Back to results
US 5,608,171 AGranted
Distributed, unattended wastewater monitoring system
OwnerRobert M. Hunter, Frank M. Stewartinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A distributed, unattended wastewater monitoring system that uses advances in low-energy signal processing and distributed microelectromechanical systems and that involves wireless interrogation of distributed, low-power, normally-off sensors. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of flowmeter stations and at least one rain gauge station are networked through a base station for storm water discharge of infiltration-inflow monitoring. Wireless transceivers are used to transmit radio signals into and out of a sewer manhole.
Claims22
A system for monitoring a flowing wastewater comprising:
- at least one flowmeter station installed in a sewer manhole, said at least one flowmeter station comprising a secondary element and a first wireless transmitter/receiver, and said sewer manhole having a cover,
- said first wireless transmitter/receiver being attached to said secondary element of each said at least one flowmeter station, having a first antenna, and being adapted to transmit and receive radio signals through said manhole cover, said signals being characterized by a first transmission power value, and
- a base station comprising a second wireless transmitter/receiver and a computer, said second wireless transmitter/receiver having a second antenna and being adapted to transmit and receive radio signals through said manhole cover, said signals being characterized by a second transmission power value,
- wherein said first and second transmission power values are selected from the group consisting of
- at least 0.05 milliwatts when said cover has at least one standard hole, and
- at least 5 milliwatts when said cover is holeless.
3 more elements
A method for monitoring a flowing wastewater comprising:
- installing at least one flowmeter station in a sewer manhole, said at least one flowmeter station comprising a secondary element and a first wireless transmitter/receiver, and said sewer manhole having a cover,
- said first wireless transmitter/receiver being attached to said secondary element of each said at least one flowmeter station, having a first antenna, and being adapted to transmit and receive radio signals through said manhole cover, said signals being characterized by a first transmission power value, and
- providing a base station comprising a second wireless transmitter/receiver and a computer, said second wireless transmitter/receiver having a second antenna and being adapted to transmit and receive radio signals through said manhole cover, said signals being characterized by a second transmission power value,
- wherein said first and second transmission power values are selected from the group consisting of
- at least 0.05 milliwatts when said cover has at least one standard hole, and
- at least 5 milliwatts when said cover is holeless.
3 more elements
A system for monitoring a flowing wastewater comprising:
- at least one flowmeter station installed in a sewer manhole, said at least one flowmeter station comprising a secondary element and a first wireless transmitter/receiver, and said sewer manhole having a cover that is in place,
- said first wireless transmitter/receiver being attached to said secondary element of each said at least one flowmeter station, and having a first antenna, and
- a base station comprising a second wireless transmitter/receiver and a computer, said second wireless transmitter/receiver having a second antenna,
- wherein data are communicated between said flowmeter station and said base station by means of radio signals produced by said wireless transmitter/receivers.
1 more element
A method for monitoring a flowing wastewater comprising:
- installing at least one flowmeter station in a sewer manhole, said at least one flowmeter station comprising a secondary element and a first wireless transmitter/receiver, said sewer manhole having a cover that is in place, said cover having a hole therein,
- said first wireless transmitter/receiver being attached to said secondary element of each said at least one flowmeter station, and having a first antenna, and
- providing a base station comprising a second wireless transmitter/receiver and a computer, said second wireless transmitter/receiver having a second antenna,
- wherein data are communicated between said flowmeter station and said base station by means of radio signals produced by said wireless transmitter/receivers.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.