GB2391540A

GB2391540A - Pipeline monitoring system

Info

Publication number: GB2391540A
Application number: GB0300463A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugh O'dea
Original assignee: O DEA WENDY MARGARET
Current assignee: O DEA WENDY MARGARET
Priority date: 2002-01-11
Filing date: 2003-01-09
Publication date: 2004-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-09
Also published as: GB2391540B; GB0300463D0; GB0200566D0

Abstract

A monitoring system for monitoring the flow of liquids through a plurality of pipelines, such as beer supply lines in a public house, includes metering means (M) for measuring the flow of liquids through each of the pipelines and for sending this data to information processing means. The information processing means includes memory means for storing this data and is also connected to means for initiating cleaning of the pipelines so that it receives signals when a pipeline is being cleaned and transmits this information to the memory means. The flow data may include the volume of fluid and the time at which it flowed. The information processing means may include summation means to provide an indication of the total fluid flow. The cleaning data allows the memory to disregard the flow data during the cleaning process, so that, for example, the actual amount of beer supplied can be known. The memory may be accessible by a computer or modem link.

Description

MONITORING SYSTEMS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to monitoring systems for monitoring the flows of fluids through pipelines and has been developed in relation to the monitoring of the flow of beer and/or other beverages through a plurality of supply lines in, for example, a public house or hotel.

In British Patent Specification No. 2 339 877, to which

reference should be made, there is described a method of cleaning a pipeline through which a fluid is delivered, said method comprising: a) providing a liquid cleaning composition in a container, b) connecting the container by a line to an air gap proportioner, which includes a venturi, and thence to a mixing chamber which is contained within a housing and is separated by a weir from a delivery chamber, c) diluting the liquid cleaning composition with water in the mixing chamber by supplying water to the mixing chamber via the

air gap proportioner and thereby inducing a flow of the liquid cleaning composition from the container into the mixing chamber and thence into the delivery chamber, d) pumping the diluted cleaning composition from the delivery chamber through the pipeline by means of a pump, and e) flushing the pipeline by pumping water through the pipeline using the same pump.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved monitoring system for monitoring the flows of fluids through pipelines.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved monitoring system for monitoring the flows of fluids through pipelines which are cleaned utilising the method of Patent No. 2 339 877.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a monitoring system for monitoring the flows of liquids through a plurality of pipelines, the monitoring system including metering means for measuring the flow of fluid through each of the pipelines and for sending signals indicative of the flows through the pipelines to information processing means which includes, or is connected to, memory means for storing data concerning the flows through each of the pipelines, the information processing means being connected to means for initiating cleaning of the pipelines so

that it receives signals indicative of the particular pipeline or pipelines which are cleaned and transmits information to the memory means which stores data concerning the pipeline or pipelines which has or have been cleaned.

The data stored in the memory means concerning the flows through each of the pipelines preferably includes information concerning the volumes of fluid flowing through each of the pipelines and the times at which fluid flowed through each of the pipelines. Summation means is preferably provided for providing an indication of the total fluid flow through each of the individual . pipelines. The information processing means is preferably so programmed that, when a particular pipeline is being cleaned, the flow of fluid through the pipeline for cleaning purposes is ignored and the memory means keeps no record, for summation purposes, of the volume of fluid used for cleaning purposes, but merely records the fact that a cleaning operation has been carried out in a particular pipeline.

Thus, as applied to a monitoring system for the beer supply lines of a public house or hotel, the memory is preferably arranged so that it is readily accessible, by means of a lap-top computer, PC, modem link or the like, so that information can be down-

loaded concerning the total volumes of beer supplied through each of the supply lines, the times at which beer is being supplied

through each of the lines and the times at which the individual lines are cleaned.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figures 1 and 2 are both diagrammatic representations of a monitoring system for monitoring the flow of beer and/or other beverages through a plurality of supply lines in a public house, golf club, hotel or similar establishment.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The monitoring system includes a plurality of meters M each of which is arranged to measure the flow of beer, cider or the like through a pipeline. The meters M are arranged so that they transmit signals to chips of a printed circuit board PCB. There is one chip for each of the supply lines and, for a system in which there are n lines and thus n meters, there will be n + 1 chips on the printed circuit board PCB. There are thus n chips each associated with a specific supply line, and an additional chip.

The signals transmitted by the meters M are processed by the chips on the printed circuit board PCB and data concerning the volumes of flow and the times of flow along each of the supply lines are transferred from the printed circuit board PCB to a memory.

The line-cleaning channel is fitted with a special flowmeter that has built-in probes to detect the conductivity of the liquid or chemical composition in that channel The line-cleaning channel also has a special electrical circuit such that it will only register liquid flow if the specified chemical is being used. It reports this as part of the data logged on line cleaning.

The memory is arranged so that it is accessible to, for example, a user of a laptop computer, PC or modem link to enable ready down-loading of the data stored in the memory. The owner of the public house or establishment or other authorised person is thus able to obtain detailed information concerning the volumes of each of the beers or other beverages supplied along the individual pipelines and the times at which the beverages have been supplied. The owner or other authorised person can thus monitor the total supplies of the beverages and calculate any losses resulting from discrepancies between the till receipts and the recorded volumes of flow.

The supply lines are cleaned by the method of British Patent Specification No. 2 339 877, to which reference should be made,

and, when a supply line is cleaned, a signal is sent on initiation of a line cleaning operation, to the additional chip of the printed circuit board PCB. This then sends signals to the other chips of the printed circuit board PCB, as a result of which flows of water, cleaning compositions and the like through the supply lines are ignored for summation purposes, though the fact that a cleaning cycle of operations has been carried out in a particular supply line

is recorded. There is thus an interface between the monitoring of the volumes and times of flow through the individual supply lines and the monitoring of the cleaning of the supply lines, and the relevant data can all be down-loaded from the memory.

If, for example, the owner or other authorised person wishes to monitor the volumes of beer and other beverages supplied during a particular time period (and then link this to the volumes indicated on the till receipts issued during that time period), this can readily be done.

More detailed information concerning the mode of operation of the monitoring system is contained in the accompanying data logger manual.

There are typically two different types of data-logger, i.e. master and slave units. There must be one master unit per installation. A typical master unit can monitor up to fourteen beer lines, including the cleaner line. If this is insufficient, one or two slave units can be added, each slave unit having the capacity to monitor an additional 14 lines, so that a total of 42 lines can be monitored per installation.

The slave units can be powered from the master unit and the master unit can be powered by a plugtop adapter that is hard wired into the monitor unit for reliability and to deter tampering.

The data is stored in the master unit and can be downloaded from the master unit by plugging a computer into a socket on the

master unit, or remotely via a modem plugged into the same socket. Each unit contains a microprocessor that counts the pulses coming in from each channel. The microprocessor in the master unit stores the totals for each channel in a non-volatile memory. It is to be noted that the system can be arranged to monitor three sessions a day, plus the 24-hour slot commencing at 00.01 hours. The monitoring system records a power down. Thus, if the power supply is removed or switched off, the system will stop monitoring but will send a signal when power is restored to say that the power was turned off.

In one specific embodiment, the system will monitor up to 94 days of data. After that the oldest data will disappear and the newest data will be saved. The system not only detects beer line cleaning, but also logs the products being cleaned. If any products are missed, the system will detect any that have not been cleaned.

The monitoring system typically records volumes of liquid dispensed in units of half a pint.

The data contained in the monitoring system can be accessed via an onsite computer, via a laptop computer, via a modem link and telephone line, or via the Internet.

A battery backup and clock can be provided.

The system programme is typically written in "Visual Basics" (Rid and is downloaded from a compact disc onto a customer's computer. A manual is also supplied.

When the information contained in th(Tmonitoring system is extracted, it can be in the form of an "Excel",spreadsheet, or a text file or copied to the clipboard and pasted wherever the operator so desires. Changing of the monitoring procedure is effected via the programme and the customer has the option of up to three monitoring slots per 24 hours plus the 24- hour slot.

Claims

Claims:

1. A monitoring system for monitoring the flows of liquids through a plurality of pipelines, the monitoring system including metering means for measuring the flow of fluid through each of the pipelines and for sending signals indicative of the flows through the pipelines to information processing means which includes, or is connected to, memory means for storing data concerning the flows through each of the pipelines, the information processing means being connected to means for initiating cleaning of the pipelines so that it receives signals indicative of the particular pipeline or pipelines which is or are cleaned and transmits information to the memory means which stores data concerning the pipeline or pipelines which has or have been cleaned.

2. A monitoring system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the data stored in the memory means concerning the flows through each of the pipelines includes information concerning the volumes of fluid flowing through each of the pipelines and the times at which fluid flowed through each of the pipelines.

3. A monitoring system as claimed in Claim 2, which includes summation means for providing an indication of the total fluid flow through each of the individual pipelines.

4. A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the information processing means is so

programmed that, when a particular pipeline is being cleaned, the flow of fluid through the pipeline for cleaning purposes is ignored and the memory means keeps no record, for summation purposes, of the volume of fluid used for cleaning purposes, but merely records the fact that a cleaning operation has been carried out in a particular pipeline.

5. A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, for the beer supply lines of a public house or hotel, in which the memory is arranged so that it is readily accessible, by means of a lap-top computer, PC, modem link or the like, so that information can be down-loaded concerning the total volumes of beer supplied through each of the supply lines, the times at which beer is being supplied through each of the lines and the times at which the individual lines are cleaned.

6. A monitoring system substantially as hereinbefore described.