INFRASTRUCTURE MONITORING DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

• US 20160001114A1
• Filed: 09/09/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hyland, Gregory E., Keefe, Robert Paul, Zakas, Marietta Edmunds, Barker, Clayton Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,849,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/20 Hydrants, e.g. wall-hoses, wall units, plug-in cabinets hydrants in streets E03B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/02 Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/06 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/006 of hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/04 for distribution of gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/00 Protection or supervision of installations arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/02 Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/46 Pitot tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/03 Constructional details, e.g. casings, housings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/34 Hydrogen distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5468 Cap, cover or hood
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5485 With valve at outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7043 Guards and shields
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

An infrastructure monitoring assembly includes a housing mountable on a fire hydrant of an infrastructure system; and a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to sense at least one condition of a fluid within the infrastructure system. An infrastructure monitoring system includes a fire hydrant of an infrastructure system; a housing mountable on the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system; and a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to sense at least one condition of a fluid within the infrastructure system.

Claims

1. An infrastructure monitoring assembly comprising:

a housing mountable on a fire hydrant of an infrastructure system; and

a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to sense at least one condition of a fluid within the infrastructure system.

2. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is mountable on a component of the fire hydrant.

3. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 2, wherein the component of the fire hydrant is selected from the group consisting of a nozzle cap, a pumper nozzle, a hose nozzle, a fire truck hookup, and a bonnet.

4. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition of a fluid is selected from the group consisting of fluid flow, fluid pressure, fluid temperature, and fluid contaminants.

5. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1, further comprising a communications device mountable on the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system, and wherein the sensor is connected to the communications device.

6. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 5, wherein the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system includes at least one portion comprised of a material that does not interfere with communications of the communications device.

7. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 5, wherein the communications device is positioned within the housing, wherein housing is constructed from a material that does not interfere with communications of the communications device.

8. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 5, wherein the communications device includes an antenna.

9. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a cavity, and wherein the housing includes a cover sealing the cavity.

10. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 9, wherein the cover creates a water tight seal on the enclosure.

11. An infrastructure monitoring assembly comprising:

a housing mountable on a fire hydrant of an infrastructure system; and

a monitoring device coupled to the housing, the monitoring device configured to monitor at least one condition of a medium transported within the infrastructure system.

12. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 11, wherein the monitoring device includes a sensor configured to sense the at least one condition of the medium transported within the infrastructure system.

13. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing in mountable on the fire hydrant.

14. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one condition of the medium is selected from the group consisting of fluid flow, gas flow, fluid pressure, gas pressure, fluid temperature, gas temperature, fluid contaminants, and gas contaminants.

15. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 11, further comprising a communications device mountable on the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system.

16. An infrastructure monitoring system comprising:

a fire hydrant in an infrastructure system;

a housing mountable on the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system; and

a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to sense at least one condition of a fluid within the infrastructure system.

17. The infrastructure monitoring system of claim 16, further comprising a communications device positioned in proximity to the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system and connected to the sensor, the communications device including an antenna.

18. The infrastructure monitoring system of claim 17, wherein the communications device is coupled to the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system.

19. The infrastructure monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the housing is mountable on a component of the fire hydrant, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a nozzle cap, a pumper nozzle, a hose nozzle, a fire truck hookup, and a bonnet.

20. The infrastructure monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the housing defines a cavity, and wherein the housing includes a cover sealing the cavity.