Fluid storage systems and monitoring
AssigneeDarling Ingredients Inc.
InventorCraig Allen Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A monitoring unit for a fluid storage receptacle includes a sensor to attach to the fluid storage receptacle and detect an amount of empty space between fluid contents of the fluid storage receptacle and the sensor, and a transmitter to receive and transmit data from the sensor. The monitoring unit also includes a proximity sensor to detect a presence of a beacon within a proximity range of the proximity sensor, a controller to selectively open a fluid control valve of the waste oil receptacle, or both the proximity sensor and the controller.
Claims25
A fluid storage system, comprising:
- a fluid storage receptacle defining an interior volume and configured to hold fluid contents, the fluid storage receptacle comprising a drainage fluid line and a fluid control valve in the drainage fluid line;
- and
- a monitoring unit coupled to the fluid storage receptacle proximate a top of the fluid storage receptacle, the monitoring unit comprising:
- a fluid level sensor directed vertically downward into the interior volume of the fluid storage receptacle, the fluid level sensor configured to detect an amount of space between the fluid contents and the fluid level sensor;
- a transmitter configured to receive and transmit data from the fluid level sensor;
- and
- a proximity sensor configured to detect a presence of a beacon on a service vehicle within a proximity range of the monitoring unit;
- and
- wherein the fluid control valve is communicably coupled to the monitoring unit and configured to open the drainage fluid line to the fluid flow in response to the proximity sensor detecting the presence of the beacon on the service vehicle.
A method, comprising:
- attaching a monitoring unit to a fluid storage receptacle proximate a top of the fluid storage receptacle, the fluid storage receptacle configured to hold fluid contents;
- detecting, with a fluid level sensor of the monitoring unit, an amount of space between the fluid contents and the fluid level sensor;
- transmitting, with a transmitter of the monitoring unit, data from the fluid level sensor to a server, the data being representative of the amount of space between the fluid contents and the fluid level sensor;
- detecting, with a proximity sensor of the monitoring unit, a presence of a beacon on a service vehicle within a proximity range of the monitoring unit;
- and
- in response to detecting the presence of the beacon on the service vehicle, opening a fluid control valve in a drainage fluid line of the fluid storage receptacle.
A monitoring unit for a waste oil receptacle, the monitoring unit comprising:
- an ultrasonic sensor configured to attach to a waste oil receptacle and detect an amount of empty space between fluid contents of the waste oil receptacle and the ultrasonic sensor;
- a transmitter configured to receive and transmit data from the ultrasonic sensor;
- a proximity sensor configured to detect a presence of a beacon on a service vehicle within a proximity range of the proximity sensor, the proximity sensor comprising a Bluetooth Low Energy sensor;
- a housing to house the ultrasonic sensor, transmitter, and proximity sensor;
- and
- at least one magnet coupled to the housing and configured to magnetically attach the monitoring unit to an interior metallic surface of the waste oil receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.