FLOW IMAGING AND MONITORING FOR SYNCHRONIZED MANAGEMENT OF WIDE AREA DRAINAGE

• US 20150090049A1
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Environmental Protection Agency (Government of the United States of America), Urbanalta Corp
• Original Assignee: US Environmental Protection Agency (Government of the United States of America), Urbanalta Technology
• Inventors: KERTESZ, Ruben, MURRAY, Daniel J. Jr., BOLAN, MICHAEL, ANDERSON, RYAN
• Granted Patent: US 9,541,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/861.18
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2201/20 Measuring flow in sewer systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2201/40 Means for indicating blockage in sewer systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 7/00 Other installations or implements for operating sewer systems, e.g. for preventing or indicating stoppage; Emptying cesspools
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/002 wherein the flow is in an open channel
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/661 using light
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/662 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/704 using marked regions or existing inhomogeneities within the fluid stream, e.g. statistically occurring variations in a fluid parameter G01F1/76, G01F25/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/7086 using optical detecting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/251 specially adapted for stationary devices, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means

Abstract

A flow imaging and monitoring system for synchronized management of wide area drainage that includes an interposer for supporting monitoring and management equipment in a manhole, a module for illuminating water flowing in pipes at the base of the manhole, a module for monitoring responses to reflected light, a sealed and rechargeable battery pack, and a data analysis and management system to interpret data streams in real time. The interposer can be adjusted to fit the diameter of the manhole and can be adjusted to be placed under the manhole cover. The module for illuminating the flowing water can be adjusted to generate various frequencies. The support structures for the modules can be adjusted for varying pitch, roll and yaw with respect to the manhole. The data analysis and management system is supported by cloud computing.

Claims

1. A flow imaging and monitoring system for synchronized management of wide area drainage comprising:

an interposer supporting monitoring and management equipment in a manhole;

one or more modules illuminating water flowing in pipes at the base of the manhole;

one or more modules monitoring response to reflected or transmitted light;

one or more modules generating or monitoring sound in the manhole;

a sealed and rechargeable battery pack;

a data capture, processing, and communication system; and

a data analysis and management system to interpret data streams in real time, wherein;

the interposer is able to be adjusted to fit the diameter of the manhole and adjusted to be placed at the manhole rim,

the modules for illuminating the flowing water can be adjusted to generate various frequencies and wavelengths,

the modules for monitoring sound monitor reflected sound, transmitted sound, or sound generated by the movement of fluid flow in the manhole, and

support structures for the modules are adjustable to vary pitch, roll and yaw with respect to the manhole,

the data capture, processing, and communication system bi-directionally communicates with the data analysis and management system,

the data analysis and management system manages the data capture, processing, and communication system, and

the data analysis and management system is supported by cloud computing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the more one or modules monitoring response to reflected or transmitted light further comprise, image sensors, associated optics, processors, onboard memory, communication chips, a microcontroller, and regulated power.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules illuminating water flowing in pipes at the base of the manhole further comprise an always on computer chip (AOC), AOC/Lighting microcontroller with a sensor daughterboard, and power switches.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the AOC/Lighting microcontroller controls a back-up battery cell bank to ensure continuity of power.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the AOC/Lighting microcontroller further comprises an RGB/iR sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sealed battery pack further comprises encapsulated input and output cables, a plurality of power, cells, a microcontroller, a sensor daughtercard, a battery pack regulator, and a plurality of high side switches.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the microcontroller controls on-time of the power cells only when needed, maps around dead cells, re-charges individual power cells, and signals when recharge of the entire sealed battery pack is necessary.

8. An interposer for supporting equipment in a manhole comprising:

adjustable length tubing;

a locking mechanism to retain the adjusted length tubing to accommodate various diameter manholes;

splayed brackets to contact the vertical plane of the inner rim of a manhole;

locking mechanisms to prevent separation of the brackets from the tubing;

one or more enclosures or holsters suspended from the tubing by adjustable clamps; and

one or more devices securely fastened to the tubing.

