GB2534072A

GB2534072A - Apparatus for a sewerage system

Info

Publication number: GB2534072A
Application number: GB1605007.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robinson David
Original assignee: Veolia Water Outsourcing Ltd
Current assignee: Veolia Water Outsourcing Ltd
Priority date: 2011-12-01
Filing date: 2012-09-12
Publication date: 2016-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-12
Also published as: GB2535045A; GB2535045B; GB201605008D0; GB2497157B; GB201120804D0; GB2534072B; GB2500270B; GB201216308D0; GB2500270A; GB201605007D0; GB2497157A; GB201204995D0

Abstract

An apparatus comprising sensing means 100 fitted to a drain 40, between a lateral portion of the drain connected to a public sewer 50 and a private portion of the drain, so as to sense the level of sewage in the drain substantially at a legal boundary of a building or land on which the building is built, wherein the drain 40 communicates waste from the building to the public sewer 50 across the legal boundary. A communicating means 30 is arranged to communicate with the sensing means 100 to determine whether the level of sewage in the drain has at least reached a predetermined threshold level, and, responsive to this, to communicate information indicative of this to a location remote from the building, and optionally remote from the drain 40, i.e. at a private company with responsibility for maintaining the public sewer. A control means 20 may periodically operate the sensing means 100 to ascertain whether the level of sewage has reached the predetermined level, and then communicate the information, possibly wirelessly and in the form of an alarm or data.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No. GII1605007.2 RTM Date:26 April 2016 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: "GSM" -page 15 line 5, page 25 line 19 Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

APPAR FIFA,

A public ambler fon mien relates, to ap ulbodiniwits tithe in C in e systems.

not eat OCeaft )3ACKCROW ally t, n bald' 0;11st:dor.tside aresassociated therewith; a water and/or foal Water will be referred to herein taa such bundincs to the public sewer through a conduit wit as win c single 'building to the pUbb e. Sewer. Typically,. a public sewer M ration land or public and; any drain conneetingfo the sewer is iwav or the c Meatt or public to the law in England and ' at came into eiTnct affect the ownership of drat n, Li particular, these changes transferred to responstb pub lie sewe erstilp of the part of each drain between sewer and the legal boundary of the huildi e drain ram This part of t chain r called the 'tateral drain'. Prior to I Oe responsibility for the whole Of the drath, re Ucas of'its tocatiort tested with the ownor of the building served by it, Since I Octobe ponsibility of the budding owner has reduced such that he/she is only responsibi for the part of the drain v itoniboundary of land on which the relevant building is sited 03 'sat or adjacent to the ild ity fa an be ft igement of a public.swer in thehihway wth.a singie.dranding therefrom to collect se agea hUdsg A blockac a aim'. of the pa nt A, I eentualiy manifest itself as sewage overflowm3 at point or elsewhere. the g served by the Main xould thena ualv contact he ampany responsible Par the i the reap/mirth f the puhiic.pat.of the sitality oUl or whether the blocka blocked te ewerage company is in the part of the drai ec and stint to ovárflów, et' ovefi. whether there iaa hfockage in di or in drain that of the n She' owner of responsible for th siMi itire bk. With.the.change in lai.v specific point along the agcIs located Or Whgre, fore who is par i''e tar it Is to Jtsr the blockage As dtsu'tny be htociage is asually by cleaning Mu en not possible conclusively to esèh,h whera the locUge wii and so who va actuahynaponrible cor clearing it For exampic, a blockage at point A or B ould be t company as lying on the public,sI4 of the legal boa. Wing, side of the land on which the buildin ssited; wberea point C mild be the reso Y of the ow1cc at rise building es ly'ing withi, that boundary. in addition, it may be oend that the drain is suecharged.diw'tO'a in the public sewer. Such blockage would be the respoMihibty of the sewerage puny, r,tzt.

ekage cannot. therefore usa blockage would be likely e the blockage was at C..% this In the event that. it 6 dctemimed that The drahmis not blocked but it tie to a faiuie suJi as a blockage in the public e location of the e m the public sewer then has to be determined. icit boating of the htockage is normaty ad by li manhole covers in order to identitythe pails of the at teal arty red by to blockage. Thu occtLon of the blockage can then be approxim ni by the personnel luftingtbe manhole covers. Such a process of locating a is unduly time consuming and is often risky to operate I dtdtoM. rtstaand touters,

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e invention >beret apparatus comprising he sensing means is 'age in the coSuit substantially at a legal the hut iding is built, the conduit arran,_ cross the legal boundary; the cotton commuzucate wit. the easing means to determine whether C conduit has at least readwa a predetermined level and resonsne to this, e infonnatwn rnthcatrve of this to a remote 'location.

