# US 10,373,473 B2 · Method for monitoring material in a container

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- Number: US 10,373,473 B2
- Document ID: US10373473B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/899,269
- Filed: 2018-02-19
- Published: 2018-07-12
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-09
- Assignees: Economy Mud Products Company
- Applicants: Economy Mud Products Company
- Inventors: Manjit Chowdhary; Walter White; Bobby Hyatt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10373473B2

## CPC

- G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold}
- G01F 23/284: Electromagnetic waves
- G01F 23/303: {characterised by means to prevent fault-level readings due to turbulence of the fluid, e.g. special float housings}
- G06Q 10/0833: Tracking
- G08B 5/22: using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- H04L 67/025: for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
- H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
- B60P 3/228: {Measuring or indicating means, e.g. of level, volume, weight}
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)

## Abstract

A method for monitoring an amount of a chemical material that includes: providing an at least one portable container; and providing into the at least one portable container a first amount of the chemical material. The method includes operatively associating a sensor with the at least one portable container, the sensor effective to detect a first level of the chemical material in the at least portable container and to generate a first data signal based on the first level. The method includes operating the sensor to detect a change in the amount of the chemical material in the at least one portable container, and thereby to generate a second data signal based on the change. The method includes using a processor in operable communication with the sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for monitoring an amount of a chemical material, the method comprising:
providing an at least one portable container;
filling the at least one portable container at least partially with a first amount of the chemical material;
operatively associating a sensor with the at least one portable container, the sensor effective to detect a first level of the chemical material in the portable container when the portable container is at a first location and to generate a first data signal based on the first level;
operating the sensor in a manner effective to detect a second level of the chemical material in the portable container and to generate a second data signal based on the second level;
using a processor in operable communication with the sensor, whereby the sensor communicates the first data signal and the second data signal to the processor, and the processor is effective to receive the first data signal and the second data signal;
generating a report based on the first data signal and the second data signal, the report relating to at least one of the amount of the chemical material, or a change of amount of the chemical material, in the container;
wherein the processor is in communication with a database, wherein the processor generates a warning signal when the amount is below a predetermined threshold, wherein the processor is effective to send the report over a network to at least one of a computer display proximate to the first location, a website, and a mobile application, wherein the report further comprises information indicating a location of the portable container, and wherein the chemical material is useable in connection with an oilfield operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the method further comprising providing a plurality of portable containers, each of the containers having its respective sensors for measuring material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the material comprises guar, and wherein the processor is effective to send the report to a mobile device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the material comprises guar, and wherein the processor is effective to send the report to a mobile device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:
providing a second portable container;
filling the second portable container at least partially with a second chemical material;
operatively associating a second sensor with the second container, the second sensor effective to detect a change in level of the second chemical material in the second portable container, the portable container being at a second location;
operating the second sensor generate a set of data signals based on the change in level;
using a second processor in operable communication with the second sensor, whereby the second sensor communicates the set of data signals to the second processor, and the second processor is effective to receive the set of data signals;
wherein the second processor is in communication with the database, wherein the second processor is effective to send a second report, wherein the second report further comprises information indicating the second location of the second portable container.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the method further comprising providing a plurality of portable containers, each of the containers having its respective sensors for measuring chemical material, wherein the chemical material comprises guar.

### Claim 7

A method for monitoring an amount of a chemical material, the method comprising:
providing an at least one portable container;
filling the at least one portable container at least partially with a first amount of the chemical material;
operatively associating a sensor with the at least one portable container, the sensor effective to detect a first level of the chemical material in the at least portable container and to generate a first data signal based on the first level;
operating the sensor to detect a second level of the chemical material in the at least one portable container and to generate a second data signal based on the second level;
using a processor in operable communication with the sensor, whereby the sensor communicates the first data signal and the second data signal to the processor, and the processor receives the first data signal and the second data signal;
generating a report based on the first data signal and the second data signal, the report relating to the amount of the chemical material; and
generating a warning signal when the amount is below a predetermined threshold;
wherein the processor is in communication with a database, wherein the processor communicates the report over a network to at least one of a computer display, a website, and a mobile application, and wherein the chemical material is useable in connection with an oilfield operation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, the method further comprising providing a plurality of portable containers, each of the containers having its respective sensors for measuring material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the processor communicates the report to a mobile device, and wherein the report further comprises information indicating a location of the at least one portable container.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the chemical material comprises guar.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, the method further comprising:
providing a second portable container;
filling the second portable container at least partially with a second chemical material;
operatively associating a second sensor with the second container, the second sensor effective to detect a change in level of the second chemical material in the second portable container, the portable container being at a second location;
operating the second sensor generate a set of data signals based on the change in level;
using a second processor in operable communication with the second sensor, whereby the second sensor communicates the set of data signals to the second processor, and the second processor is effective to receive the set of data signals;
wherein the second processor is in communication with the database, wherein the second processor is effective to send a second report, wherein the second report further comprises information indicating the second location of the second portable container.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, the method further comprising providing a plurality of portable containers, each of the containers having its respective sensors for measuring chemical material, wherein the chemical material comprises guar.

### Claim 13

A method for monitoring an amount of a chemical material, the method comprising:
providing an at least one portable container;
providing into the at least one portable container a first amount of the chemical material;
operatively associating a sensor with the at least one portable container, the sensor effective to detect a first level of the chemical material in the at least portable container and to generate a first data signal based on the first level;
operating the sensor to detect a change in the amount of the chemical material in the at least one portable container, and thereby to generate a second data signal based on the change;
using a processor in operable communication with the sensor, whereby the sensor communicates the first data signal and the second data signal to the processor, and the processor receives the first data signal and the second data signal;
generating a report based on the first data signal and the second data signal, the report relating to the amount of the chemical material; and
generating a warning signal when the amount is beyond a predetermined threshold;
wherein the processor is in communication via a network with a second processor operably associated with of one of computer display, a website, and a mobile device, and wherein the chemical material is useable in connection with an oilfield operation.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:
transporting the at least one portable container to a first location;
generating the report with additional information pertaining to historical changes in the amount of the chemical material, and to the location of the at least one portable container.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, the method further comprising providing a mobile application usable with the mobile device, the mobile application configured to provide the report.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, the method further comprising providing a plurality of portable containers, each of the containers having respective sensors for measuring material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the processor communicates the report to a mobile device, and wherein the report further comprises information indicating a location of the at least one portable container.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the chemical material comprises guar.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:
providing a second portable container;
filling the second portable container at least partially with a second chemical material;
operatively associating a second sensor with the second container, the second sensor effective to detect a change in level of the second chemical material in the second portable container, the portable container being at a second location;
operating the second sensor generate a set of data signals based on the change in level;
using a second processor in operable communication with the second sensor, whereby the second sensor communicates the set of data signals to the second processor, and the second processor is effective to receive the set of data signals;
wherein the second processor is in communication with the database, wherein the second processor is effective to send a second report, wherein the second report further comprises information indicating the second location of the second portable container.