Methods, apparatuses, and systems for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure

• US 20070159326A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hadronex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hadronex, Inc.
• Inventors: Drake, David, Quist, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,598,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.260
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure includes a power source; a communication device electrically connected to the power source and attachable to a cover of the enclosure; and a sensor suspended away from the cover of the enclosure. A method for providing a monitor of environmental parameters within an enclosure includes attaching a communication device to a cover of the enclosure, connecting the communication device to a power source; and suspending a sensor away from the cover of the enclosure. A method for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure includes monitoring one or more environmental parameters with a sensor suspended by a cable within an enclosure, and transmitting data representing one or more monitored environmental parameters from a communication device to a second communication device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure, the apparatus comprising:

a power source;

a communication device electrically connected to said power source, said communication device being attachable to a cover of the enclosure; and

a sensor suspended away from the cover of the enclosure.

2. Apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus comprising a cable which suspends the sensor away from the cover of the enclosure, said cable having an electrical connection between said sensor and said power source, said cable having a communicative connection between said sensor and said communication device.

3. Apparatus of claim 2, the apparatus comprising an additional attachment mechanism attached to the cover of the enclosure, wherein said cable descends from said additional attachment mechanism.

4. Apparatus of claim 3, wherein said additional attachment mechanism is detachable from the cover of the enclosure, such that said additional attachment mechanism may be moved from time to time to improve the position of said sensor.

5. Apparatus of claim 2, the apparatus further comprising a second sensor attached to said cable, wherein said sensor and said second sensor are apart from each other along said cable, said cable having an electrical connection between said second sensor and said power source, said cable having a communicative connection between said second sensor and said communication device.

6. Apparatus of claim 5, the apparatus further comprising at least one further sensor or sensors attached to said cable, wherein said further sensor or sensors is or are apart from the first sensor and the second sensor, said cable having an electrical connection between said further sensor or sensors and said power source, said cable having a communicative connection between said further sensor or sensors and said communication device.

7. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor is connected to a second power source and a wireless communicator for communicating wirelessly with said communication device.

8. Apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising:

a processor connected to said power source, wherein said sensor is connected to said communication device by way of said processor.

9. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communication device is a wireless communication device which communicates with at least a second communication device outside of the enclosure.

10. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor monitors one or more of:

humidity, moisture, temperature, gas content, water level, water quality, flow rates, vibration, acoustic levels and content, optical levels and content, and opening or closing of the enclosure cover.

11. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor conducts real-time, continuous sensing.

12. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor is connected to a wireless communicator for communicating wirelessly with said communication device.

13. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to sense one or more of:

power current flow, power voltage, telecommunications measurements, natural gas pressure, natural gas flow, petrochemical pressure, petrochemical flow, security measurements, fire detection, chemical detection, biological detection, fluid level detection, fluid flow detection.

14. Apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising said cover of the enclosure.

15. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power source, said communication device, and said sensor are positioned so as to be movable with said cover of the enclosure.

16. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein said power source is located outside of the enclosure.

17. A method for providing a monitor of environmental parameters within an enclosure, the method comprising:

attaching a communication device to a cover of the enclosure;

connecting said communication device to a power source; and

suspending a sensor away from the cover of the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 17, said connecting step comprising:

connecting said communication device to said power source by way of a cable.

19. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

placing said sensor in communication with said communication device.

20. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

providing an electrical connection between said sensor and said power source by way of said cable

21. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

providing a communicative connection between said sensor and said communication device by way of said cable.

22. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

attaching an additional attachment mechanism to the cover of the enclosure, wherein said suspending step comprises;

suspending said sensor from said additional attachment mechanism.

23. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

removing a cover from the enclosure; and

covering a second enclosure with said cover, wherein said sensor is suspended by said cable from said cover.

24. A method for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure, the method comprising:

monitoring one or more environmental parameters with a sensor suspended by a cable within an enclosure; and

transmitting data from a communication device to a second communication device, said data representing one or more monitored environmental parameters.

25. The method of claim 24, the method further comprising:

removing a cover from the enclosure; and

covering a second enclosure with said cover, wherein said sensor is suspended by said cable from said cover.

26. A system for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure, the system comprising:

means for monitoring one or more environmental parameters;

means for suspending said monitoring means within an enclosure; and

means for transmitting data to a communication device outside of the enclosure, said data representing one or more monitored environmental parameters.