Apparatus for monitoring fluid levels in a remotely located storage tank
DCFirst Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring fluid levels of a consumable liquid in a storage tank, the apparatus comprising:
- a monitoring unit including at least one processor to receive and process fluid level information indicative of the amount of fluid in a storage tank, said monitoring unit to be associated with and communicatively linked with a sensor mounted in association with a storage tank that provides fluid level information indicative of the amount of fluid in the storage tank;
said monitoring unit also to be communicatively linked to at least one central server remotely located from the storage tank and to process fluid level information to determine whether a predefined out-of-ordinary event has occurred and, if so, send information to the at least one central server that can be used (i) to provide displayable fluid level data, and (ii) to forecast future fluid levels utilizing at least stored fluid level data.
0 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved system for delivering propane or other consumable liquid to remotely located storage tanks including a novel combination of remote monitoring of customer tanks and an improved method of using the remote monitoring data to optimally schedule deliveries, improve safety, and more efficiently operate a propane dealership. More accurate and timely information concerning the status of customer tanks serves to improve operational efficiencies and increase safety. Data received from remote sensors can be collected and organized so that it is easily understood and utilized through the implementation of a user interface accessible via the Internet that allows the information to be presented in an efficient graphical and contextual fashion. Operational efficiencies can also be improved by taking historical propane usage for each tank, weather conditions, and projected fuel usage into account. The system can calendar required inspections of customer tanks, homes, and appliances, and data can be combined with accounts receivable information. Remote monitoring of customer tanks can be combined with other products using similar equipment to provide additional non-seasonal revenue streams.
42 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for monitoring fluid levels of a consumable liquid in a storage tank, the apparatus comprising:
-
a monitoring unit including at least one processor to receive and process fluid level information indicative of the amount of fluid in a storage tank, said monitoring unit to be associated with and communicatively linked with a sensor mounted in association with a storage tank that provides fluid level information indicative of the amount of fluid in the storage tank; said monitoring unit also to be communicatively linked to at least one central server remotely located from the storage tank and to process fluid level information to determine whether a predefined out-of-ordinary event has occurred and, if so, send information to the at least one central server that can be used (i) to provide displayable fluid level data, and (ii) to forecast future fluid levels utilizing at least stored fluid level data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An apparatus for monitoring fluid levels of a consumable liquid in two or more remotely located storage tanks, comprising:
-
a means for obtaining data indicative of the amount of fluid in a storage tank; a means for locally processing the data to determine whether predefined conditions are met; a means for transferring the data to a central location so that said data can be used (i) to provide displayable fluid level data, and (ii) to forecast future fluid levels utilizing at least stored fluid level data.
-
-
17. An apparatus for monitoring fluid levels in a fuel storage tank comprising:
-
a monitoring unit adapted to be associated with a storage tank and at least one tank sensor providing information indicative of the amount of fluid in the storage tank, said monitoring unit to communicatively link with the at least one tank sensor so that information measured by the tank sensor is communicated to the monitoring unit, said monitoring unit including a processor to receive and process the communicated tank sensor information and a memory to store processed tank sensor information; and wherein the one monitoring unit calculates predicted fluid levels based upon communicated tank sensor information and compares actual fluid levels to predicted fluid levels to determine whether a predefined out-of-ordinary event has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification