GB2519643A

GB2519643A - Flow monitor

Info

Publication number: GB2519643A
Application number: GB1415011.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kamran Iqbal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-08-23
Filing date: 2014-08-23
Publication date: 2015-04-29
Also published as: GB201415011D0

Abstract

A flow sensing device 3 may be attached to pipe or cable 1 via spring biased clips 2. The device may detect liquid flow through the conduit 1via ultrasonic or noise sensors 9 or current flowing through a cable using an inductive or capacitive sensing means. Alternatively a microphone, gyroscopic or vibration or other sensing means may be employed, see item 3 figure 3. An audio alert may provide warnings via a speaker 4. Programme and display buttons 5 and 6 are provided to inform the user. The device may be wirelessly connected to a controller and/or network (not shown) using systems such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-Wave, WiFi and may be battery mains or solar powered. Adaptive algorithms may be used to control, by learning and teaching, the device which may be regarded as an intelligent or smart sensor.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No. GB141501 1.4 RTM Date:12 March 2015 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-Wave, Wi F i.

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo :i Flow monitor This invention relates to an attachable sensing device and mechanism in order monitor flow conditions within carrier mediums and to issue varying alerts until the pre-set, required or preferable condition is met.

Natural resource consumption and wastage is a growing concern within commercial, domestic, industrial as well as consumer applications. Particularly due to rising costs of natural resources as well as increasing global competition and demand for crucial supplies such as oil, water, electricity or gas. Any wastage is not only financially costly but also further detrimental to the environment.

Current wastage levels are not only environmentally unfriendly and financially unfavourable but importantly avoidable in most cases. This wastage comes in many forms, for example, such as water waste from unnecessary water taps left running unintentionally be it by children, adults, older operators or just general forgetfulness. To help overcome these problems, the present invention relates to a device for monitoring flow within a carrier medium transporting the resource, which monitors conditions against set criteria and to issue varying alerts until the pre-set, required or preferable condition is met.

The invention, hereby noted as the "sensor", will monitor varying resources which are normally transported within their carrier mediums.

Preferably, the sensor is of mobile design, which can be attached to any carrier medium although can form part of a permanent apparatus.

Preferably, the sensor has multiple sensing capabilities to monitor varying supply types although may have one or a number of sensing combination capabilities.

Preferably, the sensor is compatible with varying power supply sources and energy storage methods although can be utilised with a single source power.

Preferably, the sensor itself is a self-enclosed, standalone unit which can interact with other sensors or central hub modules although can feature axillary attachable modules to further enhance performance.

Preferably, the sensor can issue alerts in different forms from visible, vibration, sound and radio-waves although not limited to a single method but can adopt a combination.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a running or leaking tap, representing resource waste, in this example the resource is represented with water.

Figure 2 shows an example how the invention can be situated, in this example, the resource monitored is a domestic water supply line.

Figure 3 shows a close up view of the invention, detailing attachment, sensor location, power supply, communications and signal conditioning electronics.

Figure 4 shows a view of the sensor in situ, attached to a carrier medium.

In figure 1, a water tap 1 attached to basin 2 is used as an example where the invention could be utilised. In this case the tap 1 has been accidentally left running, the basin 2 catches the wasted water Sand enters the waste 4. The supply line 3 is supplying the resource to the tap.

In figure 2, the example in figure 1 is further illustrated and how the invention could be interfaced in this example. The tap 1 is supplied by resource 3 which is carried by carrier medium 2. The invention 4 can be attached anywhere along the supply line or tap 1 itself.

In figure 3, shows an example of the body of the invention. Body 1 houses all necessary parts, such as battery, sensors, electronics, antennas, speakers, vibration creation alert mechanisms, visual alerts such as LED or LCD arrays. The attachment mechanism 2 is a mechanism that can attach itself to any supply line varying in type and diameter, in order to maintain close proximity of the sensor element to the carrier medium itself. The sensing element 3 is located in a position where it will have uninterrupted proximity to the carrier medium. The sensing element 3 can be of the form microphone, vibration, gyroscope, capacitive sensor technologies. 4 is an example of a visual indicator which can be a LED or LCD. 5 is an example of where an energy harvesting mechanism such as solar photovoltaic could be placed in order to harvest energy or internally via vibrations.

Figure 4, shows a view of the invention in situ attached to a carrier medium. 1 is an example of a supply pipe carrier medium. 2 are the attachment mechanisms which attach the body 3 to the carrier medium land keep the body 3 securely in place, these can also be readily be unattached and reattached or to another carrier medium. The sensor body 3 houses all necessary components required to carry out function. Audio alerts can be in form of a speaker 4 which is located at the front of the sensor body for maximum sound efficiency. Interface and program buttons S are also located at the front in order to aid easy operation. Display systems 6 are also placed in front as an option in order to provide detailed information and in a prominent position. The antenna 7 can be located internally or attached externally as an option depending on the function. A separate visual indicator 8 can be located in order to provide a visual indicator of alert. The sensor element 9 is kept in close proximity to the carrier medium 1 and thus insulated as much as possible from outside influences which could provide false readings. An additional element 11 where an emitter, such as electromagnetic emitter and receiver arrangement is required to detect or monitor flow, sensor 12 is a sensor capable or monitoring emitted signals, 11 will be the emitter location or vice versa depending on what resource is monitored. External power supply capability through 10, external source power compatibility can form part of a multiple port function such as USB debugging, firmware upgrade and charge port.

