Distribution system monitoring

• US 11,041,839 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Issued: 06/22/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gifford, Paul, Sitnikov, Timofey, Mosley, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackay-Smith, Seth W.
• Application Number:
  US15/171,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20160356755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 25112904
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/18 Water
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A method of sensing parameters in a fluid distribution system includes the steps of receiving, at a monitoring device, fluid parameter information from a sensor in a fluid distribution system; collecting, by the monitoring device, sampling data of the fluid parameter information from the sensor based on predetermined criteria; receiving, by the monitoring device, a request to collect transient data from the sensor; collecting, by the monitoring device, transient data of the fluid parameter information from the sensor based on predetermined criteria; and communicating the sampling data and the transient data to another device. An apparatus includes a monitoring device including a power source, an antenna, and a parameter sensing portion configured to monitor a parameter of a fluid distribution system; and a sensor array connected to the monitoring device

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor array disposed in a fluid distribution system, the sensor array comprising a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a turbidity sensor, a pH sensor, and a chlorine sensor;

a monitoring device comprising

an antenna contained within a first housing section,

a power source contained within a second housing section, the second housing section defining a lower end and an opposed upper end removably attached to the first housing section, and

a parameter sensing portion configured to receive an electronic signal from at least one sensor in the sensor array and to monitor a parameter of the fluid distribution system sensed by the at least one sensor, the parameter sensing portion comprising a printed circuit board and a plurality of sensor ports mounted to the printed circuit board, one sensor port per each sensor in the sensor array, and a service port configured to connect to a service device, the printed circuit board contained within a third housing section, the third housing section removably attached at a proximal end to the lower end of the second housing section; and

a computing system communicating with the monitoring device, the computing system configured to detect a second sensor in the fluid distribution system;

wherein the first housing section, the second housing section, and the third housing section each define a separate module that as removably attached together form a case configured for modular disassembly;

wherein the third housing section defines a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a recessed surface through which each sensor port in the plurality of sensor ports protrudes, the recessed surface recessed with respect to the distal end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary power input operably connected to the power source.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary power input comprises a waterproof connector attached to a top of the monitoring device.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary power input is mounted on a planar upper surface of the first housing section.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary power input is connected by a wire to the power source in the second housing section.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary power input is configured to connect to an external power source to recharge the power source in the second housing section.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a telescopic enclosure housing the monitoring device, the telescopic enclosure extending from a top of a pipe in the fluid distribution system to a ground level.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the parameter sensing portion is further configured to operate a solenoid to cause a flushing operation to be performed in the fluid distribution system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is installed in a pit in a roadway.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is encased in potting material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery pack encased in potting material.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first housing section defines a contact surface;

wherein the second housing section defines a lower end and an opposed first flange;

wherein the contact surface and the first flange are configured to receive a first fastener, the first fastener configured to removably attach the second housing section to the first housing section;

wherein the third housing section defines a second flange; and

wherein the lower end of the second housing section and the second flange of the third housing section are configured to receive a second fastener, the second fastener configured to removably attach the third housing section to the second housing section.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first fastener is a first screw and the second fastener is a second screw.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first housing section defines a cavity, and wherein the first flange of the second housing section is received in the cavity.

15. A monitoring device configured to connect to a sensor array disposed in a fluid distribution system, the sensor array comprising a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a turbidity sensor, a pH sensor, and a chlorine sensor, the monitoring device comprising:

an antenna contained within a first housing section;

a power source contained within a second housing section, the second housing section defining a lower end and an opposed upper end removably attached to the first housing section;

a solenoid; and

a parameter sensing portion configured to monitor a pressure parameter, a temperature parameter, a turbidity parameter, a pH parameter, and a chlorine parameter of a fluid distribution system, the parameter sensing portion comprising a printed circuit board and a plurality of sensor ports mounted to the printed circuit board, one sensor port per each sensor in the sensor array, and a service port configured to connect to a service device, the parameter sensing portion further configured to operate the solenoid to cause a flushing operation to be performed in the fluid distribution system when a parameter condition is triggered, the parameter sensing portion printed circuit board contained within a third housing section, the third housing section removably attached at a proximal end to the lower end of the second housing section;

wherein the first housing section, the second housing section, and the third housing section each define a separate module that as removably attached together form a case configured for modular disassembly;

wherein the third housing section defines a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a recessed surface through which each sensor port in the plurality of sensor ports protrudes, the recessed surface recessed with respect to the distal end.

16. A system for sensing parameters in a fluid distribution system, the system comprising:

a monitoring device configured to connect to a sensor array disposed in the fluid distribution system, the sensor array comprising a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a turbidity sensor, a pH sensor, and a chlorine sensor, the monitoring device, the monitoring device comprising an antenna contained within a first housing section,

a power source contained within a second housing section, the second housing section defining a lower end and an opposed upper end removably attached to the first housing section, and

a parameter sensing module configured to receive an electronic signal from at least one sensor in the sensor array and to monitor a parameter of the fluid distribution system sensed by the at least one sensor, the parameter sensing module comprising a printed circuit board and a plurality of sensor ports mounted to the printed circuit board, one sensor port per each sensor in the sensor array, and a service port configured to connect to a service device, the printed circuit board contained within a third housing section, the third housing section removably attached at a proximal end to the lower end of the second housing section; and

a computing system comprising a processing resource and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computing system configured to

receive configuration data defining a configuration profile for the monitoring device, the configuration profile relating to a parameter configuration of the monitoring device,

communicate the configuration data to the monitoring device, and

detect a second sensor in the fluid distribution system;

wherein the first housing section, the second housing section, and the third housing section each define a separate module that as removably attached together form a case configured for modular disassembly;

wherein the third housing section defines a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a recessed surface through which each sensor port in the plurality of sensor ports protrudes, the recessed surface recessed with respect to the distal end.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a telescopic enclosure housing the monitoring device, the telescopic enclosure extending from a top of a pipe in the fluid distribution system to a ground level.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the parameter sensing module is further configured to operate a solenoid to cause a flushing operation to be performed in the fluid distribution system.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first housing section defines a contact surface;

wherein the second housing section defines a lower end and an opposed first flange;

wherein the contact surface and the first flange are configured to receive a first fastener, the first fastener configured to removably attach the second housing section to the first housing section;

wherein the third housing section defines a second flange; and

wherein the lower end of the second housing section and the second flange of the third housing section are configured to receive a second fastener, the second fastener configured to removably attach the third housing section to the second housing section.