Conduit network system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A conduit network system, comprising:
- at least one node element in communication with an inner area of a conduit used to transfer material therein, with the node element configured to receive, process and communicate data signals representative of user-desired information; and
a system control mechanism in communication with the at least one node element and configured to receive the data signals from the at least one node element.
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Abstract
A conduit network system includes at least one, and typically multiple, node elements in communication with an inner area of a conduit, which is used to transfer material therein. The node element can receive, process and communicate data signals that are representative of user-desired information. A system control mechanism is in communication with the node elements and receives the data signals from these node elements. A method for communicating data in a conduit system is also disclosed.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A conduit network system, comprising:
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at least one node element in communication with an inner area of a conduit used to transfer material therein, with the node element configured to receive, process and communicate data signals representative of user-desired information; and
a system control mechanism in communication with the at least one node element and configured to receive the data signals from the at least one node element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A conduit network system for a conduit system including a plurality of linked conduits transferring gaseous material through an inner area thereof, the conduit network system comprising:
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a plurality of spaced node elements each in communication with the inner area of a respective conduit section, the node element configured to receive, process and communicate data signals representative of user-desired information; and
a system control mechanism in communication with the at least one node element and configured to receive the data signals from the at least one node element.
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28. A conduit network system node arrangement for use in connection with a conduit transferring material in an inner space thereof, the conduit network system node arrangement comprising:
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(i) a sensor system having at least one sensor device configured to sample at least one variable of at least one of the conduit, the material transferred through the conduit and an area adjacent the conduit and produce data signals representative of the at least one variable;
(ii) a transceiver and antenna arrangement for receiving, processing and transmitting the data signals;
(iii) at least one power device configured to power at least one sub-component of the node arrangement; and
(iv) a node control mechanism in communication with the sensor system, the transceiver and antenna arrangement and the power device, the node control mechanism configured to receive, process and communicate data between at least one of the node arrangement, sub-components of the node arrangement, another node arrangement, a system control mechanism, a communications network, a data extraction device and a memory storage medium;
wherein the node arrangement is at least partially located within a protective housing; and
wherein the sensor system and the transceiver and antenna arrangement are housed in a wand enclosure capable of at least partially projecting into the inner area of the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method for communicating data in a conduit network, comprising the steps of:
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collecting data at a first node; and
transmitting the collected data to at least one of a subsequent node and a system control mechanism;
wherein the transmitted data is communicated through an inner area of a conduit in the conduit network. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification