Vacuum Sewer Valve Fault Detection System
First Claim
1. A sensor unit for detecting an open vacuum interface valve coupled to a gravity sump that is pneumatically coupled to an air relief tube of a vacuum sewage system, comprising:
- a. an open valve sensor configured to sense a property inside of the air relief tube;
b. a communication device;
c. a processor in electronic communication with the open valve sensor and the communication device, the processor configured to;
i. read a sensed value from the open valve sensor; and
ii. cause the communication device to transmit a signal when the sensed value meets predefined criteria; and
d. a power source for providing power to the open valve sensor and to the communication device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor unit detects an open vacuum interface valve coupled to a gravity sump that is pneumatically coupled to an air relief tube of a vacuum sewage system. The sensor unit includes an open valve sensor, a communication device, a processor and a power source. The open valve sensor is affixed to the air relief tube. The processor is in electronic communication with the open valve sensor and the communication device. The processor is configured to read a sensed value from the open valve sensor and cause the communication device to transmit an alarm signal when the sensed value meets predefined criteria. The power source provides power to the open valve sensor and to the communication device.
23 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A sensor unit for detecting an open vacuum interface valve coupled to a gravity sump that is pneumatically coupled to an air relief tube of a vacuum sewage system, comprising:
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a. an open valve sensor configured to sense a property inside of the air relief tube; b. a communication device; c. a processor in electronic communication with the open valve sensor and the communication device, the processor configured to; i. read a sensed value from the open valve sensor; and ii. cause the communication device to transmit a signal when the sensed value meets predefined criteria; and d. a power source for providing power to the open valve sensor and to the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for detecting an open vacuum interface valve coupled to a gravity sump of in a vacuum sewage system, comprising:
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a. a plurality of sensor units, each sensor unit including; i. at least one air relief tube pressure sensor coupled to an interior portion of the air relief tube; ii. a communication device; iii. a processor in electronic communication with the air relief tube pressure sensor and the communication device, the processor configured to; (1) read a first pressure from the air relief tube pressure sensor periodically; and (2) cause the communication device to transmit an alarm signal to a network when the first pressure meets predefined criteria; iv. a memory that stores identifying data that is uniquely associated with the sensor unit and wherein the alarm signal includes the identifying data; and v. a power source for providing power to the air relief tube pressure sensor, the processor and the communication device; and b. at least one monitoring station that receives the alarm signal, the monitoring station including a computer configured to correlate the identifying data with the sensor unit and to display an identification of which sensor unit that has detected an open vacuum interface valve. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for detecting an open vacuum interface valve coupled to a gravity sump coupled to a vacuum sewage system, comprising the actions of:
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a. detecting a pressure drop inside a passage in pneumatic communication with an air relief tube coupled to the vacuum sewage system and associated with the open vacuum interface valve; b. when the pressure drop is sustained for a predetermined amount of time, then transmitting a signal to a monitoring station, the signal including data that identifies the open interface valve. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification