Plumbing supply monitoring, modeling and sizing system and method

• US 6,839,644 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Original Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Inventors: Bryant, John A., Parker, Kenneth B., Woods, Paul K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Washburn, Douglas N
• Application Number:
  US10/405,074
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 73/14.8, 73/18.2, 702/33, 702/39, 702/45, 702/48, 702/50, 702/54, 702/56, 702/179, 702/182, 702/183
• US Class Current: 702/56
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/01 for combinations of baths, showers, sinks, wash-basins, closets, urinals, or the like combinations of baths, douches, or the like, A47K4/00; cell-like units for special technical purposes E04B1/34869; panels adapted for locating conduits E04C2/52; ducts for installation lines E04F17/08

Abstract

A system for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures includes a sensor vibrationally coupled to the plumbing system and a processor. The sensor detects a vibration produced by the plumbing system, and generates a signal representative of the vibration. The processor receives the signal, compares the signal to a signal database that associates each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures, and determines that the associated fixture or group of fixtures has been operated based on the comparison. The processor also stores a record of the operation of the associated fixture or group of fixtures.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

a microphone vibrationally coupled proximal to a supply line of the plumbing system, the microphone operable to;

detect a vibration produced by the plumbing system; and

generate a signal representative of the vibration; and

a processor operable to;

receive the signal;

compare the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determine that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison; and

store a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures.

2. A system for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

a sensor vibrationally coupled to the plumbing system, the sensor operable to;

detect a vibration produced by the plumbing system; and

generate a signal representative of the vibration; and

a processor operable to;

receive the signal;

compare the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determine that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison; and

store a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures, wherein the record comprises an identifier for the associated one or more fixtures, a time of operation, and a date of operation.

3. A system for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

a sensor vibrationally coupled to the plumbing system, the sensor operable to;

detect a vibration produced by the plumbing system; and

generate a signal representative of the vibration; and

a processor operable to;

receive the signal;

compare the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determine that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison;

store a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures; and

analyze a collection of stored records to determine usage patterns for the plumbing system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the analysis is used to calculate a quantity selected from the group consisting of:

a total water usage over a predetermined time period, a maximum water usage, an average water usage, and a flow velocity at a certain point in the plumbing system.

5. A system for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

a sensor vibrationally coupled to the plumbing system, the sensor operable to;

detect a vibration produced by the plumbing system; and

generate a signal representative of the vibration;

a processor operable to;

receive the signal;

compare the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determine that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison; and

store a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures; and

wherein the processor uses voice recognition software to assemble the signal database and further uses the voice recognition software to compare the signal to the signal database.

6. A system for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

a plurality of sensors, each sensor vibrationally coupled to a different location in the plumbing system, each sensor operable to;

detect a vibration produced by the plumbing system; and

generate a signal representative of the vibration;

a processor operable to;

receive the signal;

compare the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determine that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based store a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures; and

the processor is further operable to perform the steps of receiving and comparing for signals received from any of the sensors.

7. A method for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

detecting, by a microphone coupled proximal to a supply line of a plumbing system, a vibration produced by the plumbing system;

generating by the sensor, a signal representative of the vibration;

comparing, by a processor, the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determining that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison; and

storing a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures.

8. A method for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

detecting, by a sensor, a vibration produced by a plumbing system;

generating, by the sensor, a signal representative of the vibration;

comparing, by a processor, the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determining that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison; and

storing a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures, wherein the record comprises an identifier for the associated one or more fixtures, a time of operation, and a date of operation.

9. A method for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

detecting, by a sensor, a vibration produced by a plumbing system;

generating, by the sensor, a signal representative of the vibration;

comparing, by a processor, the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determining that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison;

storing a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures; and

analyzing a collection of stored records to determine usage patterns for the plumbing system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the analysis is used to calculate a quantity selected from the group consisting of:

a total water usage over a predetermined time period, a maximum water usage, an average water usage, and a flow velocity at a certain point in the plumbing system.

11. A method for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

detecting, by a sensor, a vibration produced by a plumbing system;

generating, by the sensor, a signal representative of the vibration;

comparing, by a processor, the signal to a signal database using voice recognition software, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determining that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison;

storing a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures; and

assembling the signal database using voice recognition software.

12. A method for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

detecting by a sensor, a vibration produced by a plumbing system;

generating, by the sensor, a signal representative of the vibration;

comparing by a processor, the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determining that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison;

storing a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures;

wherein the sensor is one of a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is coupled to a different location in the plumbing system; and

wherein the steps of receiving, comparing, determining, and storing are performed for signals received from any of the sensors.

13. A method for monitoring the operation of fixtures of a mechanical system, comprising:

providing a microphone vibrationally coupled to the mechanical system;

detecting, by the microphone, a vibration produced by the mechanical system;

generating, by the microphone, a signal representative of the vibration;

comparing the signal to a signal database using voice recognition software, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determining that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison;

storing a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures; and

assembling the signal database using voice recognition software.

14. A method for monitoring the operation of fixtures of a mechanical system, comprising:

providing a sensor vibrationally coupled to a mechanical system selected from a group consisting of;

a plumbing system, an automobile engine, a building under construction, and a system for depositing concrete;

detecting, by the sensor, a vibration produced by the mechanical system;

generating, by the sensor, a signal representative of the vibration;

comparing the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

determining that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison; and

storing a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the steps of comparing, determining and storing are performed by a personal computer.

16. A system for monitoring a plumbing system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising:

means for detecting a vibration produced by a plumbing system;

means for generating a signal representative of the vibration;

means for comparing the signal to a signal database, the signal database associating each of a plurality of stored signals with operation of one or more of the fixtures;

means for determining that the associated one or more fixtures have been operated based on the comparison; and

means for storing a record of the operation of the associated one or more fixtures.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for analyzing a collection of stored records to determine usage patterns for the plumbing system.