Floatable housing for in situ water monitoring system

• US 7,409,853 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitek Aqua Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hitek Aqua Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Biberger, Maximilian A., Manasco, Michael Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rogers; David A.
• Application Number:
  US11/477,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20070013381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 73/530.1, 73 6141- 6151, 73/616.1, 73/617.1, 734/31, 449/0, 210 85- 95, 210/96.1, 374/156, 340/539.22, 340/539.24, 340/539.26
• US Class Current: 73/61.51
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/1886 using probes, e.g. submersible probes, buoys

Abstract

An electronic system for use in a body of fluid is disclosed. The electronic system includes a first housing element and a second housing element. The second housing element is hermetically sealed to the first housing element, forming a first chamber there between. An electronic circuit is mounted within the first chamber. The electronic system further includes a second chamber internal to the second housing element. The second chamber is configured for holding a power source for the electronic circuit. Preferably, the power source is a battery pack. Also, the electronic system includes means for temporarily sealing the second chamber. Preferably, means for temporarily sealing the second chamber includes a detachable plug configured for coupling to the second housing element.

Claims

1. An electronic system for use in a body of fluid comprising:

a first housing element having a first upper portion and a first hollow member extending from the first upper portion, the first hollow member comprising a first top end adjacent to the first upper portion and a first bottom end opposite the first top end;

a second housing element having a second upper portion and a second hollow member extending from the second upper portion, the second hollow member comprising a second top end adjacent to the second upper portion and a second bottom end opposite the second top end, the second housing element being hermetically sealed to the first housing element forming a first chamber there between, wherein an electronic circuit is mounted within the first chamber;

a second chamber internal to the second housing element configured for holding a power source for the electronic circuit;

means for temporarily hermetically sealing the second; and

a sensor housed within a sensor housing, the sensor housing coupled to the first bottom end, the sensor configured to sense information about the body of fluid,

wherein the first and second upper portions are configured to float above the body of fluid, and the first bottom end, the second bottom end, the sensor housing, and the sensor are configured to be disposed under the body of fluid while the first and second upper portions are floating above the body of fluid.

2. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the electronic system is floatable in the body of fluid.

3. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein means for temporarily hermetically sealing the second chamber comprises a detachable plug coupled to the second housing element.

4. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery pack.

5. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to be tethered.

6. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the body of fluid comprises a pool.

7. The electronic system of claim 1, further comprising a cable that couples the electronic circuit to the sensor, the cable being housed inside the first hollow member and passing through the first bottom end to the sensor.

8. The electronic system of claim 1,

wherein the sensor is coupled to the electronic circuit and at least one of the first and second housing elements.

9. The electronic system of claim 8, further comprising a cable coupling the sensor to the electronic circuit.

10. The electronic system of claim 9, wherein the cable is hermetically enclosed within the first chamber.

11. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a transmitter configured to transmit information determined from the sensed information about the body of fluid to a remote location.

12. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the sensed information is chemistry information.

13. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the determined information to a remote location every predetermined amount of time.

14. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein:

the second hollow member has a smaller diameter than the first hollow member;

the second hollow member is disposed inside the first hollow member; and

the first hollow member covers the second hollow member.

15. The electronic system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is disposed about eighteen inches away from the top surface of the body of fluid.

16. The electronic system of claim 14, further comprising a cable that couples the electronic circuit to the sensor, the cable being housed inside the first hollow member and passing through the first bottom end to the sensor.