Telemetric digital thermometer with GPS tracking

• US 10,183,806 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2017
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anytrek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Anytrek Corporation
• Inventors: Zeng, Haijian
• Primary Examiner(s): Verbitsky, Gail Kaplan
• Application Number:
  US15/788,412
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 374121, 374208, 374163, 374185, 374141, 374120, 34087017
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/12 specially adapted for transport associated with vehicles, see the relevant subclasses of B60 - B64
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/74 having means for heating, cooling, aerating or other conditioning of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/04 Linings for flexible containers B65D88/1606
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/48 Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/08 with food recipients having temperature sensing capability
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/02 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/826 where the data is sent periodically
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A telemetric digital thermometer for use with a fluid transport container having internal and external shells. The telemetric digital thermometer includes a mount having a peripheral flange and a support collar, with the peripheral flange being connectable to the external shell. A temperature sensor sense a temperature of the internal shell. A thermometer insert may include an outer collar engageable with the peripheral flange, and an inner body engageable with the support collar. A GPS module may detect position of the thermometer insert. A wireless transceiver may transmit a signal including temperature data and position data. The thermometer insert and the mount may be collectively sized and structured such that the GPS module and the wireless transceiver are positioned radially outward of the external shell when the thermometer insert is connected to the mount and the mount is connected to the external shell.

Claims

1. A food grade fluid container trailer with a telemetric digital thermometer for use with a food grade fluid transport container, the trailer comprising:

the food grade fluid transport container having;

an internal shell defining a reservoir for receiving fluid;

and an external shell spaced from the internal shell; and

insulation disposed between the internal and external shells;

the telemetric digital thermometer comprising;

a mount having a peripheral flange and a primary support collar, the peripheral flange extending radially outward from the primary support collar and being connectable to the external shell;

a temperature sensor connectable to the internal shell for sensing a temperature of the internal shell; and

a thermometer insert operatively connected to the temperature sensor and connectable to the mount, the thermometer insert having;

an outer collar engageable with the peripheral flange;

an inner body engageable with the primary support collar;

a GPS module to detect position of the thermometer insert; and

a wireless transceiver in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the GPS module to transmit a signal including temperature data from the temperature sensor and position data from the GPS module;

the thermometer insert and the mount collectively being sized and structured such that the GPS module is positioned radially outward of the external shell when the thermometer insert is connected to the mount and the mount is connected to the external shell.

2. The trailer of claim 1 wherein the GPS module includes an antennae and the antennae is positioned radially outward of the external shell when the thermometer insert is connected to the mount and the mount is connected to the external shell.

3. The trailer recited in claim 1, wherein the mount includes a central opening sized and structured to receive at least a portion of the thermometer insert.

4. The trailer recited in claim 1, wherein the mount includes a secondary support collar disposed radially inward of the primary support collar.

5. The trailer recited in claim 1, wherein the peripheral flange completely circumnavigates the primary support collar.

6. The trailer recited in claim 1, wherein the mount includes a plurality of apertures formed in the peripheral flange.

7. The trailer recited in claim 1, wherein the thermometer insert includes a digital display in communication with the temperature sensor for displaying the temperature of the internal shell.

8. The trailer recited in claim 1, further comprising a battery in communication with the GPS module and the wireless transceiver.

9. The trailer recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the wireless transceiver, the controller controlling the temperature sensor and wireless transceiver according to preprogrammed timing parameters.

10. The trailer recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the wireless transceiver, the controller receiving temperature data from the temperature sensor and comparing received temperature data with a predetermined temperature range, the controller generating instructions for the wireless transceiver to emit an alert signal when the received temperature data falls outside of the predetermined temperature range.

11. The trailer recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the wireless transceiver, the controller receiving temperature data from the temperature sensor and generating instructions for the wireless transceiver to emit an alert signal when the received temperature data is above a predetermined maximum temperature threshold.

12. The trailer recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is operative to receive a request signal from a remote electronic device, and request temperature data from the temperature sensor in response to receiving the request signal.

13. The trailer recited in claim 1, wherein the mount includes a pair of mount projections extending from the peripheral flange.

14. The trailer recited in claim 13, wherein each mount projection includes an aperture extending therethrough.

15. The trailer recited in claim 13, wherein the thermometer insert includes a pair of mount bodies, each mount body having a mounting cavity, the pair of mount projections being received within a respective mounting cavity when the thermometer insert is engaged with the mount.

