Apparatus and method for monitoring a water treatment system
First Claim
1. An apparatus connectable by a telephone line to a central computer system for monitoring a water treatment system including:
- a first input port for receiving a first signal representing a volumetric flow rate at which water is flowing through the system;
a second input port for receiving a second signal representing an unacceptable physical characteristic of the water;
a processing circuit including a microprocessor programmable for receiving the first signal and totaling system subsequent to a defined event;
the processing circuit further including a read time clock for continuously computing time;
a power supply for providing electrical power to the apparatus;
the apparatus being arranged for initiating a call to the computer system upon the occurrence of either a first condition or a second condition;
the first condition including the flow of a predetermined total volume of water through the treatment system subsequent to the defined event;
the second condition including the co-existence of said first signal and said second signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring apparatus for carrying out the method is connectable by a telephone line to a central computer system. The apparatus includes first and second input ports for receiving first and second signals, respectively. The first signal represents a volumetric water flow rate while the second signal represents a physical characteristic of the treated water. A processing circuit is connected to the input ports and includes a microprocessor programmable for receiving and totalizing the first signals to a flow volume. The processing circuit also includes a real time clock connected to the microprocessor for continuously computing time. A power supply provides the necessary voltages to the apparatus.
The apparatus is arranged to initiate a call to the central computer system upon the occurrence of any one of two or more described conditions such as measured deterioration of water quality, lapse of time or others. Several embodiments are disclosed.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus connectable by a telephone line to a central computer system for monitoring a water treatment system including:
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a first input port for receiving a first signal representing a volumetric flow rate at which water is flowing through the system; a second input port for receiving a second signal representing an unacceptable physical characteristic of the water; a processing circuit including a microprocessor programmable for receiving the first signal and totaling system subsequent to a defined event; the processing circuit further including a read time clock for continuously computing time; a power supply for providing electrical power to the apparatus; the apparatus being arranged for initiating a call to the computer system upon the occurrence of either a first condition or a second condition; the first condition including the flow of a predetermined total volume of water through the treatment system subsequent to the defined event; the second condition including the co-existence of said first signal and said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus connectable by a telephone line to a central computer system for monitoring a water deionizing system including:
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a power supply for providing electrical power to said apparatus; a first input port for receiving a first signal representing a volumetric flow rate at which water is flowing through the system; a second input port for receiving a second signal representing a physical characteristic of the water flowing through the system; a processing circuit coupled to the power supply and connected to process signals received at the first input port and at the second input port, the processing circuit including a real time clock for computing the lapse of time; the processing circuit being arranged for initiating a call to the computer system and transmitting a message signal thereto upon the occurrence of and one of a first condition, a second condition, a third condition or a fourth condition; the first condition including the flow of a total volume of water through the deionizing system which is equal to a predetermined volume of water; the second condition including the co-existence of the first signal and the second signal for a predetermined time interval; the third condition including the lapse of a predetermined time interval subsequent to the refurbishment of tanks used to deionize the water; the fourth condition including manual actuation of the apparatus to initiate the call. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring a water treatment system including:
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generating a first signal representing the rate at which water flows through the treatment; generating a second signal representing a physical characteristic of the water flowing through the treatment system; totaling the volume of water which has flowed through the treatment system subsequent to a defined event; initiating a call to a central computer if (a) the total volume of water is equal to a predetermined volume of water, or if (b) the actual physical characteristic represented by the second signal becomes equal to a predetermined physical characteristic and the first signal and the second signal coexist. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for monitoring a water treatment system including:
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generating a first signal representing the rate at which water flows through a treatment system subsequent to a defined event; generating a second signal representing a physical characteristic of the water; computing the total volume of water which has flowed through the treatment system subsequent to the defined event; computing the elapsed time interval from the occurrence of the defined event; initiating a call to a central computer system upon the occurrence of any one of the following events; a) if the total volume of water computed to have flowed through the treatment system subsequent to the defined event becomes equal to a predetermined volume of water; b) if the physical characteristic represented by the second signal becomes equal to a predetermined physical characteristic and the first signal is coincidentally being generated; c) if the actual time interval which has elapsed from the defined event becomes equal to a predetermined time interval. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification