METHOD AND SYSTEM OF ACTUATOR BASED VALVE CONTROL TO ISOLATE BREATHABLE AIR SUPPLIED TO ONE OR MORE LEVELS AND/OR ONE OR MORE REGIONS OF A STRUCTURE HAVING A FIREFIGHTER AIR REPLENISHMENT SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED THEREIN

Abstract

A safety system of a structure includes a number of levels and/or regions and a fixed piping system installed therewithin to supply breathable air from a source across the safety system including the number of levels and/or the regions. A parameter of an environment of one or more level(s) and/or one or more region(s) of the structure and/or the breathable air supplied thereto is sensed. In response to the sensing, an actuator of one or more valve(s) associated with control of the supply of the breathable air to the one or more level(s) and/or one or more region(s) is controlled to isolate the breathable air supplied thereto.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

This disclosure relates generally to emergency systems and, more particularly, to methods and/or a system of actuator based valve control to isolate breathable air supplied to one or more levels and/or one or more regions of a structure having a safety system implemented therein.

BACKGROUND

A structure (e.g., a vertical building, a horizontal building, a tunnel, marine craft, a mine) may have a Firefighter Air Replenishment System (FARS) implemented therein. The FARS may be employed to provide pure and safe breathable air to emergency personnel and/or maintenance personnel associated therewith. The structure may have multiple levels (e.g., floor levels) and/or multiple regions (e.g., bays) thereof and the breathable air may be supplied across the FARS implemented within the structure including the multiple levels and/or the multiple regions via a fixed piping system implemented therein. During an emergency situation such as a fire, smoke, leakage of the breathable air at one or more levels and/or one or more regions and/or contamination of the breathable air thereat, the breathable air supplied to the other levels and/or the other regions may also become contaminated. Continued supply of the breathable air in the emergency situation to the compromised one or more levels and/or the one or more regions may prove to be dangerous to the emergency personnel and/or the maintenance personnel and/or wasteful.

SUMMARY

Disclosed are methods and/or a system of actuator based valve control to isolate breathable air supplied to one or more levels and/or one or more regions of a structure having a safety system implemented therein.

In one aspect, a method of a safety system of a structure including a number of levels and/or regions and a fixed piping system installed therewithin to supply breathable air from a source across the safety system including the number of levels and/or the regions is disclosed. The method includes sensing a parameter of an environment of one or more level(s) of the number of levels and/or one or more region(s) of the number of regions of the structure and/or the breathable air supplied thereto. The method also includes, in response to the sensing, controlling an actuator of one or more valve(s) associated with control of the supply of the breathable air to the one or more level(s) and/or the one or more region(s) to isolate the breathable air supplied thereto.

In another aspect, s method of a safety system of a structure having a number of levels and/or regions and a fixed piping system installed therewithin to supply breathable air from a source across the safety system including the number of levels and/or the regions is disclosed. The method includes sensing a parameter of an environment of one or more level(s) of the number of levels and/or one or more region(s) of the number of regions of the structure and/or the breathable air supplied thereto. The method also includes, in response to determining that the parameter is outside a predetermined threshold value thereof based on the sensing, controlling an actuator of one or more valve(s) associated with control of the supply of the breathable air to the one or more level(s) and/or the one or more region(s) to isolate the breathable air supplied thereto.

In yet another aspect, a safety system of a structure having a number of levels and/or a number of regions is disclosed. The safety system includes a source of breathable air, and a fixed piping system installed within the structure for supply of the breathable air from the source across the safety system including the number of levels and/or the number of regions. The safety system also includes one or more valve(s) associated with control of the supply of the breathable air to one or more level(s) of the number of levels and/or one or more region(s) of the number of regions. Further, the safety system includes a control device to, in response to a sensor associated with one or more component(s) of the safety system sensing a parameter of an environment of the one or more level(s) and/or the one or more region(s) and/or the breathable air supplied thereto, control an actuator of the one or more valve(s) to isolate the breathable air supplied to the one or more level(s) and/or the one or more region(s).

Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of this invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic and an illustrative view of a safety system associated with a structure, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a schematic view of the safety system of FIG. 1A integrated with and/or including other components, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an air quality analysis device of the safety system of FIGS. 1A-B, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of example constituent sensors within the air quality analysis device of FIGS. 1A-B and FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic and an illustrative view of an example air monitoring system of the safety system of FIGS. 1A-B.

FIG. 5 is a schematic and an illustrative view of an example display unit associated with the air quality analysis device of the air monitoring system of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic and an illustrative view of an example air quality analysis device of the safety system of FIGS. 1A-B.

FIG. 7 is a schematic and an illustrative view of the safety system of FIGS. 1A-B implemented in a horizontal configuration of the structure thereof and communication therewithin, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 8 is an example user interface view of an air safety application executing on a data processing device of FIG. 1B and FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of control of valves remotely from an External Mobile Air Connection (EMAC) panel of the safety system of FIG. 1B and FIG. 7, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a schematic and an illustrative view of a portion of the structure and the safety system of FIGS. 1A-B including one or more levels in which an emergency state occurs, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an emergency air fill station, a bypass controller device, an air monitoring system and/or an air quality analysis device of the safety system of FIGS. 1A-B with environmental sensors, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a schematic and an illustrative view of an isolation valve control panel to control isolation valves of the safety system of FIGS. 1A-B, FIG. 7 and FIGS. 10-11, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of an actuator-based control system of an isolation valve of the safety system of FIGS. 1A-B, FIG. 7 and FIGS. 10-11, according to one or more embodiments

FIG. 14 is an example user interface view of a safety application executing on a data processing device of the safety system of FIG. 1B, FIG. 7, FIG. 11 and FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a process flow diagram detailing the operations involved in actuator based valve control to isolate breathable air supplied to one or more levels and/or one or more regions of a structure having a safety system implemented therein, according to one or more embodiments.

Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments, as described below, may be used to provide methods and/or a system of actuator based valve control to isolate breathable air supplied to one or more levels and/or one or more regions of a structure having a safety system implemented therein. Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments.

FIG. 1A shows a safety system 100 associated with a structure 102, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, safety system 100 may be a Firefighter Air Replenishment System (FARS) to enable firefighters entering structure 102 in times of fire-related emergencies to gain access to breathable (e.g., human breathable) air (e.g., breathable air 103) in-house without the need of bringing in air bottles/cylinders to be transported up several flights of stairs of structure 102 or deep thereinto, or to refill depleted air bottles/cylinders that are brought into structure 102. In one or more embodiments, safety system 100 may supply breathable air provided from a supply of air tanks (to be discussed) stored in structure 102. When a fire department vehicle arrives at structure 102 during an emergency, breathable air supply typically may be provided through a source of air connected to said vehicle. In one or more embodiments, safety system 100 may enable firefighters to refill air bottles/cylinders thereof at emergency air fill stations (to be discussed) located throughout structure 102. Specifically, in some embodiments, firefighters may be able to fill air bottles/cylinders thereof at emergency air fill stations within structure 102 under full respiration in less than one to two minutes.

In one or more embodiments, structure 102 may encompass vertical building structures, horizontal building structures (e.g., shopping malls, hypermarts, extended shopping, storage and/or warehousing related structures), tunnels, marine craft (e.g., large marine vessels such as cruise ships, cargo ships, submarines and large naval craft, which may be “floating” versions of buildings and horizontal structures) and mines. Other structures are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein. In one or more embodiments, safety system 100 may include a fixed piping system 104 permanently installed within structure 102 serving as a constant source of replenishment of breathable air 103. Fixed piping system 104 may be regarded as being analogous to a water piping system within structure 102 or another structure analogous thereto for the sake of imaginative convenience.

As shown in FIG. 1A, fixed piping system 104 may distribute breathable air 103 across floors/levels of structure 102. For the aforementioned purpose, fixed piping system 104 may distribute breathable air 103 from an air storage system 106 (e.g., within structure 102) including a number of air storage tanks 108_1-N that serve as sources of pressurized/compressed air (e.g., breathable air 103). Additionally, in one or more embodiments, fixed piping system 104 may interconnect with a mobile air unit 110 (e.g., a fire vehicle) through an External Mobile Air Connection (EMAC) panel 112.

In one or more embodiments, EMAC panel 112 may be a boxed structure (e.g., exterior to structure 102) to enable the interconnection between mobile air unit 110 and safety system 100. For example, mobile air unit 110 may include an on-board air compressor to store and replenish pressurized/compressed air (e.g., breathable air analogous to breathable air 103) in air bottles/cylinders (e.g., utilizable with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBAs) carried by firefighters). Mobile air unit 110 may also include other pieces of air supply/distribution equipment (e.g., piping and/or air cylinders/bottles) that may be able to leverage the sources of breathable air 103 within safety system 100 through EMAC panel 112. Firefighters, for example, may be able to fill breathable air (e.g., breathable air 103, breathable air analogous to breathable air 103) into air bottles/cylinders (e.g., spare bottles, bottles requiring replenishment of breathable air) carried on mobile air unit 110 through safety system 100.

In FIG. 1A, EMAC panel 112 is shown at two locations merely for the sake of illustrative convenience. In one or more embodiments, an air monitoring system 150 may be installed as part of safety system 100 to automatically track and monitor a parameter (e.g., pressure) and/or a quality (e.g., indicated by moisture levels, carbon monoxide levels) of breathable air 103 within safety system 100. FIG. 1A shows air monitoring system 150 as communicatively coupled to air storage system 106 and EMAC panel 112 merely for the sake of example. It should be noted that EMAC panel 112 may be at a remote location associated with (e.g., internal to, external to) structure 102. In one or more embodiments, for monitoring the parameters and/or the quality of breathable air within safety system 100, air monitoring system 150 include appropriate sensors and circuitries therein. For example, a pressure sensor (to be discussed) within air monitoring system 150 may automatically sense and record a pressure of breathable air 103 of safety system 100. Said pressure sensor may communicate with an alarm system that is triggered when the sensed pressure is outside a safety range. Also, in one or more embodiments, air monitoring system 150 may automatically trigger a shutdown of breathable air distribution through safety system 100 in case of impurity/contaminant (e.g., carbon monoxide) detection therethrough yielding levels above a safety/predetermined threshold.

In one or more embodiments, fixed piping system 104 may include pipes (e.g., constituted out of stainless steel tubing) that distribute breathable air 103 to a number of emergency air fill stations 120_1-P within structure 102. In one example implementation, each emergency air fill station 120_1-P may be located at a specific level of structure 102. If structure 102 is regarded as a vertical building structure, an emergency air fill station 120_1-P may be located at each of a basement level, a first floor level, a second floor level and so on. For example, emergency air fill station 120_1-P may be located at the end of the flight of stairs that emergency fighting personnel (e.g., firefighting personnel) need to climb to reach a specific floor level within the vertical building structure.

In one or more embodiments, an emergency air fill station 120_1-P may be a static location within a level of structure 102 that provides emergency personnel 122 (e.g., firefighters, emergency responders) with the ability to rapidly fill air bottles/cylinders (e.g., SCBA cylinders). In one or more embodiments, emergency air fill station 120_1-P may be an emergency air fill panel or a rupture containment air fill station. In one or more embodiments, proximate each emergency air fill station 120_1-P, safety system 100 may include an isolation valve 160_1-P to isolate a corresponding emergency air fill station 120_1-P from a rest of safety system 100. For example, said isolation may be achieved through the manual turning of isolation valve 160_1-P proximate the corresponding emergency air fill station 120_1-P or remotely (e.g., based on automatic turning) from air monitoring system 150. In one example implementation, air monitoring system 150 may maintain breathable air supply to a subset of emergency air fill stations 120_1-P through control of a corresponding subset of isolation valves 160_1-P and may isolate the other emergency air fill stations 120_1-P from the breathable air supply. Thus, in one or more embodiments, isolation valves 160_1-P may be employed to control the supply of breathable air 103 to the corresponding emergency air fill stations 120_1-P (associated with levels of structure 102). It should be noted that configurations and components of safety system 100 may vary from the example safety system 100 of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1B shows safety system 100 of FIG. 1A integrated with and/or including other components, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, safety system 100 shows air storage system 106 discussed above as including air storage tanks 108_1-N (example pressurized/compressed air source shown as compressed air source 108) and air compressor 130. In some embodiments, air compressor 130 may be regarded as another compressed air source 109 internal to or external to structure 102, as will be discussed below. In one or more embodiments, air monitoring system 150 discussed above may include an air quality analysis device 105 (e.g., a programmable electromechanical device) to determine quality of breathable air 103 within safety system 100. In order to do this, in one or more embodiments, air quality analysis device 105 may be communicatively coupled to air storage system 106.

In one or more embodiments, air quality analysis device 105 may continuously and/or intermittently measure and analyze components of breathable air 103 within safety system 100. Further, in one or more embodiments, air quality analysis device 105 may compare the results of the analyses to standard fire safety guidelines 152 pertaining to the breathable air (e.g., breathable air 103) programmed therewithin, as shown in FIG. 1B. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, standard fire safety guidelines 152 may exist on an external device (e.g., data processing device 136 to be discussed below/server) and accessed through air quality analysis device 105.

In one or more embodiments, air quality analysis device 105 may include a set of sensors 172_1-Q to monitor parameters associated with quality of breathable air 103 and components thereof within safety system 100. In one or more embodiments, sensors 172_1-Q may continuously (and automatically be programmed to) monitor the quality of breathable air 103 from air storage system 106 that is being supplied to the various emergency air fill stations 120_1-P within structure 102. In one or more embodiments, once a deviation in an air parameter (e.g., temperature, pressure, contamination, carbon monoxide component, carbon dioxide component etc.) is detected by sensors 172_1-Q, air quality analysis device 105 may automatically activate a bypass controller device 140 (e.g., another programmable/controllable electromechanical device) to automatically switch off supply of breathable air 103 from compressed air source 108.

For example, bypass controller device 140 may control isolation valves 160_1-P associated with emergency air fill stations 120_1-P to automatically bypass compressed air source 108 (e.g., air storage tanks 108_1-N) with respect to breathable air 103 within safety system 100; appropriate control (e.g., closing) of isolation valves 160_1-P may shut down breathable air 103 from compressed air source 108 to emergency air fill stations 120_1-P. Further, in response to the automatic bypass of compressed air source 108, bypass controller device 140 may automatically connect emergency air fill stations 120_1-P to another compressed air source 109 of air storage system 106 as the source of breathable air 103 within safety system 100. Here, in one or more embodiments, isolation valves 160_1-P may, again, be controlled to be, for example, opened to let another compressed air source 109 supply breathable air 103 within safety system 100. Thus, in one or more embodiments, the automatic switching between compressed air sources within safety system 100 may be accomplished through sensing/monitoring of parameters of breathable air 103 therewithin; such a switch may ensure a continuous, uninterrupted supply of breathable air 103 within safety system 100.

In one or more embodiments, the automatic switching between compressed air sources within safety system 100 may occur based on controlling isolation valves 192 associated with compressed air source 108 and another compressed air source 109 within air storage system 106. For example, automatic closing of an isolation valve 192 associated with compressed air source 108 within air storage system 106 and automatic opening of another isolation valve 192 associated with another compressed air source 109 based on detection of deviation in parameters of components of breathable air 103 may result in the automatic switching between compressed air sources within safety system 100. Another compressed air source 109 (e.g., air compressor 130) may be internal to structure 102 or external (e.g., mobile air unit 110 connected to safety system 100 through EMAC panel 112) thereto.

In one or more embodiments, emergency personnel 122 (e.g., firefighters, emergency responders, maintenance personnel, control room personnel) at data processing device 136 (e.g., a mobile phone, a tablet, a server, a laptop, a computing device) may request one or more air quality tests on breathable air 103 through air quality analysis device 105. In one or more embodiments, said request 176 may activate (e.g., automatically) air quality analysis device 105 to obtain an air sample 178 of breathable air 103. For example, air quality analysis device 105 may allow a predetermined quantity/volume of breathable air 103 pass through a chamber (not shown) thereof to enable air sample 178 to be procured for said one or more quality tests. Alternatively or additionally, air quality analysis device 105 may allow breathable air 103 to pass through the chamber for a predetermined duration to enable air sample 178 to be procured for the one or more quality tests.

FIG. 2 shows air quality analysis device 105, according to one or more embodiments. In some embodiments, air quality analysis device 105 may be integrated with fixed piping system 104 to be along the path of flow of breathable air 103. In other embodiments, air quality analysis device 105 may be part of air monitoring device 150 or even air storage system 106. In some other embodiments, air quality analysis device 105 may merely be along a flow path of breathable air 103 of safety system 100. In one or more embodiments, air quality analysis device 105 may include an intake pump 206 to ingest a quantity/volume of breathable air 103 through fixed piping system 104 into an air sequestration chamber 214, thereby segregating air sample 178 of breathable air 103 for analysis. In one or more embodiments, air sequestration chamber 214 may be communicatively coupled to sensors 172_1-Q that analyze air sample 178 therewithin and perform operations and functionalities related to monitoring and/or sensing parameters related to air quality and components of breathable air 103 within safety system 100.

In one or more embodiments, a chipset 212 coupled to a memory 208 (e.g., a volatile and/or a non-volatile memory) may, in turn, be electrically coupled to sensors 172_1-Q to convert results of the sensing and/or monitoring into machine (e.g., a data processing device such as data processing device 136) readable/interpretatable air quality data 128 (e.g., stored in memory 208); said air quality data 128 may be communicable to a remote certification laboratory 118 (referring back to FIG. 1B) through a computing network (e.g., cloud computing network 114). Thus, in one or more embodiments, analysis and/or certification of breathable air 103 through safety system 100 by professionals may be enabled through safety system 100. As shown in FIG. 2, memory 208 and chipset 212 may be communicatively coupled to a processor 218 (e.g., a microcontroller) that executes instructions associated with the abovementioned operations and/or functionalities. For this purpose, in one or more embodiments, memory 208 may include instructions associated with an analysis module 220 stored therein that are executable through processor 218.

In one or more embodiments, remote certification laboratory 118 may analyze air quality data 128 of air sample 178 and automatically generate an alert signal 194 to activate bypass controller device 140 if anomalies (e.g., due to air contamination, particulates, pollutants, etc.) and/or faults (e.g., deviation from predefined parameters such as temperature, pressure, a proportion of air components, etc.) are detected in air quality data 128. In one or more embodiments, for the aforementioned purpose, bypass controller device 140 may automatically generate signals to control isolation valves 160_1-P/isolation valves 192, as discussed above. In addition, in one or more embodiments, air quality data 128 may be communicated to a fire command center 115 (e.g., a remote center with data processing capabilities), a fire control room 113 (e.g., a control room internal to or external to structure 102) and/or emergency personnel 122 at data processing device 136 through cloud computing network 114.

In one or more embodiments, remote certification laboratory 118 alone may not generate alert signal 194. In one or more embodiments, based on monitoring and/or sensing of breathable air 103 and components thereof through air quality analysis device 105 as discussed above, alert signal 194 may be directly generated through air quality analysis device 105, for example, based on an alert system (not shown) implemented therein. As discussed above, in accordance therewith, bypass controller device 140 coupled to air monitoring system 150 may generate signals to automatically bypass air storage system 106 (e.g., compressed air source 108) with respect to supply of breathable air 103 within safety system 100 and/or automatically switch between compressed air sources (e.g., between compressed air source 108 and another compressed air source 109 and/or vice versa).

In one or more embodiments, air quality analysis device 105 may be permanently affixed (or, along a path of breathable air 103 within fixed piping system 104) to fixed piping system 104 to avoid logistical issues related to building an analogous sensing/monitoring mechanism offsite, and/or to reduce the risk of breathing contaminated air causing harm to emergency personnel 122 during an emergency (e.g., air contamination, air pollution, fire, smoke).

In one or more embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, memory 208 of air quality analysis device 105 may include known calibration data 210 stored therein that is used by processor 218 (e.g., by analysis module 220) to compare a characteristic/parameter of breathable air 103 therewith based on results of analysis through remote certification laboratory 118 and/or air quality analysis device 105. In one or more embodiments, in response to determining through processor 218 that the characteristic/parameter is dissimilar to one or more of known calibration data 210, control parameters 222 (e.g., stored in memory 208) of air quality analysis device 105 may be adjusted to account for said dissimilarities. Also, in one or more embodiments, air quality analysis device 105 may include appropriate circuitry to receive instructions from fire command center 115, fire control room 113 and/or data processing device 136 (emergency personnel 122) to mark/alert safety system 100 for transitioning thereof into an emergency state and/or generate trigger signals to activate bypass controller device 140 for automatic bypass of air storage system 106/compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109 discussed above. Again, in one or more embodiments, the same functionalities may be provided to air quality analysis device 105 itself.

In one or more embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1B, remote certification laboratory 118 may include an analysis unit 124 (e.g., a data processing device such as a server) including a processor 182 (e.g., a processor core, a network of processors, a processor) communicatively coupled to a memory 184 (e.g., a volatile and/or a non-volatile memory and/or a database). In one or more embodiments, memory 184 may have historical data 186 (e.g., relevant to safety system 100 and breathable air 103 therein) and predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188 (e.g., as per National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, as per general and/or custom safety standards) for breathable air 103. In one or more embodiments, analysis unit 124 may measure air quality parameters 190 (also shown as part of memory 208 of air quality analysis device 105 to account for air quality analysis device 105 performing operations analogous to analysis unit 124 including triggering bypass controller device 140 to automatic bypass air storage system 106/compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109 discussed above) using air quality data 128. In some embodiments, analysis unit 124 may execute one or more artificial intelligence algorithms 191 (e.g., stored in memory 184 and executable through processor 182) for advanced profiling and/or testing of breathable air 103 through safety system 100.

In some embodiments, the profiling and/or testing through analysis unit 124 of remote certification laboratory 118 may provide for accreditation of air quality of breathable air 103 within safety system 100 when the results of the profiling/testing yield that air quality parameters 190 are within the predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188; the aforementioned accreditation may be provided in the form of a certificate to fire command center 115, fire control room 113 and/or data processing device 136 (emergency personnel 122). In some embodiments, each time safety system 100 is certified, the corresponding certification generated may be written permanently into a distributed ledger and/or a blockchain (e.g., Ethereum™ blockchain, Solana™ blockchain; part of memory 184 or a cloud version thereof) for redundant and secondary record-keeping. In addition, advanced reporting, analytics, control and/or test functions may be enabled through a mobile and/or a desktop application (e.g., executing on data processing device 136).

In one or more embodiments, when the results of the profiling/testing yield that air quality parameters 190 are not within predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188, remote certification laboratory 118/analysis unit 124 may generate alert signal 194 to notify fire command center 115, fire control room 113 and/or data processing device 136 (emergency personnel 122) of an emergency state of safety system 100. In some implementations, alert signal 194 may automatically activate bypass controller device 140 to switch off supply of breathable air 103 from compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109/air storage system 106 and, thereby, isolate compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109/air storage system 106 from safety system 100. Alert signal 194 additionally may activate bypass controller device 140 to automatically connect a different compressed air source (e.g., another compressed air source 109) to safety system 100/emergency air fill stations 120_1-P to ensure a continuous supply of breathable air 103 within safety system 100, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows constituent sensors of sensors 172_1-Q, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, sensors 172_1-Q may include a hydrocarbon sensor 302 to measure a hydrocarbon level to an accuracy of, say, 0.02-0.3% absolute, an oxygen sensor 304 to measure an oxygen level to an accuracy of, say, 0.1% absolute, a nitrogen sensor 306, a nitric oxide sensor 310, a carbon monoxide sensor 314, a carbon dioxide sensor 316, a moisture sensor 318, an oil and particle sensor 320 to measure a level of oil and/or particle to an accuracy of, say, ±2% relative, a sulfur dioxide sensor 312, a pressure sensor 324, an odor sensor 322 and/or a leakage sensor 326. In one or more embodiments, the automatic bypassing of air storage system 106/compressed air source 106/another compressed air source 109 through bypass controller device 140 may be initiated when one or more of the following conditions are detected through the corresponding sensors 172_1-Q:

• • 1. carbon monoxide sensor 314 detects a level of carbon monoxide in breathable air 103 in excess of a first predetermined threshold value (e.g., 4.5 parts per million; part of predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188 shown as stored in both memory 184 and memory 208),
  • 2. carbon dioxide sensor 316 detects a level of carbon dioxide in breathable air 103 in excess of a second predetermined threshold value (e.g., 1,000 parts per million; part of predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188),
  • 3. oxygen sensor 304 detects a level of oxygen in breathable air 103 outside a predetermined range of values (e.g., between 19.5% and 23.5; part of predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188),
  • 4. nitrogen sensor 306 detects a level of nitrogen in breathable air 103 less than a third predetermined threshold value (e.g., below 75%; part of predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188) and/or in excess of a fourth predetermined threshold value (e.g., above 81%; part of predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188),
  • 5. hydrocarbon sensor 302 detects a condensed hydrocarbon content in breathable air 103 in excess of a fifth predetermined threshold value (e.g., 5 milligrams per cubic meter of breathable air 103; part of predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188),
  • 6. moisture sensor 318 detects a moisture concentration in breathable air 103 in excess of a sixth predetermined threshold value (e.g., 24 parts per million by volume; part of predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188), and
  • 7. pressure sensor 324 detects a pressure of breathable air 103 less than a seventh predetermined threshold value (e.g., below 90% of a maintenance pressure specified in a fire code; part of predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188).

Other types of sensors that are part of sensors 172_1-Q have analogous predetermined threshold values/ranges (e.g., part of predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188) associated with air quality parameters 190 sensed therethrough; such sensors 172_1-Q are shown in FIG. 3 and are self-explanatory. It should be noted that parameters sensed through sensors 172_1-Q may not be limited to air quality parameters 190; even characteristics such as pressure (e.g., through pressure sensor 324) may be sensed through sensors 172_1-Q. Also, in one or more embodiments, leakage of breathable air 103 from safety system 100 (e.g., fixed piping system 104, at emergency air fill stations 120_1-P, isolation valves 160_1-P, air storage system 106 such as compressed air source 108/air storage tanks 108_1-N/another compressed air source 109) may also be sensed through appropriate sensors 172_1-Q (e.g., leakage sensor 326). In one example implementation, leakage sensor 326 may be an ultrasound sensor that senses high sound frequencies of leaks of breathable air 103. Said leaks, if not addressed appropriately, may result in catastrophic loss of breathable air 103 from safety system 100. In one or more embodiments, once sensors 172_1-Q detect the leakage of breathable air 103, again, bypass controller device 140 may automatically be triggered to bypass air storage system 106/compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109, as discussed above.

Thus, in one or more embodiments, the capabilities of air quality analysis device 105 and/or remote certification laboratory 118 may be extended to accommodate detection of parameters such as pressure and leakage of breathable air 103. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

FIG. 4 shows air monitoring system 150 discussed above in an example implementation form. Here, air monitoring system 150 may be a collection of units and/or components put together to check and record quality (and/or pressure/leakage) of breathable air 103 and components thereof within safety system 100. Air quality analysis device 105 may include a display unit 402 associated therewith (e.g., part of or external to air quality analysis device 105). to exhibit air quality parameters 190 captured and/or analyzed through air quality analysis device 105. Display unit 402 may be part of an Android™-based data processing device (e.g., a tablet, a notebook) with a touchscreen for visual presentation of air quality parameters 190.

Display unit 402, as discussed herein, may be an electromechanical device installed at key locations of structure 102, and air quality analysis device 105 may be made of one or more material(s) having fire-rated capabilities. A video camera (not shown) installed on or integrated with display unit 402 may capture visual incidents at the key locations that are accessible at fire command center 115, fire control room 113 and/or data processing device 136 through cloud computing network 114. Air quality parameters 190 may be monitored in accordance with standard fire safety guidelines (e.g., NFPA guidelines, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and/or Compressed Gas Association (CGA) standards).

FIG. 5 shows an example display unit 402 associated with air quality analysis device 105 of FIG. 4. Display unit 402 may include various indicator fields to exhibit air quality parameters 190 captured and/or analyzed by air quality analysis device 105 in real-time. For example, indicator field 502 may be associated with carbon monoxide content in breathable air 103 (e.g., from air storage system 106/compressed air source 108), indicator field 504 may be associated with carbon dioxide content in breathable air 103, indicator field 510 may be associated with nitrogen content in breathable air 103, indicator field 506 may be associated with moisture content in breathable air 103, indicator field 508 may be associated with oxygen content in breathable air 103, and indicator field 512 may be associated with hydrocarbon content in breathable air 103. In addition, display unit 402 may include a pressure indicator 514 to exhibit air pressure of breathable air 103 (e.g., air sample 178).

Further, display unit 402 may include indicator lights (not shown) to indicate changes in air quality parameters 190 through changes in colors of lights emitted therefrom. Still further, display unit 402 may include, for example, a Quick Response (QR) scanner (not shown) to enable emergency personnel 122 to scan and check statuses of air quality parameters 190.

FIG. 6 shows an example air quality analysis device 105. Air quality analysis device 105 may include a flow sensor 602 (e.g., an electronic device) that measures and/or regulates a flow rate of breathable air 103 (e.g., from compressed air source 108, another compressed air source 109) within fixed piping system 104. A photoionization detector (PID) sensor 604 of air quality analysis device 105 may detect low concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)/hazardous substances in breathable air 103. In one example implementation, PID sensor 604 may utilize ultraviolet (UV) light to break down said VOCs in breathable air 103 into positive and negative ions, following which a charge of the ionized gas as a function of concentration of the VOCs in breathable air 103 is detected and/or measured.

A Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) sensor 606 of air quality analysis device 105 may detect concentrations of various types of gases in breathable air 103/air sample 178 by measuring a change in resistance of a metal oxide due to adsorption of gases in breathable air 103/air sample 178. An infrared (IR) sensor 608 of air quality analysis device 105 may measure and/or detect infrared radiation in a surrounding environment of air quality analysis device 105. All sensors discussed herein may be part of sensors 172_1-Q discussed above.

Outputs 610 may be in the form of electrical signals used to identify air components of breathable air 103/air sample 178. The electrical signals may be generated by sensors 172_1-Q including the sensors discussed herein. An input 612 may be an intake of breathable air 103/air sample 178 (e.g., through a hose) from compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109/air storage system 106.

An electromechanical gas sensor 616 of air quality analysis device 105 may be operated based on a diffusion of a gas of interest (e.g., air components of breathable air 103/air sample 178) thereinto. Said diffusion may result in generation of an electrical signal proportional to a concentration of the gas of interest. A dew point sensor 618 of air quality analysis device 105 may be used to measure and/or monitor a dew point temperature of breathable air 103/air sample 178. An audio alarm 620 may be a transducer device to emit an audible alert once an emergency state is detected by sensors 172_1-Q. A power input 622 may be an input corresponding to an amount of energy put into and/or consumed by air quality analysis device 105. Connectors 624 may be links between electrical components of air quality analysis device 105.

An alarm relay 626 may be an electric switch that activates bypass controller device 140 when anomalies (e.g., contamination in breathable air 103) and/or faults (e.g., fire hazards, pressure variations, deviation in predefined air/air quality parameters, etc.) are detected by sensors 172_1-Q, following which bypass controller device 140 may enable automatic bypassing of air storage system 106/compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109 as discussed above. In one or more embodiments, air monitoring system 150 may be made of fire-rated material to protect safety system 100 from physical damage during hazardous situations. Further, in one or more embodiments, air monitoring system 150 may be made of weather-resistant and/or UV/solar/infrared radiation-resistant material/material(s) to prevent corrosion and/or deterioration of components thereof due to prolonged exposure to harsh environmental and/or weather conditions.

