This disclosure relates to monitoring contents of fluid containers such as portable tanks and pipelines, and, more particularly, to monitoring volume, fluid level, and/or other information associated with contents of fluid containers stored under pressure for e.g., healthcare, industrial, or commercial purposes.
Fluid containers such as portable oxygen tanks are often used in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities for use in medical procedures and patient recovery. Gauges are typically attached to the oxygen tanks to permit healthcare personnel to monitor tank contents including for malfunctions and contents depletion. Portable tanks are also used in industrial and commercial facilities, e.g., for storage of volatile and non-volatile fluids such as propane gas, nitrogen gas, hydraulic fluid, etc. under pressure for use in industrial manufacturing, processing, and fabrication. Similarly, portable tanks are used in commercial and domestic locations, including for cooking and other food preparation procedures using pressured gases that are also monitored by gauges.
Typically, gauges mounted to portable tanks, or similar fluid supply systems, provide an indication of the portable tank contents. For example, internal pressure of a portable tank may be measured by a gauge in communication with the portable tank volume. By measurement and display of internal pressure, it can be determined when internal pressure falls below a predetermined level necessary for proper use of the tank. Additionally, by providing an indication of internal pressure (e.g., pounds per square inch) of the portable tank or system, the measured pressure can be checked routinely to avert potential emergencies such as a pressure increase exceeding a safe containment rating of the associated portable tank.
By measuring and displaying internal pressure, gauges facilitate inspection of portable tanks, such as portable fire extinguisher tanks Typically, such inspections are performed manually, and inspection of fire extinguishers located throughout a facility, e.g., such as a manufacturing plant or an office complex, or throughout an institution, e.g., such as a school campus or a hospital, may occupy one or more employees on a full time basis. Procedures for more frequent inspections are generally considered cost prohibitive, even where it is recognized that a problem of numbers of missing or non-functioning fire extinguishers may not be addressed for days or even weeks at a time, even where manpower may otherwise be available.
In one aspect, the invention features apparatus for remote inspection of a portable tank located in an installed position and adapted to store oxygen that includes a first detector (e.g., a float gauge) in communication with the oxygen for measurement of a level of oxygen stored in the portable tank and a second detector (e.g., an electronic tether) configured to detect lack of presence of the portable tank from its installed position. The apparatus also includes an electronic circuit in communication between the first and second detectors and a central station located remotely from the tank. The electronic circuit is configured to issue a signal (e.g., a wireless signal) to the central station that includes information about the level of oxygen material stored in the portable tank or presence of the portable tank in its installed position.
In one particular implementation, the electronic circuit is configured to issue a signal to the central station upon detection of a lack of presence of the portable tank from its installed position. The electronic circuit may also be configured to continuously or periodically issue a signal to the display device that includes information about the level of oxygen. Alternatively, the electronic circuit may be configured to issue a signal to the display device upon detection of an oxygen level at or below a predetermined threshold.
In another implementation, the apparatus also includes a third detector configured to detect presence of an obstruction restricting access to the tank and the electronic circuit is configured to issue a signal that includes information about the presence of an obstruction restricting access to the tank.
In another aspect, the invention features a system for remote inspection of a portable tank configured to store oxygen under pressure and released from the tank in gaseous form. The system includes a detector in communication with the oxygen for measurement of the level of oxygen stored in the tanks, a display device located remotely from the detector, and an electronic circuit in communication between the detector and the display device. The electronic circuit is configured to issue a wireless signal that includes information about the level of oxygen, and the portable display device is configured to receive the wireless signal and display information about the level of oxygen.
Various implementations may include one or more of the following features. The electronic circuit may be configured to continuously or periodically issue the wireless signal to the display device, or, alternatively, may be configured to issue the wireless signal to the display device upon detection of an oxygen level at or below a predetermined threshold.
The display device may be a portable device such as a personal data assistant, cell phone, laptop computer, etc. or a non-portable device such as a desktop computer.
The detector may comprise a float member that extends into the tank and floats in the oxygen, a float magnet joined to an upper portion of the float member, an elongated shaft positioned at an upper end of the tank such that the upper portion of the float member is telescopically engaged with the elongated shaft, a fluid impermeable, non-magnetic wall disposed between the upper portion of the float member and the elongated shaft, and an oxygen level indication magnet positioned to couple with the float magnet across the fluid impermeable wall for axial positioning of the shaft in response to axial positioning of the float member such that the axial position of the shaft indicates the tank oxygen level. The detector may also include a transducer configured to generate an electrical signal that contains information about the position of the oxygen level indication magnet.
In one particular implementation, the system also includes a second electronic circuit configured to issue a signal including information about the level of fuel to a communications device associated with a refueling company. The second electronic circuit may be configured to issue the signal to the communications device associated with a refueling company upon detection of a fuel level at or below a predetermined threshold. The second electronic circuit may also be configured to receive input indicating a user's desire for additional fuel, and issues a signal to a communications device associated with a refueling company in response to receiving input indicating a user's desire for additional fuel. The second electronic circuit may be configured to retrieve pricing information via, e.g., the Internet or telephone, from one or more refueling companies.
In another aspect, the invention features a system for remote inspection of a tank configured to store heating oil that includes a detector in communication with the heating oil for measure of the oxygen level of the heating oil stored in the tank, a display device located remotely from the detector, and an electronic circuit in communication therebetween. The electronic circuit is configured for issue of a signal (e.g. wireless signal) that includes information about the level of fuel, and the display device is configured to receive the signal and display information about the level of fuel.
Various implementations may include one or more of the following features. The electronic circuit may be configured to continuously or periodically issue the wireless signal to the display device, or, alternatively, may be configured to issue the wireless signal to the display device upon detection of an oil level at or below a predetermined threshold.
The display device may be a portable device such as a personal data assistant, cell phone, laptop computer, etc. or a non-portable device such as a desktop computer. The detector may include a float gauge and a transducer configured to generate an electrical signal that contains information about the position of the float gauge.
In another aspect, the invention features an apparatus for remote inspection of containers containing pressurized oxygen. A detector, such as a pressure gauge, is in communication with the oxygen for measure of an internal condition, e.g., pressure, of the container. Electronic circuitry is in communication between the detector and a remote central station and issues a signal containing information about the internal condition to the central station.
In one implementation, an apparatus for remote inspection of portable oxygen tanks e.g., distributed throughout a hospital, nursing home, or other healthcare facility. A gauge mounted to each oxygen tank detects and displays a measure of the oxygen pressure contained within the volume of the oxygen tank. The oxygen tank gauge includes electronic circuitry that is in communication between the oxygen tank and a remote central station via a docking station that also contains electronic circuitry. The docking station electronic circuitry issues a hardwire or wireless signal to the central station upon detection of an condition associated with the oxygen tanks such as an out-of-range pressure condition, lack of presence of an oxygen tank in its installed position, or presence of an obstruction to access to the oxygen tank.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Referring to
As an example of a remote inspection apparatus 10, in
As shown in
In this implementation, the fire extinguisher 12 at each fire extinguisher station 16 is releasably connected to a docking station 30 by an electronics and communications tether 32 that transfers signals between the fire extinguisher 12 and the docking station 30 along with initiating a signal sent by the docketing station to the remote central station 26 (shown in
The length of the tether 32, and the tenacity of engagement of the tether between the docking station 30 and the fire extinguisher 12 is preferably selected so that any significant movement of the fire extinguisher 12 relative to its installed position, i.e., the position in which it is placed at installation by a fire extinguisher professional, whether removal, or, in a preferred implementation, merely upon rotation with movement in excess of a predetermined threshold value, will result the tether releasing from the fire extinguisher 12, breaks communication between the gauge 50 and the docking station 30, and initiating a signal to the remote central station 26 (shown in
In the implementation shown in
Referring to
According to one implementation, the signals 100, 104 are communicated between the fire extinguisher 12 and the electronics and communications circuitry within docking station 30 though the connected tether 32. The signal 100 indicating lack of presence of the fire extinguisher 12 in its installed position at the fire extinguisher station 16 and signal 104 indicating that pressure of the fire extinguishing material in the fire extinguisher tank 34 is below the predetermined minimum pressure level, e.g., indicative of a discharge, leak or other malfunction (or, in an implementation with a pair of Hall Effect sensors above a predetermined maximum pressure level) are received by circuitry within the docking station 30 and transmitted via hardwire connection 118 to the remote central station 26. However, it is contemplated that, in other implementations, signals 100, 102, 104 may be communicated, e.g., via RF (or other) wireless communication circuitry via antennae 120 (
Referring to
In some embodiments, multiple oxygen tanks, or a combination of two or more tanks containing different fluids may be present in a hospital room, as shown in hospital room 104. In this arrangement, oxygen tanks 124, 126 are attached to respective gauges 132, 134 connected by respective electronic tethers 128, 130 to communicate signals from the respective gauges. Circuitry included in a docking station 136 connects to each electronic tether 128, 130 and combines (e.g., multiplexes) signals 138, 140, received from the respective oxygen tanks 124, 126, which may include information associated with the internal conditions of each tank. Additionally, the circuitry in the docking station 136 combines information associated with external conditions (e.g., obstruction detected by a sonar module included in docking station 136) of the tanks 126, 124 with the information from the respective gauges 132, 134. Once the information is combined, a signal 142 is transmitted from the docking station 136 to the remote central station 116. In some embodiments the circuitry included in the docking station 136, or included in each gauge 132, 134, may also encode tank identification information in the signal 142, thereby permitting the remote central station 116 to differentiate between the two tanks as to the source of the transmitted signal 142.