Claims

Claims 1. An attachable device which monitors conditions within carrier mediums and issues alerts when certain conditions are met.
2. An attachable device according to claim 1 which is passive in nature, requiring no intention of the supply to be stopped or altered, can be attached to varying types of carrier mediums such as pipes or cables.
3. An attachable device according to claim 1 which can be applied to monitor any resource such as oil, water, gas or electricity or any other resource carried within a medium.
4. An attachable device according to claim 1 is wirelessly connected as an option which in turn can communicate with other devices or with a master controller which in turn can connect to a wider network such as the internet to provide status updates or polling updates of the infrastructure.
5. An attachable device according to claim 1 houses a sensing mechanism which consists of a sensor to listen to sound or monitor vibrations or an emitter and detector mechanism which enables detection of flow) inductive loop or capacitive sensor devices can be used to monitor electric charge flow.
6. An attachable device according to claim 1 can switch between varying power supplies, or to switch between power sources, from external sources such as Dc/Ac, solar or battery pack to internal battery or charger.
7. An attachable device according to claim 1, feature a setting mechanism which will allow an analogue or digital setting for changing the timing delay to issue alerts to be, be it visible, vibration, audible or wireless electronic alert or a combination for example via phone line, via the internet or email, this can also be present in digital form as interactive LCD screen with button operated option, this setting can be set on the device itself or remotely.
8. An attachable device according to claim 1, a conditioning/programming function will be used to teach the "on" condition where the device can learn the environment at different levels, such as full flow, half flow, drip flow, this will be taught in by the user and then stored within the device memory, this can be reset at any time to program again to any new environment or condition, in addition to default factory settings which are more generic in nature, the optional fine tuning programming adjustment can be tailored to suit certain environments or conditions, an intelligent adaptive learn algorithm can be adopted for more challenging and dynamic environments, where patterns of behaviour are monitored and learnt, when unexpected behaviour falls outside this normal behaviour, appropriate alerts can be issued.
9. An attachable device according to claim 1, is modular in nature, allowing different plug on modules to build up the system, such as extended battery, WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, 7-Wave modules as well as ad-hoc connections to other sensors about an environment such as door open window open sensors not just limited to flow sensors, which in turn can communicate directly to smartphones or via wider networks.
10. An attachable device according to claim 1 featuring optional energy Harvesting mechanisms in place for charge capabilities taking energy from the surrounding environment to power the device and/or to recharge the on board power supply.
11. An attachable device according to claim 1, feature a debug/upgrade port in the form of common connection such as micro-USB, can act as a medium to update the device, debugging and a charge port.
12. An attachable device according to claim 5, flow detector sensor is for the detection of flow of resource through any carrier medium, the detector sensor has an output signal representing the movement of resource.
13. An attachable device according to claim 5, is designed to detect flow in both directions, being unidirectional in nature, an optional dual sensor arrangement can be placed to determine flow direction of source be it within single body or utilising two or more sensors communicating with one another.
14. An attachable device according to claim 12 featuring intelligent adaptive thresholds utilised in order to adapt to changing environments as the device learns the environment situated within.
15. An attachable device according to claim 1, where the alerts issued can be in the form of sound, vibration, visual, electronic signals such as WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-Wave or direct smartphone communications as well as a combination.
16. An attachable device according to claim 1, attachment is a form of flexible material and or mechanical gripping clip mechanism allowing rapid attachment to any carrier medium.
17. An attachable device according to claim 1, the housing holds all said required electronics, sensor, signal conditioning, processor, memory, power supply, alert system, LCD, antennas, switch mechanisms, external supply connectors, wireless transmission system/plug on module option connectors.
18. An attachable device according to claim 5, detector sensor is interfaced with a processor and the said processor with the memory device, be it integrated or an external memory module, the memory stores the alert conditions, alert thresholds.
19. An attachable device according to claim 15, configuration of the said sensor to trigger a certain type of alert which can be of sound or visual, or combination, the alert condition can be programmed to be triggered after a certain time period, particular times of day or night can have more weighting than other.
20. An attachable device according to claim 15, alert condition is designed to stop by either detection of no more resource movement, significant reduction in rate of resource change, physical reset or an override via varying communications protocols.
21. An attachable device according to claim 1, able to differentiate between intended high flow rate such as intended opening in an carrier medium compared to untended opening or leakage comparing to usage times of a known pattern learnt over time and stored in memory to create a profile of usage behaviour, also rate of change of flow, last change in state within time period indicates intentional switch off, if a residual flow exists after switch off event, the device will trigger after set time period.
22. The method in claim 17 in detecting medium flow via sensor to acquire raw data, the processor which filters, and analyses the data and executes any required actions, the Memory device to store any data or events triggers as well as any learning algorithms.
23. An attachable device according to claim 1, can comprise of multiple sensor combinations such as temperature or humidity sensors.