Infrastructure monitoring devices, systems, and methods

• US 9,861,848 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2014
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• 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, III, Clayton Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Reid, Michael R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waddy, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US14/557,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20150082868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 137296, 137312, 137377, 137551, 138 90, 138104, 340603, 239271
• 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

A leak detection assembly includes a leak detection sensor mountable on a surface of a component of a water infrastructure system; and a communications device mountable on the component, the leak detection sensor connected to the communications device, the communications device including an antenna, wherein the communications device is a component of an infrastructure monitoring system. A leak detection system includes a component of a water infrastructure system; a leak detection sensor mounted on a surface of the component; and a communications device positioned in proximity to the component and connected to the leak detection sensor, the communications device including an antenna, wherein the communications device is a component of an infrastructure monitoring system.

Claims

1. A leak detection assembly comprising:

a leak detection sensor;

a watertight housing enclosing the leak detection sensor and configured to isolate the leak detection sensor from any fluid exterior to the housing;

a bracket comprising a bracket hole and configured to mount the leak detection sensor on an exterior surface of a component of a water infrastructure system by a first flange defined by the exterior surface, the component comprising a plurality of fasteners, the bracket secured to the component by at least one of the plurality of fasteners extending thru the first flange and the bracket hole, each fastener configured to connect to a second flange defined by the water infrastructure system; and

a communications device configured to be mounted on the exterior surface of the component, the leak detection sensor connected to the communications device, the communications device including an antenna, wherein the communications device is a component of an infrastructure monitoring system.

2. The leak detection assembly of claim 1, wherein the communications device is insulated from water, wherein the component of the water infrastructure system includes at least one portion comprised of a material that does not interfere with communications of the communications device.

3. The leak detection assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one portion of the component of the water infrastructure system is comprised of a composite material.

4. The leak detection assembly of claim 3, wherein the composite material has a color that fades at a rate that is the same as a rate of fading of a color of paint.

5. The leak detection assembly of claim 3, wherein the composite material does not interfere with wireless signals.

6. The leak detection assembly of claim 1, wherein the component of the water infrastructure system is a hydrant including a nozzle cap.

7. The leak detection assembly of claim 1, wherein the leak detection sensor is coupled to the housing.

8. The leak detection assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a cavity, wherein the housing comprises a cover sealing the cavity.

9. The leak detection assembly of claim 1, further comprising an antenna cover, at least a portion of the antenna situated within the antenna cover.

10. The leak detection assembly of claim 1, wherein the component is a hydrant comprising a bonnet, wherein the leak detection sensor is mounted to the bonnet of the hydrant.

11. A leak detection system comprising:

a first component and a second component of a water infrastructure system, each component comprising a flange and a plurality of fasteners configured to extend thru the flange;

a first leak detection sensor and a second leak detection sensor;

a first watertight housing enclosing the first leak detection sensor and configured to isolate the first leak detection sensor from any fluid exterior to the first watertight housing;

a second watertight housing enclosing the second leak detection sensor and configured to isolate the second leak detection sensor from any fluid exterior to the second watertight housing;

a first bracket mounting the first leak detection sensor on an exterior surface of the first component, the first bracket comprising a bracket hole and secured to the first component by at least one of the plurality of fasteners of the first component by extending thru the bracket hole and the flange of the first component;

a second bracket mounting the second leak detection sensor on an exterior surface of the second component, the second bracket comprising a bracket hole and secured to the second component by at least one of the plurality of fasteners of the second component by extending thru the bracket hole and the flange of the second component;

a first communications device positioned on the exterior surface of the first component and connected to the first leak detection sensor; and

a second communications device positioned on the exterior surface of the second component and connected to the second leak detection sensor, each communications device comprising an antenna, wherein each communications device is a component of an infrastructure monitoring system.

12. The leak detection system of claim 11, wherein the first communications device and the second communications device are insulated from water.

13. The leak detection system of claim 11, wherein each component of the water infrastructure system includes at least one portion comprised of a material that does not interfere with communications of each communications device.

14. The leak detection system of claim 13, wherein the at least one portion of each component of the water infrastructure system is comprised of a composite material, wherein the composite material does not interfere with wireless signals.

15. The leak detection system of claim 11, wherein each component of the water infrastructure system is a hydrant including a nozzle cap.

16. The leak detection system of claim 11, wherein each communications device is configured to communicate with an operations center, the operations center configured to determine a location of a water leak based on a velocity of a sound traveling along a pipe, a distance between each leak detection sensor, and a delay between times each leak detection sensor detects the sound.

17. The leak detection system of claim 11, wherein the first leak detection sensor is coupled to the first watertight housing.

18. The leak detection system of claim 11, wherein each of the first watertight housing and the second watertight housing defines a cavity, wherein each of the first watertight housing and the second watertight housing comprises a cover sealing the respective cavity of each housing.

19. The leak detection system of claim 11, further comprising a first antenna cover and a second antenna cover, at least a portion of the antenna of the first communications device situated within the first antenna cover, at least a portion of the antenna of the second communications device situated within the second antenna cover.

20. The leak detection system of claim 11, wherein the first component is a first hydrant, wherein the second component is a second hydrant.