Infrastructure monitoring devices, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10857403-B2
Application number	US-201916675507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2019
Priority date	Jun 16, 2010
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

An infrastructure monitoring assembly includes a fire hydrant; a pipe connected in fluid communication with the fire hydrant, a fluid at least partially filling the pipe; a sensor positioned in the fluid, the sensor configured to measure a parameter of the fluid; and a processor connected in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to receive a signal from the sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An infrastructure monitoring assembly comprising:
a fire hydrant defining a cavity, the fire hydrant comprising a body and a bonnet, the bonnet defining a top bonnet end and a bottom bonnet end, a nut defined at the top bonnet end, the body defining a top end and a bottom end, the cavity extending into the body from the bottom end of the body towards bottom bonnet end of the bonnet coupled to the top end of the body, the bonnet sealed off from the cavity, the bonnet defining an interior region;
a pipe connected in fluid communication with the fire hydrant, the pipe coupled to the bottom end of the body, a fluid at least partially filling the pipe;
a sensor positioned contacting the fluid, the sensor configured to measure a parameter of the fluid; and
a processor connected in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to receive a signal from the sensor, the processor positioned between the nut and the bottom bonnet end inside the interior region of the bonnet and outside of the cavity.

2. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the processor is positioned within a monitor housing;
the monitor housing is coupled to the fire hydrant; and
the sensor is positioned external to the monitor housing.

3. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the processor is connected in electrical communication with the sensor.

4. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the processor is connected in wireless communication with the sensor.

5. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned within the pipe.

6. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned within a base of the fire hydrant.

7. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water.

8. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor, and wherein the sensor monitors a pressure of the fluid.

9. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an antenna connected in electrical communication with the processor, the antenna configured to transmit information about the parameter of the fluid.

10. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 9 , wherein the antenna is connected through wireless communication with an operations center.

11. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the fire hydrant is positioned at least partially above a ground level;
the pipe is positioned at least partially below the ground level; and
the sensor is positioned below the ground level.

12. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor and the processor are configured to detect leaks in the pipe.

13. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the fire hydrant defines a nozzle;
the fire hydrant further comprises a nozzle cap;
the nozzle cap seals the nozzle; and
the nozzle and the nozzle cap further define the cavity.

14. The infrastructure monitoring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bonnet comprises a water proof container, and wherein the processor is positioned within the waterproof container.

15. A method for monitoring an infrastructure network, the method comprising:
positioning a sensor in contact with a fluid, the fluid at least partially filling a pipe of the infrastructure network, the pipe connected in fluid communication with a fire hydrant of the infrastructure network, the fire hydrant defining a cavity, the fire hydrant comprising a body and a bonnet, the bonnet defining a top bonnet end and a bottom bonnet end, a nut defined at the top bonnet end, the body defining a top end and a bottom end, the cavity extending into the body from the bottom end of the body towards the top end of the body, the bottom bonnet end of the bonnet coupled to the top end of the body, the bonnet sealed off from the cavity, the bonnet defining an interior region, the pipe coupled to the bottom end of the body;
measuring a parameter of the fluid with the sensor;
receiving a signal from the sensor with a processor, the signal conveying information about the parameter, the processor positioned between the nut and the bottom bonnet end inside the interior region of the bonnet and outside of the cavity; and
transmitting the information from an antenna to an operation center, the antenna connected in wireless communication with the operation center, the antenna connected in electrical communication with the processor.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the processor is positioned within a monitor housing;
the monitor housing is coupled to the fire hydrant; and
the sensor is positioned external to the monitor housing.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fire hydrant is positioned at least partially above a ground level;
the pipe is positioned at least partially below the ground level; and
the sensor is positioned below the ground level.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein measuring the parameter of the fluid with the sensor comprises measuring a pressure of the fluid.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprises detecting a leak within the pipe.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is positioned within the pipe.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is positioned within the fire hydrant.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is connected in electrical communication with the processor.

23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is connected in wireless communication with the processor.

24. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fire hydrant defines a nozzle;
the fire hydrant further comprises a nozzle cap;
the nozzle cap seals the nozzle; and
the nozzle and the nozzle cap further define the cavity.

25. An infrastructure monitoring system comprising:
an infrastructure network comprising a fire hydrant and a pipe, the pipe connected in fluid communication with the fire hydrant, the pipe at least partially filled with a fluid, the fire hydrant defining a cavity, the fire hydrant comprising a body and a bonnet, the bonnet defining a top bonnet end and a bottom bonnet end, a nut defined at the top bonnet end, the body defining a top end and a bottom end, the cavity extending into the body from the bottom end of the body towards the top end of the body, the bottom bonnet end of the bonnet coupled to the top end of the body, the bonnet sealed off from the cavity, the bonnet defining an interior region, the pipe coupled to the bottom end of the body;
a monitoring device comprising a sensor, a processor, and an antenna, the processor connected in communication with the sensor and the antenna, the processor positioned between the nut and the bottom bonnet end inside the interior region of the bonnet and outside of the cavity, the sensor positioned in contact with the fluid, the sensor configured to measure a parameter of the fluid; and
an operation center connected in communication with the monitoring device.

26. The infrastructure monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein the operation center is connected in wireless communication with the monitoring device.

27. The infrastructure monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein the sensor is positioned within the fire hydrant.

28. The infrastructure monitoring system of claim 25 , wherein the sensor is posit

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Hyland Gregory E
• Keefe Robert Paul
• Zakas Marietta Edmunds
• Barker Clayton Robert

Classifications

• G01D2204/12

  Determination or prediction of behaviour, e.g. likely power consumption or unusual usage patterns · CPC title

• Y02E60/34

  Hydrogen distribution · CPC title

• F17D1/04

  for distribution of gas · CPC title

• Y10T137/7043

  Guards and shields · CPC title

• G01D4/004

  Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location · CPC title