Distribution system monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356755-A1
Application number	US-201615171722-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 2, 2016
Priority date	Jun 5, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

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

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of sensing parameters in a fluid distribution system, comprising 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.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
detecting, by the monitoring device, a second sensor in the fluid distribution system; automatically enabling, by the monitoring device, the second sensor; and updating, by the monitoring device, a configuration status of the second sensor.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
receiving, at the monitoring device, fluid parameter information from the second sensor; collecting, by the monitoring device, sampling data of the fluid parameter information from the second sensor based on predetermined criteria.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device comprises:
a power source; an antenna; and a parameter sensing portion configured to monitor a parameter of the fluid distribution system.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid parameter information is based on at least one of a pressure parameter, a temperature parameter, a turbidity parameter, a pH parameter, and a chlorine parameter.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a turbidity sensor, a pH sensor, and a chlorine sensor.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the collected transient data is based on configurable parameters, the configurable parameters comprising a transient interval and a tolerance.

8 . An apparatus comprising:
a monitoring device comprising
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.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of a pressure parameter, a temperature parameter, a turbidity parameter, a pH parameter, and a chlorine parameter.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising an auxiliary power input operably connected to the power source.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary power input comprises a waterproof connector attached to a top of the monitoring device.

12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the parameter of the fluid distribution system is a first parameter, and wherein the parameter sensing portion is further configured to monitor a second parameter of a fluid distribution system, a third parameter of a fluid distribution system, a fourth parameter of a fluid distribution system, and a fifth parameter of a fluid distribution system.

13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a solenoid.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the parameter sensing portion is further configured to operate the solenoid to cause a flushing operation to be performed in the fluid distribution system.

15 . A monitoring device comprising:
a power source; an antenna; 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;
wherein the monitoring device is configured to connect to a sensor array, the sensor array comprising a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a turbidity sensor, a pH sensor, and a chlorine sensor.

16 . A system for sensing parameters in a fluid distribution system, the system comprising:
a monitoring device, the monitoring device comprising
a parameter sensing module configured to monitor a parameter of the fluid distribution system,
a power source, and
an antenna;
a sensor array connected to the monitoring device; and a computing system comprising a processing resource and a 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; and
communicate the configuration data to the monitoring device.

17 . The system for of claim 16 , further comprising a solenoid.

18 . The system for of claim 17 , wherein the parameter sensing module is further configured to operate the solenoid to cause a flushing operation to be performed in the fluid distribution system.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Gifford Paul
• Sitnikov Timofey
• Mosley Harold

Classifications

• G06Q50/06

  Energy or water supply · CPC title

• G01N33/18 Primary

  Water · CPC title

• G05D7/0617

  specially adapted for fluid materials · CPC title