SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING PROPERTIES OF WATER IN A WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• US 20180372706A1
• Filed: 08/31/2018
• Published: 12/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clark, Kenneth A., Sitnikov, Timofey, Gifford, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 11,307,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 3/04 Pipes or fittings specially adapted to sewers manufacture of concrete tubes B28; pipes or pipe fittings in general F16L
• 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: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/18 Water
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7025 Pipe line transport

Abstract

Systems and methods of measuring properties of water in a water distribution system are provided. An analysis system, according to one embodiment, comprises a plurality of water sensors connected at various points to the water distribution system, each of the plurality of water sensors configured to measure a property of water. The analysis system also includes a computer server configured to communicate with the plurality of water sensors via a network and receive water measurement data from the plurality of water sensors. The computer server comprises a processor, a database configured to store the water measurement data, and a system health monitoring module configured to evaluate the health of the water distribution system to obtain health data. The analysis system further includes at least one client device configured to communicate with the computer server via the network and receive the health data from the computer server.

Claims

1. A water sensing assembly mountable on a water pipe, the water sensing assembly comprising:

a sensor;

a generator; and

a turbine coupled to the generator and positionable through a bore in the water pipe into water flow within the water pipe.

2. The water sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the turbine is indirectly coupled to the generator.

3. The water sensing assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

measurement and communications electronics connected to the sensor; and

an antenna connected to the measurement and communications electronics.

4. The water sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to be exposed to water flow within the water pipe.

5. The water sensing assembly of claim 4, wherein the sensor is between the turbine and the generator.

6. The water sensing assembly of claim 1, wherein the turbine includes a turbine axis and two wings, each wing having a curved profile and extending in opposite spirals on either side of the turbine axis.

7. The water sensing assembly of claim 2, wherein the turbine is indirectly coupled to the generator through magnets.

8. The water sensing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a housing, a mounting bracket attached to the housing, a port bracket, and an insertion screw connecting the mounting bracket to the port bracket, the insertion screw configured to insert the turbine into the water pipe by pulling the mounting bracket towards the port bracket when the insertion screw is tightened.