AU687985B2 - Remote facility controller - Google Patents

Description

P/0001 I Regulafion 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

o TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: NORTHWELL PASTORAL CO PTY LTD RET

REOQ

22.10 (2) MICHAEL MCBRIDE 2) A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys Remote Facility Controller 6e motac iity Cntr- ller Remote Facility Controller Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s) PM4999 dated 13th April 1994 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- This invention relates to an apparatus for remotely monitoring and controlling the operation of one or more pieces of equipment present in a facility.

Apparatus for the remote monitoring and control of equipment are known for use in a diverse range of situations. One prior art device which may be relevant to the present invention is that described in an International Patent Application number WO 91/01481 in the name of Williams Technology Inc.

The Williams patent describes an oil/gas field monitoring and control system comprising a number of sensors monitoring a range of oil/gas field characteristics, a number of servo devices operable to control the operation of equipment on the oil/gas field, one or more programmable logic controllers to receive signals from the sensors and send signals to the servo devices, and a control computer remote from the programmable logic controllers but connected to them by telephone line.

The system described in the Williams patent is effective but complicated. It relies totally upon the integrity of the electronic systems and provides no tangible feedback to the operator to indicate that equipment is operating correctly. For many people such 'human out of the loop' systems are disconcerting to the point that they are not comfortable to use them.

SIn the outback of Australia and other isolated regions of the world there is a requirement to operate equipment many kilometres from a base or homestead. Typically, a property 20 owner would travel by vehicle from the homestead to the location of the equipment to test and adjust its operation. In the outback of Australia the equipment is most likely to be a motor driving a water pump to provide water for cattle. The system described above could be used to automatically control the operation of the pump bu, the average Australian cattle station owner does not feel comfortable with such sophisticated equipment. Similar feelings are held by people in similar environments around the worl(', A far simpler apparatus providing tangible feedback is required.

One object of the present invention is to provide a remote facility controller which is reliable and simple to use and provides a tangible feedback to the operator.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can operate and be controlled remotely by an operator without any physical link between the operator and the apparatus.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an apparatus which offers the user an economical alternative to existing remote control systems.

In one form of the invention although it need not be the only or indeed the broadest form there is proposed a remote facility controller comprising a control means adapted to receive input signals from one or more sensors and provide output signals to one or more devices; a communications link comprising a first station associated with the control means and a second station remote from the control means; and audible feedback means controllable by the control means and adapted to provide an audio signal across the communications link to indicate a status of the facility.

In an alternative broad form the invention could be said to reside in a remote facility controlling arrangement including a control means linked to a remote operator by a communication link, said communication link including two stations, a first of said stations being connected to the control means and a second of said stations remote to the first station being operated by the operator, the control means receiving inputs from one or more sensors of equipment within the facility, and the control means providing outputs in 15 response to said inputs including audible feedback means, said audible feedback means being generated at the first station and transmitted across the communication link to indicate status of the facility.

In preference the control means is a programmable logic controller (PLC). The inventor has found that a SYSMAC mini SP10 or SP16 available from Omron Electronics Pty Ltd is suitable.

I In preference the communications link is an electromagnetic link and in preference is a UHF link.

0 A UHF radio link is particularly well suited for remote facility control because low cost devices are available as citizen band radios. Citizen band radios are available that can be tuned across a range from 476.425 MHz to 477.400 MHz with a channel spacing of kHz thus giving 40 available channels. The GME Electrophone TX4000 transceiver available from Standard Communications Pty Ltd has been found to be suitable by the inventor.

In preference the first station associated with the control means incorporates an alarm switch which is adapted to activate the control means in response to a signal received from the second station. It is also preferable that the operation of the control means can be varied in response to signals sent from the second station via the first station to the control Smeans.

3" ,Bn In preference the audible feedback means comprises a microphone operatively connected to the first station. A tone buzzer or a recorded or synthesised message controlled by the control means is preferably also included.

The remote facility controller is preferably powered by solar charged batteries. The batteries are preferably standard 12 volt automotive batteries To further assist in understanding the invention reference will be made to the following drawings in which: FIG 1 is a block diagram of a remote facility controller, FIG 2 is a schematic of a first embodiment of a remote facility controller, FIG 3 is a schematic of a second embodiment of a remote facility controller, and FIG 4 is a schematic of a third emrbodiment of a remote facility controller Referring now to the drawings in detail there is shown in FIG 1 a remote facility controller consisting of a UHF radio link comprising a first station 2 and a remote second station 3.

15 The UHF radios are commercially available citizen band radios. In the preferred •co• embodiment GME Electrophone TX4000 series UHF Transceivers are used. These radios incorporate a SELCALL switch which provides an output when a particular signal is received by the radio. The output is used to activate a control means 4. The remote second station may be fixed, for example within a building, or alternatively may be mobile, for examnple operating from a vehicle.

A microphone 5 is connected to the UHF radio 2 via a switch 6. The switch 6 is controlled by the control means 4. The purpose of the microphone is to provide audible feedback to the operator listening to the remote UHF radio 3. The operator is able to hear equipment operating and therefore have a high degree of confidence in the remote operation of the equipment. As will be described in more detail later the switch can be actuated remotely by an operator.

A tone buzzer or other audible signalling device 7 is also connected to the control means 4 to provide audible indication of failure modes. Thus if the equipment fals the operator will know this because the equipment sound will no longer be audible across the radio link. In addition, the reason for shut down can be determined by listening to the tones or other signals provided by the tone buzzer or audible signalling device 7. For example, the control means can be programmed to provide a repeating series of three short tones to indicate that a motor is out of fuel, or a single continuous tone to indicate an oil pressure problem. A programmed message may also be provided for example a synthesised or recorded verbal message, giving for example, an indication of water level.

The control means 4 has a number of output points 8 which are configured to perform a range of functions such as stopping and starting equipment, or providing tone from the tone buzzer etc. There are also a number of input lines 9 configured to receives signals from a range of monitors. The input signals are assessed by the control means and lead to an appropriate output response.

The SELCALL function of the transceivers 2,3 operates by transmitting a 5 digit IDENT code. A receiving station is preferably configured to remain mute until it receives its IDENT code. When a station receives its IDENT code it responds with two quick beeps to the caller and switches an external alarm output circuit. The output alarm is used to activate a relay which activates the control means as can be seen more 3pecifically in FIG 2-4.

15 In the illustrated embodiments the control means 4 is an Omron SYSMAC mini programmable controller. A first illustrated embodiment, shown in FIG 2, includes a SYSMAC mini SP16 programmable controller 4 configured to monitor and control the operation of a diesel motor to drive a water pump to fill a water tank in a remote and isolated location. The SYSMAC mini SP16 has ten input points 10 and six output points 11. The input points of the SPI 6 cani be configured to monitor the operating parameters of Sthe pump such as water flow rate and of the engine such as oil pressure, temperature and fuel level. The output points can be configured to start and stop the engine or operate the pump clutch.

The operations of the logic controller can be programmed by a programming console which links to port 20. Power is achieved by generating electricity by a solar panel and storing the power in a 12 volt battery which is kept in an insulated and ventilated housing.

The control means will normally be off and the first communications station associated with the control means will be mute. When a second station transmits the IDENT code for the first station the SELCALL alarm activates a relay which turns on the control means.

The control means turns on the microphone switch for 5 seconds. The caller will be able to hear if the motor is running. If any faults have occurred these will be detected on the input lines of the control means and the control means causes the tone buzzer to sound. In the preferred embodiment the tone buzzer sounds once for a water flow fault, twice for an motor temperature fault and thrice for a low oil pressure fault.

I If the IDENT code is transmitted a second time within 6 seconds of the first transmission the microphone is turned on, fault alarms are cleared, the fuel to the motor is turned on and the motor is cranked to start. If the motor does not start within an adjustable delay cranking stops and the microphone is turned off. If the motor starts the pump clutch is released after a first adjustable delay of 10 seconds and water flow is enabled after a second adjustable delay of 5 seconds. If water flow is not detected the motor is shut down and the microphone turns off. The first and second delays can be varied by adjusting respectively a first an a second analogue timer by changing settings adjusters 21 and 22.

