Fluid management probe

• US 20040004550A1
• Filed: 07/08/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gay M. Early
• Original Assignee: Gay M. Early
• Inventors: Early, Gay M.
• Application Number:
  US10/190,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004550A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/603
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/76 characterised by the construction of the float
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level

Abstract

A fluid management probe in which the probe includes at least one sensor that can measure a level of a fluid and detect contaminants. The fluid management probe also has circuitry for transmitting data collected by the sensor to a central communications station. A fluid management probe in which the probe has a housing and at least one sensor contained within the housing for measuring a level of a fluid. The fluid management probe is substantially buoyant such that at least a first portion of the probe rests above a surface of the fluid and at least a second portion of the probe rests below the surface of the fluid. The fluid management probe also has circuitry for transmitting data collected by the sensor to a central communications station.

Claims

1. A fluid management probe, comprising:

at least one sensor;

wherein said sensor measures a level of a fluid and detects contaminants, and

circuitry for transmitting data collected by said sensor to a central communications station.

2. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said probe has a plurality of sensors;

wherein at least one of said sensors measures the level of the fluid and another said sensor detects contaminants in the fluid.

3. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said probe has a plurality of sensors;

wherein at least one of said sensors measures the level of a first fluid and another said sensor detects contaminants in a second fluid;

wherein said fluid management probe is interchangeable between the first fluid and the second fluid.

4. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said fluid management probe is substantially buoyant such that at least a first portion of said probe rests above a surface of the fluid and at least a second portion of said probe rests below the surface of the fluid.

5. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, further comprising a calibration ring;

wherein said calibration ring and said sensor are used to determine the density of the fluid and to generate a calibration cycle time for the fluid.

6. The fluid management probe according to claim 5, further comprising a housing;

wherein said fluid is in a tank and said fluid management probe is stored in the tank;

wherein said calibration ring is attached to a base of said housing such that said calibration ring prevents said base of said housing from striking a bottom of the tank when the fluid is removed from the tank.

7. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said probe has a plurality of said sensors and further comprises a plurality of corresponding control modules and at least one receptacle for detachably receiving said sensors and said control modules

8. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said probe has a plurality of said sensors;

wherein at least one of said sensors is a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the fluid.

9. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor used to measure the level of the fluid and to detect contaminants is an ultrasound sensor.

10. The fluid management probe according to claim 2, wherein said sensor used to measure the level of the fluid is a laser sensor.

11. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said probe contains circuitry for wirelessly transmitting data collected by said sensor to a central communications station.

12. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said probe has a unique identifier for enabling the central communications station to identify said probe.

13. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is a petroleum-based fluid and at least one of the contaminants is water.

14. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor measures the level of the fluid and detects contaminants and said probe transmits said data in accordance with a predetermined interval.

15. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the contaminants is in the fluid.

16. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the contaminants is proximate to the fluid.

17. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor that detects contaminants is a materials sensor and at least one of the contaminants is a chemical contaminant.

18. The fluid management probe according to claim 1, wherein said sensor that detects contaminants is a materials sensor and at least one of the contaminants is a biological contaminant.

19. The fluid management probe according to claim 17, wherein the fluid is water and the contaminant is a contaminant selected from the group comprising salt, phosphorous or petroleum-based fluids.

20. The fluid management probe according to claim 19, wherein the fluid is part of a natural body of water.

21. The fluid management probe according to claim 18, wherein the fluid is water and the contaminant is Escherichia coli.

22. The fluid management probe according to claim 21, wherein the fluid is part of a natural body of water.

23. A fluid management probe, comprising:

a housing;

at least one sensor contained within said housing for measuring a level of a fluid;

wherein said fluid management probe is substantially buoyant such that at least a first portion of said probe rests above a surface of the fluid and at least a second portion of said probe rests below the surface of the fluid; and

circuitry for transmitting data collected by said sensor to a central communications station.

24. The fluid management probe according to claim 23, wherein said sensor used to measure the level of the fluid is an ultrasound sensor.

25. The fluid management probe according to claim 23, wherein said probe has a unique identifier for enabling a central communications station to identify said probe

26. The fluid management probe according to claim 23, wherein the fluid is a petroleum-based fluid;

wherein the fluid is stored in a tank having a fill pipe and said probe is inserted in the tank through the fill pipe.

27. The fluid management probe according to claim 23, wherein said sensor measures the level of the fluid and said probe transmits said data in accordance with a predetermined interval.