AU2019100293A4

AU2019100293A4 - Water Level Ruler

Info

Publication number: AU2019100293A4
Application number: AU2019100293A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ming-Kung Yang
Original assignee: Yang Ming Kung
Current assignee: Yang Ming Kung
Priority date: 2019-03-19
Filing date: 2019-03-19
Publication date: 2019-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-19

Abstract

A water level ruler is disclosed, comprising a water level indicator device, a control device and a power supply device, in which the water level indicator device includes an external pipe, the lower end of the external pipe is installed 5 with a benchmark base, the lower part of the external pipe is openly set up with at least one water inlet, the exterior of the external pipe is evenly marked with scales and numbers according the distance; the control device is installed within the external pipe and has a water level sensor located near the benchmark base and electrically connected to a microprocessor, and the 10 microprocessor is further connected to a memory component and a wireless communication module, such that the wireless communication module can wirelessly transfer the water level messages to a remote equipment; also, the power supply device is used to provide required electric power.

Description

Water Level Ruler

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention generally relates to a water level ruler;

more specifically, it relates to an intelligent monitoring device which can be installed along rivers, roads, underground pathways, tunnels, countryside or mountainous areas or the like where water may easily accumulate thereby monitoring flood height during flooding and returning monitoring results to a remote surveillance and control center.

2. Description of Related Art [0002] Flooding is a fairly common natural disaster that often causes enormous financial and economic losses, environmental damage and disease infections. Typically, without using water level detection devices, It is difficult to determine the water height of flooding, thus possibly leading to several issues; for example, people may need to apply for government assistances because of natural disasters, but it could be quite hard to obtain accurate and convincing evidence as the basis for their applications; or, like flooding along a road, and people and vehicles may be forced to pass without clear water level information, which may potentially cause people to be trapped therein, or even people may have to go out to work but they are unable to immediately know the flooding situation around their homes.

[0003] It is obvious that effectively knowing the flooding situation is quite necessary, but the tools currently used to measure water levels require the users to be personally present at the flooding site, and, due to the measurement

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 method, it may be very hard to be personally present at the flooding site since it is usually not easy to access the flood site; besides, after the disaster, to search and restore the actual situation during the flooding time after the water level subsided is generally pretty difficult.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides a water level ruler which operates in conjunction with remote transmission features and a water level sensor for water pressure detections thereby increasing the measurement accuracy to plus or minus 3mm, and the remote transmission features allow the user to instantly get the flooding situation without having to personally visit the site, thus greatly improving the convenience and effectively acquiring integral and comprehensive flooding data; moreover, it is also possible to include the controls on the drainage gate and the water pump so as to reduce the possible damage caused by flooding, thus constituting the solution of the multifunctional water level ruler according to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] A water level ruler is disclosed, comprising a water level indicator device, in which the water level indicator device includes an external pipe, the lower end of the external pipe is installed with a benchmark base, the lower part of the external pipe near the benchmark base is openly set up with at least one water inlet, and the exterior of the external pipe is evenly marked with scales and numbers according the distance; a control device, in which the control device is fixedly installed to the external pipe and has a water level sensor, the bottom plane of the water level sensor corresponds to the position of each water inlet at the lower end of the external pipe, and the water level sensor

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 is also electrically connected to a microprocessor which is further connected to a memory component and a wireless communication module, such that the wireless communication module can wirelessly transfer the measured messages to a remote equipment; and a power supply device, used to provide electric power required for the operations of the control device.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the lateral side of the external pipe is openly configured with at least one through-hole and a lid for covering the through-hole in closure.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the exterior surface of the external pipe is evenly installed in attachment with plural reflective sheets.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the lateral plane on the lower end of the water level sensor has at least one lateral hole, and the inside of the lateral hole includes a pressure sensitive surface for sensing and measuring the water pressure.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, further comprising a top cover combined with the upper end of the external pipe and used to close the upper end of the external pipe, and the control device is fixedly installed inside of the top cover.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the power supply device is a battery connected to a power charging/discharging controller as well as a solar panel, and the solar panel is installed on the external surface of the top cover.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the microprocessor of the control device is electrically connected to an alarm light installed within the top cover,

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 and top cover is made of transparent materials such that the alarm light can generate alarm light source.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the microprocessor is electrically connected to a photo sensor, so that, when the sky becomes dark, the photo sensor can transfer signals back to the microprocessor thereby allowing the microprocessor to drive the alarm light to generate alarm light source.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the external pipe is installed with an external frame used for the assemblage of a meteorological device, a flow rate device or a photography device, and the meteorological device, the flow rate fO device or the photography device are electrically connected to the microprocessor, respectively.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom part of the external pipe is assembled with a flow direction device electrically connected to the microprocessor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] Figure 1 shows a perspective stereo view of the water level ruler according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectioned view for the upper portion of the water level ruler according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectioned view for the lower portion of the water level ruler according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 shows a stereo view for the lower portion of the water level ruler according to the present invention;

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 [0019] Figure 5 shows a structural allocation block view for the control device and the power supply device of the water level ruler according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 shows a cross-sectioned view for the implemented installation portion of the water level ruler according to the present invention; [0021] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectioned view for the implemented measurement portion of the water level ruler according to the present invention; [0022] Figure 8 shows a structural allocation block view for the newly added photo sensor of the water level ruler according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 9 shows a structural allocation block view for the newly added meteorological device of the water level ruler according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 10 shows a sectional plane view for the newly added meteorological device of the water level ruler according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 11 shows a sectional plane view for the newly added flow rate device of the water level ruler according to the present invention;

[0026] Figure 12 shows a sectional plane view for the newly added photography device of the water level ruler according to the present invention;

and [0027] Figure 13 shows a sectional plane view for the newly added flow direction device of the water level ruler according to the present invention.

DETAIFED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 [0028] Other technical contents, aspects and effects concerning the water level ruler according to the present invention can be clearly appreciated through the detailed descriptions on the preferred embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the appended drawings.

[0029] Refer first to Figures 1~5, wherein a stereo view as well as integral or sectional views for the internal structure of the water level ruler according to the present invention are respectively shown. As shown in the Figures, it comprises a water level indicator device 1, a control device 2 and a power supply device 3.

[0030] Herein the water level indicator device 1 has a hollow external pipe 11, the shape of the external pipe 11 can be designed as round, rectangular or polygonal, in the Figures of the present embodiment it is exemplarily illustrated as round; the lateral side of the external pipe 11 can be openly set up with at least one through-hole 111, with a lid 112 used to close up the through15 hole 111; the upper end of the external pipe 11 is installed with a light transmissive top cover 12, the lower end of the external pipe 11 is installed with a benchmark base 13, and at least one water inlet 14 is openly set up at the lower part of the external pipe 11 close to the benchmark base 13, in which the outer surface of the external pipe 11 is evenly attached with a plurality of reflective sheets 15 as well as a large number of scales 16 and numbers 17 evenly marked in accordance with the distance.

[0031] In addition, the control device 2 is fixedly installed in the external pipe 11 and has a water level sensor 21 which can measure the water level by means of water pressure; the lateral plane at the lower end of the water level

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 sensor 21 includes at least one lateral hole 211, and the pressure sensitive surface 212 is configured in the lateral hole 211 for sensing and measuring the water pressure; also, the bottom plane of the water level sensor 21 corresponds to the position of each water inlet 14 at the lower end of the external pipe 11, and can be further aligned with the bottom plane of the benchmark base 13 thereby facilitating the use of the benchmark base 13 as the benchmark position for measurement operations; moreover, the water level sensor 21 is electrically connected to a microprocessor 22 such that the measured messages by the water level sensor 21 can be transferred to the microprocessor 22; the microprocessor 22 is further connected to a memory component 23, a wireless communication module 24 and an alarm light 25, in which the memory component 23 stores the measurement messages obtained from the water level sensor 21, the wireless communication module 24 transfers wirelessly the measured messages to a remote equipment 4, and the alarm light 25 can be controlled by the microprocessor 22 to illuminate at specific preset conditions. [0032] Furthermore, the power supply device 3 has at least one battery 31 electrically connected to the control device 2 for providing electric power required for the operations of the water level sensor 21, the microprocessor 22, the memory component 23, the wireless communication module 24 and the alarm light 25. In the present embodiment, the battery is further electrically connected to a power charging/discharging controller 32 and a solar panel 33, and the solar panel 33 is mounted outside the top cover 12.

[0033] Refer next to Figures 1 and 6, in practice, the water level ruler according to the present invention is set up in standing at a prescribed location

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 (e.g., riversides, roads, underground pathways, tunnels, countryside or mountainous areas where water is easy to accumulate); in installation, the benchmark base 13 can be flatly and fixedly set up at the prescribed location, such that the water level sensor 21 is aligned with the ground; refer then to

Figure 7, when flooding occurs, water enters the external pipe 11 via the water inlet 14, and then passes through the lateral hole 211 to the pressure sensitive surface 212. As a result, the water level sensor 21 can sense the pressure at the bottom of the water level by means of the pressure sensitive surface 212, thus further obtaining the height of the flooded water. Meanwhile, the height of the flooding can be alternatively acquired through visual inspection of each scale 16 and each number 17 marked on the external pipe 11. And, referring to Figure 5, after measuring the height of water, it is possible to perform the following functions:

[0034] A. Instant report: the measured information can be transmitted to the microprocessor 22, and integrated into the flooding message via the microprocessor 22 and stored in the memory element 23 (possibly including time, location, height and pressure data etc.), then instantly uploading the flooding message to the remote equipment 4 so as to return information to the user in the first time when flooding occurs. In addition, the microprocessor 22 can execute automatic controls; in other word, it can automatically determine that the wireless communication module 24 can not be connected online, and, if so, the flooding message should be saved, and after the communication is restored, the flooding message stored during the period can be retransmitted to the remote equipment 4 in order to ensure that the data is not lost.

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 [0035] B. Continuous surveillance: the microprocessor 22 can periodically transmit the flooding message to the remote equipment 4 (for example, transmitting once per 10 minutes; i.e., when the water level reaches a preset range, this frequency can be adequately increased to every 5 minutes, which is adjustable by the user according to the requirements), so the user can receive the flooding message at regular intervals. Therefore, when the user knows that there occurs a flooding event nearby, it is possible to sustainably appreciate the flooding situation, and the speed of flooding can be analyzed through the contents of the flooding messages in order to facilitate emergency treatment.

[0036] C. Cloud management: The remote equipment 4 can be a portable mobile communication device, so the user can monitor or operate adjustment processes without having to access to the flooding site immediately thereby monitoring the in-field conditions anytime and anywhere; in other word, the remote equipment 4 may be a processing center, which collects multiple flooding information to grasp the flooding range and the instant situation of a prescribed area, and the microprocessor 22 can also have built-in software (e.g., FTP, OPC server etc.), which can be applied to upload the flooding message to the user server or connect with any graphic control software and database to produce chart display.

[0037] D. On-site warning: after the water level sensor 21 senses a flooding event, the microprocessor 22 can activate the alarm light 25, or it is even possible to configure that the alarm light 25 can be controlled to enter a flash mode when the flooding height reaches a predetermined range to achieve io

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 the warning purpose, which can be certainly adjusted by the user based on actual demands.

[0038] The water level ruler according to the present invention can be further used for more comprehensive applications:

[0039] E. Marking and lighting purposes: the reflective sheets 15 and the alarm light 25 can be used as road signs at nighttime. Refer to Figure 8, in which the microprocessor 22 can be additionally coupled to a photo sensor 26 for sensing the light source so as to determine it is in daytime or nighttime, and the alarm light 25 can be activated by the microprocessor 22 at nighttime for lighting purposes.

[0040] F. Weather forecast: Refer also to Figures 9 and 10, wherein an external frame 18 can be attached to the external pipe 11 for assembling a meteorological device 5, and the meteorological device 5 can be a weather meter or a rain bucket and can be electrically connected to the microprocessor

22 via one of the through-holes 111, thereby transmitting various weather data including rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind direction, wind speed, sunshine, air pressure, air quality (e.g., PM2.5 or volatile organic matters) to the microprocessor 22; or, similarly, the data can be stored in the memory component 23 and instantly uploaded to the remote equipment 4. Referring also to Figures 11 and 12, the external frame 18 can be also used to assemble a flow rate device 6 or a photography device 7 which are electrically connected to the microprocessor 22, respectively; the flow rate device 6 can be applied for measuring flow rate and flow quantity data, and the photography device 7 can record live images, etc., and such acquired flow rate, flow quantity data as well

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 as image data can be transmitted to the microprocessor 22; similarly, the data can be stored in the memory component 23 and instantly uploaded to the remote equipment 4. Furthermore, referring to Figure 13, wherein the bottom of the external pipe 11 is assembled with a flow direction device 8, and the flow direction device 8 corresponds to the bottom plane of the water level sensor 21 and is electrically connected to the microprocessor 22 (this circuit part is omitted in the Figure for brevity); therefore, when water enters by way of the water inlet 14, the flow direction device 8 is pushed to move, and the detected flow direction data is transmitted to the microprocessor 22; and, similarly, the data can be stored in the memory component 23 and instantly uploaded to the remote equipment 4.₀ [0041] Compared with other conventional technologies, the water level ruler according to the present invention provides the following advantages: [0042] 1. The water level indicator device is installed at the predetermined place through the benchmark base, and the installation procedure of the benchmark base is easy and convenient and can be rapidly completed; in addition, the water level sensor can provide better measurement accuracy than conventional capacitive sensors, and the external pipe has clear scales and numbers so that the public can directly visualize the precise depth of flooding and instantly photographing for record, and also the accurate data can be sent to the remote equipment via the wireless communication module as accurate data acquisitions such that, especially in the event of a disaster, people can benefit from the actual views or real-time data collections as the proof to apply for government subsidies and insurance claims.

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 [0043] 2. Wireless transmissions allow to immediately send flooding messages to the remote equipment, providing comprehensive flooding information for long-term big data analyses, and can be further used in rivers or water resource areas as an early warning on water level, tide, weather forecast, geographic information and flood forecasting; or, alternatively, it can be applied at a reservoir for real-time controls on pumping station, pumping machine, drainage gate, and reservoir flood regulation or the like. Besides, It can also be applied to water ecology and conservation for water level and geographical environment monitoring purposes.

[0044] 3. The water level indicator device is assembled with the control device and has the independent power supply device, so the power distribution box or the connection room is not required, and the characteristics of micro power consumptions can be matched with the battery; moreover, it can achieve self-sufficient and sustainable power supply by combining the advantages of outdoor use with the solar panel.

[0045] The present invention has been disclosed by means of the aforementioned embodiments which are merely certain preferred implementations of the present invention rather than being used to limit the scope thereof; those who are skilled in the relevant technical fields can, after understanding the technical features and embodiments of the present invention as explained hereinabove, certainly make equivalent changes, alterations or modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which are nonetheless deemed as falling within the coverage of the present invention; accordingly, the scope of the present invention to be

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 protected by patent laws is subject to the definition of the claims attached to this specification.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A water level ruler, comprising:

a water level indicator device, including a hollow external pipe, and the lower end of the external pipe is installed with a benchmark

5 base, in which at least one water inlet is openly set up at the lower part of the external pipe close to the benchmark base, and the exterior of the external pipe is evenly marked with massive scales and numbers according to the distance;

a control device, fixedly installed on the external pipe and

10 including a water level sensor whose bottom plane corresponds to the position of each water inlet at the lower end of the external pipe, in which the water level sensor is electrically connected to a microprocessor further connected to a memory component as well as a wireless communication module wirelessly transferring measured

15 messages to a remote equipment;

a power supply device, used to provide electric power required for the operations of the control device.

2. The water level ruler according to Claim 1, wherein the lateral side of the external pipe is openly configured with at least one through-hole

20 and a lid for covering the through-hole in closure.

3. The water level ruler according to Claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the external pipe is evenly installed in attachment with plural reflective sheets.

2019100293 19 Mar 2019

4. The water level ruler according to Claim 1, wherein the lateral plane on the lower end of the water level sensor has at least one lateral hole, and the inside of the lateral hole includes a pressure sensitive surface for sensing and measuring the water pressure.

5 5. The water level ruler according to Claim 1, further comprising a top cover combined with the upper end of the external pipe and used to close the upper end of the external pipe, and the control device is fixedly installed inside of the top cover.

6. The water level ruler according to Claim 5, wherein the power supply

10 device is a battery connected to a power charging/discharging controller as well as a solar panel, and the solar panel is installed on the external surface of the top cover.

7. The water level ruler according to Claim 5, wherein the microprocessor of the control device is electrically connected to an

15 alarm light installed within the top cover, and top cover is made of transparent materials such that the alarm light can generate alarm light source.

8. The water level ruler according to Claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is electrically connected to a photo sensor, so that,

20 when the sky becomes dark, the photo sensor can transfer signals back to the microprocessor thereby allowing the microprocessor to drive the alarm light to generate alarm light source.

9. The water level ruler according to Claim 1, wherein the external pipe is installed with an external frame used for the assemblage of a

2019100293 19 Mar 2019 meteorological device, a flow rate device or a photography device, and the meteorological device, the flow rate device or the photography device are electrically connected to the microprocessor, respectively.

5 10. The water level ruler according to Claim 1, wherein the bottom part of the external pipe is assembled with a flow direction device electrically connected to the microprocessor.