Monitoring contents of fluid containers

• US 20040194980A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: En-Gauge, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MIJA Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: McSheffrey, Brendan T., McSheffrey, John Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/75
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/034 using wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/036 using alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/015 Facilitating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 Breathing
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0745 Gas bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0754 Fire extinguishers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus for remote inspection of fluid containers, e.g., portable tanks or fluid pipelines, includes an electronic circuit in communication between each container (or at various locations along a pipeline) and a remote central station. The electronic circuit is adapted to issue a wireless signal to the remote central station upon detection of predetermined internal conditions, such as an out-of-range pressure condition of fluid contained within the volume of the container, or upon detection of predetermined external conditions, such as the lack of presence of the container in its installed position or the presence of an obstruction to viewing of or access to the container.

Claims

1. Apparatus for remote inspection of a pressurized pipeline fluid, said apparatus comprising:

a detector in communication with the pipeline fluid for measure of a predetermined internal condition of the pipeline; and

an electronic circuit in communication between the detector and a remote central station for issue of a wireless signal to the remote central station, the wireless signal including information about the predetermined internal condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to issue a wireless signal upon detection of the predetermined internal condition.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to issue a wireless signal upon receipt of a signal from the remote central station.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined internal condition comprises an out of range pressure condition of the pipeline fluid.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the detector comprises a fluid pressure gauge in communication with the pipeline fluid for measure and display of a pressure condition of the pipeline fluid.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detector comprises a flow meter in communication with the pipeline fluid for measure the rate of flow of the pipeline fluid and the predetermined internal condition comprises the rate of flow of the pipeline fluid.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electronic circuit is configured to issue a wireless signal upon detection of a rate of flow below a predetermined level.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a filter unit for filtering the pipeline fluid, wherein the detector is mounted to the filter unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a docking station, wherein the detector is electrically connected to the docking station.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry comprises electronic transmission and reception circuitry for two way communication with the remote central station.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a second detector for detection of a second predetermined condition.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second detector is in communication with the pipeline fluid and is adapted to measure an internal condition of the pipeline fluid and the second predetermined condition comprises a second predetermined internal condition of the pipeline, and wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to issue a wireless signal to the remote control station that includes information about the second predetermined internal condition.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second predetermined condition is the rate of flow of fluid through the pipeline and the second detector comprises a flow meter.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the second predetermined condition is a predetermined external condition.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the predetermined external condition comprises presence of an obstruction to viewing of or access to the detector.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the predetermined external condition comprises lack of presence of the first detector in its installed position.

17. Apparatus for remote inspection of a pressurized medical fluid container comprising:

a detector in communication with the pressurized fluid for measure of a predetermined internal condition of the container; and

an electronic circuit in communication between the detector and a remote central station for issue of a wireless signal to the remote central station, the wireless signal including information about the predetermined internal condition.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to issue a wireless signal upon detection of the predetermined internal condition.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the predetermined internal condition comprises an out of range pressure condition of the fluid.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the electronic circuit is configures to issue a signal upon detection that the pressure of the fluid is at or below a predetermined level.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the detector comprises a fluid pressure gauge in communication with the container fluid for measure and display of a pressure condition of the fluid.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a docking station, wherein the detector is electrically connected to the docking station and the electronic circuit is at least partially contained within the docking station.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

a second detector for detection of a predetermined external condition.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second detector comprises an electronic tether in electrical communication with the electronic circuit.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the medical fluid container is located in an installed position and the predetermined external condition comprises the lack of presence of the medical fluid container in its installed position.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to issue a signal upon detection of the lack of presence of the medical fluid container in its installed position.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second detector comprises a sonic sensor for detecting presence of an obstruction to or viewing of the medical fluid container.

28. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising:

a third detector for detection of a second predetermined external condition.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the second detector comprises an electronic tether for detecting the lack of presence of the medical fluid container in an installed position and the third detector comprises a sonic sensor for detecting presence of an obstruction to or viewing of the medical fluid container.

30. Apparatus for remote inspection of a container adapted to hold pressurized commercial or industrial gas, the apparatus comprising:

a detector in communication with the pressurized fluid for measure of a predetermined internal condition of the container; and

an electronic circuit in communication between the detector and a remote central station for issue of a wireless signal to the remote central station, the wireless signal including information about the predetermined internal condition.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to issue a wireless signal upon detection of the predetermined internal condition.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the predetermined internal condition comprises an out of range pressure condition of the fluid.

33. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the electronic circuit is configures to issue a signal upon detection that the pressure of the fluid is at or below a predetermined level.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the detector comprises a fluid pressure gauge in communication with the container fluid for measure and display of a pressure condition of the fluid.

35. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a docking station, wherein the detector is electrically connected to the docking station and the electronic circuit is at least partially contained within the docking station.

36. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:

a second detector for detection of a predetermined external condition.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the second detector comprises an electronic tether in electrical communication with the electronic circuit.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the container is located in an installed position and the predetermined external condition comprises the lack of presence of the container in its installed position.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to issue a signal upon detection of the lack of presence of the container in its installed position.

40. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the second detector comprises a sonic sensor for detecting presence of an obstruction to or viewing of the medical fluid container.

41. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising:

a third detector for detection of a second predetermined external condition.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the second detector comprises an electronic tether for detecting the lack of presence of the medical fluid container in an installed position and the third detector comprises a sonic sensor for detecting presence of an obstruction to or viewing of the medical fluid container.