16. The trailer recited in claim 15, wherein the pair of mount projections are in diametrically opposed relation to each other, and the pair of mount bodies are in diametrically opposed relation to each other.

17. A telemetric digital thermometer for use with a food grade fluid transport container trailer, the trailer comprising:

a food grade fluid transport container having;

an internal shell defining a reservoir for receiving fluid;

an external shell spaced apart from the internal shell; and

insulation disposed between the internal and external shells;

the telemetric digital thermometer comprising;

a body having a peripheral flange connectable to the external shell;

a temperature sensor connectable to the body for sensing a temperature of the internal shell;

a GPS module coupled to the body and detecting a position of the body; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to the body and in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the GPS module to transmit a signal including temperature data from the temperature sensor and position data from the GPS module;

a thermometer insert connected to the temperature sensor and to the body;

wherein the thermometer insert and the body collectively being sized and structured such that the GPS module is positioned radially outward of the external shell when the body is connected to the external shell.

18. The trailer recited in claim 17, further comprising a controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the wireless transceiver, the controller controlling the temperature sensor and wireless transceiver according to preprogrammed timing parameters.

19. The trailer recited in claim 17, further comprising a controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the wireless transceiver, the controller receiving temperature data from the temperature sensor and comparing received temperature data with a predetermined temperature range, the controller generating instructions for the wireless transceiver to emit an alert signal when the received temperature data falls outside of the predetermined temperature range.

20. The trailer recited in claim 17, further comprising a controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the wireless transceiver, the controller receiving temperature data from the temperature sensor and generating instructions for the wireless transceiver to emit an alert signal when the received temperature data is above a predetermined maximum temperature threshold.

21. The trailer recited in claim 17, wherein the wireless transceiver is operative to receive a request signal from a remote electronic device, and request temperature data from the temperature sensor in response to receiving the request signal.

22. A food grade fluid container trailer for transporting food grade fluid, the food grade fluid container trailer attachable to a vehicle, the trailer comprising:

a food grade fluid transport container having;

an internal shell defining a reservoir for receiving fluid;

an external shell spaced apart from the internal shell;

insulation disposed between the internal and external shells;

a telemetric digital thermometer comprising;

a mount having a peripheral flange and a primary support collar, the peripheral flange extending radially outward from the primary support collar and connected to the external shell;

a temperature sensor connected to the internal shell for sensing a temperature of the internal shell; and

a thermometer insert connected to the temperature sensor and connected to the mount, the thermometer insert having;

an outer collar engageable with the peripheral flange;

an inner body engageable with the primary support collar;

a battery pack;

a GPS module to detect position of the thermometer insert; and

a wireless transceiver in operative communication with the temperature sensor and the GPS module to receive and transmit a wireless signal including temperature data from the temperature sensor and position data to and from the GPS module;

wherein the thermometer insert and the mount are collectively sized and structured such that the GPS module is positioned outside, whereas the battery pack is positioned inside, of a plane defined by the external shell when the thermometer insert is connected to the mount and the mount is connected to the external shell to facilitate receipt and transmission of the wireless signal.

23. A food grade fluid container trailer for transporting food grade fluid, the food grade fluid container trailer attachable to a vehicle, the trailer comprising:

a food grade fluid transport container having;

an internal shell defining a reservoir for receiving fluid;

an external shell spaced apart from the internal shell;

insulation disposed between the internal and external shells;

a telemetric digital thermometer comprising;

a body having a peripheral flange connected to the external shell;

a temperature sensor connected to the internal shell of the food grade fluid transport container for sensing a temperature of the internal shell;

a battery pack attached to the food grade fluid transport container;

a GPS module coupled to the food grade fluid transport container and detecting a global position of the body; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to the food grade fluid transport container and in operative communication with the temperature sensor, the battery pack, and the GPS module to transmit a signal including temperature data from the temperature sensor and position data from the GPS module;

a thermometer insert connected to the temperature sensor and to the body;

wherein the thermometer insert and the body are collectively sized and structured such that the GPS module is positioned radially outside of a plane defined by the external shell when the body is connected to the external shell to facilitate wireless transmission.