Method and system of sewer scanning for water conservation

• US 7,233,252 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GBB Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: GBB Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Hardin, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan; Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US11/166,024
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 340/603, 340/606, 340/605, 340/609, 340/610, 340/616, 340618-625, 348/61, 348/84, 348/85, 348/143
• US Class Current: 340/606
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/002 wherein the flow is in an open channel
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means

Abstract

Method of monitoring water conservation in an apartment complex by positioning infrared cameras with motion sensors in the clean outs of the waste water discharge lines leading to public sewer systems wherein each camera image is displayed on a computer screen and the motion sensors, which start and stop the digital video recorders (DVR), are adjusted by circumscribing the area of the camera image and the pixel sensitivity setting for motion sensors activation, which triggers the DVR recordings. In this arrangement the intermittent or constant flow of waste water is detected in real time indicating normal or abnormal flow of waste water, respectively. Further, an infrared camera may be positioned on the apartment complex side of the water meter to determine in real time if water is being supplied to the complex and the waste water flow out is little or none then loss of water outside the plumbing system from overflowing commodes, tubs, lavatories or broken pipe is indicated.

Claims

1. A method of detecting abnormal discharge of a waste water stream into a sewer system leading from a building and initiating appropriate action comprising:

(a) mounting an infrared camera, with a motion sensor for starting and stopping the camera, at an appropriate location to the flow of the waste water stream in a clean out of the sewer system;

(b) coupling the camera to a digital video recorder to transmit data from the camera thereto whenever flow of the waste water stream is detected;

(c) processing the data to create a real time visual display of the flow of the waste water stream; and

(d) initiating an alarm system in response to a continuous flow of the waste water stream over a substantial period of time.

2. The method of claim 1 including setting the motion sensor such that motion is not detected unless the width of the waste water stream is greater than one-half inch.

3. The method of claim 1 including setting the motion sensor pixel change sensitivity to detect motion of the waste water stream exceeding one-half inch in width.

4. The method of claim 2 including setting the motion sensor pixel change sensitivity to detect motion of the waste water stream exceeding one-half inch in width.

5. A method of monitoring water conservation in an apartment complex comprising:

(a) installing an infrared camera with a motion sensor for triggering a digital video recorder in a clean out of a sewer line leading from the apartment complex to a public sewer system;

(b) coupling the camera with the motion sensor to the digital video recorder for collecting data from the infrared camera whenever a pre-selected flow of a waste water stream is detected by the motion sensor to trigger the digital video recorder;

(c) processing the data to provide a display in real time of the flow of the waste water stream in the clean out;

(d) further processing the data from the infrared camera to detect continuous flow of the waste water stream through the clean out above a pre-selected flow of the waste water stream; and

(e) activating a warning system for the clean out with continuous flow of the waste water stream in excess of the pre-selected flow.

6. The method of claim 5 including:

(i) monitoring in real time inflow of water entering the apartment complex; and

(ii) comparing the inflow of water with the flow of the waste water stream in the clean out to establish the integrity of the water inflow substantially equal to the outflow from the apartment complex over a period of 24 to 48 hours.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the pre-selected flow being processed is the width of the waste water stream.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the pre-selected flow being processed is the pixel changes of the waste water stream.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the pre-selected flow being processed includes the pixel changes of the waste water stream.

10. A method of maintaining water conservation in a building with a water supply inflow and a plumbing system including a sewer line exiting the building for disposal of a waste water stream, the sewer line having a clean out therein comprising:

(a) equipping an infrared digital camera with a motion sensor with the same field of view as the infrared digital camera;

(b) mounting the infrared digital camera with motion sensor in the clean out to monitor flow of the waste water stream;

(c) coupling the infrared digital camera with motion sensor to a digital video recorder for receiving data from the digital camera;

(d) processing the data from the digital video recorder to display the camera image on a computer screen;

(e) circumscribing certain portions of the camera image on the computer screen to define where only motion therein will trigger the motion sensor to activate the digital video recorder;

(f) creating a motion graph from the digital video recorder indicating intermittent flow of the waste water stream as not being a problem or continuous flow of the waste water stream being a problem; and

(g) initiating corrective action for continuous flow of the waste water stream over a period of six to twelve hours.

11. The method of claim 10 including setting the pixel change sensitivity of the motion sensor above the level of pixel change detected in the flow of waste water steam one-half of an inch in width.

12. The method of claim 10 including circumscribing certain portions of the camera image excluding a waste water stream no wider than one-half inch.

13. The method of claim 10 including circumscribing the camera image portion of the clean out stand pipe to detect motion indicating the waste water stream is backing up into the clean out.

14. The method of claim 10 including coupling the infrared digital camera to the digital video recorder by a coaxial cable.

15. The method of claim 10 including coupling the infrared digital camera to the digital video recorder by wireless equipment.

16. A method of maintaining water conservation in a building with a water supply inflow and a plumbing system including a sewer line exiting the building for disposal of a stream, the sewer line having a clean out therein comprising:

(a) equipping an infrared digital camera with a motion sensor with the same field of view as the infrared digital camera;

(b) mounting the infrared digital camera with motion sensor in the clean out to monitor flow of the waste water stream;

(c) coupling the infrared digital camera with motion sensor to a digital video recorder for receiving data from the digital camera;

(d) processing the data from the digital video recorder to display the camera image on a computer screen;

(e) circumscribing certain portions of the camera image on the computer screen to define where motion will not trigger the motion sensor to activate the digital video recorder;

(f) creating a motion graph from the digital video recorder indicating intermittent flow of the waste water stream as not being a problem or continuous flow of the waste water stream being a problem; and

(g) initiating corrective action for continuous flow of the waste water stream over a period of six to twelve hours.

17. The method of claim 16 including circumscribing only the area of the camera image where flow of the waste water stream is less than one-half inch wide.