Remote data collection and monitoring system for distribution line
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring a distribution line such as for gas, water or oil at a plurality of remote locations and providing status and alarm information for said distribution line, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of remote logger units each located at a respective remote site and including a plurality of sensors coupled to the distribution line for providing status signals representing operating parameters of the distribution line, wherein each of said logger units includes;
alarm means for comparing each of said status signals with predetermined upper and/or lower limits associated with a respective operating parameter of the distribution line and for providing an alarm signal when a given status signal exceeds an upper or lower limit associated with said respective operating parameter;
RF transmitter/receiver means for providing RF signals representing said status and alarm signals and for receiving RF signals from another of said logger units; and
control means coupled to said RF transmitter means for transmitting an RF signal representing said status signals at predetermined time intervals and for transmitting an RF signal representing said alarm signal when said alarm signal occurs;
a central controller responsive to said transmitted RF signals for recording and displaying said status and alarm signals; and
message routing means in each of said remote logger units for directing said RF signals from a first remote logger unit to said central controller via one or more second remote logger units.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remote logger unit monitors various operating parameters of a distribution line, or transmission system, such as pressure, temperature and flow such as for natural gas, water or oil, and alerts a central controller via an RF link when predetermined operating limits as determined by the logger unit are exceeded. A plurality of such remote logger units may be employed along the length of the distribution line for monitoring the complete system, with the reports of more distant logger units routed to the central controller via closer logger units. Each logger unit is passive in operation, autonomous and entirely independent of the central controller, and also provides routine operation data to the central controller when prompted, or at designated time intervals. The reported data includes the identity of the logger unit, the nature of the data or alert, and the time and date of the report.
115 Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring a distribution line such as for gas, water or oil at a plurality of remote locations and providing status and alarm information for said distribution line, said apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of remote logger units each located at a respective remote site and including a plurality of sensors coupled to the distribution line for providing status signals representing operating parameters of the distribution line, wherein each of said logger units includes; alarm means for comparing each of said status signals with predetermined upper and/or lower limits associated with a respective operating parameter of the distribution line and for providing an alarm signal when a given status signal exceeds an upper or lower limit associated with said respective operating parameter; RF transmitter/receiver means for providing RF signals representing said status and alarm signals and for receiving RF signals from another of said logger units; and control means coupled to said RF transmitter means for transmitting an RF signal representing said status signals at predetermined time intervals and for transmitting an RF signal representing said alarm signal when said alarm signal occurs; a central controller responsive to said transmitted RF signals for recording and displaying said status and alarm signals; and message routing means in each of said remote logger units for directing said RF signals from a first remote logger unit to said central controller via one or more second remote logger units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for monitoring a distribution line such as for gas, water or oil at a central controller, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting operating parameters of the distribution line at one of a plurality of remote sites in the distribution line and providing a plurality of status signals each representing a respective operating parameter of the distribution line; comparing each status signal with a respective high and/or low operating parameter limit and providing an alarm signal when a status signal exceeds its associated high or low operating parameter limit; and transmitting an RF signal representing said status signals at predetermined time intervals or representing said alarm signal when said alarm signal occurs from said one of said remote sites to the central controller wherein the step of transmitting an RF signal from one of said remote sites to said central controller includes routing of said RF signal from said one remote site via other ones of said remote sites to said central controller. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification