Infrastructure monitoring devices, systems, and methods

• US 8,823,509 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hyland, Gregory E., Keefe, Robert Paul, Zakas, Marietta Edmunds, Barker, Clayton Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGDORF, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/784,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 169/16, 455 411- 413, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.14, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 34053922-53932, 340540-544, 340/506, 340604-634, 702/188
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/06 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13 Plc programming
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/25 using a mesh network, e.g. a public urban network such as public lighting, bus stops or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5468 Cap, cover or hood

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an infrastructure monitoring system and method that comprises multiple communications devices. An exemplary infrastructure monitoring system includes: an operations center; and a plurality of communications devices communicatively coupled to the operations center; wherein, at least one communications device of said plurality of communications devices is coupled to a component of the infrastructure; and wherein at least two communications devices are monitoring devices, the first monitoring device monitoring a first aspect of the infrastructure and the second monitoring device monitoring a second aspect of the infrastructure.

Claims

1. An infrastructure monitoring system comprising:

an operations center; and

a plurality of communications devices communicatively coupled to the operations center;

wherein at least one communications device of the plurality of communications devices is coupled to a fire hydrant and comprises a repeater, and

wherein at least one communications device of the plurality of communications devices comprises a monitoring device, the monitoring device comprising at least one sensor sensing at least one condition within a water distribution system, a data storage device storing data sensed by the at least one sensor, a transceiver device adapted to transmit and receive data, and a processor communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the data storage device, and the transceiver device, the processor configured to;

receive the data sensed by the at least one sensor,

determine, based on the data sensed by the at least one sensor, if there is a problem with the at least one condition within the water distribution system that the at least one sensor is sensing,

upon determining that there is a problem with the at least one condition within the water distribution system that the at least one sensor is sensing,

transmitting a message to the operations center via the transceiver device, and

periodically compiling sensing data stored in the data storage device and transmitting the compiled sensing data to the operations center via the transceiver device, the monitoring device being positioned remotely from the at least one communications device coupled to the fire hydrant;

wherein the monitoring device moves with a flow of water within the water distribution system and transmits the compiled sensing data to the operations center via the repeater.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications device coupled to the fire hydrant further comprises one of a monitoring device or an output device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the fire hydrant is comprised of a material that does not interfere with communications between the plurality of communications devices with one another and the plurality of communications devices with the operations center.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications device coupled to the fire hydrant is positioned within one of a nozzle cap, a pumper nozzle, a hose nozzle, a fire truck hookup, and a bonnet of the fire hydrant.