid valve, 401 is the vent valve pipeline, 5 is the high-pressure pump, 6 is the IoT communication module, 7 is the power module, 8 is the pressure chamber, 9 is the low-pressure pump, 901 is the low-pressure pump pipeline, 10 is the main pipeline, 11 is the gas meter, 12 is the branch pipeline, 13 is the stove, and 14 is the pressure sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] like Figures 1-7 As shown, the present invention includes an outer casing 1 and a pressure chamber 8, a high-pressure pump 5, and a low-pressure pump 9 disposed within the outer casing 1. The outer casing 1 has a connecting pipe 1011 at its front end, and the front end of the pressure chamber 8 is sealed to the rear end of the connecting pipe 1011. A state switching valve 2 is located at the front end of the pressure chamber 8. A temperature sensor 3 and a pressure sensor 14 are mounted on the connecting pipe 1011. The high-pressure pump 5 and the low-pressure pump 9 are both sealed to the pressure chamber 8. In use, the connecting pipe 1011 is connected to a test valve on a gas pipeline. The tester then turns on the instrument's power switch 1021 and rotates the knob of the state switching valve 2 to the "normal" position. Figure 3 (As shown in the diagram), at this time, the front port of the pressure chamber 8 is open. Then, the tester selects the gas pressure to be injected into the gas pipeline to be tested on the control system interface, and controls the high-pressure pump 5 or low-pressure pump 9 (depending on the test pipeline) to start pressurizing into the pressure chamber 8. After the set pressure gas is injected, the tester rotates the knob of the state conversion valve 2 to the airtight position. Figure 4 (As shown in the diagram), at this time, the front end port of the pressure chamber 8 is closed, and an airtight state is formed inside the connecting pipe 1011. Then, the test valve of the gas pipeline is opened. At this time, the temperature sensor 3 and the pressure sensor 14 monitor the temperature and pressure inside the connecting pipe 1011 in real time. The temperature value obtained by the temperature sensor 3 is transmitted to the control system and combined with the ambient temperature of the gas pipeline obtained by the control system to calculate the pressure change value inside the connecting pipe 1011 caused by the temperature difference between the two. This is a well-known physical gas pressure calculation. Then, the control system subtracts the pressure change value caused by the above temperature difference from the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 14 to obtain the pressure test value. The pressure test value will be displayed on the display screen of the control system in real time. If there is a leak in the gas pipeline, the pressure test value will continue to decrease. If the pressure test value remains unchanged, it indicates that the gas pipeline is airtight and has no leaks.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the front end of the high-pressure pump 5 is sealed to the rear end of the pressurization chamber 8, and as... Figures 6-7 As shown, the low-pressure pump 9 is located on one side of the pressurization chamber 8 and connected to the pressurization chamber 8 via a low-pressure pump pipeline 901, as... Figure 2 As shown, a venting solenoid valve 4 is provided inside the outer casing 1, and the venting solenoid valve 4 is located on the other side of the pressure chamber 8. The venting solenoid valve 4 is connected to the pressure chamber 8 through a venting valve pipeline 401. The venting solenoid valve 4 is opened by the control system to vent the gas in the pressure chamber 8.

[0034] like Figures 2-6 As shown, in this embodiment, the outer shell 1 is internally provided with an upper mounting plate 104, a lower mounting plate 105, and an inner shell 103. During installation, the temperature sensor 3 and pressure sensor 14 are first installed on the connecting pipe 1011. Then, the high-pressure pump 5, the pressurizing chamber 8, and the connecting pipe 1011 are sequentially connected and clamped and fixed by the upper mounting plate 104 and the lower mounting plate 105. The upper mounting plate 104 and the lower mounting plate 105 are provided with locking holes or slots for locking corresponding parts at their respective positions. The state switching valve 2 is integrally formed with the pressurizing chamber 8, and the state switching valve 2 is positioned on the upper mounting plate 104 and... The low-pressure pump 9 and the venting solenoid valve 4 are connected to the pressurization chamber 8 through corresponding pipelines in the gap between the lower mounting plates 105. Then, the inner housing 103 is fitted onto the front end of the upper mounting plate 104 and the lower mounting plate 105. At this time, the connecting pipe 1011 extends from the front end of the inner housing 103, and the inner housing 103 has an opening for the knob of the state conversion valve 2 to be exposed. Finally, cover plates are installed on each side of the above structure to form the outer shell 1, and the two ends of the outer shell 1 are sealed by the front cover 101 and the rear cover 102 to complete the installation of the entire product. The present invention adopts a fixing structure of upper mounting plate 104, lower mounting plate 105 and inner shell 103. On the one hand, it facilitates the installation of components and control system. In addition to clamping and fixing components such as high pressure pump 5 and pressurizing chamber 8, the upper mounting plate 104 and lower mounting plate 105 can also be used to install various modules in the control system on their respective mounting plates. On the other hand, this structure also facilitates wiring connection. Installers can complete the wiring connection of each part through the gaps on both sides of the upper mounting plate 104 and lower mounting plate 105.