FIG. 7 shows safety system 100 implemented in a horizontal configuration of structure 102 and communication therewithin, according to one or more embodiments. All concepts discussed in this Application may also be applicable to FIG. 7. FIG. 8 shows an example user interface 852 of an air safety application 850 executing on data processing device 136 (e.g., on a processor communicatively coupled to a memory thereof). As shown in ‘(a)’, user interface 852 may display user authentication tabs of air safety application 850. Example user authentication tabs may include an identification number tab 802, a username tab 804, and a password tab 806. Emergency personnel 122 (e.g., authorized users, firefighters, emergency responses.) may need to enter a corresponding identification number, username and password to access features provided through air safety application 850.

As shown in ‘(b)’, upon authentication, example user interface 854 may display a remote Human-Machine Interface (HMI) tab 808, a mobile dashboard tab 810, a test tab 812, and a maintenance tab 814. Remote HMI tab 808 may help emergency personnel 122 to remotely control safety system 100. Mobile dashboard tab 810 may help show a real-time graphical display of an entirety of safety system 100. Test tab 812 may help emergency personnel 122 to request analysis of breathable air 103 through remote certification laboratory 118 and generate custom reports. Maintenance tab 814 may help provide a proactive dimension to view upcoming and/or current maintenance requirements of safety system 100.

As shown in ‘(c)’, remote HMI tab 808 may display an emergency air fill station tab 816, an air monitoring system tab 818, an air storage system tab 820, an isolation tab 822, a bypass control system tab 824, and an EMAC panel tab 826. Remote HMI tab 808 may enable emergency personnel 122 to control components associated with the aforementioned tabs to effect automatic bypass of air storage system 106/compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109, as discussed above, and obtain air quality parameters 190. Based on zeroing in on specific tabs discussed herein, more detailed operations such as controlling relay devices, requesting certification through remote certification laboratory 118, purging breathable air 103 from safety system 100, isolating compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109/air storage system 106 and so on are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

In one or more embodiments, based on detection of emergency state(s) of safety system 100 and/or anomalous air quality parameters 190 through sensors 172_1-Q via data processing device 136, fire command center 115 and/or fire control room 113, emergency personnel 122 may be able to purge safety system 100 of contaminated/bad/anomalous breathable air 103 prior to switching from one compressed air source (e.g., compressed air source 108) to another compressed air source (e.g., another compressed air source 109). In some other embodiments, leakage (e.g., detected through leakage sensor 326) of breathable air 103 may require plugging in of leak(s) in components of safety system 100 and/or fixing said components prior to reuse of the same compressed air source (e.g., air storage system 106, compressed air source 108, another compressed air source 109). The aforementioned tasks are instantaneously notified to emergency personnel 122 in accordance with one or more implementations of safety system 100 discussed herein. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

It should be noted that, in one or more embodiments, in the case of another compressed air source 109 being mobile air unit 110 with air compressor 130, bypass controller device 140 may be implemented with one or more check valves and/or one or more automatic actuator selector valves remotely operable from EMAC panel 112 readily accessible by emergency personnel 122. FIG. 9 shows control of valves 902 (e.g., check valves, automatic actuator selector valves) implemented in conjunction with bypass controller device 140/isolation valve 192/isolation valves 160_1-P remotely from EMAC panel 112 by emergency personnel 122, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, in response to an electrical signal 904 from EMAC panel 112 (e.g., following detection of anomalies/faults in air quality parameters 190), valves 902/isolation valve 192/isolation valves 160_1-P may be controlled to enable automatic bypass/isolation of compressed air source 108 with respect to breathable air 103 within safety system 100 and automatic switching to another compressed air source 109 (e.g., air compressor 130 on mobile air unit 110) to ensure direct and continued supply of breathable air 103 from another compressed air source 109 within safety system 100. In the case of control of isolation valve 192/isolation valves 160_1-P through electrical signal 904, isolation valve 192 and/or isolation valves 160_1-P may also be implemented with check valves and/or automatic actuator selector valves. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

FIG. 10 shows a portion of structure 102 including one or more levels (e.g., levels 1002_1-4) in which an emergency state 1050 occurs, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, emergency state 1050 may include but is not limited to a fire, smoky condition(s), leakage of piping elements of fixed piping system 104 in the one or more levels and contamination of breathable air 103 in said piping elements. In some embodiments, levels 1002_1-4 may be floor levels within structure 102. For example, level 1002₁ may be a sixth floor level of structure 102, level 1002₂ may be a fifth floor level of structure 102, level 1002₃ may be a fourth floor level of structure 102 and level 1002₄ may be a third floor level of structure 102. FIG. 10 also illustrates a fire in level 1002₁ as an example emergency state 1050, although other conditions such as smoke, piping element leaks, piping element cracks and breathable air 103 contamination may also constitute emergency state 1050.

As discussed above, in one or more embodiments, emergency air fill station 120_1-P may be a static location of access of breathable air 103 by emergency personnel 122 to fill air bottles thereof. In one or more embodiments, each level (e.g., floor level such as a level 1002_1-4) of structure 102 may have an emergency air fill station 120_1-P therein. In some other embodiments, a level of structure 102 may have multiple emergency air fill stations 120_1-P thereon. In still some other embodiments, an emergency air fill station 120_1-P may cover more than one level of structure 102. Thus, to generalize, in one or more embodiments, an emergency air fill station 120_1-P of structure 102 may be associated with or cover one or more levels (e.g., levels 1002_1-4) therewithin. FIG. 10 also shows an isolation valve 160_1-3 associated with or proximate each emergency air fill station 120_1-3. In FIG. 10, emergency air fill station 120₁/isolation valve 160₁ may be associated with (or provide access to breathable air 103 at) level 1002₁ and/or one or more other levels, emergency air fill station 120₂/isolation valve 160₂ may be associated with (or provide access to breathable air 103 at) level 1002₁, level 1002₂ and/or level 1002₃, and emergency air fill station 120₃/isolation valve 1603 may be associated with (or provide access to breathable air 103 at) level 1002₃, level 1002₄ and/or one or more other levels.

In one or more embodiments, as seen above, breathable air 103 through safety system 100 including breathable air 103 accessible through emergency air fill stations 120_1-3 may also be received at air monitoring system 150 including air quality analysis device 105 for capturing air quality parameters 190/air quality data 128. In some embodiments, air monitoring system 150 including air quality analysis device 105 may be at multiple locations of structure 102 including one or more of levels 1002_1-4. Similarly, bypass controller device 140 may also be at multiple locations of structure 102 including levels 1002_1-4.

FIG. 11 shows an emergency air fill station 120_1-P/bypass controller device 140/air monitoring system 150/air quality analysis device 105 with environmental sensors 1106, according to one or more embodiments. As discussed above, in one or more embodiments, sensors 172_1-Q of air quality analysis device 105 of air monitoring system 150 may sense air quality parameters 190. However, in conjunction therewith, in one or more embodiments, emergency air fill station 120_1-P, bypass controller device 140 and/or air monitoring system 150/air quality analysis device 105 may have environmental sensors 1106 therein (or associated therewith) to sense parameters (e.g., environmental parameters 1108) of an external environment 1150 in a vicinity of emergency air fill station 120_1-P. As shown in FIG. 11, environmental sensors 1106 may be regarded as part of sensors 172_1-Q for the sake of convenience.

