Sel-reporting monitor for integrity and conditions of manhole cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12473705-B2
Application number	US-202217701862-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2022
Priority date	Oct 29, 2021
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

A monitor for monitoring the conditions of and around and under a manhole cover senses current conditions of the manhole cover and enables wireless self-reporting of such conditions at intervals and upon certain emergency situations arising. The monitor of the manhole cover includes a shell, a cover plate, and a base. The cover plate is detachably assembled with the shell. The base connects the shell with the manhole cover. The base includes a magnet to which the manhole cover is strongly attracted. The monitor is held to the manhole cover by the magnet. A mounting operation of the monitor requires only placement by hand.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A manhole cover monitor for monitoring conditions of a manhole cover, the manhole cover monitor comprising:
a shell configured to connect with the manhole cover; a cover plate detachably assembled with the shell; and a base configured to connect with the shell to the manhole cover; the base comprising a magnet configured to apply a magnetic attraction force to the shell; wherein the base and the shell are disposed between two opposite sides of the cover plate; two opposite surfaces of the magnet are respectively connected with the cover plate and the manhole cover thereby mounting the cover plate on the manhole cover.

2 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 1 , wherein the base defines a receiving portion; the receiving portion receives the magnet.

3 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 1 , wherein the base defines a plurality of assembly holes; the shell comprises a bottom plate, an outside wall, and an inner wall; the outside wall and the inner wall are disposed on edges of the bottom plate and altogether form a substantially hemispherical cavity; the outside wall defines a plurality of mounting holes; the plurality of mounting holes cooperate with a corresponding one of the plurality of assembly holes to fix the base with the shell.

4 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 3 , wherein the cover plate comprises a top surface; the top surface is substantially circle shaped; openings are defined at edges of the top surface at a constant interval; each of the openings corresponds to one of the plurality of mounting holes and cooperates with the corresponding mounting hole to fix the base.

5 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 4 , wherein the outside wall and the inner wall are distanced from each other to form a gap therebetween; a seal portion is disposed on the inner wall adjacent to the cover plate.

6 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 1 , wherein the manhole cover monitor further comprises a control module, a detection module, and a first communication module; the detection module and the first communication module are electrically connected with the control module; the detection module comprises at least one sensor unit configured for sensing conditions of the manhole cover; the control module processes data related to the conditions sensed by the detection module; the first communication module establishes a communication between the manhole cover monitor and external devices.

7 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 6 , wherein the first communication module comprises a narrow band (NB) unit, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card unit, and a NB antenna unit; the NB unit being electrically connected with the control module establishes a wireless communication in multi-band frequency; the SIM card unit being electrically connected with the NB unit provides communication services from an operator; the NB antenna unit being electrically connected with the NB unit receives and sends radio frequency signals.

8 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 6 , wherein the at least one sensor unit comprises a posture sensor; the posture sensor being electrically connected with the control module senses an angle, and an angle change of the manhole cover; the angle change is converted by the control module to obtain a changed angle value of the manhole cover; the control module further compares the changed angle value with a predefined angle value; when the changed angle value is larger than the predefined angle value, the manhole cover is deemed to be in an abnormal state.

9 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 8 , wherein the posture sensor further senses an acceleration change; the control module presets a predefined acceleration value; when the acceleration sensed by the posture sensor exceeds the predefined acceleration value, the control module counts a times of the acceleration being exceeded the predefined acceleration value; when the accumulated times reaches a predefined time value, the control module determines that the manhole cover is in a loose state.

10 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 6 , wherein the manhole cover monitor further comprises an overflow monitor interface; the overflow monitor interface is electrically connected with the control module; the detection module further comprises an overflow sensor; the overflow sensor comprises water level electrodes; the water level electrodes are electrically connected with the overflow monitor interface, whether a level of liquid beneath the manhole cover is too high is determined by the water level electrodes and the overflow monitor interface.

11 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 10 , wherein when a water level is below the water level electrodes, the water level electrodes are be open-circuit, it is deemed the level of the liquid beneath the manhole cover to be fine; when the water level rises and the water contacts with the water level electrodes, the water level electrodes are be short-circuited through the water, it is deemed the level of the liquid beneath the manhole cover to be too high.

12 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 6 , wherein the manhole cover monitor further comprises an extended interface; the extended interface is electrically connected with the control module, and further is electrically connected with the at least one sensor unit for extending functions of the manhole cover monitor.

13 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 12 , wherein the manhole cover monitor connects with a water level monitor unit through the extended interface, the water level monitor unit determines whether the water level beneath the manhole cover reaches a warning level.

14 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 12 , wherein the manhole cover monitor further connects with a temperature sensor through the extended interface, the temperature sensor senses a temperature beneath the manhole cover and provides the temperature to the control module.

15 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 12 , wherein the manhole cover monitor further connects with a gas sensor through the extended interface; the gas sensor senses a gas concentration beneath the manhole cover and provides the gas concentration to the control module.

16 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 12 , wherein the manhole cover monitor further connects with a location unit through the extended interface; the location unit acquires position information of the manhole cover and sends the acquired position information to an Internet-of-Things platform through the first communication module.

17 . The manhole cover monitor of claim 12 , wherein the shell defines a connecting hole; the connecting hole cooperates with the at least one sensor unit for extending the functions of the manhole cover monitor.

18 . A manhole cover monitor for monitoring conditions of a manhole cover, the manhole cover monitor comprising:
a shell configured to connect with the manhole cover; a cover plate detachably assembled with the shell; a base configured to connect with the shell to the manhole cover; the base comprising a magnet configured to apply a magnetic attraction force to the shell; a detection module, configured to sense conditions of the manhole cover; and a control module, configured to process data related to the conditions sensed by the detection module; wherein the detection module comprises at least one sensor unit; the at least one sensor unit comprises a posture sensor; the posture sensor senses an acceleration change; the control module presets a predefined acceleration value; when the acceleration sensed by t

Assignees

• Zhengzhou Wanmayun Electronic Tech Co Ltd
• Hongfujin Prec Elect Zhengzhou Co Ltd
• Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Liu Hong
• Luo Xi-Juan

Classifications

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• E02D2600/10

  comprising sensor means · CPC title

• E02D29/14

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

• E02D29/1436 Primary

  with overflow or explosion control means, e.g. check or relief valves · CPC title