In other embodiments, wireless signal transmission and reception circuitry (e.g., an RF circuit, antenna, etc.) may be incorporated into a docking station 144 for transmission of wireless signals between a hospital room and the remote central station 116. As shown in hospital room 106, a wireless signal 154 containing information associated with internal and external conditions of an oxygen tank 146 is transmitted from the hospital room over a wireless link 156. In hospital room 106, a docking station 144 receives a signal 148 from an electronic tether 150 connected to a gauge 152 attached to the oxygen tank 146. Wireless signal transmission circuitry in the docking station 144 transmits the signal 154 over the wireless link 156 to a wireless interface 158 that receives the wireless signal and communicates the information contained in the signal to the remote central station 116. As with hospital rooms 102 and 104, information received by the remote central station 116 includes information associated with internal conditions (e.g., internal pressure) and external conditions (e.g., obstruction) of the oxygen tank 146 to alert hospital personnel to internal and/or external conditions of the oxygen tank along with information collected from the other oxygen tanks 108, 124, 126 in each of the other hospital rooms 102, 104.
Each docking station 114, 136, 144 is connected by a hardwire connection 160, 162 or a wireless link 156 so that information associated with each oxygen tank is received by the remote central station 116. In some embodiments the hardwire connections 160, 162 are included in a communication network (e.g., a local area network, LAN, or a wide area network, WAN, etc.) to transmit the respective signals 118, 142 to the remote central station 116. With reference to hospital room 106, in some embodiments, the wireless interface 158 may receive the signal 154 over wireless link 156 and use additional wireless links (e.g., cellular links, satellite links, etc.) to transfer the internal and external conditions of the oxygen tank 146 to the remote central station 116. Also, in some embodiments, a combination of wireless links and hardwire connections can be used to transmit the signals from oxygen tanks 108, 124, 126, 146 to the remote central station 116.
After the signals are received at the remote central station 116 from the hospital rooms 102, 104, 106, the information included in the received signals is sorted and displayed by a computer system 164 to alert hospital personnel as to the internal and external conditions associated with each oxygen tank 108, 124, 126, 146. The computer system 164 also stores the received and sorted information on a storage device 166 (e.g., a hard drive, CD-ROM, etc.) for retrieval at a future time for further processing and reporting. In some embodiments the remote central station 116 may include wireless transmission and reception circuitry for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. For example, wireless circuitry (e.g., RF circuitry, antenna, etc.) included in the remote central station 116 can be used to transmit information over wireless links 168, 170 to wireless devices such as a laptop computer 172, a personal digital assistant (PDA) 174, or other similar wireless device (e.g., a cellular phone). Transmission of the information to wireless devices provides hospital personnel not located at the remote central station 116 with information on the condition of the oxygen tanks 108, 124, 126, 146 and an alert to any problems (e.g., tank pressure in hospital room 102 as fallen below a predetermined threshold) associated with one or more of the oxygen tanks. By providing wireless access to the information collected at the remote central station 116, the response time of hospital personnel to one or more of hospital rooms can be reduced.