In one or more embodiments, environmental sensors 1106 may include but are not limited to heat sensors, smoke sensors, leakage sensors (to sense leakage of breathable air 103 out of piping elements of fixed piping system 104 at one or more levels 1002_1-4) and light sensors. Accordingly, in one or more embodiments, environmental parameters 1108 sensed by environmental sensors 1106 may include but are not limited to temperature/heat levels, smoke levels, leakage levels and light levels. FIG. 11 shows emergency air fill station 120_1-P/bypass controller device 140/air monitoring system 150/air quality analysis device 105 having a processor 1102 (e.g., a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a standalone processor; e.g., processor 218 in the case of air quality analysis device 105) communicatively coupled to a memory 1104 (e.g., a volatile and/or a non-volatile memory; e.g., memory 208 in the case of air quality analysis device 105), according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, sensors 172_1-Q including environmental sensors 1106 may be interfaced with processor 218.

In one or more embodiments, environmental sensors 1106 may sense environmental parameters 1108 continuously (e.g., in real-time). As shown in FIG. 11, memory 1104 may include air quality parameters 190, air quality data 128, predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188 and environmental parameters 1108, according to one or more embodiments. During emergency state 1050 at level 1002₁, for example, one or more environmental sensors 1106 of emergency air fill station 120_1-P/bypass controller device 140/air monitoring system 150/air quality analysis device 105 at level 1002₁ and/or level 1002₂ (in the case of emergency air fill station 120_1-P, specifically, emergency air fill station 120₁ and/or 120₂) may detect, in conjunction with processor 1102 thereof, that one or more environmental parameters 1108 of external environment 1150 is outside (e.g., above) one or more environmental thresholds 1120 (e.g., predefined/predetermined levels/ranges). For example, a temperature/heat level of external environment 1150 may be outside a predetermined threshold level thereof in the case of a fire as emergency state 1050, a smoke level of external environment 1150 may be outside another predetermined threshold level in the case of smoke pollution as emergency state 1050, and a leakage level of breathable air 103 in external environment 1150 may be outside yet another predetermined threshold level in the case of leakage of breathable air 103 in level 1002₁ as emergency state 1050.

Further, in one or more embodiments, one or more sensors 172_1-Q may sense one or more air quality parameters 190 and, in conjunction with processor 218, may determine that the one or more sensed air quality parameters 190 is above one or more predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188 in the case of contamination of breathable air 103 or anomalous levels of one or more components of breathable air 103 within piping elements of fixed piping system 104 at level 1002₁ constituting emergency state 1050. In one or more embodiments, the aforementioned sensing through sensors 172_1-Q including environmental sensors 1106 may be performed in conjunction with processor 1102, which may receive data from and/or control sensors 172_1-Q through appropriate instructions executing thereon.

In one or more embodiments, in response to one or more sensors 172_1-Q/environmental sensors 1106 sensing air quality parameters 190/environmental parameters 1108 and determining, in conjunction with processor 1102 (e.g., processor 218), that the one or more air quality parameters 190/environmental parameters 1108 in one or more levels (e.g., level 1002₁) of structure 102 is outside a corresponding one or more predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188/environmental thresholds 1120, processor 1102 of emergency air fill station 120_1-P/bypass controller device 140/air monitoring system 150/air quality analysis device 105 at the same or another one or more levels (e.g., level 1002₁ and/or level 1002₂) may transmit a control signal 1114 to automatically close one or more isolation valves (e.g., isolation valve 160₁ and/or isolation valve 160₂) associated with the same or the another one or more levels to isolate breathable air 103 supplied to the one or more levels (e.g., level 1002₁). In one or more embodiments, isolation valves 160_1-P may thus be electrically and/or electronically operable and/or controllable.

In one or more other embodiments, remote certification laboratory 118, data processing device 136 associated with emergency personnel 122, fire control room 113 and/or fire command center 115 may, based on communication with processor 1102 of emergency air fill station 120₁-p/bypass controller device 140/air monitoring system 150/air quality analysis device 105 via a computer network 1110 (e.g., a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN) and/or a short-range communication network) and/or cloud computing network 114, transmit an alert signal 1112 (e.g., analogous to alert signal 194) to processor 1102 of emergency air fill station 120_1-P/bypass controller device 140/air monitoring system 150/air quality analysis device 105 to trigger the transmission of control signal 1114 to automatically close the one or more isolation valves discussed above upon the determination that the one or more air quality parameters 190/environmental parameters 1108 is outside the corresponding one or more predefined air quality parameters/thresholds 188/environmental thresholds 1120.

Exemplary embodiments discussed herein are not limited to isolation valves 160_1-P being closed to isolate breathable air 103 supplied to the one or more level(s) of structure 102 discussed above. Other kinds of valves/valve implementations and automatic closure thereof are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein. In one or more embodiments, the isolation of breathable air 103 supplied to the one or more level(s) may prevent breathable air 103 supplied to the other level(s) from being contaminated and/or ensure that non-firefighting/rescuing emergency personnel 122 do not access (e.g., based on updates thereto through data processing device 136 via cloud computing network 114/computer network 1110) the one or more level(s). In one or more embodiments, the one or more emergency air fill station(s) 120_1-P corresponding to the automatically closed one or more isolation valve(s) 160₁-P may be automatically cut off from the supply of breathable air 103 from air storage system 106/compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109. Further, in one or more embodiments, the isolation of breathable air 103 supplied to the one or more level(s) may facilitate the automatic bypass of air storage system 106/compressed air source 108/another compressed air source 109 in the case of emergency state 1050 being detected at most or all levels of structure 102. This, in one or more embodiments, may, in turn, facilitate the automatic purging of the isolated breathable air 103. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

FIG. 12 shows an isolation valve control panel 1250 to control isolation valves 160₁-P discussed above, according to one or more embodiments. As discussed above, in one or more embodiments, isolation valves 160_1-P within safety system 100 may be electrically and/or electronically operable and/or controllable. In one or more embodiments, isolation valve control panel 1250 may be an electrical, electronic and/or an electromechanical device installed within fire command center 115, fire control room 113 and/or a location of remote certification laboratory 118. In one or more embodiments, the aforementioned installation locations may be within structure 102 and/or external thereto.

As shown in FIG. 12, in one or more embodiments, isolation valve control panel 1250 may include a number of isolation switches 1202_1-K, each of which is associated with operating one or more isolation valves 160_1-P proximate a corresponding emergency air fill station 120_1-P located at a level (e.g., a floor level of levels 1204_1-13 analogous to levels 1002_1-4) and/or even a region within structure 102. In one or more embodiments, isolation valve control panel 1250 may indicate current operational statuses of emergency air fill stations 120_1-P located at various levels and/or regions within structure 102. Thus, in one or more embodiments, isolation valve control panel 1250 may serve as a physical dashboard of safety system 100. For the aforementioned status indications, in one or more embodiments, isolation valve control panel 1250 may include status indicators 1206_1-L (e.g., visual status indicators such as Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) emitting light of specific colors; audible status indicators such as output devices rendering specific audio messages and/or sounds) that may indicate statuses such as OPEN, CLOSED or FAULT.

Thus, in one or more embodiments, isolation valve control panel 1250 may be a set of components working together to open/close or, in general, control (e.g., automatically, manually) isolation valves 160_1-P and/or bypass particular emergency air fill stations 120_1-P when a fault (e.g., leakage of breathable air 103, contamination of breathable air 103, breakdown) and/or an error is detected in fixed piping system 104 and/or emergency state 1050 is detected in external environment 1150 discussed above. In one or more embodiments, isolation valve control panel 1250 may be operated by authorized personnel such as emergency personnel 122. Also, as indicated in FIG. 1B, data processing device 136 may be communicatively coupled to isolation valve control panel 1250 via a computer network (e.g., cloud computing network 114, computer network 1110) and may enable the aforementioned control of isolation valves 160_1-P and/or the bypassing of particular emergency air fill stations 120_1-P therethrough, as will be discussed below.

In one or more embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, isolation valve control panel 1250 may indicate three example stairwells 1208_1-3 (e.g., fire-rated stairwells) around which emergency air fill stations 120_1-P may be distributed at specific levels (e.g., levels 1204_1-13) and/or regions of structure 102.

