# US 2019/0356740 A1 · Hybrid wireless sensor network architecture for fluid delivery and distribution systems

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- Number: US 2019/0356740 A1
- Document ID: US20190356740A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/482,757
- Filed: 2018-02-01
- Published: 2019-11-21
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-01
- Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Applicants: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Inventors: QingHui YUAN; Jeffrey LOWINGER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356740A1

## CPC

- H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network
- G05D 7/0617: {specially adapted for fluid materials}
- H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
- H04W 4/38: for collecting sensor information
- F16L 55/07: Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining (apparatus for draining F16T)
- H04Q 2209/40: using a wireless architecture
- H04Q 2209/823: where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
- H04Q 2209/886: using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
- H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

The present disclosure describes a hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture for monitoring, operating, controlling, or maintaining a fluid delivery and distribution system. The architecture includes intelligent fittings locatable at almost any location within the system and that are configured with sensor modules to make measurements of characteristics of a fluid passing therethrough or of component parameters, and with wireless communication modules to wireless communicate the measurements. The intelligent fittings may be used, via strategic location, to convert unintelligent components of the system into intelligent components at a cost lower than that required to replace the unintelligent components with intelligent components. The intelligent fittings may also replace unintelligent fittings to provide supplemental data corresponding to fluid characteristics at desired locations of a fluid delivery and distribution system. The architecture further includes a digital twin of a hybrid, wireless sensor network that may downloaded to controllers for use.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture for a fluid delivery and distribution system, said architecture comprising:
a first component adapted to perform one or more functions on a fluid or in response to receiving a fluid;
a second component adapted to perform one or more functions on the fluid or in response to receiving the fluid; and
an intelligent fitting connected for fluid communication between said first component and said second component, said intelligent fitting being adapted to communicate the fluid between said first component and said second component, said intelligent fitting having a sensor adapted to perform measurements of a characteristic of the fluid and to wirelessly communicate data representative of the measurements via a communication network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1, wherein said first component comprises an intelligent component and said second component comprises an unintelligent component.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 2, wherein said intelligent fitting is connected for fluid communication directly to said second component.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1, wherein said first component comprises an unintelligent component and said second component comprises an intelligent component.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 4, wherein said intelligent fitting is connected for fluid communication directly to said first component.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1, wherein said first component comprises an intelligent component and said second active component comprises an intelligent component.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1, wherein said intelligent fitting comprises a connector fitting, an elbow fitting, a tee fitting, a wye fitting, or a coupler fitting.

### Claim 8

(canceled)

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10

(canceled)

### Claim 11

(canceled)

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1, wherein said communication network comprises a local area network, a broadband network, or a personal area network.

### Claim 13

(canceled)

### Claim 14

(canceled)

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the fluid measurable by said intelligent fitting comprises the temperature of the fluid, the pressure of the fluid, the flow rate of the fluid, or the level of the fluid.

### Claim 16

(canceled)

### Claim 17

(canceled)

### Claim 18

(canceled)

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first component or said second component comprises a pump, a filter, an actuator or a compressor.

### Claim 20

(canceled)

### Claim 21

(canceled)

### Claim 22

(canceled)

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises hydraulic fluid, a fuel or water.

### Claim 24

(canceled)

### Claim 25

(canceled)

### Claim 26

A hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture for a fluid delivery and distribution system, said architecture comprising:
a first component adapted to perform one or more functions on a fluid or in response to receiving a fluid;
a second component adapted to perform one or more functions on the fluid or in response to receiving the fluid;
an intelligent fitting connected for fluid communication between said first component and said second component, said intelligent fitting being adapted to communicate the fluid between said first component and said second component, said intelligent fitting having a sensor adapted to perform measurements of a characteristic of the fluid and to wirelessly communicate data representative of the measurements via a communication network; and
a controller adapted to receive data representative of the measurements of the characteristic of the fluid communicated wirelessly from said intelligent fitting.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 26, wherein said controller is further adapted to control operation of at least one of said first component or said second component based at least in part on received data representative of the measurements of the characteristic of the fluid.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 26, wherein said controller is further adapted to predict required maintenance for at least one of said first component or said second component based at least in part on received data representative of the measurements of the characteristic of the fluid.

### Claim 29

(canceled)

### Claim 30 (depends on 26)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 26, wherein said controller is further adapted to use received data representative of the measurements of the characteristic of the fluid to emulate operation of said first component or said second component via a digital twin.

### Claim 31

(canceled)

### Claim 32

(canceled)

### Claim 33

(canceled)

### Claim 34

A hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture for a fluid delivery and distribution system, said architecture comprising:
one or more intelligent components each adapted to perform one or more functions on a fluid or in response to receiving a fluid, said one or more intelligent components having a sensor module adapted to perform measurements of a characteristic of the fluid and to wirelessly communicate data representative of the measurements via a communication network;
one or more unintelligent components each adapted to perform one or more functions on the fluid or in response to receiving the fluid; and
at least one intelligent fitting connected between an intelligent component and an unintelligent component, said at least one intelligent fitting being adapted to communicate the fluid between said intelligent component and said unintelligent component, said at least one intelligent fitting having a sensor module adapted to perform measurements of a characteristic of the fluid and to wirelessly communicate data representative of the measurement via a communication network.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 34, wherein said architecture further comprises a controller adapted to receive data representative of measurements of one or more characteristics of the fluid communicated wirelessly from said at least one intelligent fitting and said one or more intelligent components.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 35, wherein said controller is operative, based at least in part on said received data, to control operation of said one or more intelligent components and said one or more unintelligent components.

### Claim 37 (depends on 35)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 35, wherein said controller is operative to model operation of said one or more intelligent components and said one or more unintelligent components using digital twins in connection with said received data.

### Claim 38 (depends on 34)

The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 34, wherein said sensor module of said at least one intelligent fitting is adapted to derive electrical power for operation by harvesting energy from the fluid.

### Claim 39

(canceled)

### Claim 40

(canceled)