[0035] like Figures 1-7As shown, in this embodiment, the front cover 101 of the outer casing 1 has a through hole for the connecting pipe 1011 to pass through, and the rear cover 102 has a power switch 1021, a vent 1022, and an external power socket 1023. In this embodiment, the control system includes an IoT communication module 6, a central processing unit, a power module 7, and a display screen. The IoT communication module 6, power module 7, and display screen are respectively connected to the central processing unit via lines. The IoT communication module 6 is used for wireless connection with a mobile APP or laptop terminal, allowing testers to directly select the gas pressure to be injected into the gas pipeline under test on the mobile APP or laptop, or control the opening or closing of devices such as the high-pressure pump 5, low-pressure pump 9, and venting solenoid valve 4. The power module 7 provides power to each component, and as... Figure 1 As shown, the power switch 1021 on the rear cover 102 is connected to the power module 7. During testing, the tester needs to turn on the power switch 1021 to power on all components before proceeding to the next step. The external power socket 1023 is connected to the power module 7 via a line to achieve charging or power supply via an external line. In addition to controlling the opening and closing of each component, the central processing unit is also used to process the temperature and pressure values ​​obtained by the temperature sensor 3 and the pressure sensor 14, and calculates the pressure change value inside the connecting pipe 1011 caused by the difference between the pressurized gas temperature and the gas pipeline ambient temperature, thereby obtaining the pressure test value. In this invention, a temperature sensor can be set separately on the outer shell 1 to detect the external gas pipeline ambient temperature. The gas pipeline ambient temperature can also be obtained by a pipeline temperature detection sensor set on the gas pipeline to ensure the safe operation of the pipeline. This is a well-known technology in the field. In addition, the display screen can be set on the outer shell 1, so that the tester can observe the gas pressure change in real time.

[0036] In this embodiment, the state transition valve 2 is a ball valve, and the state transition valve 2, temperature sensor 3, pressure sensor 14, venting solenoid valve 4, network communication module 6, central processing unit, power module 7 and display screen are all technologies known in the art and are commercially available products.

[0037] The working principle of this invention is as follows:

[0038] In use, the connecting pipe 1011 is connected to the test valve on the gas pipeline. Then, the tester turns on the instrument's power switch 1021 and rotates the knob of the state switching valve 2 to the "normal" state. Figure 3(As shown in the diagram), at this time, the front port of the pressure chamber 8 is open. Then, the tester selects the gas pressure to be injected into the gas pipeline to be tested on the control system interface, and controls the high-pressure pump 5 or low-pressure pump 9 (depending on the test pipeline) to start pressurizing into the pressure chamber 8. After the set pressure gas is injected, the tester rotates the knob of the state conversion valve 2 to the airtight position. Figure 4 (As shown in the diagram), at this time, the front end of the pressurizing chamber 8 is closed, and an airtight state is formed in the connecting pipe 1011. Then, the test valve on the gas pipeline is opened. At this time, the temperature sensor 3 and the pressure sensor 14 monitor the temperature and pressure in the connecting pipe 1011 in real time. The temperature value obtained by the temperature sensor 3 is transmitted to the control system and combined with the ambient temperature of the gas pipeline obtained by the control system to calculate the pressure change value inside the connecting pipe 1011 caused by the temperature difference between the two. This is a well-known physical pressure calculation. Then, the control system subtracts the pressure change value caused by the above temperature difference from the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 14 to obtain the pressure test value. This can avoid the influence of the temperature difference between the pressurizing gas temperature and the pipeline ambient temperature. The pressure test value will be displayed on the display screen of the control system in real time. If there is a leak in the pipeline, the pressure test value will continue to decrease. If the pressure test value remains unchanged, it indicates that the gas pipeline is airtight and has no leaks.

[0039] Other examples Figure 8 As shown, the gas pipelines in newly built buildings typically include a main pipeline 10 running through each floor and branch pipelines 12 leading to each household. One end of the branch pipeline 12 is connected to the gas meter 11, and the other end is connected to the stove 13. This invention can be used to test both the main pipeline 10 and the branch pipeline 12, making it more flexible. When testing the main pipeline 10, the high-pressure pump 5 is activated to pressurize; when testing the branch pipeline 12, the low-pressure pump 9 is activated to pressurize. Furthermore, the airtightness test of either the main pipeline 10 or the branch pipeline 12 is not affected by the temperature difference between the pressurized gas temperature and the pipeline ambient temperature. Therefore, unlike the U-shaped pipe in the prior art, which requires a long waiting time, the test is simpler and faster. At the same time, the test does not rely on human experience for judgment, making the test more accurate.

[0040] The control system of this invention includes an Internet of Things (IoT) communication module 6 for wireless connection with a mobile APP or computer terminal. This allows testers to directly select the gas pressure to be injected into the gas pipeline under test on the mobile APP or laptop, or control the opening or closing of devices such as the high-pressure pump 5, low-pressure pump 9, and venting solenoid valve 4, thereby further improving operational convenience. In addition, information such as floor unit, tester's name, and test values ​​can also be recorded in real time through the mobile APP and uploaded to the cloud server for storage, thereby facilitating subsequent accident tracking and construction traceability.