In one or more embodiments, the OPEN status may be indicated by the corresponding status indicator 1206_1-L emitting light of a specific color and/or through blinking of said emitted light. In one or more embodiments, the OPEN status may signify (e.g., through color and/or blinking) that a corresponding isolation switch 1202_1-K is in an OFF state. In one or more embodiments, the OFF state of isolation switch 1202_1-K may indicate that an isolation valve 160_1-P associated with a corresponding level of structure 102 is OPEN, thereby indicating normal supply of breathable air 103 thereat. In one or more embodiments, the CLOSED status may be indicated by the corresponding status indicator 1206_1-L again emitting light of another specific color and/or through blinking of said emitted light. In one or more embodiments, the CLOSED status may signify (e.g., through color and/or blinking) that a corresponding isolation switch 1202_1-K is in an ON state. In one or more embodiments, the ON state of isolation switch 1202_1-K may indicate that an isolation valve 160_1-P associated with a corresponding level of structure 102 is CLOSED and that a corresponding emergency air fill station 120_1-P is isolated. In one or more embodiments, the aforementioned implementation may be utilized to control multiple isolation valves 160_1-P and, thereby, multiple emergency air fill stations 120_1-P corresponding thereto.

In one or more embodiments, the FAULT status may be indicated again through a specific color of light and/or through blinking thereof; the FAULT status may signify the occurrence of a faulty condition within fixed piping system 104, a portion of fixed piping system 104 proximate one or more specific level(s) (e.g., one or more of levels 1204_1-13) within structure 102 and/or one or more emergency air fill station(s) 120_1-P that requires immediate attention. In one or more example implementations, while actual statuses of isolation valves 160_1-P may be reflected through, say, limit switches (not shown), control of isolation switches 1202_1-K may control electrical coupling to status indicators 1206_1-L. Thus, in one or more embodiments, control of isolation switches 1202_1-K may also be effected through electrical signals from said limit switches.

In one or more embodiments, each isolation switch 1202_1-K may be a device used to make or break a connection in a circuit so that emergency personnel 122 can operate (e.g., turn ON or OFF; OPEN/CLOSE) one or more isolation valve(s) 160_1-P to isolate one or more portion(s) of fixed piping system 104 and/or particular emergency air fill station(s) 120_1-P. In one or more embodiments, isolation valve control panel 1250 may receive data signals (e.g., data signal 1212) from various points (e.g., joints, junctions) of fixed piping system 104 and/or components (e.g., remote certification laboratory 118, data processing device 136, bypass controller device 140, air monitoring system 150, air quality analysis device 105, air storage system 106) of safety system 100 to enable detection of events (e.g., emergency state 1050) associated therewith.

In one or more embodiments, data signal 1212 may be generated manually and/or automatically generated through sensors (e.g., sensors 172_1-Q) in conjunction with isolation valve control panel 1250. In one or more embodiments, test lamp 1214 may be an illuminating device used to determine that isolation valve control panel 1250 is powered. All of the aforementioned details may be implementation specific and serve as mere example parameters. All variations in implementation of isolation valve control panel 1250 are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

It should be noted that while preferentially isolation valve control panel 1250 may be located at fire command center 115, fire control room 113 and/or a location of remote certification laboratory 118, a number of isolation valve control panels analogous or equivalent to isolation valve control panel 1250 may be placed at levels (e.g., levels 1204_1-13) within structure 102 at strategic fire-proof locations of access thereof by emergency personnel 122. FIG. 13 shows actuator-based control system 1300 of an isolation valve 160_1-P, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, actuator-based control system 1300 may have an electric actuator 1302 configured to be mounted on isolation valve 160_1-P. In one or more embodiments, electric actuator 1302 may include a motor 1304 and a crank stem 1306 coupled thereto. In one or more embodiments, the operation of motor 1304 may rotate crank stem 1306 that, in turn, passes on rotational energy to a gear assembly 1308. In one or more embodiments, gear assembly 1308, in turn, may rotate a control stem 1310 to turn ON/OFF isolation valve 160_1-P.

In some embodiments, based on electrical coupling between an isolation switch 1202_1-K and electric actuator 1302, the turning ON of isolation switch 1202_1-K may cause motor 1304, in turn, to operate to cause control stem 1310 to controllably close isolation valve 160_1-P and, thereby, isolate one or more emergency air fill station(s) 120_1-P associated therewith. In one or more embodiments, remote certification laboratory 118, data processing device 136, bypass controller device 140, air monitoring system 150, air quality analysis device 105 and/or air storage system 106 may also transmit control signals (e.g., control signal 1312 via cloud computing network 114/computer network 1110, data signal 1212) to turn on isolation switch 1202_1-K such that isolation valve 160_1-P is closed (e.g., CLOSED status discussed above) and one or more emergency air fill station(s) 120_1-P associated therewith is isolated by way of control through electric actuator 1302.

Again, in one or more embodiments, the switching OFF of isolation switch 1202_1-K may automatically cause control stem 1310 to rotate in a counter-direction to open (e.g., the OPEN status discuss above) isolation valve 160_1-P to resume normal operation; this may be achieved based on the electrical coupling between isolation switch 1202_1-K and electric actuator 1302. In some embodiments, once isolation valve 160_1-P is opened, electric actuator 1302/motor 1304 may be switched OFF.

It should be noted that actuator mechanisms associated with controlling isolation valves 160_1-P may not be limited to electric actuator 1302. Other mechanisms such as pneumatic/hydraulic actuation (e.g., using a pneumatic actuator and/or a hydraulic actuator instead of or in addition to electric actuator 1302) whereby air/fluid pressure is employed to control (e.g., based on control signal 1312/data signal 1212 via cloud computing network 114/computer network 1110 from remote certification laboratory 118, data processing device 136, bypass controller device 140, air monitoring system 150, air quality analysis device 105, air storage system 106 and/or isolation valve control panel 1250) a position of isolation valve 160_1-P to effect opening and closing thereof are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

FIG. 14 shows an example user interface 1400 of a safety application 1402 (e.g., air safety application 850) executing on data processing device 136 (e.g., a mobile device, a server, a portable computing device, a laptop, a desktop computing device). In one or more embodiments, safety application 1402 may be provided by remote certification laboratory 118 as a component of a computing engine 1404 executing thereon; FIG. 1B shows artificial intelligence algorithms 191 as part of computing engine 1404, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, computing engine 1404 may integrate components (e.g., remote certification laboratory 118, data processing device 136, bypass controller device 140, air monitoring system 150, air quality analysis device 105, air storage system 106 and/or isolation valve control panel 1250) of safety system 100 therewith.

Thus, in one or more embodiments, user interface 1400 may provide a status dashboard of safety system 100 analogous to isolation valve control panel 1250. User interface 1400 in FIG. 14 shows the statuses of isolation valves 160_1-P at levels 1204_1-6 in terms of whether they are OPEN or CLOSED. The FAULT states discussed above may also be shown at levels 1204_1-6. While all isolation valves 160_1-6 are shown to be OPEN in user interface 1400, emergency personnel 122 may toggle the OPEN state into a CLOSED one using toggle state buttons 1406 thereon. In accordance with FAULT states being indicated at levels 1204_4-5, emergency personnel 122 may employ a touchscreen button implementation of toggle state buttons 1406 to CLOSE the corresponding isolation valves 160_4-5 through user interface 1400. Here, the toggling may transmit control signal 1312 (e.g., through cloud computing network 114/computer network 1110) to electric actuator 1302 or other mechanisms of actuation of isolation valve(s) 160_1-P or data signal 1212 to isolation valve control panel 1250 that, in turn, may automatically turn ON corresponding isolation switches 1202_1-K. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

It should be noted that fixed piping system 104 may be in several configurations such as a looped configuration and/or a ringed configuration. In the case of structure 102 being a horizontal structure such as a hypermart, in one or more embodiments, structure 102 may be divided into bays or regions instead of vertical levels 1204_1-13. Accordingly, levels 1204_1-13 are also shown as regions 1204_1-13 in FIG. 12. In horizontal structure 102, in one or more embodiments, fixed piping system 104 may be implemented in a ringed and/or meshed configuration across regions 1204_1-13 for the sake of redundancy and coverage like how a looped configuration of fixed piping system 104 is implemented in a vertical structure 102. Also, all discussions relevant to FIGS. 1-11 may also be applicable to control of isolation valves 160_1-P and/or emergency air fill stations 120_1-P associated with discussions relevant to FIGS. 12-14. Other relevant discussions pertaining to FIGS. 1-11 may also be applicable to the contexts of FIGS. 12-14.

