Sewer flow monitoring method and system
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring and analyzing flow in a sewer system, comprising the steps of:
- collecting, using a monitoring assembly, data representative of actual flow volume in a first location;
storing the data representative of actual flow volume in a memory;
maintaining, in the memory, previously stored data representative of previous flow volumes;
determining a predicted flow volume, wherein the predicted flow volume is dependent upon data selected from the previously stored data and a day and time, wherein the day and time each correspond to both the data selected from the previously stored data and the data representative of actual flow volume; and
comparing the actual flow volume with the predicted flow volume to yield a difference value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for monitoring and analyzing flow in a sewer system includes the steps of using a monitoring assembly to collect data representative of actual flow volume of a fluid substance in a first location such as a sewer pipe, storing the actual flow volume data in a memory, maintaining previously stored data in the memory, determining a predicted flow volume and comparing the actual flow volume with the predicted flow volume to yield a difference value. The predicted flow volume is dependent on the data selected from the previously stored data and a day and time that corresponds to both the actual flow volume data and the data selected from the previously stored data. The predicted flow volume may also be dependent upon additional data corresponding to a rain event. When the difference value exceeds a predetermined variance value, the method may further include the step of issuing a flow loss notification. In the difference value does not exceed a predetermined variance value, the method may also include storing the actual flow volume in the memory as stored calibration data. The method may also include the step of transmitting the flow velocity data, depth data, and/or the actual flow volume over a data network such as the Internet to a computing device. The actual flow volume may be represented as a rolling average flow volume.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring and analyzing flow in a sewer system, comprising the steps of:
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collecting, using a monitoring assembly, data representative of actual flow volume in a first location;
storing the data representative of actual flow volume in a memory;
maintaining, in the memory, previously stored data representative of previous flow volumes;
determining a predicted flow volume, wherein the predicted flow volume is dependent upon data selected from the previously stored data and a day and time, wherein the day and time each correspond to both the data selected from the previously stored data and the data representative of actual flow volume; and
comparing the actual flow volume with the predicted flow volume to yield a difference value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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13. A flow monitoring system, comprising:
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a first monitoring assembly having at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is operative to detect data representative of actual flow volume of a fluid substance at a first location;
a processor in communication with the first monitoring assembly;
a memory, wherein the memory is operative to store the data representative of actual flow volume and a detection time associated with said data; and
a central computing device in communication with the first monitoring assembly, wherein the processor is trained to compare the actual flow volume with a predicted flow volume to yield a difference value, the predicted flow volume being dependent upon the data stored in the memory and the detection time associated with said data.
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26. An apparatus for monitoring and analyzing flow of a fluid substance in a sewer system, the apparatus comprising:
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a first means for monitoring fluid flow having at least one means for sensing, wherein the at least one means for sensing is operative to detect data representative of actual flow volume at a first location;
a means for processing in communication with the first means for monitoring;
a means for storing data, wherein the means for storing data is operative to store the data representative of actual flow volume and a detection time associated with said data; and
a means for computing in communication with the first means for monitoring, wherein the means for processing is trained to compare the actual flow volume with a predicted flow volume to yield a difference value, the predicted flow volume being dependent upon the data stored in the means for storing data and the detection time associated with said data.
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39. A storage medium for storing software for monitoring and analyzing flow in a sewer system, the sewer system including a monitoring assembly, the monitoring assembly including at least one sensor configured to detect data representative of actual flow volume in a first location, the software being computer-readable, wherein the software includes instructions for causing a first computer to:
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store the data representative of actual flow volume in a memory;
maintain, in the memory, previously stored data representative of previous flow volumes;
determine a predicted flow volume, wherein the predicted flow volume is dependent upon data selected from the previously stored data and a day and time, wherein the day and time each correspond to both the data selected from the previously stored data and the data representative of actual flow volume; and
compare the actual flow volume with the predicted flow volume to yield a difference value.
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Specification