US-20260126337-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CONTROLLING OPERATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF TESTING DEVICES

US20260126337A1US 20260126337 A1US20260126337 A1US 20260126337A1US-20260126337-A1

Abstract

A system and a method for controlling operations of a plurality of testing devices are provided. The system receives test data associated with each of a first enclosure and a second enclosure from one or more data sources and receives pressure data from one or more sensors associated with each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure. The first enclosure is associated with a first testing device of the plurality of testing devices and the second enclosure is associated with a second testing device of the plurality of testing devices. The system further generates control data for controlling an operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device based on the test data and the pressure data and outputs the control data for controlling the operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device.

Inventors

Mark Modera
Santosh Deevi
Kyle McClary
Michael Joesph Coyle
Joel Wesley Summerfield

Assignees

AEROSEAL LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241105

Claims (20)

1 . A system for controlling operations of a plurality of testing devices, the system comprising: a memory configured to store computer executable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to: receive, from one or more data sources, test data associated with each of a first enclosure and a second enclosure, wherein the first enclosure is associated with a first testing device of the plurality of testing devices, and wherein the second enclosure is associated with a second testing device of the plurality of testing devices; receive, from one or more sensors associated with each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, pressure data, wherein the pressure data comprises a first pressure value associated with the first enclosure with the first testing device operating therein, and wherein the pressure data comprises a second pressure value associated with the second enclosure with the second testing device operating therein; generate control data for controlling an operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device based on the test data and the pressure data, the control data comprising a first control signal for controlling the operation of the first testing device and a second control signal for controlling the operation of the second testing device, wherein the operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device is controlled to achieve a predefined pressure condition within each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure; and output, via a user interface, the control data for controlling the operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predefined pressure condition is associated with performing one of: a sealing operation within each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, or a testing operation within each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors configured to: generate the first control signal for controlling the operation of the first testing device based on the test data and the pressure data associated with the first enclosure; generate the second control signal for controlling the operation of the second testing device based on the test data and the pressure data associated with the second enclosure; and cause to control the operation of the first testing device and the second testing device simultaneously based on the first control signal and the second control signal.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors configured to: transmit the first control signal to a first control unit associated with the first testing device; transmit the second control signal to a second control unit associated with the second testing device; and cause, each of the first control unit and the second control unit, to control the first testing device and the second testing device to achieve the predefined pressure condition within each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more processors configured to: receive feedback data associated with at least one of: the first enclosure, the second enclosure, the first testing device or the second testing device, based on an operation of each of the first testing device within the first enclosure, and the second testing device within the second enclosure; generate updated control data for controlling an operation of at least one of: the first testing device, or the second testing device based on the feedback data and the predefined pressure condition, wherein the updated control data comprises at least one of: an updated first control signal for the first testing device, or an updated second control signal for the second testing device; transmit the updated control data to at least one of: the first control unit, or the second control unit; and cause, at least one of: the first control unit, or the second control unit, to control corresponding the first testing device or the second testing device based on the updated control data.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors configured to: cause, the first control unit, to control the first testing device based on the updated first control signal; and simultaneously cause, the second control unit, to control the second testing device based on the updated second control signal; or vice-versa.
7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the feedback data comprises at least one of: updated first pressure value associated with the first enclosure, updated second pressure value associated with the second enclosure, first operation parameters associated with the operation of the first testing device, or second operation parameters associated with the operation of the second testing device.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: compare the updated first pressure value associated with the first enclosure with a predefined threshold value associated with the predefined pressure condition; and generate the updated first control signal based on the comparison and the first operation parameters associated with the operation of the first testing device.
9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: compare the updated second pressure value associated with the second enclosure with a predefined threshold value associated with the predefined pressure condition; and generate the updated second control signal based on the comparison and the second operation parameters associated with the operation of the second testing device.
10 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive, via the user interface, a user input associated with the operation of at least one of: the first testing device, or the second testing device; and generate the updated control data for controlling the operation of at least one of: the first testing device and the second testing device based on the user input.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the test data comprises at least one of: pressure characteristics data associated with each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, flow characteristics data associated with each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, and leakage characteristics data associated with each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more sensors is a manometer.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first testing device and the second testing device is one of: a fan, a compressor or a pump.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first testing device and the second device supplies a fluid to each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, and wherein the fluid comprises at least a portion of an aerosolized sealant.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first testing device is associated with a first sealant delivery unit and the second testing device is associated with a second sealant delivery unit, and wherein each of the first sealant delivery unit and the second sealant delivery unit disperses a stream of the aerosolized sealant into the respective first enclosure and the second enclosure.
