Methods, apparatuses, and systems for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure

• US 7,598,858 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hadronex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hadronex, Inc.
• Inventors: Quist, Gregory M., Drake, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N
• Application Number:
  US11/641,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20070159326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.26, 340/545.6, 340/539.22, 340/539.1, 340/531, 340/539.31, 340/568.1, 340/568.2, 340/568.7, 340/550, 340/612, 733/14, 733/17, 733/06, 733/12, 738/618, 738/612.7
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure includes a power source; a communication device electrically connected to the power source and attachable to a cover of the enclosure; and a sensor suspended away from the cover of the enclosure. A method for providing a monitor of environmental parameters within an enclosure includes attaching a communication device to a cover of the enclosure, connecting the communication device to a power source; and suspending a sensor away from the cover of the enclosure. A method for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure includes monitoring one or more environmental parameters with a sensor suspended by a cable within an enclosure, and transmitting data representing one or more monitored environmental parameters from a communication device to a second communication device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring environmental parameters within a manhole, the apparatus comprising:

an environmentally protected power source;

an environmentally protected communication device connected to the power source, the communication device being attached to an underside of a cover of the manhole;

a single cable which provides all of a suspension, electrical and communicative connectivity for a plurality of sensors, enabling at least a first connected sensor from said plurality of sensors to be placed away from the cover of the manhole; and

at least a first sensor connected to the cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an attachment mechanism attached, away from the communication device, to the cover, wherein the cable is attached to the attachment mechanism and descends from the additional attachment mechanism in a position that is not directly under the communication device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the attachment mechanism is detachable from the cover, such that the attachment mechanism may be moved from time to time to improve a position of the sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor attached to the cable, wherein the first sensor and second sensor are apart from each other along the cable.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising at least one further sensor or sensors attached to the cable, wherein the further sensor or sensors is or are apart from the first sensor and second sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is connected to a second power source and a wireless communicator for communicating wirelessly with the communication device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor connected to the power source, wherein the first sensor is connected to the communication device by way of the processor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a wireless communication device which communicates with at least a second communication device outside of the manhole.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor monitors one or more of:

humidity, moisture, temperature, gas content, water level, water quality, flow rates, vibration, acoustic levels and content, optical levels and content, and opening or closing of the cover.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor conducts real-time, continuous sensing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is connected to a wireless communicator for communicating wirelessly with the communication device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is configured to sense one or more of:

power current flow, power voltage, telecommunications measurements, natural gas pressure, natural gas flow, petrochemical pressure, petrochemical flow, security measurements, fire detection, chemical detection , biological detection, fluid level detection, fluid flow detection.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source, the communication device, and the first sensor are positioned so as to be movable with the cover.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is located outside of the manhole.

15. A method for providing a monitor of environmental parameters within a manhole, the method comprising:

attaching an environmentally protected communication device to an underside of a cover of the manhole;

connecting the communication device to an environmentally protected power source; and

suspending at least a first sensor away from the cover,

wherein the at least first sensor is suspended using a single cable connected to the power source, the cable providing all of a suspension, electrical and communicative connectivity for a plurality of sensors.

16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising attaching an additional attachment mechanism to the cover, away from the communications device, wherein at least the first sensor is suspended from the additional attachment mechanism in a position that is not directly under the communications device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

removing a cover from the manhole; and

covering a second manhole with the cover, wherein the sensor is suspended by the cable from the cover.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

monitoring one or more environmental parameters with the first sensor; and

transmitting data from the communication device to a second communication device, the data representing one or more monitored environmental parameters.

19. A system for monitoring environmental parameters within a manhole, comprising:

means for providing power;

means for communication, being attached to an underside of a cover of the manhole;

means for monitoring one or more environmental parameters;

means for singly providing suspension, power, and communication with at least one of a plurality of the monitoring means;

means for attaching the means for singly providing to a position away from directly under the means for communication, the means for attaching being attached to the underside of the cover; and

means for transmitting data to an outside communication device outside of the manhole, the data representing one or more monitored environmental parameters.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for attaching is magnetic.