It will be appreciated that the SELCALL function allows a number of remote facility controllers to be operated on a single CB channel since they can be configured to only respond when they receive their unique IDENT code. In this way the power requirements of the remote facility controller are very modest and furthermore, by the use of repeater stations the remote facility controllers can be located varying distances firom a base station which may be at a homestead or mobile in a vehicle.

A second illustrated embodiment shown in FIG 3 utilises a SYSMAC mini configured to monitor the level of water in a tank. In this embodiment the input points are •.:'"configured to receive signal from three different water level switches and fromn a flow switch. Each of the flow switches are placed at appropriate levels within the storage tank to sense the presence or absence of water. The output points are configured to operate the buzzer and the microphone switch. The operation of this embodiment is similar to the operation of the first illustrated embodiment. The output however is not related to the operation of the pump and engine, but rather only as a feedback on the level of water within the storage tank and the flow rate of the pump. This will quickly give fn indication of whether the plant requires attention or not.

°oo A third illustrated embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 also utilising a SYSMAC mini ""In this embodiment the buzzer is actuated in response to water flow only. To indicate the levels of water within the storage tank a voice unit 25, is used. Messages are recorded into the voice unit, for example "water level I" may be a message that might be relayed where a first level of water is present in the tank. The operation of the voice unit can be controlled by the relay 25. Wire colours are indicated on FIG. 4 to illustrate the means by which the voice unit can be controlled.

The preferred embodiments have been described in terms of the remote operation of a water pump and remote monitoring of a water tank level. The invention is in no way limited to these particular applications and persons skilled in the relevant art could conceive of variations on the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. The facility could, for example relate simply to turn on an alarm system, say a fire siren which would alert others on the UHF network of a fire situation. The voice unit could provide an identifying message to combine with the siren. The unit could then also be turned off via the UHF radio, which would then advice the network that the alarm situation had passed. The microphone can give the operator an indication of whether the volunteer is in fact responding or whether the alarm is in fact funtioning.

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Claims (7)

1. A remote facility controlling arrangement including a control means linked to a remote operator by a communication link, said communication link including two stations, a first of said stations being connected to the control means and a second of said stations remote to the first station being operated by the operator, the control means receiving inputs from one or more sensors of equipment within the facility, and the control means providing outputs in response to said inputs including audible feedback means, said audible feedback means being generated at the first station and transmitted across the communication link to indicate status of the facility.

2. The remote facility controlling arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the control means is a programmable logic controller (PLC).

3. The remote facility controlling arrangement as in claim I wherein the communications link is an electromagnetic link and in preference is a UHF link. S: 4. The remote facility controlling arrangement as in claim 3 wherein the UHF radio 15 link is a multi-channel citizen band radio. *0 The remote facility controlling arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the first station incorporates an alarm switch which is adapted to activate the control means in response to a signal received from the second station, said control means otherwise being inactive. 0o The remote facility controlling arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the operation of 20 the control means can be varied in response to signals sent from the second station via the first station to the control means to operate the equipment.

7. The remote facility controlling arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the audible feedback means includes a microphone operatively connected to the first station said microphone positioned to transduce noise produced by the facility.

8. The remote facility controlling arrangement as in claim I wherein the audible feedback means includes a tone buzzer actuated by said control means in response to receiving input from one or more of said one or more sensors.

9. The remote facility controlling arrangement of claim 1 wherein the audible feedback means includes a microphone positioned to transduce noise produced by the facility to the 30 remote controller. 9 The remote facility controlling arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the audible feedback means includes a verbal message a synthesised or recorded message actuated by said control means in response to receiving input from one or more of said one or more sensors.

11. The remote controlling arrangement of claim 1 powered by solar charged batteries. DATED this 27th day of November 1997 NORTHWELL PASTORAL CO PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys, A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys S 0 e 9i 9 ABSTRACT A remote facility controlling arrangement includinf a programmable controller, linked to a remote operator by a communication link. The cohinunication link includes two radio stations, a first of which is connected with the programmable controller, and a second which is operated remotely by an operator. The first radio station actuates the controller. The controller has inputs from one or more sensors linked with the facility, and outputs, including audible outputs that are transmitted across the communication link and heard by the operator to indicate the status of the facility. 9 9 9* E**