System and method of monitoring a utility structure

• US 10,344,446 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consolidated Edison Company of New York Incorporated (Consolidated Edison Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Consolidated Edison Company of New York Incorporated (Consolidated Edison Incorporated)
• Inventors: De Vries, Troy David, Zheng, Zhou, Lewis, Stanley J., Philp, Leslie George, Murach, Colleen Bridget, Slintak, Gregg L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Towfighi, Afshawn M
• Application Number:
  US15/722,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20190100895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/14 Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers gully gratings E03F5/06
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/1427 Locking devices of bayonet type E02D29/14
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/1472 Cover entirely made of synthetic material
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/1481 Security devices, e.g. indicating unauthorised opening E02D29/1427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators

Abstract

A system for monitoring a structures containing utility components is provided. The system includes a sensing devices, each being disposed within a structure and distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices measuring parameters within the structure. A display is coupled to the sensing devices and is positioned remotely therefrom. One or more processors communicate with the sensing devices and the display. Wherein the processors perform a method comprising: receiving the measured parameters; comparing the measured parameters to thresholds; displaying on the display device elements, each device element representing one of the sensing devices, each of the device elements being geometrically arranged on the geographic distribution of the sensing devices; displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each associated with one of the device elements; and changing at least one of the elements when a measured parameter crossing one of the thresholds.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;

a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices, the plurality of sensing devices measure one or more of combustible gas, stray voltage, contact voltage, infrared signatures, temperature, particulate, and electrical arcing;

one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising;

receiving signals representing the measured parameters;

comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;

displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices; and

displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on the display a plurality of status elements, each status element being associated with one of the plurality of device elements, the plurality of status elements including a first status element associated with a first sensing device; and

changing the first status element in response to the first sensing device not communicating with the one or more processors within a predetermined period of time.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power source electrically coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the power source being independent from the utility components.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a variable sampling rate.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a first sampling rate during a first time period and a second sampling rate during a second time period, the second sampling rate being greater than the first sampling rate.

6. The system of claim 5, for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;

a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices;

one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising;

receiving signals representing the measured parameters;

comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;

displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices;

displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements;

changing at least one of the plurality of elements in response to one of the measured parameters crossing one of the predetermined thresholds

a power source electrically coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the power source being independent from the utility components;

wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a variable sampling rate;

wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a first sampling rate during a first time period and a second sampling rate during a second time period, the second sampling rate being greater than the first sampling rate;

wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a first sampling rate during a first time period and a second sampling rate during a second time period, the second sampling rate being greater than the first sampling rate; and

wherein the second time period starts in response to a signal, the signal being transmitted based at least in part on an anticipated weather event.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the power source is a cable power harvesting unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature is measured using an infrared sensor.

9. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;

a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices;

one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising;

receiving signals representing the measured parameters;

comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;

displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices; and

displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements;

wherein a first element of the plurality of elements is changed in response to;

a first measurement parameter associated with a combustible gas being between 0.5% LEL and 1.0% LEL;

a second measurement parameter associated with a pyrometer being between 75 C and 90 C;

a third measurement parameter associated with an ambient air temperature being between 50% of a cable rating and 75% of a cable rating;

a fourth measurement parameter associated with stray and contact voltage being between 1V and 5V;

or

a fifth measurement parameter associated with a particulate sensor being between 1 micron and 10 micron.

10. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure, wherein the plurality of sensors measure one or more measurement parameters include a thermal imaging and a visible sensor that measure one or more parameters of conditions within the structures;

a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices;

one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising;

receiving signals representing the measured parameters;

detecting a hot spot within the structure based on the signal from the thermal imaging sensor;

comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;

displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices; and

displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more measurement parameters is the temperature and the predetermined threshold is equal to or greater than 90 C.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more measurement parameters is the temperature gradient and the predetermined threshold is a substantially uniform temperature across a predetermined length of the cable.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more measurement parameters is a sound level and predetermined threshold is a sound pressure level equal to or greater than 90 dB.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more measurement parameters is a visible image showing an opacity equal to or greater than 5%.

15. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;

a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices;

one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising;

receiving signals representing the measured parameters;

detecting a hot spot within the structure based on the signal from the thermal imaging sensor;

comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;

displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices;

displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements; and

wherein the one or more measurement parameters is the temperature differential and the predetermined threshold is a temperature differential equal to or greater than 17 C.

16. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;

a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices;

one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising;

receiving signals representing the measured parameters;

comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;

displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices;

displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements; and

wherein the plurality of sensors measure one or more measurement parameters selected from a group comprising;

temperature differential between two predetermined locations on a cable, a temperature on a cable, a temperature gradient of a cable, thermal imaging, visible imaging, refractive index, a sound recording, and fluorescence.

17. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;

a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices;

one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising;

receiving signals representing the measured parameters;

comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;

displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices;

displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements; and

wherein one of the plurality of sensors measures a water level parameter within the structure, and wherein the method further comprises suppressing the data associated with a first sensing device in response to the water level parameter associated with the first sensing device is above a flooding threshold.

18. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;

a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices;

one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising;

receiving signals representing the measured parameters;

comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;

displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices;

displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements; and

a plurality of mobile devices, each associated with an operational personnel, each of the plurality of mobile devices being coupled for communication with the one or more processors; and

wherein the one or more processors are further response to transmit a signal to one or more of the plurality of mobile devices in response to a first measured parameter crossing one of the predetermined thresholds and the one or more plurality of mobile devices being within a predetermined distance of the structure having the sensor that measured the first measured parameter.

19. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;

a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices;

one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising;

receiving signals representing the measured parameters;

comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;

displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices;

displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements;

changing at least one of the plurality of elements in response to one of the measured parameters crossing one of the predetermined thresholds

a power source electrically coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the power source being independent from the utility components;

wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a variable sampling rate;

wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a first sampling rate during a first time period and a second sampling rate during a second time period, the second sampling rate being greater than the first sampling rate;

wherein the first time period is during the Summer and Autumn seasons and the second time period is during the Winter and Spring seasons.

20. A method of prioritizing and dispatching utility personnel to one or more of a plurality of structures containing utility components, the method comprising:

disposing at least one sensing device in each of the plurality of structures, the structures being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;

measuring, with each sensing device, the measured parameters at each structure;

transmitting the measured parameters to one or more processors located at a central processing center, the central processing center being remotely located from the plurality of structures;

comparing the measured parameters to predetermined first thresholds;

determining a first plurality of structures, each having at least one measured parameter that crossed a first threshold;

prioritizing with the one or more processors the first plurality of structures for repair, the prioritizing being based at least in part on a predetermined criterion, the predetermined criterion including at least one of a priority value and an asset quality;

determining with the one or more processors a plurality of available operational personnel for repairing the first plurality of structures; and

dispatching the plurality of available operational personnel to the first plurality of structures based on the prioritization.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined criterion includes a sum of the priority value and the asset quality.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the priority value is based on a type of measured parameter that crosses a threshold.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the priority values from high to low comprise:

combustible gas, stray and contact voltage, infrared temperature, ambient air temperature, particulate, and electrical arcing.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the priority values has a high set value and a low set value.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the asset qualities include one or more of population density, cable density, cable age, and cable failure rate.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined criterion includes at least one or more of population density, cable density, cable age, and cable failure rate.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

measuring a rate of change of a first measured parameter associated with a first structure of the first plurality of structures; and

increasing a priority of the first structure in response to the rate of change of the first measured parameter crossing a second threshold.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining with the one or more processors, the geographic location of the operational personnel; and

transmitting with the one or more processors a signal to a mobile device carried by the operation personnel in response to the operating personnel being within a predetermined distance of one of the first plurality of structures.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

measuring a water level parameter in a first structure of the first plurality of structures; and

suppressing alarms for the first structure in response to the water level parameter being above a water level threshold.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

measuring a time period between communications from each of the sensing devices to the one or more processors; and

transmitting a signal in response to a first time period associated with a first sensing device being greater than a threshold.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

displaying on a display at the central processing center a graphical representation of at least a portion of the geographic region;

displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices in the at least the portion of the geographic region;

displaying on the display a plurality of alarm elements, each of the plurality of alarm elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements; and

changing at least one of the plurality of alarm elements in response to one of the measured parameters crossing one of the predetermined thresholds.