Submersible chemical indicator apparatuses for use in aquatic-environment monitoring/measuring systems

• US 9,023,281 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lamotte Chemical Products Company
• Original Assignee: Step Ahead Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Clark, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, DENNIS MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/713,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20140000507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 422/52, 422/68.1, 422/73, 422/82.01, 422/82.05, 422/82.06, 422/82.07, 422/82.08, 422/82.09, 422/82.11, 422/407, 422/501, 422/502, 422/503, 422/504, 422/507, 436/164, 436/177, 436/43, 436/63, 436/149, 436/172, 436/174, 436/518, 436/805, 436/809, 435/29, 435/4, 435/7.1
• US Class Current: 422/82.05
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/04 Arrangements for treating water specially adapted to receptacles for live fish
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/14 NH3-N
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/15 N03-N
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/18 PO4-P
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/758 using reversible reaction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7793 Sensor comprising plural indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/15 Preventing contamination of the components of the optical system or obstruction of the light path
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/77 by observing the effect on a chemical indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8507 Probe photometers, i.e. with optical measuring part dipped into fluid sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/88 Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/127 Calibration; base line adjustment; drift compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 : using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/18 : Water
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 : specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/805 : Optical property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/809 : Multifield plates or multicontainer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/115831 : Condition or time responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/12 : Condition responsive control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/173076 : Nitrite or nitrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/173845 : Amine and quaternary ammonium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/174614 : Tertiary amine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/175383 : Ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/193333 : In aqueous solution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/207497 : Molecular oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

Abstract

Chemical indicator apparatuses containing one or more chemical indicators for use in monitoring the quality of water in an aquatic environment. The apparatuses are designed and configured to be submersible in the water that is being monitored. In some embodiments, each apparatus includes a plurality of immobilized-dye-based chemical indicators that undergo a physical change as levels of one or more constituents of the water change. Such indicators can be read by one or more suitable optical readers. These and other embodiments are designed and configured to be movable by a corresponding monitoring/measuring apparatus, for example, via a magnetically coupled drive. Also disclosed are a variety of features that can be used to provide a chemical indicator apparatus with additional functionalities.

Claims

1. A chemical indicator apparatus, comprising:

a chemical indicator designed and configured to indicate levels of a predetermined constituent of a water when said chemical indicator is exposed to the water, said chemical indicator adapted to indicate the levels by undergoing a detectable physical change;

a holder designed and configure to be submerged in the water during use of said chemical indicator and to be removably engaged with a monitor apparatus having a reader for sensing the detectable physical change of said chemical indicator, said holder;

supporting said chemical indicator; and

including an engagement interface designed and configured to allow the monitor apparatus to move said holder and said chemical indicator relative to the monitor apparatus during use of the monitor apparatus when the apparatus is submerged in the water wherein the monitor apparatus includes a rotary receiver and said holder comprises a wheel having a rotational axis, wherein said engagement interface includes a hub designed and configured to engage the rotary receiver of the monitor apparatus so that the monitoring apparatus can rotate said wheel about said rotational axis during use of the monitoring apparatus.

2. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holder has an annular reading region and the apparatus further comprises a plurality of chemical indicators designed and configured to indicate levels of a plurality of differing predetermined constituents of the water when said plurality of chemical indicators is exposed to the water, each of said plurality of chemical indicators adapted to indicate the levels by undergoing a detectable physical change, wherein said plurality of chemical sensors are arranged annularly about said rotational axis in said annular reading region.

3. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of chemical indicators includes at least four chemical indicators selected for continual monitoring of corresponding respective differing chemical constituents of water.

4. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of said at least four chemical indicators undergoes a physical change detectable using electromagnetic radiation.

5. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of indicators are spaced from one another so as to provide discrete indicator locations within said annular reading region.

6. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising at least one reader-calibration target located within said annular reading region.

7. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising at least one window located within said annular reading region.

8. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said at least one window contains a color-type temperature indicator.

9. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring apparatus comprises a first motive magnet designed and configured to drive the wheel in a rotational manner about said rotational axis when said wheel is engaged with the monitoring apparatus, said wheel further including a second motive magnet complementary to the first motive magnet so as to allow movement of the first magnet to magnetically drive said wheel via said second magnet.

10. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wheel includes a peripheral flange designed and configured in conjunction with the monitor apparatus so as to, when said wheel is engaged with the monitoring apparatus, inhibit light from entering a space between said wheel and the monitoring apparatus.

11. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a space is formed between said wheel and the monitoring apparatus when said wheel is engaged with the monitoring apparatus, and said wheel includes a water-flow promoter designed and configured so that, when said wheel is engaged with the monitoring apparatus and the monitoring apparatus is driving said wheel, said water-flow promoter causes the water to be drawn into the space.

12. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said flow promoter includes a passage extending through said wheel.

13. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reader includes an optical lens located proximate to said wheel when said wheel is engaged with the monitoring apparatus, said apparatus further comprising a cleaning element secured to said wheel so that when the monitoring unit drives said wheel, said cleaning element contacts the optical lens.

14. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said cleaning element is magnetically engaged with said wheel.

15. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said cleaning element is magnetically engaged with said wheel so as to:

have a neutral orientation when said cleaning element is freestanding; and

pivot resiliently from said neutral orientation when said wheel is engaged with the monitor apparatus and said cleaning element is in contact with the optical lens.

16. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said cleaning element is engaged with said wheel so as to:

be in a neutral position when said wheel is not being rotated; and

be in a cleaning position when said wheel is being rotated at a rotational speed above a threshold speed.

17. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring apparatus requires calibration information for said chemical indicator, the apparatus further comprising said calibration information.

18. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag secured to said wheel, wherein said calibration information is encoded in said RFID tag.

19. A chemical indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring apparatus comprises a first motive magnet designed and configured to drive the holder in motion relative to the monitoring apparatus when said holder is engaged with the monitoring apparatus, said holder further including a second motive magnet complementary to the first motive magnet so as to allow movement of the first magnet to magnetically drive said holder via said second magnet.