System and method for detecting end gun status
AssigneeValmont Industries, Inc.
InventorMark Moeller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for using a small, wireless gyroscopic sensor to monitor end gun operations. Further, the present invention provides a system and method for using an accelerometer to detect vibrations at the end gun. According to further preferred embodiments, the present invention includes a diagnostic application which receives gyroscopic sensor data and accelerometer data. The diagnostic applications of the present invention preferably include logic and threshold limits which are applied to the received data. The present system preferably provides notifications and warnings based on detected changes in rotational motion, orientation changes and vibration levels in and around the end gun.
Claims18
A method for monitoring an end gun within an irrigation system, wherein the method comprises:
- receiving a status confirmation from a plurality of linked sensors;
- wherein the plurality of linked sensors comprise a gyroscopic sensor;
- wherein the gyroscopic sensor is configured to detect at least one of an angular velocity and orientation of the end gun;
- storing a first set of acceleration profile data;
- wherein the first set of acceleration profile data comprises a first look-up table linking a first set of vibrational range values with a first set of water pressure range values;
- storing gyroscopic profile data;
- wherein the gyroscopic profile data comprises a gyroscopic look-up table linking a first set of end gun orientation range values to a first set of time segment range values;
- executing a stored irrigation plan;
- receiving accelerometer sensor data, water pressure sensor data, gyroscopic sensor data and time segment data;
- comparing the received accelerometer sensor data to an acceleration range value linked to the water pressure sensor data;
- comparing the received gyroscopic sensor data to an end gun orientation range value linked to the time segment data;
- transmitting a first notice if the received accelerometer sensor data is outside of the acceleration range value linked to the water pressure sensor data;
- transmitting a second notice if the received gyroscopic sensor data is outside of the end gun orientation value for the time segment data;
- determining a functional status of the end gun based on received accelerometer sensor data;
- and
- determining the functional status of the end gun based on received gyroscopic sensor data.
A method for monitoring an end gun within an irrigation system, wherein the method comprises:
- receiving a status confirmation from a plurality of linked sensors;
- wherein the plurality of linked sensors comprise a gyroscopic sensor;
- wherein the gyroscopic sensor is configured to detect an angular velocity of the end gun;
- storing a first set of acceleration profile data;
- wherein the first set of acceleration profile data comprises a first look-up table linking a first set of acceleration event range values with a first set of water pressure range values;
- storing gyroscopic profile data;
- wherein the gyroscopic profile data comprises a gyroscopic look-up table linking a first set of end gun angular velocity range values to a first set of time segment range values;
- executing a stored irrigation plan;
- receiving accelerometer sensor data, water pressure sensor data, gyroscopic sensor data and time segment data;
- comparing the received accelerometer sensor data to an acceleration range value linked to the water pressure sensor data;
- comparing the received gyroscopic sensor data to an end gun angular velocity range value linked to the time segment data;
- transmitting a first notice if the received accelerometer sensor data is outside of the acceleration range value linked to the water pressure sensor data;
- transmitting a second notice if the received gyroscopic sensor data is outside of the end gun angular velocity range value for the time segment data;
- determining a functional status of the end gun based on received accelerometer sensor data;
- and
- determining the functional status of the end gun based on received gyroscopic sensor data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.