Method for controlling LP gas inventory
OwnerNaresh P. Patelinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computerized method for sensing the level of liquefied gas in a tank at a remote location and transmitting data between the location of the tank and the computer to maintain files for inventory control. A microprocessor collects electrical signals from a tank mounted transducer, which is actuated by a float gauge, and periodically sends data over telephone lines to a computer located remotely from the tank. The computer receives and processes data during time windows established for each of a group of tanks to provide current data regarding the supply of liquefied gas in the tanks.
Claims6
A method of collecting information for controlling LP gas inventory comprising the steps of:
- providing sender means to generate a signal indicating the level of LP gas in a tank;
- storing said signal;
- programming clock means located at the location of the sender means to establish a time window during which the sender means is enabled to receive a telephone call from a remote computer whereby said sender means does not respond to incoming telephone calls that fall outside of the predetermined time window;
- programming said remote computer to communicate with said sender means during the time window;
- and transmitting said stored signal from said sender means to said remote computer.
A method of collecting information for controlling LP gas inventory in tanks at multiple locations comprising the steps of:
- providing sender means associated with each tank to generate signals indicating the volume of LP gas in each particular tank;
- storing said signals;
- programming clock means located at the location of each sender means to establish predetermined time windows during which each sender means is enabled to receive a telephone call from a remote computer whereby the sender means does not respond to incoming telephone calls that fall outside of the predetermined time window;
- programming the remote computer to communicate with each of said sender means during a predetermined time window;
- and transmitting said stored signals from said particular sender means to said remote computer during the predetermined time window.
A method of collecting information for controlling LP gas inventory in tanks at multiple remote locations comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a sensor associated with each tank to generate signals indicating the amount of LP gas in each particular tank;
- (b) providing a sender for receiving and storing signals from at least one sensor;
- (c) providing a remote computer to communicate with each of said senders during a predetermined time window;
- (d) providing a programmable clock to establish predetermined time windows during which each sender is enabled to receive a telephone call from the remote computer whereby the sender does not respond to incoming telephone calls that fall outside of the predetermined time windows;
- and
- (e) transmitting the stored signals from the sender to the remote computer when the sender receives a telephone call from the remote computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.