Infrastructure monitoring devices, systems, and methods

• US 9,849,322 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2010
• 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): Murphy, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): WADDY, JONATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US14/848,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 137296, 137312, 137377, 137551, 340603, 239271, 239 71, 138 90, 138104, 73 405 A, 73592
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/20 Hydrants, e.g. wall-hoses, wall units, plug-in cabinets hydrants in streets E03B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 37/50 Testing or indicating devices for determining the state of readiness of the equipment
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/02 Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/06 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/006 of hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/04 for distribution of gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/00 Protection or supervision of installations arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/02 Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/12 Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/46 Pitot tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/03 Constructional details, e.g. casings, housings
• 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: Y02E 60/34 Hydrogen distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5468 Cap, cover or hood
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5485 With valve at outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7043 Guards and shields
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

An infrastructure monitoring assembly includes a housing mountable on a fire hydrant of an infrastructure system; and a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to sense at least one condition of a fluid within the infrastructure system. An infrastructure monitoring system includes a fire hydrant of an infrastructure system; a housing mountable on the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system; and a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to sense at least one condition of a fluid within the infrastructure system.

Claims

1. An infrastructure monitoring assembly comprising:

a housing comprising an exterior wall and mountable on a fire hydrant of an infrastructure system, the housing configured to engage with threading of the fire hydrant, the exterior wall defining a hole;

an antenna cover defining a cavity and comprising a material configured to allow signals to transmit therethrough;

an antenna extending through the hole of the exterior wall of the housing and within the cavity of the antenna cover;

a communications device connected to the antenna and positioned within the housing; and

a sensor connected to the communications device and coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to sense at least one condition of a fluid within the infrastructure system;

wherein the housing is further configured to isolate the sensor from any fluid exterior to the housing;

wherein the housing comprises an enclosure; and

wherein the housing is a nozzle cap.

2. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition of the fluid is selected from the group consisting of fluid flow, fluid pressure, fluid temperature, and fluid contaminants.

3. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system includes at least one portion comprised of a material that does not interfere with communications of the communications device.

4. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed from a material that does not interfere with communications of the communications device.

5. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a housing cavity, and wherein the housing includes a housing cover sealing the housing cavity.

6. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 5, wherein the housing cavity creates a water tight seal on the housing cavity.

7. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle cap is constructed from a particular material and the antenna cover is constructed from a different material than the particular material of the nozzle cap.

8. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a curved portion positioned outside of the hole of the exterior wall of the housing.

9. An infrastructure monitoring assembly comprising:

a housing comprising internal components and an exterior wall and mountable on a fire hydrant of an infrastructure system, the exterior wall defining a hole, the housing configured to

engage with threading of the fire hydrant, and

isolate the internal components from any fluid exterior to the housing;

an antenna cover defining a cavity and comprising a material configured to allow signals to transmit therethrough;

an antenna extending through the hole of the exterior wall of the housing and within the cavity of the antenna cover; and

a monitoring device coupled to the housing, the monitoring device configured to monitor at least one condition of a medium transported within the infrastructure system;

wherein the housing is a nozzle cap, wherein the nozzle cap is constructed from a particular material, and wherein the antenna cover is constructed from a different material than the particular material of the nozzle cap.

10. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 9, wherein the monitoring device comprises a sensor connected to the internal components, the sensor configured to sense the at least one condition of the medium transported within the infrastructure system.

11. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one condition of the medium is selected from the group consisting of fluid flow, gas flow, fluid pressure, gas pressure, fluid temperature, gas temperature, fluid contaminants, and gas contaminants.

12. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 9, wherein the internal components comprise a communications device connected to the antenna.

13. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 9, wherein the antenna comprises a curved portion positioned outside of the hole of the exterior wall of the housing.

14. An infrastructure monitoring system comprising:

a fire hydrant in an infrastructure system;

a housing comprising internal components and an exterior wall and mountable on the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system, the exterior wall defining a hole, the housing configured to

engage with threading of the fire hydrant, and

isolate the internal components from any fluid exterior to the housing;

a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to sense at least one condition of a fluid within the infrastructure system;

an antenna cover defining a cavity and comprising a material configured to allow signals to transmit therethrough; and

an antenna extending through the hole of the exterior wall of the housing and within the cavity of the antenna cover;

wherein the housing is a nozzle cap, wherein the nozzle cap is constructed from a particular material, and wherein the antenna cover is constructed from a different material than the particular material of the nozzle cap.

15. The infrastructure monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the housing defines a housing cavity, and wherein the housing includes a housing cover sealing the housing cavity.