Referring to
Industrial gas storage site 204 includes three docking stations 244, 246, 248 that respectively receive signals from the respective gauges 226, 228, 230, 232 monitoring the contents of the respective industrial gas tanks 212, 214, 216, 218. In this particular example, a docking station 244 connects to two gas tanks 214, 216 via respective electronic tethers 250, 252 while another docking station 246 is dedicated to receiving signals from gas tank 212 through electronic tether 254. Similarly, a third docking station 248 at storage site 204 is dedicated to industrial gas tank 218. However, gauge 232 monitoring the contents of industrial gas tank 218 and the associated docking station 248 monitoring the gas tank external conditions each includes wireless transmission and reception circuitry to provide a wireless communication link 256 for transmitting internal conditions of the tank 218 from the gauge 232 to the docking station 248. Similar to the tether 32 (shown in
Similar to the apparatus 100 shown in
Referring to
Similar monitoring is performed in kitchen 318 for tank 304 providing gas to kitchen equipment 330. However, in this particular embodiment, a gauge 332 and a docking station 314 each includes wireless transmission and reception circuitry (e.g., RF circuit, antenna, etc) such that the gauge transmits one or more signals encoded with information relating to the internal conditions of tank 304 over a wireless link 334 to the docking station. Upon receiving the one or more signals from the gauge 332, the docking station 314 transmits the signal 310 over a hardwire 336 to the remote central station 306. However, in some embodiments the wireless transmission and reception circuitry included in the docking station 314 and the remote central station 306 allows the signal 310 to be transmitted over a wireless link.
Similar to the apparatus shown in
In some embodiments a flow gauge 346 monitors exhaust gases that propagate through a hood 350 of the kitchen equipment 324 of kitchen 316. A hardwire cable 348 carries one or more signals from the flow gauge 346 to the docking station 312 that sends one or more signals to the remote central station 306 for processing (e.g., sorting) and display of information associated with the exhaust gases (e.g., exhaust flow rate, exhaust volume, etc). However, in some embodiments hardwire cable 348 may be replaced by a wireless link by including wireless transmission and reception circuitry (e.g., RF circuit, antenna, etc.) with the flow gauge 346 such that one or more wireless signals are sent to wireless transmission and reception circuitry in the docking station 312. Similar to the information processed from the tanks 302, 304, information from the flow gauge 346 can be sent from the docking station 312 to the remote central station 306 and then transmitted to wireless devices (e.g., PDA 342, laptop computer 344, etc.) so that personnel can be quickly alerted to abnormal gas exhaust conditions.
In the particular embodiment shown in
In this embodiment, a non-contact ultrasonic sensor (sonar module) is employed for detecting the presence of an obstruction. Alternatively, a non-contact optical sensor may be employed. Both have sensitivity over wide ranges of distances (e.g., about 6 inches to about 10 feet, or other ranges as may be dictated, e.g., by environmental conditions). As an obstruction may move slowly, or may be relatively stationary, it may not be necessary to have the sensor active at all times; periodic sampling, e.g., once per hour, may be sufficient. On the other hand, the sonar module in the docking station 312 may also be utilized as a proximity or motion sensor, e.g., in a security system, e.g., to issue a signal to the remote central station 306 and/or to sound an alarm when movement is detected in the vicinity of the portable tank 302 while kitchen 316 is not operating, e.g., after business hours or during weekends or vacations. In this case, continuous operation may be dictated, at least during periods when the security system is active. Other features and characteristics may be optimally employed, as desired, including: wide angle and narrow angle sensitivity, digital output (“Is there an obstruction or not?”), and/or analog output (e.g., “How large an obstruction?” and “How far away from the docking station?”).
Gauge 322 may optionally include an electro luminescent light panel that generates a visual signal to passersby, warning of the low-pressure condition of the portable tank 302. In some embodiments, the gauge 322 may include an electronic circuit that causes intermittent illumination of the light panel, thereby to better attract the attention of passersby.
Additionally, the gauge 322 may include an electronic circuit and an audio signaling device for emitting, e.g., a beeping sound, instead of or in addition to the visual signal. The audio signal device may be triggered when internal pressure of the portable tank 302 drops to or below a predetermined level. The audio signal may consist of a recorded information message, e.g., instructions to replace the tank or to replenish the tank contents. The gauge 322 may also include a light sensor, e.g., of ambient light conditions, to actuate illumination of the light panel in low or no light conditions, e.g., to signal the location of the portable tank 302, at night or upon loss of power to external lighting. The gauge 322 may also include a sensor adapted to sense other local conditions, e.g., smoke or fire, to actuate illumination of the light panel and/or audio signal device when smoke or other indications of a fire are sensed, e.g., to signal the location of the tank, when visibility is low.
The gauge 322 may also include electronic circuitry to encode an identification specific to the associated tank 302 for receiving and dispatching signals or messages, e.g., of the internal condition of the tank, via the electronics and communications circuitry included in the docking station 312, and/or an internal antenna, identifiable as relating to that tank, to the remote central station 306 and/or to other locations. The docking station 312 may contain a circuit board programmed with the protocols for certain alarms or signals relating to predetermined internal and external conditions, and may include a battery for primary or auxiliary power.
In other embodiments, two or more sonar modules may be employed to provide additional beam coverage. Also, various technologies may be implemented to communicate by wireless signal among the gauge 320 and/or the docking station 312 and/or the remote central station 306. Radio frequency (RF) signaling, infrared (IR) signaling, optical signaling, or other similar technologies may be employed to provide communication links. RF signaling, IR signaling, optical signaling, or other similar signaling technologies may also be implemented individually or in any suitable combination for communicating by wireless signal among the gauge 322, the docking station 312, and the remote central station 306.
In other embodiments, wireless signaling technology may incorporate telecommunication schemes (e.g., Bluetooth) to provide point-to-point or multi-point communication connections among the tanks 302, 304 and/or the docking stations 312, 314 and/or the remote central station 306. These telecommunication schemes may be achieved, for example, with local wireless technology, cellular technology, and/or satellite technology. The wireless signaling technology may further incorporate spread spectrum techniques (e.g., frequency hopping) to allow the extinguishers to communicate in areas containing electromagnetic interference. The wireless signaling may also incorporate identification encoding along with encryption/decryption techniques and verification techniques to provide secure data transfers among the devices.
In other embodiments, a Global Positioning System (GPS) may be located on the tank 302 and/or the gauge 322 and/or the docking station 312 and/or the remote central station 306. The GPS may determine, for example, the geographic location of each respective tank and provide location coordinates, via the wireless signaling technology, to the other tanks and/or the remote central stations. Thus, the GPS system may provide the location of the tanks and allow, for example, movement tracking of the tanks.
In still other embodiments, various sensing techniques, besides the sonar modules, may sense objects obstructing access to the tank 302. Similar to sonar, obstructing objects may be detected by passive or active acoustic sensors. In other examples, obstructions may be sensed with electromagnetic sensing techniques (e.g., radar, magnetic field sensors), infrared (IR) sensing techniques (e.g., heat sensors, IR sensors), visual sensing techniques (e.g., photo-electric sensors), and/or laser sensing techniques (e.g., LIDAR sensors). These technologies may, for example, be utilized individually or in concert to sense obstructions that block access to the tank 302.
Also, the signaling may use networking techniques to provide one-directional and/or multi-directional communications among the devices. In one example, signals may be networked asynchronously, such as in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). The signals may also be networked synchronously, such as, for example, in a synchronous optical network (SONET). In still another example, the signals may be transmitted over a landline in an integrated services digital network (ISDN), as well as over other similar media, for example, in a broadband ISDN (BISDN).
A remote inspection apparatus may also be employed for remote inspection of multiple portable tanks at one or a system of locations. Communication, including wireless communication, or inspection or other information, between the portable tank and the central station, may be carried on directly, or indirectly, e.g. via signal or relay devices, including at the docking station in communication with the gauge attached to the portable tank.
Referring to
Also, in this particular embodiment a flow meter 434 is connected to the pipeline 404 to measure the flow of fluid through a particular portion of the pipeline. Similar to the gauges 418, 420 included in the filter units 410, 412, the flow meter 434 includes wireless signal transmission and reception circuitry (e.g., an RF circuit, antenna, etc.) to form a wireless link with the docking station 430. Also in some embodiments, similar to the docking stations 114, 136, 144 shown
Similar to the apparatus 100 shown in
Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/684,344 filed on Jan. 8, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/856,618 U.S. filed on Sep. 17, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,961,089, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/622,343 filed on Jan. 11, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,895,884, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/863,668 filed on Jun. 8, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,271,704, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/782,288 filed on Feb. 19, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,174,769. Each of the foregoing applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application is also related to the following United States patents which are incorporated by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,435; U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,679; U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,055; U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,218; U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,651; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,430.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12684344 | Jan 2010 | US |
Child | 13437895 | US | |
Parent | 11622343 | Jan 2007 | US |
Child | 12684344 | US | |
Parent | 10782288 | Feb 2004 | US |
Child | 11622343 | US |