Method and device for controlling liquid fluxes in pipes lines

• US 6,216,543 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1998
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bio Merieux
• Original Assignee: Bio Merieux
• Inventors: Colin, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US09/180,926
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 738/610.5, 738/610.6, 738/610.8, 738/610.4, 738/610.7
• US Class Current: 73/861.05
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 7/00 Other installations or implements for operating sewer systems, e.g. for preventing or indicating stoppage; Emptying cesspools
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/01 for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/20 using particles entrained by a fluid stream G01P5/22 takes precedence

Abstract

A flow monitoring method and device including introducing at at least a point in a pipeline at least one detectable body carried by the flow of liquid. A stationary detector for detecting the passage of the detectable body, wherein, the detectable body contains an electronic chip associated with an antenna, for being detected by electromagnetic method. The antenna at least transmits a signal to and receives a signal from the stationary detector. An interceptor for intercepting the detectable body at at least a point in the pipeline.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a flow of liquid in at least one pipeline, comprising:

introducing, at at least one point of the at least one pipeline, at least one detectable body inside the at least one pipeline carried along by the flow of liquid toward a plurality of points of the at least one pipeline;

detecting the passage of the at least one detectable body at at least one predetermined point of the plurality of points of the at least one pipeline;

intercepting the at least one detectable body at at least one point of the plurality of points of the at least one pipeline; and

extracting the at least one detectable body from the at least one pipeline.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one detectable body is detected electro-magnetically.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one detectable body is detected through a wall of the at least one pipeline.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one detectable body is detected inside the at least one pipeline at individual points of the plurality of points of the at least one pipeline.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein detection is performed by identifying a signature of the at least one detectable body as it passes at least one detector.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one detectable body receives and stores information as it passes the at least one predetermined point of the at least one pipeline and at least one of:

(a) restores the information as it passes other points of the plurality of points; and

(b) accumulates the information as it passes the other points of the plurality of points and restores the information after it has been recovered at the end of a path through the at least one pipeline.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the information obtained from detecting the passage of said at least one detectable body at the at least one predetermined point of the at least one pipeline is processed in real time by a computer.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pipeline is formed of a synthetic material.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pipeline is formed of metal.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pipeline includes a network of pipelines.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the network of pipelines is a sewerage system.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pipeline is a water main.

13. A device for monitoring flow of liquid in at least one pipeline, employing the method according to claim 1, comprising:

at least one detectable body inside the at least one pipeline; and

at least one stationary detector, placed at at least one predetermined point of the at least one pipeline, that detects the at least one detectable body, wherein the at least one detectable body includes an impervious casing and an electronic chip including an antenna, the antenna at least one of transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the at least one stationary detector.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one detectable body has no source of electrical power.

15. A device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one detectable body has an on-board source of electrical power.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the on-board source of electrical power is a battery.

17. A device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one detectable body has a mean density substantially equal to that of the liquid flowing in the at least one pipeline.

18. A device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one detectable body is externally in the shape of at least one of a disk, a pellet, and a sphere.

19. A device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one detectable body has at least one stabilizing fin on the outside.

20. A device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one detectable body has a cavity and is bounded by the impervious casing which is able to withstand the pressure of the liquid flowing in the at least one pipeline.

21. A device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one detectable body has a solid structure.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the at least one detectable body has a density greater than the density of the liquid flowing in the at least one pipeline.

23. A device according to claim 21, wherein the at least one detectable body has a density that is less than the density of the liquid flowing in the at least one pipeline.

24. A device according to claim 21, wherein the at least one detectable body has a density equal to the density of the liquid flowing in the at least one pipeline.

25. A device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one detectable body includes, at least at an outer surface, a material that is softer than the walls of the at least one pipeline.

26. A device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic chip is placed substantially at the center of the at least one detectable body and the antenna is formed by a number of turns of electrically conducting wire wound in the form of a coil and installed in a peripheral region of the at least one detectable body.

27. A device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one stationary detector is in communication with a computer.

28. A device according to claim 13, further comprising:

at least one distributor that distributes the at least one detectable body and introduces the at least one detectable body into the at least one pipeline; and

at least one extractor that intercepts and extracts said at least one detectable body from the at least one pipeline.

29. A device according to claim 28, wherein the at least one distributor is situated at a point adjacent to a primary source front which the at least one pipeline draws liquid.

30. A device according to claim 28, wherein the at least one extractor is situated at a point adjacent to an end user of the at least one pipeline.

31. A device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one pipeline is a sewerage network in which the sewerage may reach a plurality of levels within the at least one pipeline, the device further comprising:

at least one support upstream of the at least one stationary detector, the at least one support retains and holds a plurality of detectable bodies placed at different heights from one another, each height corresponding to a level of the plurality of levels, each detectable body having an individual signature and being selectively released from the at least one support and carried along by the flow depending on the level reached by the sewerage, and being identified as it passes the at least one stationary detector placed downstream of the at least one support.

32. A device according to claim 31, further comprising:

at least one olfactory sensor arranged on the at least one pipeline that detects any pollution in the at least one pipeline, and, if such a detection is made, triggers the release of at least one detectable body so as to follow the progress of the pollution and channel the pollution.

33. A device according to claim 31, further comprising:

at least one olfactory sensor arranged on the at least one pipeline that detects any pollution in the at least one pipeline, and, if such a detection is made, triggers the release of at least one detectable body so as to follow the progress of the pollution.