GB2584530A

GB2584530A - Valve monitoring apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2584530A
Application number: GB2003006.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Trow Stuart
Original assignee: Invenio Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Invenio Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2019-03-01
Filing date: 2020-03-02
Publication date: 2020-12-09
Also published as: GB202003006D0; WO2020178570A1; GB201902786D0

Abstract

A valve monitoring apparatus comprises a valve monitor 1 including an end portion 2 shaped and dimensioned to sit on a valve. The valve monitor has an electrical switch having an open state and a closed state. When the valve monitor is placed on the valve the switch changes state, and when the valve monitor is removed from the valve the switch changes state. The valve monitor further includes a battery 10, a GPRS signal transmitter 12 and a data processor 11. The switch is connected to the battery and the data processor. The data processor senses the state of the switch and causes the transmitter to transmit a signal to a remote database when the switch changes state. The switch may be a magnetic sensor.

Description

Valve Monitoring Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a valve monitoring apparatus and in particular to a valve monitoring apparatus which indicates that a valve has been accessed.

Background of the Invention

Water supply systems typically include networks of water main. In order to be able to isolate different parts of a water supply system the water main includes valves. The valves allow networks to be divided into districts. When there is a problem, such as a leak in one district, valves may be opened or closed to divert water from one district to another.

Typically, the valves used in a water main are not provided with any monitoring apparatus that would provide a signal indicating their operational status. The valves are often located in remote locations without power or connection to a communication system.

Nevertheless, it would be useful to provide an indication that a valve has been accessed. This would assist in the general management of the water supply system and in highlighting a malicious interference with the water supply system.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided a valve monitoring apparatus comprising a valve monitor including an end portion shaped and dimensioned to sit on a valve, the valve monitor comprising an electrical switch having an open state and a closed state, the switch configured such that when the valve monitor is seated on the valve the switch changes state and when the valve monitor is removed from the valve the switch changes state, the valve monitor further including a battery, a signal transmitter and a data processor, wherein the electrical switch is connected to the battery and the data processor, the data processor configured to sense the state of the switch and to cause the transmitter to transmit a signal to a remote database when the switch changes state.

The remote database may be hosted on a web based server.

Preferably, the transmitter is an antenna, more preferably an internal cellular antenna and more preferably a GSM antenna.

The switch may be a magnetic switch and the valve monitoring apparatus may include a magnet attached to the valve.

Preferably, the valve monitoring apparatus includes a clock. Advantageously, the clock provides an input signal to the data processor.

The data processor may be configured to send a signal to the remote database at predetermined intervals of time, for example, the data processor may send a signal to the remote database once a day or once a week. The purpose of this to inform the database that the valve monitoring apparatus is still in place and functioning.

The valve monitoring apparatus may have a test mode and a monitoring mode.

The data processor may be configured to enter the test mode when the switch changes state upon the valve monitor being placed on the valve for a period of time longer than a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time interval may be two seconds.

The valve monitoring apparatus may include a mode indicator and the mode indicator may be connected to the data processor. The data processor may be configured such that in the test mode the apparatus attempts to send a signal over a data transmission network or to connect to a data transmission network.

The mode indicator may be a visual indicator such as one or more lights. For example, a first light indicating that the valve monitor is in the test mode and a second light indicating that the valve monitor is in the monitoring mode may be provided. The lights may be LEDs.

An indicator may be provided for indicating that an attempt to send a signal in the TEST MODE is being made, has been successful or has failed. The indicator may be an audible indicator such as a sound generator. For example, different sounds may be provided for one or more of the test signal being sent, the test being successful and the test having failed.

The valve monitor may include a switch actuator element which is moveable between two positions; in a first position the element causes the switch to occupy one of the open and closed states and in a second position the element causes the switch to occupy the other of the open and closed states.

The switch may be a gravity switch or a tilt switch.

The valve monitor may comprise two housings, a first housing which includes the end portion shaped and dimensioned to sit on a valve and a second housing which houses at least one of the battery, signal transmitter and date processor and wherein the first and second housings are connected together electrically. This provides the advantage that the valve monitoring apparatus may be used where there is limited head room above a valve.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring a pipeline network including at least one valve and provided with a monitoring apparatus according to the invention, the method comprising the steps of: i. recording the identity and location of the or each valve monitor; ii. receiving signals emitted by the valve monitor at the remote database.

The received signal may be a signal indicating the change of status of the electrical switch and the method includes the further step of issuing a notification when the database receives a signal indicating a change of status of said electrical switch.

The signal received by the remote database in the step ii may be a periodic check signal. The signal received by the remote database may be a test signal.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the Drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of a valve monitoring apparatus according to the invention, and are by way of example: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the valve monitoring apparatus; Figure 2 is a cross section through the valve monitor of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the electronics of the valve monitoring apparatus; Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the algorithm operated in the valve monitoring apparatus; and Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of the valve monitoring apparatus.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring now to Figure 1, a valve monitor 1 comprises a base 2 which is shaped and dimensioned so as to sit on top of a valve cap 6. In the illustrated embodiment the base 2 is circular in cross-section and is formed as a one piece component, for example by 3d printing, or plastics moulding. The base 2 includes an outer side wall 2a, a bottom wall 2b, a sloping side wall 2c, a top wall 2d, an inner side wall 2e and braces 2f. The braces 2f ensure that the base is sufficiently rigid to carry a housing 3 (a pipe in the illustrated embodiment) which is mounted on the base. The braces 2f may be spaced apart elements or alternatively, the whole region between the wall 2c and 2e as indicated may be solid.

The pipe 3 forms an outer housing into which the electronic components of the valve monitor are mounted and is fixed to the outer side wall 2a in such a manner as to provide an environmental seal between the two components. The attachment of the housing 3 to the outer side wall 2a may include corresponding threaded regions which are sealed by a suitable sealant between the threads, or the housing 3 may be welded to the outer side wall 2a.

The wall 2d has a magnetic sensor 5 mounted thereon. Another component of the apparatus is a magnet 6a which the magnet sensor 5 interacts with. The magnet 6a is mounted on the valve cap 6 (the magnet 6a being glued to the valve cap in this embodiment). When the valve monitor 1 is presented up to the valve cap 6 the magnet 6a causes the status of the magnet sensor 5 to change. Similarly, when the valve monitor 1 is removed from the valve cap 6, the state of the magnet sensor 5 changes from open to closed or closed to open.

Figure 2 illustrates in cross-section the valve monitor 1. A printed circuit board 4 is mounted in the housing 3. A battery 10, data processor 11, transmitter 12 and sound generator 13 are mounted on the printed circuit board 4. The magnet sensor 5 and mode indicator LEDs 14a, 14b are attached electrically to the printed circuit board but are physically mounted on other parts of the housing 3.

Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the electronics of the valve monitoring apparatus. The transmitter 12 may be a GPRS transmitter. The database 15 is located remotely, typically on a cloud based server.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating steps of the algorithm operated by the data processor 11 and hence the operation of the apparatus. In step 20 the valve monitor 1 is placed on the valve cap 6, bringing magnet sensor 5 into proximity with the magnet 6a. The status of the magnet sensor 5 changes sending a different electronic signal to the data processor 11. If the different signal is received by the data processor 11 for a threshold period of time, two seconds in this example, the monitor enters a TEST MODE in step 22. If the different signal is received by the data processor 11 for less than the threshold period of time it is ignored in step 23. This could occur when the valve monitor is being fitted to the valve cap 6. For example the person fitting the valve monitor may attempt to fit the valve monitor to the valve cap but find that debris prevents a good fit, in which case the valve monitor may be removed from the valve cap within the threshold period.