9. The interposer of claim 8, wherein the splayed brackets are replaceable to allow the interposer to be attached at different depths below the manhole rim.

10. The interposer of claim 8, wherein one of the splayed brackets is notched to line up with a datum on the manhole rim.

11. The interposer of claim 8, wherein the enclosures hold lighting equipment, imaging equipment, or other accessories.

12. The interposer of claim 11, wherein the enclosures can be adjusted for pitch and roll with respect to the tubing, yaw with respect to the manhole rim, and can be moved along the tubing by adjustable clamps.

13. The interposer of claim 8, further comprising a sealed, rechargeable battery pack, wherein the sealed, rechargeable battery pack is secured in a holster or a flexible battery sleeve.

14. The interposer of claim 8, wherein a data capture, processing, and communication system is contained within one or more of the enclosures or is secured to a rung of the manhole.

15. An interposer for supporting equipment in a manhole comprising:

a double channel rail strut;

offset brackets with integrated strut plate for adjustment of the double channel rail strut;

one or more enclosures or flexible sleeves suspended from the double channel rail strut by adjustable clamps; and

one or more devices securely fastened to the double channel rail strut.

16. The interposer of claim 15, wherein the enclosures hold lighting equipment, imaging equipment, or other accessories.

17. The interposer of claim 16, wherein the enclosures can be adjusted for pitch and roll with respect to the double channel rail strut, and can be moved along the double channel rail strut by the adjustable clamps.

18. The interposer of claim 15, further comprising a sealed rechargeable battery pack, wherein the sealed, rechargeable battery pack is secured in a holster or flexible battery sleeve.

19. The interposer of claim 15, wherein a data capture, processing, and communication system is contained within one or more of the enclosures or can be secured to a rung of the manhole.

20. An interposer structure for supporting equipment in a manhole comprising:

an interposer rod;

a single channel rail strut;

offset brackets with integrated strut plate for adjustment of the single channel rail strut;

one or more enclosures or flexible sleeves suspended from the single channel rail strut by adjustable clamps; and

one or more devices securely fastened to the single channel rail strut.

21. The interposer of claim 20, further comprising a rotatable eccentric interposer extension rod connected to the single channel rail strut, wherein the enclosures are connected to the interposer rod.

22. The interposer of claim 20, further comprising a ball-joint accessory mount on the single channel rail strut, wherein the interposer rod is connected to the ball-joint is rotatable within the plane of the single channel rail strut and the enclosures are connected to the interposer rod.

data capture, processing and communication system

23. The interposer of claim 20, further comprising a retention tab to hold a battery holster in place.

24. The interposer of claim 20, wherein the lighting and imaging modules are in one enclosure, the sealed battery pack is installed in a flat orientation adjacent to the enclosure, and the enclosure and sealed battery pack combination can be oriented parallel to or perpendicular to the strut in the plane of the strut.

25. A sealed, rechargeable battery pack for use in wet environments comprising:

a sealed enclosure;

encapsulated power and output cables;

a plurality of rechargeable battery cells; and

a microcontroller to control on-time of the cells only when needed, mapping around dead cells, re-charging of the individual power cells, and signaling when recharge of the entire sealed battery pack is necessary

26. A method of flow imaging, monitoring and management of storm water and wastewater comprising:

placing an interposer supporting, at least one module for monitoring response to reflected or transmitted light, a sealed and rechargeable battery pack, and a data capture, processing, and communication system in a manhole;

illuminating the water flowing at the base of the manhole with ambient light or light of varying frequencies and wave-lengths;

measuring the width, shape and velocity of the water flowing at the base of the manhole;

interpreting the water flow characteristics in real time using a data capture, processing and communication system;

sending the interpretation to a cloud computer;

and controlling the data capture, processing and communications system from the cloud computer.

27. The method of flow of claim 26, further comprising at least one module for illuminating water flowing at the base of the manhole;

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising interpretating data streams from the modules.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising a user interface accessing and controlling data aggregation and interpretation software tools from the data capture, processing and communication system