DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM MONITORING

• US 20160356755A1
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gifford, Paul, Sitnikov, Timofey, Mosley, Harold
• Granted Patent: US 11,041,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/18 Water
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A method of sensing parameters in a fluid distribution system includes the steps of receiving, at a monitoring device, fluid parameter information from a sensor in a fluid distribution system; collecting, by the monitoring device, sampling data of the fluid parameter information from the sensor based on predetermined criteria; receiving, by the monitoring device, a request to collect transient data from the sensor; collecting, by the monitoring device, transient data of the fluid parameter information from the sensor based on predetermined criteria; and communicating the sampling data and the transient data to another device. An apparatus includes a monitoring device including a power source, an antenna, and a parameter sensing portion configured to monitor a parameter of a fluid distribution system; and a sensor array connected to the monitoring device

Claims

1. A method of sensing parameters in a fluid distribution system, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a monitoring device, fluid parameter information from a sensor in a fluid distribution system;

collecting, by the monitoring device, sampling data of the fluid parameter information from the sensor based on predetermined criteria;

receiving, by the monitoring device, a request to collect transient data from the sensor;

collecting, by the monitoring device, transient data of the fluid parameter information from the sensor based on predetermined criteria; and

communicating the sampling data and the transient data to another device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

detecting, by the monitoring device, a second sensor in the fluid distribution system;

automatically enabling, by the monitoring device, the second sensor; and

updating, by the monitoring device, a configuration status of the second sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, at the monitoring device, fluid parameter information from the second sensor;

collecting, by the monitoring device, sampling data of the fluid parameter information from the second sensor based on predetermined criteria.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises:

a power source;

an antenna; and

a parameter sensing portion configured to monitor a parameter of the fluid distribution system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid parameter information is based on at least one of a pressure parameter, a temperature parameter, a turbidity parameter, a pH parameter, and a chlorine parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a turbidity sensor, a pH sensor, and a chlorine sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the collected transient data is based on configurable parameters, the configurable parameters comprising a transient interval and a tolerance.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a monitoring device comprising

a power source,

an antenna, and

a parameter sensing portion configured to monitor a parameter of a fluid distribution system; and

a sensor array connected to the monitoring device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of a pressure parameter, a temperature parameter, a turbidity parameter, a pH parameter, and a chlorine parameter.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an auxiliary power input operably connected to the power source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the auxiliary power input comprises a waterproof connector attached to a top of the monitoring device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the parameter of the fluid distribution system is a first parameter, and wherein the parameter sensing portion is further configured to monitor a second parameter of a fluid distribution system, a third parameter of a fluid distribution system, a fourth parameter of a fluid distribution system, and a fifth parameter of a fluid distribution system.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a solenoid.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the parameter sensing portion is further configured to operate the solenoid to cause a flushing operation to be performed in the fluid distribution system.

15. A monitoring device comprising:

a power source;

an antenna; and

a parameter sensing portion configured to monitor a pressure parameter, a temperature parameter, a turbidity parameter, a pH parameter, and a chlorine parameter of a fluid distribution system;

wherein the monitoring device is configured to connect to a sensor array, the sensor array comprising a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a turbidity sensor, a pH sensor, and a chlorine sensor.

16. A system for sensing parameters in a fluid distribution system, the system comprising:

a monitoring device, the monitoring device comprising

a parameter sensing module configured to monitor a parameter of the fluid distribution system,

a power source, and

an antenna;

a sensor array connected to the monitoring device; and

a computing system comprising a processing resource and a computer-readable storage medium, the computing system configured to

receive configuration data defining a configuration profile for the monitoring device, the configuration profile relating to a parameter configuration of the monitoring device; and

communicate the configuration data to the monitoring device.

17. The system for of claim 16, further comprising a solenoid.

18. The system for of claim 17, wherein the parameter sensing module is further configured to operate the solenoid to cause a flushing operation to be performed in the fluid distribution system.