System for estimating individual water consumption

• US 9,719,828 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2013
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jacques Le Floc'h
• Original Assignee: Oxena Conseil
• Inventors: Le Floch, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): LaBalle, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fenwick, Warren K
• Application Number:
  US14/418,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20150160059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 73195
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/662 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/061 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for estimating the individual water consumption of a plurality of devices supplied by the secondary fluid distribution network of a user. The system comprises a sleeve able to be fitted around the supply pipe of the secondary network and comprises an electromechanical sensor placed against the outside wall of the supply pipe, and a processor for analyzing the signals delivered by the electromechanical sensor with a view to extracting information characterizing the individual consumption of the devices supplied by the secondary network.

Claims

1. A system for estimating an individual water consumption of a plurality of devices supplied by a secondary fluid distribution network of a user, comprising:

a sleeve configured to be fitted around a supply pipe of said secondary network said sleeve comprising a passive electromechanical sensor placed against an outside wall of said supply pipe, and

a processor for analyzing the signals delivered by said electromechanical sensor with a view to extracting information characterizing the individual consumption of at least part of the devices supplied by said secondary network.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises means for the remote transmission of signals delivered by the electromechanical sensor.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve further comprises an electronic circuit for pre-processing signals delivered by the electromechanical sensor.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processor is associated with a memory for saving a library of signatures of consumption of at least part of the individual devices.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processor is programmed to perform a process of estimation and classification based on signals supplied by said electromechanical sensor.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electromechanical sensor comprises at least one MEMS acceleration sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, an electret microphone and a MEMS microphone.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one valve controlling the supply of at least one of said devices based on said information characterizing the individual consumption of at least part of the devices.

8. A computer program stored in a non-transitory storage media for implementing a system according claim 1, for controlling a processor for analyzing signals delivered by an electromechanical sensor with a view to extracting information characterizing the individual consumption of the devices supplied by a secondary network.

9. The system according to claim 1 in which the sleeve includes a microphone to detect the ambient sound signals in order to eliminate spurious signal.

10. A sleeve for acquiring signals with a view to estimating the individual water consumption of a plurality of devices, comprising two tubular half-shells linked by a joint enabling the opening thereof so that it can be inserted around a pipe, and the closing thereof so that a passive sensor can be applied against a wall of said pipe.

11. The sleeve according to claim 10, further comprising means for adjusting the load pressure of the sensor on an outside wall of the supply pipe.

12. The sleeve according to claim 10, further comprising a connector for receiving a peripheral device containing an electronic memory wherein a computer file for updating the computer program controlling the processor for analyzing signals is saved.