16 . A method for controlling operations of a plurality of testing devices, the method comprising: receiving, from one or more data sources, test data associated with each of a first enclosure and a second enclosure, wherein the first enclosure is associated with a first testing device of the plurality of testing devices, and wherein the second enclosure is associated with a second testing device of the plurality of testing devices; receiving, from one or more sensors associated with each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, pressure data, wherein the pressure data comprises a first pressure value associated with the first enclosure with the first testing device operating therein, and wherein the pressure data comprises a second pressure value associated with the second enclosure with the second testing device operating therein; generating control data for controlling an operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device based on the test data and the pressure data, the control data comprising a first control signal for controlling the operation of the first testing device and a second control signal for controlling the operation of the second testing device, wherein the operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device is controlled to achieve a predefined pressure condition within each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure; and outputting, via a user interface, the control data for controlling the operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising: generating the first control signal for controlling the operation of the first testing device based on the test data and the pressure data associated with the first enclosure; transmitting the first control signal to a first control unit associated with the first testing device; generating the second control signal for controlling the operation of the second testing device based on the test data and the pressure data associated with the second enclosure; transmitting the second control signal to a second control unit associated with the second testing device; and causing, each of the first control unit and the second control unit, to control the first testing device and the second testing device to achieve the predefined pressure condition within each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising: receiving feedback data associated with at least one of: the first enclosure, the second enclosure, the first testing device or the second testing device, based on an operation of each of the first testing device within the first enclosure, and the second testing device within the second enclosure; generating updated control data for controlling an operation of at least one of: the first testing device, or the second testing device based on the feedback data and the predefined pressure condition, wherein the updated control data comprises at least one of: an updated first control signal for the first testing device, or an updated second control signal for the second testing device; transmitting the updated control data to at least one of: the first control unit, or the second control unit; and causing, at least one of: the first control unit, or the second control unit, to control corresponding the first testing device or the second testing device based on the updated control data.
19 . A computer programmable product for controlling operations of a plurality of testing devices, the computer programmable product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to conduct operations, the operations comprising: receiving, from one or more data sources, test data associated with each of a first enclosure and a second enclosure, wherein the first enclosure is associated with a first testing device of the plurality of testing devices, and wherein the second enclosure is associated with a second testing device of the plurality of testing devices; receiving, from one or more sensors associated with each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure, pressure data, wherein the pressure data comprises a first pressure value associated with the first enclosure with the first testing device operating therein, and wherein the pressure data comprises a second pressure value associated with the second enclosure with the second testing device operating therein; generating control data for controlling an operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device based on the test data and the pressure data, the control data comprising a first control signal for controlling the operation of the first testing device and a second control signal for controlling the operation of the second testing device, wherein the operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device is controlled to achieve a predefined pressure condition within each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure; and outputting, via a user interface, the control data for controlling the operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device.
20 . The computer programmable product of claim 19 , the operations further comprising: receiving feedback data associated with at least one of: the first enclosure, the second enclosure, the first testing device or the second testing device, based on an operation of each of the first testing device within the first enclosure, and the second testing device within the second enclosure; and generating updated control data for controlling an operation of at least one of: the first testing device, or the second testing device based on the feedback data and the predefined pressure condition, wherein the updated control data comprises at least one of: an updated first control signal for the first testing device, or an updated second control signal for the second testing device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to control systems and more particularly relates to a system and method for simultaneously controlling operations of a plurality of testing devices. BACKGROUND Air leakage sealing process is a critical process for maintaining the energy efficiency and structural integrity of the building's envelope. The air leakage sealing process refers to the process of identifying and sealing gaps, seams, and openings in ducts associated with HVAC (Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems and building envelopes to prevent the unintended escape of conditioned air. The air leakage sealing is primarily used in residential and commercial buildings, particularly in areas where the ducts are located in unconditioned spaces like attics, basements, or crawl spaces. By sealing air leaks, the HVAC systems operate more efficiently, improve indoor air quality, and enhance overall comfort by maintaining consistent temperatures throughout the space. Additionally, it contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing energy consumption and associated carbon emissions. The air leakage sealing process typically involves a series of steps from verifying air leaks within the ducts or envelope using an air leakage test to sealing the air leaks using various sealing materials. The air leakage test involves creating a controlled pressure difference between an interior and an exterior of a building. Generally, a testing device, such as a blower or a fan is used to achieve this pressure difference. In this manner, it allows for the precise measurement of air leakage rates. Various sealing materials, such as caulk or weatherstripping may then be used to properly seal the air leaks. In certain cases, large gaps may be sealed using foam insulation. The accuracy and reliability of the air leakage test is highly dependent on the ability to control an operation of the testing device with precision. The precise control of the testing device is also required during the air leakage sealing process of identified air leakages in the ducts or envelope. To this end, the ducts or envelopes also have a predefined maximum safe pressure of operation of the testing device that needs to be observed to avoid physical damage. However, for performing the air leakage sealing process at multiple building envelopes, multiple testing devices need to be used. These multiple testing devices may be controlled by using, for example, manual adjustments or multiple rudimentary automated systems. Using multiple automated systems for controlling the multiple testing devices may increase the overall costs associated with the sealing process. Also, using a single testing device to perform the sealing process at each building envelope may be time-consuming. Moreover, these manual adjustments and these multiple rudimentary automated systems may not provide the necessary level of precision and adaptability for different testing conditions and/or maintain pressure within the predefined maximum safe pressure. Therefore, there is a need for a centralized system to precisely control operations of the multiple testing devices to achieve desired and safe operating pressure within multiple building envelopes for precisely performing the air leakage sealing process while preventing any physical damages. BRIEF SUMMARY A system, a method, and a computer programmable product are provided for controlling operations of a plurality of testing devices. In one aspect, a system for controlling operations of a plurality of testing devices is provided. The system includes a memory configured to store computer executable instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to receive test data associated with each of a first enclosure and a second enclosure from one or more data sources. The first enclosure is associated with a first testing device of the plurality of testing devices and the second enclosure is associated with a second testing device of the plurality of testing devices. The one or more processors are further configured to receive pressure data from one or more sensors associated with each of the first enclosure and the second enclosure. The pressure data includes a first pressure value associated with the first enclosure with the first testing device operating therein and a second pressure value associated with the second enclosure with the second testing device operating therein. The one or more processors are further configured to generate control data for controlling an operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device based on the test data and the pressure data. The control data includes a first control signal for controlling the operation of the first testing device and a second control signal for controlling the operation of the second testing device. The operation of each of the first testing device and the second testing device is controlled to achieve a pred