System and method of monitoring a utility structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10344446-B2
Application number	US-201715722447-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2017
Priority date	Oct 2, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A system for monitoring a structures containing utility components is provided. The system includes a sensing devices, each being disposed within a structure and distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices measuring parameters within the structure. A display is coupled to the sensing devices and is positioned remotely therefrom. One or more processors communicate with the sensing devices and the display. Wherein the processors perform a method comprising: receiving the measured parameters; comparing the measured parameters to thresholds; displaying on the display device elements, each device element representing one of the sensing devices, each of the device elements being geometrically arranged on the geographic distribution of the sensing devices; displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each associated with one of the device elements; and changing at least one of the elements when a measured parameter crossing one of the thresholds.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:
a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;
a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices, the plurality of sensing devices measure one or more of combustible gas, stray voltage, contact voltage, infrared signatures, temperature, particulate, and electrical arcing;
one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising:
receiving signals representing the measured parameters;
comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;
displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices; and
displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying on the display a plurality of status elements, each status element being associated with one of the plurality of device elements, the plurality of status elements including a first status element associated with a first sensing device; and
changing the first status element in response to the first sensing device not communicating with the one or more processors within a predetermined period of time.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power source electrically coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the power source being independent from the utility components.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a variable sampling rate.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a first sampling rate during a first time period and a second sampling rate during a second time period, the second sampling rate being greater than the first sampling rate.

6. The system of claim 5 , for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:
a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;
a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices;
one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising:
receiving signals representing the measured parameters;
comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;
displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices;
displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements;
changing at least one of the plurality of elements in response to one of the measured parameters crossing one of the predetermined thresholds
a power source electrically coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the power source being independent from the utility components;
wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a variable sampling rate;
wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a first sampling rate during a first time period and a second sampling rate during a second time period, the second sampling rate being greater than the first sampling rate;
wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices has a first sampling rate during a first time period and a second sampling rate during a second time period, the second sampling rate being greater than the first sampling rate; and
wherein the second time period starts in response to a signal, the signal being transmitted based at least in part on an anticipated weather event.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the power source is a cable power harvesting unit.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature is measured using an infrared sensor.

9. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:
a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure;
a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of sensing devices;
one or more processors coupled for communication to the plurality of sensing devices and the display, wherein the one or more processors are responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for performing a method comprising:
receiving signals representing the measured parameters;
comparing the measured parameters to predetermined thresholds;
displaying on the display a plurality of device elements, each device element representing one of the plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of device elements being geometrically arranged based at least in part on the geographic distribution of the plurality of sensing devices; and
displaying on the display a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements being associated with one of the plurality of device elements;
wherein a first element of the plurality of elements is changed in response to:
a first measurement parameter associated with a combustible gas being between 0.5% LEL and 1.0% LEL;
a second measurement parameter associated with a pyrometer being between 75 C and 90 C;
a third measurement parameter associated with an ambient air temperature being between 50% of a cable rating and 75% of a cable rating;
a fourth measurement parameter associated with stray and contact voltage being between 1V and 5V; or
a fifth measurement parameter associated with a particulate sensor being between 1 micron and 10 micron.

10. A system for monitoring a plurality of structures containing utility components, the system comprising:
a plurality of sensing devices, each being disposed within one of the plurality of structures, the plurality of sensing devices being distributed within a geographic region, each of the sensing devices having a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters within the associated structure, wherein the plurality of sensors measure one or more measurement parameters include a thermal imaging and a visible sensor that measure one or more parameters of conditions within the structures;
a display operably coupled to the plurality of sensing devices, the display being positioned remotely from the plurality of

Assignees

• Cons Edison Company Of New York Inc

Inventors

• De Vries Troy David
• Zheng Zhou
• Lewis Stanley J
• Philp Leslie George
• Murach Colleen Bridget
• Slintak Gregg L

Classifications

• E02D29/1481

  Security devices, e.g. indicating unauthorised opening (E02D29/1427 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E02D29/14 Primary

  Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers {(gully gratings E03F5/06)} · CPC title

• E05F15/60

  using electrical actuators · CPC title

• E02D29/1427

  Locking devices · CPC title

• E02D29/1472

  Cover entirely made of synthetic material · CPC title