If the TEST MODE is entered the data processor 11 attempts to send a signal via the transmitter 12 to connect to the remote database in step 24. In the example the transmitter is a GPRS transmitter and the transmitter attempts to send a signal to the remote database via a GPRS network. If a connection cannot be made within a specified time period, the test has failed and a fail indication is given, such as short burst of sound beeps in step 25. If the connection is made a different indication is given, for example a continuous burst of sound in step 26.

If the TEST MODE succeeds the data processor 11 causes the valve monitor to enter MONITORING MODE in step 27. In the MONITORING MODE the data processor 11 causes a check communication signal to be sent periodically via the transmitter 12 to the remote database 15 in step 28. The status of the magnet sensor 5 is monitored continuously in MONITORING MODE in step 29. If the status of the magnet sensor changes, which would happen if the valve monitor 1 were removed from the valve cap 6, then a different signal would be received by the data processor 11 from the magnet sensor 5. It is possible that very short changes in status may occur, for example due to vibration or the valve monitor being knocked, without the valve monitor actually being removed from the valve cap 6. It is undesirable to record such changes in status of the magnet sensor 5 as indicating that the valve monitor 1 has been removed from the valve cap. Hence, any changes in status of the magnet sensor 5 that is less than a threshold period, such as one second, is ignored in step 30. If, in step 31, the algorithm establishes that the change in status of the magnet sensor 5 lasts for longer than one second then a signal is sent via the transmitter 12 to connect the valve monitor 1 to the remote data base 15 in step 32, the signal indicating that the valve monitor 1 has been removed from the valve cap 6.

At the time of fitting the valve monitor 1 to the valve cap 6, the fitter records the location of the valve and an identification of the valve monitor. The recording of this information may be performed directly to the remote data base, or may be recorded locally for subsequent data entry. The valve monitor 1 may be identified by an indicia on the label 7 mounted on the housing 3. The indicia may be a bar code or a QR code. This may be read with a suitably programmed smart phone or scanner and the information associated with the location. The location can be established from a smart phone (or any device capable of providing GPRS co-ordinates). It is not essential that the location of the valve monitor be obtained from a device that provides GPRS co-ordinates. Any location identification system may be used. Manually recorded map co-ordinates may be used. The location may be recorded by reference to key land marks. All that is necessary in order to locate the valve monitor 1 at a later date is to associate the valve monitor 1 with a particular location.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention where the valve monitoring apparatus is provided in two separate components which are connected together electrically. The valve monitor 10 comprises a base 2', which in this embodiment is circular in cross-section and is formed as a one piece component, for example by 3d printing, or plastics moulding. The base 2' includes an outer side wall 2a', a bottom wall 2b', a sloping side wall 2c', a top wall 2d' and a cover 2e', which may be removably attachable to the side wall 2a', for example by a screw thread or bayonet fitting. As with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the wall 2d' has a magnet sensor 5 mounted thereon. The magnet 6a' with which the magnet sensor 5' interacts is mounted on the valve cap 6'.

A housing 30 is provided for attachment to a wall of a man-way 40. The housing 30 houses a printed circuit board 4' which mounts a battery 10', a data processor 11', a transmitter 12', a sound generator 13'. Mode indicating LEDs 14a', 14b' are attached to a top wall 31 of housing 30 and are connected to the printed circuit board 4' by electrical conductors (for example wires) 14a", 14b". As with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the mode indicating LEDs indicate whether the valve monitor is in the TEST MODE or MONITORING MODE. The circuit board 4' is connected electrically to the electrical components housed in the base 2' (the magnet sensor 5 and any other electrical components, such as a tilt switch) by means of an electrical connection, which in is a cable 32 in the illustrated embodiment. Each of the base 2 and housing 30 are provided with indicia 7' such as a bar or QR code. The two indicia 7' may be the same, they may be different, or they may include a common indication and a sub-indication indicating the nature of the component to which they are attached.

The valve monitor 10 functions according to the flow diagram illustrated in Figure 4 in the same way as the valve monitor 1 described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The electronics of the valve monitoring apparatus 10 is also illustrated by the block-diagram of Figure 3.

The valve monitoring apparatus of the invention provides a very low cost means of monitoring a valve. The apparatus does not monitor whether a particular valve is open or not. Instead it monitors whether a valve has been accessed. This can be very useful in any network maintenance, whether planned or in response to an emergency. In a planned maintenance scenario, after the maintenance has been completed, the records for the valves involved can be reviewed to check whether all the valves that should have been accessed were accessed, and also whether all accessed valves have had their valve monitors replaced. In emergency maintenance the valve monitoring apparatus can assist in finding the particular location of a valve, which may be in a location where access is difficult. Also, the valve monitoring apparatus will highlight whether any valves in a part of the network requiring emergency maintenance have been accessed.

Claims

Claims 1. A valve monitoring apparatus comprising a valve monitor including an end portion shaped and dimensioned to sit on a valve, the valve monitor comprising an electrical switch having an open state and a closed state, the switch configured such that when the valve monitor is placed on the valve the switch changes state and when the valve monitor is removed from the valve the switch changes state, the valve monitor further including a battery, a signal transmitter and a data processor, wherein the electrical switch is connected to the battery and the data processor, the data processor configured to sense the state of the switch and to cause the transmitter to transmit a signal to a remote database when the switch changes state.
2. A valve monitoring apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the remote database is hosted on a web based server.
3. A valve monitoring apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmitter is an antenna.
4. A valve monitoring apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the antenna is an internal cellular antenna.
5. A valve monitoring apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the transmitter is a GSM antenna.
6. A valve monitoring apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the switch is a magnetic switch.
7. A valve monitoring apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the valve monitoring apparatus includes a magnet attached to the valve.
8. A valve monitoring apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the valve monitoring apparatus includes a clock.
9. A valve monitoring apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the clock provides an input signal to the data processor.
10. A valve monitoring apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the data processor is configured to send a signal to the remote database at predetermined intervals of time.
11. A valve monitoring apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the valve monitor has a test mode and a monitoring mode.
12. A valve monitoring apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the data processor is configured to enter the test mode when the switch changes state upon the valve monitor being placed on the valve for a period of time longer than a predetermined time interval.
13. A valve monitoring apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the valve monitor includes a status indicator.
14. A valve monitoring apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the status indicator is connected to the data processor.
15. A valve monitoring apparatus according to any of Claims 11 to 14, wherein the data processor is configured such that in the test mode the apparatus attempts to send a signal over a data transmission network or to connect to a data transmission network.
16. A valve monitoring apparatus according to any of Claims 11 to 15, wherein the data processor is configured such that in the monitoring mode the valve monitor sends a signal via the transmitter to the remote database if the switch changes between the open and closed states.
17. A valve monitoring apparatus according to any of Claims 'I to 5 or 8-16 when dependent on any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the valve monitor includes a switch actuator element which is moveable between two positions; in a first position the element causes the switch to occupy one of the open and closed states and in a second position the element causes the switch to occupy the other of the open and closed states.
18. A valve monitoring apparatus according to Claim 17, wherein the switch is a gravity switch or a tilt switch.
19. A valve monitor according to any preceding claim, wherein the valve monitoring apparatus comprises two housings, a first housing which includes the end portion shaped and dimensioned to sit on a valve and as second housing which houses at least one of the battery, signal transmitter and date processor and wherein the first and second housings are connected together electrically.
20. A method of monitoring a pipeline network including at least one valve and at least one valve monitoring apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 19, the method comprising the steps of: i. recording the identity and location of the or each valve monitor; ii. receiving signals emitted by the valve monitor at the remote database.
21. The method of Claim 19, wherein the received signal is a signal indicating the change of status of the electrical switch and the method includes the further step of issuing a notification when the database receives a signal indicating a change of status of said electrical switch.
22. The method of Claim 20 or 21, wherein the signal received by the remote database in the step ii is a periodic check signal.
23. The method of any of Claims 20 to 22, wherein the signal received by the remote database is a test signal.