sed at the lege /Y.:Ur:darnit is. possible a blockage or surcharge, who is respon'ble for clearing flat bioago For eaxrip1o, f a blockage at the boundary as sensed lh9. sensing means, then the blockage must bcinshle the boundary such That tecpcnsibihty thr clearing the blockage lies w the owner oproperty. If; however, a bkxkzge OCC:15 and the level of sewage is high at the boundary, the bockae muat be outsoe the boundary such that dvantage. There is. thereibre.a need to establish the ewer systems. In adv. g them and to improve about the existencef a bicckae ate before it affects the serviceabi sewerage, ecapan ding or at wage than ng mean3 is Ietporsibiiity doe.anoi lie with t.owie,.r 13's trionitiarint company to know fr-cted, or if the customer reports a problem, 10 tertnine whether or not it is responsible without the. delay art a lmes*gaQ gal how) Y ma e the botttthry of 'and on which The predetemirned level may be flows hi the pipe, hut tt all ay be substantial aped fbr" let es it.3 y ror levet being e ceeded and :I dui uhatan The sensor may project into the conduit, This --lion legal boundary, The seilsor may be responsive to piaauce a signal. In an embodiment, the sens 0 onhe sensor not being in contact with liqu above ay from the bottom of the conduit. Th 65% and % from the 'venom of thicotuluit. The sensor may the cam' angle. The oblique Engle may be bettve degree the horizontal, The oblique angle may be 45 degrees from t The sensor ayproject SUbStaraially taWaidS he $2;e1Atra of the condu4.

may he pro ed tot penw The sense d n proJeM into çreesaed 55 so a-m a comprise a may be y at the otactor taek-of-cctitaet d with respect to the conduit:bed above hut Stead ed on the conduit at the same orientation.

The cOnUfll arts may con tr the control ay be aaanged periodically to o as a signal That is received by the mdjcatwe of the level of sewage in the conduit having reached and/or not ("had the precleten nod levcl. In an eniboduflnç the sensing means utinerates.e indie4inui ' This in the conduit not the ntedeter Tan od provided that the dr.a.11) fiali 0 Ml and is therefore servicea appantus to monitor se.niieriability The rcurnte location may be a pivat b -y for maintaining the public sew ea The to unicatini a is to guard against4 fore operaii arms may

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for example, battery. The may re:mynas electricity ge eati.n. means such from o ettical source such.aspowe ee could be at to ig means having at least reaohe ibe predetcrint I from the sen.ing a when ópérated,.ihe period 1. which may be a predeterm muntcaiin JO* control of the control inchoative ef the level in response to roceiving be an-an y he housed remote from the icatiog he housed above adjacent the sensing mcfl. The control. flei.ns andior the ' be housed cuhLntiall at orJust bel a private compan) to early di sewers wt npw publicly he sewer ma of cotise be owned andtor mainLined by Cunt, This Maybe the slime pthate company asi that Oho sewee* is therefore wed herein In tin nat.lkW. tD refe to a,1 n en4uit Other aspects of the it rflitn.are enviSatead in high to sense the lesd of sewa&e at the legal boundary of pr means maybe fifted to setise the k'ei wage atothe aspects are ato erwis aged in which the is detemtines comprise ahousing for the sensin, face havinga term arranged, to comp sewerage conduth and a second sithce hasing a form difterent in the ferra te, the second sutra complement a rfaee.ófi eóc.nd sewerage co ma be to donned to the I3tst Sewer4ecCndint at the first surface erase conduit ecood surface, At t f:6..;;( d urfaces may be s curved may h onduit. Alt C cone it united gurfice Th aand atcnRCIthat a! aurfttco of the rcpedn 0 d sprfaces that is curse face of theespedive to on an st slug ting the sing on an The at least o sensing meat throng a pqttiba of the f the that and second maY he let comprise at frast one connectien eictneut ftr connecting the housing to a sewerage conduit, The first ma v each have associated connection e1flenw for connecting the respective sdmtee of the housing to respective conduit, the associated çonnecdon ckmemits may he lugs screw is feedable for clamping the housing to respective conduit, AI le at least e connection elements may comprisc adhesive =nag& to connect awe surface of the housing to a respective conduit, At least one connect ay be a fit 'wing adhesi first side in cv'n fo connect to one hOnSing and the sesond idc may be arrange4 surfaces may be external surfaces of the honing that prosid.s a wale electronic components of The apparatus ma e MO, ting devi do may be a between conduit tbr.suppottng the noust duct sraged to be inserted withi Snit The it the muddling devi aid the irdenind SUT arranged for wage.to psts tbereihrougt y be tbrtned from.

onion of i-i Ontia _Furthermore, chat a hole thre which at gad to Pr ' ensing a leveJ of sewage According to amother asp apparatus for sensing the comprise one, /31" all of the cunboditneitta, The hod of sewage in described below as: coniprise any comb entrii.g he above-describe:4r ethod may irlg føaatroa. of example rod f those The mathod may coin nse the steps of the control beans peridtheall °tiered 20 sc'asmg mearn to ascertain whether or not the lever of sewage has d then con caring information indica ivti of ft-nation intheauve of this may be in the form of an. alarm, The the fond of an alarm message, The alarm message may communicated wuekssly: for example by SMS text message. The information indicative of this may he in the form of data indicating whether or not the Levet of age has at least reached the predetermined level and the timeof d The data may be communitiat comiectioti over a mobil, phone network, ssry, for example data 30: and, on sctrtOiflin se the step of periodically °Pending the sensing Moseto ot the level of se ached the predetermin ached the p on-maltreating and, optionally, on ascthaining that it AS not reached the perathg. the sensing rf heck this after a The sensing n ptedctcrmined periOd. flrh$ periodic period of operat way -then be nperste4 again resendmg the inth that the informahen rt The method nia bniaticn has The method reeeiaii the conttel means has la eating to the ref ed. This raay be by ion do me ation indict e loco lag an alar ra The apparatw apparatus to a Si one COESISC element for col Also dnclose $ a n *the tint and,cond surfaces at urved -des on an eade al et one.of the -hag U quid in the carapris abdie for a aen tueugh.

systems the cantal ía first sewerage drain; lie second and sewerage drain, wherein the a rage drain.at the first surface. or COM At least one a sewerage omplemeed ta the or a train device for:ISO -0 ving a fa lac S331d Sew ay be a curve C. iecmcai t surface hat, second.stelae ntis is ar 0 cc la h have aesodae4 conneedo sratusim the reectjve drain dad connection a clamping the apparat At least ote of elements may comptise adbestyarranged 40 ill be appretiat "consecutive","neighbouring", or ed not necessarily reférlo drains that are geographically located next to each other to drains that arc consecutive or sirnila thheight above a fixed noini s.nati as sea level or any other suitable ordnance datum. That is. consecutive is Veli MI6 system may be idle pecttve or he apparatw to a.rspcttin drain.

connect a rasp of aJiousing fl The surfaces may h dev' or atonic ge ed is a Also disc system b wer and a plurality of drains.

od ccnnprisa rcccint inforrnatiol rmm a plurality of senthig appanrft.n s The receiv The method also anon is thdicthe if.sewage ses identifying a failure akin-kat on, rage ay be a flexible emit the side is Urrangorl t. connedlt tb me apparatus and the second side is airangett to au,o may be identified atty of drains are surearge4.

iJi result it i of sew upon the position of the senu characteristics of The se' hooadary, and the len 'consecutive need no ni of a or drain drains Nock Set height, at any po considered "consecatrY drains w ed hair being.iden.Ufled as 3C 30n Ot property e of these reasons the aphi adjac to the cawer is msolt of a ethod /may tater co.e or siltation in the son surcharged sequentially from the,os downstream drain w the. the plurality of eposeconste drain A oekage ultatio proximate -upstream of the syskvL The sewer and drains pint or siltation will therefore sip,og sumbarted kit Site order of their!eye/ occurs. It wt1 ag, iat refer 7,L) die drain that is MON( pie,SilnatC tO first drain to gecl dig to both its lob ith respect to the sewer.

in addition, the method may further compthe identif4ng that the faituresewer is a result of hydraulic. overloading when the infonnad *30 consecutive drains have become surcharged snhstaAtii.y shnultan ax of water into a sewer due to a in becoming surcharged very out drains is vrtert e time t tbnet ogipated taken.to lhockage or silt.

Whatever the become affeefea economic respor rapid (thief-piney) affecled or become *ge con wie, if adjati ae ifiUl be appu Med Mowly then I mil rapidly, then a "oaring drains are not cv hod m moment= to f consecutivo, drain prise iota aire 1.dowstet tcCTn drain most do n. a thin ivedraini is The method may also a1onindicateth4t quipmeat -quirect doe to orthermore, information relafing to the severity of the 'II also affect the required response for

For example,

further comprise mniattim r Certain personnel or the location of the failure could also be provid iderin fled fai imprise entitled tee The a 'o iitformatio text *message to he Mon may be serEt cetitral sena entiiod faibare o an identified po the pimeassor may be arranged to idenaly that the 'n the sewer isa result h overloading Allen the information indicate-a that the phxrahtv of five drains have become surcharged substantiaily simodancoltsly. Addltiona y gauge located near to the blockage, or near to the sewerage system opstream of dkae maybe monitored and data from it indicating a hey rain fall could So The ptoccor the roe surcharged, y be arranged to ',knit umay be doh: weragc t one resbStwc draia being The "er TORY be Pre 'tiolosed above The apparatus may compriSe a commit communication wait may be atninged to c else ananged to identify a failure ed t ro oc Id a processor, Th for By:cocci sys,tent lace warms; the sew ohm to identify the specific gattcri of the isieweati it the sower is a result of oat. upstreamdrai anged Wendt en th ostdownst collected a U>r to help in th 0 tie pr sor may iso be arranged he failure ofth dowiMrearn drath of the plurality of censecutwe thai as being be em surcharg$ Also, infoonati swellarged, y & aininged to only one drain V be a/taCi p tO identify WI action for ee the outssuc has afeimfied the failure the ap e for rectifying that f The action for information regard.{ 'ad failure mayompritSMditig an a the eommun orecord histwicai dtita atiduse ittede here or if the Sonsiar has failed to operate, so r may be arrant or has ed,

PTION

badrnQents of the invention and ex be described by wavdfèounp1 only and with reference to the a drawings, in which: nputer r thod steps disci eadabit 111 COTapter acipic cif Data ai ar sys pasat apparatus fitted icr sensing bematie Fig (nigh the conduit. and throusd3 sea ig ku, out by the vides a scht igure I conn e 6 is a flaw the apparatus; plan vi drain as Figure 7 is a ctosssechonaivuew of tem for senSinwa fa awmage Figure iSn of Figure 7; a drain eta Figure IC is a. cioss'sectiomal e a 9 in sitti w3h the sensing ibroughout the description and dtwings, like ferecce numerals!JED DEScRIPTiON OF CERTAIN EXAN P A system fbr sensing failure, as a bloc e of a sewerage sy now be described with reference to sensing apparatus 10 for sensing the levet of sewage in a ditaim WI? ttia is made up ett,'ZIOe tO Is Ti snot 100 wiU w be described forth ross section, with the bottom inve -51-0) of the drain 40 when hurled in the d.

_anedary of the private property The drain 40 is provide: bout 45 defgees above the horizontal such that the s C:..

of the pipe above the invert of the p t be described in more pro ided. Also ptovidetl. dr

Ling an aerial, mnlUnicAt:ions r such end data other fords of wire commur coniance wit embodiment, tIERS. used, Each of the ratan ting description eaSer V00, control rneatds in th -es and cotter rticatins* licmpr of elect( to Mean. be seen 50. The end pith' Figure 2,.a: drain 40 ain 40 that is withir a private property to e pooped 33 teneive A shown) that firms pia ty, a private inepe:e60 connects to erty is an ot 40. the inspen daty.

galley 70 that So rads from amber 60 and the Ridley 70 ay of the ti vial to connect to the dr :rirom wireless 1 ttutt is al ts s using, at Other age frein boundary of with the sensor 100 mounted: drain, leatione clizicitty 30 are mour ed together in a id just below ground level; The sensor IMO sOrcable 110 sensor housing 120 with a sensing end of th projecting ugh on ded with a st or housing d should drain 40 is rrespondang to the se section is taken at tole 42 through its r is between 6,5<' and ensor 100 is mounted ad c 00 using on to tertnittateb a spnot. The s n. othet hodimenis., covering) the Theadheshtaiso provides cal around the the aensr housing 120 and the (Indx an r1 of the sons,roeeb into the drain 40 when mrnthted ahould however be ta avoid the sensor projecting so far m ileets Solid matter in and contributes to a blockage form feted to the sensor 100, exits the sensor housing e housing. Tho sensor.cabie 1 k Ole surrounded by and cable duct LIZ secured to the spigutt. stiel

in this aka drain 40 tha it The nmta-Oa the other e ptotSted by a tkxi * .es above espend to a lave/ hat 'eh indicating that the. dtain 40 or -btcor e sensing end of h eight of the insid afly dasigne approximately 6 at corresponds to a ing the ho 0 is positione Is The thS 40. Drains 40 the *irouna anticipate at height of the I therefore allow present e tbodirrie provides voltage an currant, and via sattaole for operates with a voltage Of 5 c ion protection rating, such entalois: 1 in CO ia an opto rn The sensor 100 i 'elected to operate the present As will be apparent from Figure 2, y the drain 40 at t boundary of the private: -petty. The remons below.

d above the format °per ordains the The to eioprecesscr '20 is in (ASK') that is ro:çjçqirii3 and Wed below and with r 30With tference agiin to Figure 2 The e&n1thuflicatons bireui try irm aitanged and operableantler the co paflftus W' ssly over a cellti i.011117115 into thinsvai6 (trot d starts with aseSs of steps that are one-off tmt the tekwant information

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which the s containing s ii s.einered The Duty M phone number paratusW.will send SMS text messages or rat gene 4 the nonnai operating regirn At step 2(14: the sensci actiatlod is the period betweert CgeSsive ac:8j5 set: As 's becoiieclear: 100. of

At step 200 the sSär attive pedo of the sensor 16) in each activation. check

-tteney is At step 208.

Whit. the method s deserihed below in Str larm cortdifiàn before At step 2W. the Si M is. sent from SCILS1 At step the fhfl i ion of the apparat 4., the,WIASOT is operated and any signal provided therefrom are Inoltait0Tht and stored ID the memo of the sensing apparatus 10, together wide the time of day of that si?..,:naL The sensor is -tad previously set in step 206.

mare or alte too of asked as to witS 0 the method proceeds to ste Set: fl tel.? the spetiff applittation, ''-ng back to step 2I 6, via -el method legs that this is the case at step 224, before that dektet data.ia mote than detthnined that it ía tint the the tTK4ind proceeds to tep 226 said ita the. of the sensor 100, This is done by 1 query at sten79 which asks whetnea the number of 0-frequency In step 204 have elarged snace he end of the lag CO. If that number of minutee has not elapsed, the method I jest& and then moves front 210.

At step 230, the method activates, the'sensor 100 for' ',her of 20&'and'proceeds to step 232 At stascertained whether or not th is 'Mot any nme eunug the sentng period (which is the &raft activatiott of tined that the sensor the sensing.pedod, the method moves to step 234 in which it is asce not thy for the MI duration of the cheek period if the sensor 100 snOt dry for the fun sensing period, the wisirb the output nun th. seisor is ci euked again, i.e. after the.

ck my in step 208 The re Cheek 't e in step ot ace of the apparatus an -mild be eats three fthi d atteaIps,.method sends n n S 45 texHnesage phone tfimbcr entered at step 202 a text messagc a step 2'2 to thc itpkad tirUcd A v the site of the apparatus Sy thth be itade over manually data from, the people and systems yes", 3/411Cthcd or<iceei r over the mobil t the sew sod ice aie network tornpanv ton at step 2 tea mc.stcrrec al emote data atom ontubili ts; e receipt of a confirmS oo 0 apparatus.. ad

essae. r

40, the method proceeds n step 2 text e they Man got This is folletwed by step 250 at which the tat rom the sensor and stared in the awaratns are uploaded, in method then watts for a cenfitmation by text message at tep 254 and 256 add a re-send to the method s-ach that two further attempts are made to resold the d the datahave been so y {Ad front the apparatus. S tot Seta a: Mg), At ste fe, on edifying out that re-cheek at step 246, to teP 240 referred to above and goo eing so:Lc:hinged, The stems subsequent to step oh concU sthç prtvoUschOk 1051 is configurable in out at the äSrooth d goes back to the go ethod motes to step 240 at or being I genetates an d. Subsequent steps ar step 22S ift i sage main ngs to step 2,58 transmission pparatus may then he made to carry in response to the alarm(s) and to recover manually data wledgement of safe receipt be tep if a&nowiedgemenk:of safereceipet!, before lose i h a text messages I, -o th ±11 i a failed.A visit to the site of the a 252, the method proceeds to step 224 described the system deactibecd abot'o the p chile sewet arid the ta eci s such as a b he described, is arranged to dote the public sewer. Themes's& for d g a Va above -described system and as such o usly described syst es described.

)1 drain 40. storage and ranee pparatos is arranged to communicate with the enact above the se of the sensor, for exampl graphical posit info 'It'.rebting to each of the aensic arates Mk and the geographksi location iated drain inspection thamher. Also ger pparatuses. The, above ordnance denim, along with nn dc info/non-ion The processor may be arranged to make varions detennthaSns regardi "lure within the sewerage system based on th is performed by tht... processor are diseussed in Ong t only arranged for corn "try, but 'so arranged to send eximmunioarion messages; by pie, to personnel who are -cd as sintab image system.

fion unit for trana *age, n collapse, ado mimes with reference to the:situation r a.hkckage in the public sew he system described herein is alsoapplicable to ot Figure 5 shows..a sehet tthc plan view f the se eMgc erten) of length of 50 A inenhcr 'f draws 40. 140, 240, 340, 440 od 'Me the in 40, 140; 240, 340 40 takes the gnat of the drai to deacribed above d thtrefor4 includes a sensing apparatus equivalent to the arm and proeets Sea processor for er.eiving taste, e roemor ch ai a semi ing apparatus sO surcharged, the SenSing apparatusu remote data storage and processing systen. arstent then checks its data storage to deter-rain Sc anon regarding es.

a draindetcthijdcs that dId cjj dr4 stored data regarding iewt e levels to r storage and procres n if it is,'et are surcharged then public sewer and pg,rtirin t sot determ s-ing apparatus, lb o duty znazzagoror ot rig system and is blocked betwee he pub. itt lateral r personnel can then the failure, att treat: is detect.

"te data storage and prucessin sewer. The location of the blockage is th received from 'II *discussed below, from the.infon: nd. the ieighhnuring d I deterrtiined he public or publi r119PertY "Si try the blockage in he pub ic Sewer b 440, wlUeb are upstream of th drains 24Q, 340, and 440: Will sequentially from the.drain the blockage, drain 44th or at point X, with the sewage flow' dm he Itledkage X.. occurs drains 240 340 and d become surcharged y, heonercharged 240, to the drain furthest Once the blockage occurs, thOjeitote data storage an g sy the blockages sequentially from data ccived from the respective sensing apparatuses, Since a sequential. surcharging of coaccutive or neighomming drainsi bier:tee in the public sewer, the remote data.orage and proeessi ti approximate Meant, surcharged e surcharged. w cons 340, arid. 440 surcharged ari t In ad<litio from the neighbo,uriig drainsdeduce ut the blockage is do s° titike. surchar s lownatream of arid nearest st drains. Hence, inthe example shown in.Figuro 5, drains 240, mud to he surcharged, while, na 40 and 140 are not lithe remote data storage and processine system is able to ni the Ii drain ikely to a ant data n to the re g with dat ret desert nn. signal is -once it i oh as a ded from the actiSing appa data storage and protiessing s: maived from neighbouring draMs, anetinfOrtha' that are no tify therefore y manager aS erected in a (hal 'at the szxrchazge at toted regard uirchanled, It is as been received, i tire has occ e public seWCr Is dia sett, a teaponac such as a alaim thr a Once a b

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tweet is raised dent upon where the hl Consequently, an appropriate wintionan ea Hence, responses or alanns for fai lum tnd instead r a bloc ted.

the bletikag issued unlit a men: that different responses may be pr y no block in the pi tint period of time haa passed10 eniibik, tartnine whether the absence: of a dry signal from a:particular nessice failure in. the pablia.SVAT-t, The system discussed imaccordence itt Ewa the different ty-p to a blockage.

torage of public a rn the liquid essing syeteni is also attar blockage Cr siltation met>, slowly and repeated Pc at sich.git-ad eta higher as not only of the pub bcsewer due A drains upstream of the p and down wound a Mean f the blockage inertias *o as system. Eventually, the drains will become *cop1etely surcharged and the sensing apparatuses will retuairi wet The remote data g systems therefore amageti to detect these fluctuations in in consecutive orams in order to detect or rule out a failure in the public blockage or siltation as early as possible, In contrast fauurc<>f the public d, for example as a.resuito.f a storm, is likeiy to result in many drains becoming surcharged almost siva to yate rage sysi -1 n the ease of blockages wìthm thi sewerage sys e ewiftly marhfird. Consequently, the speutic location man number of man'o1e covers near to ntageoi dose no system, dr&tiM the public and t% upable lockage, fiance, the remote data storage and processing system i en differen cans in as a and Spelt an innim tI he Sewerage S3 ant from th wage levels pparatw verlead are notáb].ydifteren s1hc excess ' athitent nits.cause the the id tddid inform feeding the p of the bla ge can he ideritifted by II led locatIon ef the block The a aBed within the edict dote it win iac in each of -sociated % be tisod in order to ocessir3g system er det could use any sk11 of detectim public Rewer. ta paxtiotiar, multiple ie provide more accurate jiifqffiiaion to the renlote atastorae Sensors Inoviding mote accurate nation would allow Ic failures witinit a sewerage system ntewnoie to be progromn es a.flo method for ustrated in Figure 6 is err 4 of an application spec je 4. In partira/ar, Figute 6 be to be an tdtoniarivtthe method The method sorbed Fe" jutb the neassar 24

A bed.

P ° eeflainopeti its required by the te Set prior to deployment of the control circuit. For exam activalion frequency it set in*inintieS at step 302, as i the tensor 303. F themwrc, at step 304 a checking process estatifishod w entinni cü ie-chock the frequency. This cheek may of minutes.

predetermined n of Pipits-4. Only those features of the :actjbed will now be described, t.if the sensor contini circuit associate fly be Rotik ith Figaro gna oniitiringis achic ing ser,sat cent Once 0 at step 30S magnetic stv-' by an instaflaho a The sensor control et hen ready to fun nence. enshig as indica st step $06 At step 307 a dnrrnwwonis earned out as to whether the sensoi is dry or is dry, a dry xnomtormg May eireni aciivated t,stop 30S) The dry tooth tOriz ntuzt is canunimicatively coupled to the remote data storage and processing system. which may also be referred to as the oement system. Hence, a monitoring signal indicative of the sensor bein enned itttiea ia dry. Thä cut is ptO into to stitaie batt ei id Men the pc "ci sentorcontrol unit to the data garage a transferred atnost uistantanaoiSly afkr 30 nionitodngcircuit is then maintained in era ntil y' minntes have elapsed ten torittg :sing begins When the senscris* determined not to be dr i.e. to be wet, the seser c pat into sleep nut the Sensor contra circuit is woken u Ting that the A data uornrnunieation apparaas is povitied between th5.sensot:eoittl eirattit an data storageaod rrangment s)atem, and 'ts as atimmittnicetiorts interface The date communicatt araws an-argec4 tocotsmatitit.monitOt the sensor gts The data communicate system such as a G1.RS/30 mobile eotnmuthcation system in whit' onstartty monitored by means of am cominunications SLMbascd dcrqke. The data communisation. apparatus therefore receives inforrha SCIISOr ',OnITOICircUit and sends the interaction on to the data storage and n. tato kt system step 314 f the t id Foca uty y miattliet.

If the sensor i determinates 314:nncdto be. dry( *(step lithe sensor dry then the data storage idiom that eit nrec sewerageYs arged or the sensor has er another of the nmry h s pled S sumbarg sensors will fajlSmhaneougiv and tin two nei.likely to indicate the inse Stare of the conduit, Ph inc 18). A check is then carried out *re.uit to which the lot fCuIty (step 320) it is ate eraianns have een acttvatd dee to ff to deal with it ion, job ni System (step $22); then an al blocked drain d and pr rammed within a %IP ea/able the alarm to he monitored, ad signed off am of ifotberaiái taiistegardingt can app /0 usiy disc ragernent S T data report (step 3 report can then determined if ail rtb the Work NI ded (st be escalated to the thttthaua3S wi in the ast24 hours (step this Point c position of a o AP' ' work job will e Work torai processing F.,-ste periodic s;s od ord dos ai iiwcik j required This be up port :ttail. dat yassd by con fred (step).

meat n (stop 322 pTOCO5S prOvidtta.sunpllfitd means fbrmorritorin.g the status.

ontrol circuits associated sensoit. The re 1 time Sure of the p.(k ess means that. problernswithin t sewerage system can be identified ukldy and therefore rectified more effectiveJy.

Figures 7 and e, apparatus 500 fotsersing blockage:, ira drain 400 cIa sewetage sym.. Figures 7 is control and housing 502.

contariter for the edectror anged to le data storage. and proecssmg apparatus. Hence, this Seotronic ee inside the bonairig 502 and the housing 52 is seakd to provide a rtrinsica!ly safe contains:11 The 000inrnmeauoxi reans 'includes an antenna for contrnunkatirtg wit iorsge and processing apparahis.. Th housing 502: has an antenna housing porLia ofthe housihg 502, which.allows hcyond.the mainbody of the anparatus 500 for improved antenna pe tried that the aetenn. coutd he provided within the main, or on any. ext face 502a is connected to the fit 400 via to/Meal.° oof pad, or other thickness of the self-adhesive 'aterptOof pad is selected ac iha appropriare to the size of the pipe or d connection layer 503 is provided surfacethe tjrt. 502 502 to the drain 400 vi lye waterprooLpad.r adhesive, thereby allowing far a stroriger connection between the housing 502 and the drain 400.

As shown in Figure 8-, which pro-Aden pan. view ofihe. system.500, the other exte Sarfaces of sing 502 a provideu' witu different profiles m fortis to different titanic tbavitig aand/or configuradons. the firstsuface 502a, depicted in Elgureor a standard mountin to kul external surface of the drain 400, the it rface 502e, a fourth surface 5024 and mounting system 500 in different. wa.

The seriond sureac of 50ttun and is arranged an insidece of a chamber of a statical drain system 500 can be thr 502a, st ar

Q

torliPte mounted onto an paid sulfas t a tensing rip mien In the drain. a -'1

sing means g"ir a scaled ripening in eF, tfle:ho% urface 502a t As the fir bonding the housir having an intenuil diarnet arranged to he corteeeted The fourth surface 502d h of a chamber c has a venicai drab-shaft having a 225nur radius of 75mm hidli is a veinter s of though It adll be appmcñated that the.drain may have another Intorno/ such as I 00nan, 180mm or 225hati). The fifth surface 502e is a flat surface :g d tbr mountingv5tet ambers e a intgr meler than 225man or c' o flat chamber walls sec' W third fourth cora-test h c, 505d, 50 spe f, 0- sportive c:onnCc.ung lus505h, g 502. Facr lug s in the e" and as Screws, b&ts id fixed into continua o through the nat the housing 502 connection, and also teh,. the lug may be considered a devices catibe passed ate or socket within the rpr o ct ided to help secure an rhamber wall. 1.2 cos to mime. to drain surfac uses or irre o the surface for which the housing surfaces are design&ito connect with.

of the -ystem 500 therefore allows for y desired theation. COnsequenfly 00 to he ions for Figure 5 thin thee to into a rkairi400 such, the sheet S:ieeve 600 tör.mountingstir housing 500.

o a cylindrical form for insertion mm a. drain 400 for in 400, AS ShOWn.n.ligure it tariai such as stainleas steel or *she, which is flexible oiled and will she when plaee4 m t sewerage * sleeve 600 is rnetore seleeted so that when it s" ted au-up fon) Me. sleeve tetemnpts to revert to a flat sheet As atward force towards the walls of the drain 400, which holds sI any sci the sleeve 600 an more detail below.

°musing 500 in position tl Srnesses hr the elve.6'00.00jurrin sieeve6QG e bole 601 is sleeve 600 is at the top Of the sleeve posttionitig. re, the *hen the overlap n.tjm b bOdirn ol hum the e sleeve 600, si provides a good position ft the Anise. 400. it will be appr provided along the length t theC 0-sui multitude of different manhole rthgar ti d allow t at:prep-lately.

sensor 501 the nleeve (.7n oughveht 00 she hewn m Figure 10, the g 00, like pronaido by Id the sensor and the sensor housi the aka ve -a exerted by the theeve secures: using 500 between the sleeve 600 andthe inside wall of the drain 5-00 Consequently, the Seve 600 pmvides a means housing 500 within the drain 400. it will be, appretth the sensor housing 500 wnthin the drain an. previo along with the sleeve 600.

e 600 is. c--ted to be er than i d sc that se 600 is dislodged from its no ocidenall) .entar a dov.nstreani parboil Of ods described above may he implemented orlpti ter ?rug). am may include computer node arra:land to i perform the ametions of one or mthe of the various therhoda described A-computer program and/or the cede tor performing such ruciliciis may b 02.21dbe. .i4tilied oned 75% shown in Figure rgthg of the y up The hole 6 reduce one is 'pd wided d widO appants.,ach as a. comp re,) The -d. be. for example, an electronic, macntic, opt ctL efeetthitittp 'conductot System,or o-propagation mediUtr thr data tran eatamp.e, ter dotatdoading the code over thc eitettiet 'NonThrrntrn ran1pies iethIpate-readable mcdimn incudt swnicoriductoror solid 1ate rncntcty, diSkette, a random access memo *ati Optiasi.disk," such as CD-d-ortiy menu, CD-RAW DVD, apparatus code o petibmi one orthorprocesae with adhUt th thtxvatioas ths 4 tS

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus for sensing the level of sewage in a drain, he apparatus comprising sensing means and communicating means, wherein: the sensing means is fitted to a drain between a lateral portion of the drain connected to a public sewer and a private portion of the drain to sense the level of sewage in the drain substantially at a legal boundary of a building or of land on which the building is built, the drain arranged to communicate sewage from the building to the public sewer across the legal boundary, and the communicating means is arranged to communicate with the sensing means to determine whether the level of sewage in the drain has at least reached a predetermined level and, responsive to this, to communicate information indicative of this to a location remote from the building.
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means projects into the drain.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sensing means comprises a sensor and the sensor projects into the drain substantially at the legal boundary.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensing means is operable to generate a signal indicative of the sensor not being in contact with liquid.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the communicating means communicates with the sensing means under the control of control means, the control means arranged periodically to operate the sensing means such that the sensing means generates a signal received by the control means indicative of the level of sewage in the drain not having reached the predetermined leve1.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the communicating means communicates with the remote location under the control of the control means, and, in response to receiving a signal from the sensing means indicative of the level of sewage having at least reached the predetermined level and/or in response to receiving no signal from the sensing means when operated, the control means arranged to wait for a period of time before controlling the communicating means to communicate with the remote location and/or before operating the sensing means again
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim and further comprising a source of standalone electrical power.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the source comprises energy storage means. and/or wherein the source comprises electricity generating means.
9. Apparatus according to any preceding claims, wherein, the control means and/or the communicating means is housed remote from the drain.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control means and/or the communicating means is housed above ground.
11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the remote location is at a private company with responsibility for maintaining the public sewer.
12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a housing for the sensing means.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the housing comprises: a first surface having a form arranged to complement a surface of a first sewerage drain; and a second surface having a form different to the form of the first surface, the second surface arranged to complement a surface of a second sewerage drain, wherein the housing is arranged to connect to the first sewerage drain at the first surface or connect to the second sewerage drain at the second surface.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces is a curved surface.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one of the first and second surfaces that is curved is convex for mounting the housing on an internal surface of the respective drain.
16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one of the first and second surfaces that is curved is concave for mounting the housing on an external surface of the respective drain.
17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the at least one of the first and second surfaces comprises a hole for a portion of the sensing means to project through.
18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces is a flat surface.
19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 18, further comprising at least one connection element for connecting the housing to a sewerage drain.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first and second surfaces each have associated connection elements for connecting the respective surface of the housing to the respective drain
21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the associated connection elements are lugs through which a screw is feedable for clamping the housing to a respective drain.
22. Apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein at least one of the at least one connection elements comprises adhesive arranged to connect a respective surface of the housing to a respective drain.
23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the at least one connection element is a flexible pad having adhesive on a first and a second side, wherein the first side is arranged to connect to one of the first and second surfaces of the housing and the second side is arranged to connect to the respective drain.
24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 23, wherein the surfaces are external surfaces of the housing that provide a water-tight housing for electronic components of the apparatus.
25. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 24, further comprising a mounting device arranged to be inserted into a drain for supporting the housing within the drain.
26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the mounting device is a duct arranged to be inserted within the drain so that, in use, the housing is held between the mounting device and the internal surface of the drain, wherein the duct is arranged for sewage to pass therethrough.
27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the duct is cylindrical.
28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the duct is formed from a sheet.
29. Apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the duct comprises a hole through which at least a portion of the sensing means is arranged to project for sensing a level of sewage.
30. A method of operating apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises the steps of the control means periodically operating the sensing means to ascertain whether or not the level of sewage has at least reached the predetermined level and then communicating information indicative of this to the remote location.
31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the information indica ve is n the form of an alarm.
32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the alarm message is communicated wirelessly.
33. A method according to claim 30, wherein the information indicative of this is in the form of data indicating whether or not the level of sewage has at least reached the predetermined level and optionally the time of day at which this was ascertained.
34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the data s commun cated wirelessly.
35. A method according to any one of claim 30 to claim 34, wherein the method comprises the step of periodically operating the sensing means to ascertain whether or not the level of sewage has at least reached the predetermined level and, on ascertaining that it has reached the predetermined level, communicating information indicative of this
36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the method comprises the step of, on ascertaining that the level of sewage has reached the predetermined level, operating the sensing means again to check this after a predetermined delay.
37. A method according to any one of claim 30 to claim 36, wherein the method comprises the control means resending the information upon not receiving confirmation information indicative that the information communicated by the control means has been received at the remote location.
38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the method further comprises communicating to the remote location that the confirmation information has not been received.