Last but not the least, it should be noted that components of safety system 100 such as remote certification laboratory 118, data processing device 136, bypass controller device 140, air monitoring system 150, air quality analysis device 105, air storage system 106 and isolation valve control panel 1250 may be regarded as control devices to control electric actuator 1302 and/or other implementations of actuation with respect to isolation valve 160_1-P. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.

FIG. 15 shows a process flow diagram detailing the operations involved in actuator based valve control to isolate breathable air (e.g., breathable air 103) supplied to one or more levels (e.g., levels 1204_1-13) and/or one or more regions (e.g., regions 1204_1-13) of a structure (e.g., structure 102) having a safety system (e.g., safety system 100) implemented therein, according to one or more embodiments. In one or more embodiments, the safety system may have a fixed piping system (e.g., fixed piping system 104) installed therewithin to supply the breathable air from a source (e.g., air storage system 106) across the safety system of the structure including a number of levels and/or a number of regions thereof.

In one or more embodiments, operation 1502 may involve sensing (e.g., through sensors 172_1-Q including environmental sensors 1106) a parameter (e.g., part of air quality parameters 190, environmental parameters 1108) of an environment (e.g., external environment 1150) of the one or more levels and/or the one or more regions and/or the breathable air supplied thereto. In one or more embodiments, operation 1504 may then involve, in response to the sensing, controlling (e.g., through control signal 1312, through one or more isolation switches 1202_1-K) an actuator (e.g., electric actuator 1302) of one or more valve(s) (e.g., one or more isolation valve(s) 160_1-P) associated with control of the supply of the breathable air to the one or more levels and/or the one or more regions to isolate the breathable air supplied thereto.

Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments.

A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

The structures and modules in the figures may be shown as distinct and communicating with only a few specific structures and not others. The structures may be merged with each other, may perform overlapping functions, and may communicate with other structures not shown to be connected in the figures. Accordingly, the specification and/or drawings may be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims

1. A method of a safety system of a structure having a plurality of at least one of: levels and regions and a fixed piping system installed therewithin to supply breathable air from a source across the safety system including the plurality of the at least one of: the levels and the regions, comprising: sensing a parameter of at least one of: an environment of at least one of: at least one level of the plurality of levels and at least one region of the plurality of regions of the structure and the breathable air supplied thereto; andin response to the sensing, controlling an actuator of at least one valve associated with control of the supply of the breathable air to the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region to isolate the breathable air supplied thereto.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising, in response to the sensing, controlling the actuator of the at least one valve based on at least one of: a control signal from at least one of: a data processing device, a bypass controller device, and an air analysis device coupled to an air flow path of the breathable air from the source within the safety system, andan isolation switch of a isolation valve control panel device installed within the structure.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising at least one of: sensing the parameter of the breathable air using a sensor associated with the air analysis device; andsensing the parameter of the environment of the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region using an environmental sensor associated with at least one of: at least one emergency air fill station providing access to the breathable air at the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region, the bypass controller device and the air analysis device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein controlling the actuator of the at least one valve to isolate the breathable air supplied to the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region is based on at least one of: the control signal and the isolation switch, controlling opening and closing of the at least one valve using the actuator.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising: isolating at least one emergency air fill station with respect to access to the breathable air at the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region in accordance with the closing of the at least one valve using the actuator.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining that the sensed parameter is outside a predetermined threshold value thereof; andin response to the determination, controlling the actuator of the at least one valve to close the at least one valve to isolate the breathable air.

7. The method of claim 3, comprising: the sensor associated with the air analysis device comprising at least one of: a carbon monoxide sensor configured to sense a level of carbon monoxide in the breathable air, a carbon dioxide sensor configured to sense a level of carbon dioxide in the breathable air, an oxygen sensor configured to sense a level of oxygen in the breathable air, a nitrogen sensor configured to sense a level of nitrogen in the breathable air, a hydrocarbon sensor configured to sense a condensed hydrocarbon content in the breathable air, and a moisture sensor configured to sense a moisture concentration in the breathable air.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising: the actuator being at least one of: an electric actuator, a pneumatic actuator and a hydraulic actuator.

9. The method of claim 2, comprising: the data processing device executing an application thereon through which the control signal is transmitted to control the actuator of the at least one valve.

10. A method of a safety system of a structure having a plurality of at least one of: levels and regions and a fixed piping system installed therewithin to supply breathable air from a source across the safety system including the plurality of the at least one of: the levels and the regions, comprising: sensing a parameter of at least one of: an environment of at least one of: at least one level of the plurality of levels and at least one region of the plurality of regions of the structure and the breathable air supplied thereto; andin response to determining that the parameter is outside a predetermined threshold value thereof based on the sensing, controlling an actuator of at least one valve associated with control of the supply of the breathable air to the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region to isolate the breathable air supplied thereto.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising, in response to the sensing, controlling the actuator of the at least one valve based on at least one of: a control signal from at least one of: a data processing device, a bypass controller device, and an air analysis device coupled to an air flow path of the breathable air from the source within the safety system, andan isolation switch of a isolation valve control panel device installed within the structure.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising at least one of: sensing the parameter of the breathable air using a sensor associated with the air analysis device; andsensing the parameter of the environment of the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region using an environmental sensor associated with at least one of: at least one emergency air fill station providing access to the breathable air at the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region, the bypass controller device and the air analysis device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling the actuator of the at least one valve to isolate the breathable air supplied to the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region is based on at least one of: the control signal and the isolation switch, controlling opening and closing of the at least one valve using the actuator.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising: isolating at least one emergency air fill station with respect to access to the breathable air at the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region in accordance with the closing of the at least one valve using the actuator.

15. The method of claim 12, comprising: the sensor associated with the air analysis device comprising at least one of: a carbon monoxide sensor configured to sense a level of carbon monoxide in the breathable air, a carbon dioxide sensor configured to sense a level of carbon dioxide in the breathable air, an oxygen sensor configured to sense a level of oxygen in the breathable air, a nitrogen sensor configured to sense a level of nitrogen in the breathable air, a hydrocarbon sensor configured to sense a condensed hydrocarbon content in the breathable air, and a moisture sensor configured to sense a moisture concentration in the breathable air.

16. A safety system of a structure having at least one of: a plurality of levels and a plurality of regions, comprising: a source of breathable air;a fixed piping system installed within the structure for supply of the breathable air from the source across the safety system including the at least one of: the plurality of levels and the plurality of regions;at least one valve associated with control of the supply of the breathable air to at least one of: at least one level of the plurality of levels and at least one region of the plurality of regions; anda control device to, in response to a sensor associated with at least one component of the safety system sensing a parameter of at least one of: an environment of the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region and the breathable air supplied thereto, control an actuator of the at least one valve to isolate the breathable air supplied to the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region.

17. The safety system of claim 16, wherein the control device includes at least one of: at least one of: a data processing device, a bypass controller device and an air analysis device coupled to an air flow path of the breathable air from the source within the safety system that transmits a control signal to control the actuator of the at least one valve, andan isolation valve control panel device installed within the structure comprising at least one isolation switch to control the actuator of the at least one valve.

18. The safety system of claim 17, wherein the isolation valve control panel device further comprises at least one status indicator to at least one of: visibly and audibly indicate whether the at least one valve is open or closed.

19. The safety system of claim 17, wherein, based on at least one of: the control signal and the isolation switch, the actuator controls opening and closing of the at least one valve.

20. The safety system of claim 19, wherein the closing of the at least one valve using the actuator causes isolation of at least one emergency air fill station with respect to access to the breathable air at the at least one of: the at least one level and the at least one region.