Claims

1. An IoT-based gas valve opening and pressure testing airtightness tester, characterized in that: The device includes an outer casing (1) and a pressure chamber (8), a high-pressure pump (5), and a low-pressure pump (9) disposed within the outer casing (1). The outer casing (1) has a connecting pipe (1011) at its front end, and the front end of the pressure chamber (8) is sealed to the rear end of the connecting pipe (1011). A state switching valve (2) is provided at the front end of the pressure chamber (8). A temperature sensor (3) and a pressure sensor (14) are provided on the connecting pipe (1011). The high-pressure pump (5) and the low-pressure pump (9) are both sealed to the pressure chamber (8).

2. The IoT gas valve opening and pressure testing airtightness tester according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the high-pressure pump (5) is sealed to the rear end of the pressure chamber (8), and the low-pressure pump (9) is located on one side of the pressure chamber (8) and connected to the pressure chamber (8) through the low-pressure pump pipeline (901).

3. The IoT gas valve opening and pressure testing airtightness tester according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer casing (1) is provided with a venting solenoid valve (4), and the venting solenoid valve (4) is located on one side of the pressure chamber (8) and connected to the pressure chamber (8) through a venting valve pipeline (401).

4. The IoT gas valve opening and pressure testing airtightness tester according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer casing (1) is internally provided with an upper mounting plate (104), a lower mounting plate (105), and an inner casing (103). The temperature sensor (3) and the pressure sensor (14) are first installed on the connecting pipe (1011). Then, the high-pressure pump (5), the pressurizing chamber (8), and the connecting pipe (1011) are connected in sequence and clamped and fixed by the upper mounting plate (104) and the lower mounting plate (105). The state switching valve (2) is placed on the upper mounting plate (104). The low-pressure pump (9) and the venting solenoid valve (4) are connected to the pressurization chamber (8) through corresponding pipelines in the gap between the upper mounting plate (104) and the lower mounting plate (105). The inner housing (103) is fitted onto the front end of the upper mounting plate (104) and the lower mounting plate (105), and the connecting pipe (1011) extends out from the front end of the inner housing (103). An opening is provided on the inner housing (103) for the knob of the state switching valve (2) to be exposed.

5. The IoT gas valve opening and pressure testing airtightness tester according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control system includes an Internet of Things (IoT) communication module (6), a central processing unit (CPU), a power supply module (7), and a display screen. The IoT communication module (6), power supply module (7), display screen, temperature sensor (3), and pressure sensor (14) are connected to the CPU via lines. The rear end of the housing (1) is provided with a power switch (1021) and an external power socket (1023), and both the power switch (1021) and the external power socket (1023) are connected to the power supply module (7). The display screen is located on the housing (1).

6. The IoT gas valve opening and pressure testing airtightness tester according to claim 5, characterized in that: The outer casing (1) is provided with an upper mounting plate (104) and a lower mounting plate (105), and the Internet of Things communication module (6), the central processing unit, and the power module (7) are respectively located on the corresponding mounting plates.

7. The IoT gas valve opening and pressure testing airtightness tester according to claim 5, characterized in that: The outer casing (1) has a front cover (101) at one end and a rear cover (102) at the other end. The front cover (101) has a through hole for the connecting pipe (1011) to pass through, and the rear cover (102) has a power switch (1021), a vent (1022) and an external power socket (1023).

8. A testing method for the IoT gas valve opening and pressure testing airtightness tester according to claim 5, characterized in that: The temperature sensor (3) and pressure sensor (14) monitor the temperature and pressure inside the connecting pipe (1011) in real time and transmit the data to the central processing unit. The central processing unit calculates and obtains the pressure change value inside the connecting pipe (1011) caused by the temperature difference based on the obtained ambient temperature of the gas pipeline. Then, the central processing unit subtracts the pressure change value caused by the temperature difference from the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor (14) to obtain the pressure test value.

9. A testing method for the IoT gas valve opening and pressure testing airtightness tester according to claim 1, characterized in that: When testing the main pipeline (10) inside the building, the tester first rotates the knob of the state switching valve (2) to the "normal" state and selects the gas pressure to be injected. Then, the high-pressure pump (5) is started to pressurize the gas. After the set pressure gas is injected, the tester rotates the knob of the state switching valve (2) to the airtight position.

10. A testing method for the IoT gas valve opening and pressure testing airtightness tester according to claim 1, characterized in that: When testing the branch pipe (12) connected to the gas meter (11) inside the building, the tester first rotates the knob of the state switching valve (2) to the "normal" state and selects the gas pressure to be injected. Then, the tester controls the low-pressure pump (9) to start pressurizing. After injecting the gas at the set pressure, the tester rotates the knob of the state switching valve (2) to the airtight position.

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