# US 9,435,675 B2 · Method and apparatus for monitoring, communicating, and analyzing the amount of fluid in a tank > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,675 B2 - Document ID: US9435675B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/870,828 - Filed: 2015-09-30 - Published: 2016-04-07 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-02 - Assignees: BreatheWise, LLC - Applicants: BreatheWise, LLC - Inventors: Eric Christopher Wise - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435675B2 ## CPC - G01F 22/02: involving measurement of pressure - F17C 13/023: {having the mass as the parameter} - G01F 1/00: Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00) - G01F 1/86: Indirect mass flowmeters, e.g. measuring volume flow and density, temperature or pressure - G01F 13/006: {measuring volume in function of time} - G01F 15/066: {involving magnetic transmission devices} - G01F 15/068: {with electrical means (G01F15/063 takes precedence)} - G01F 15/0755: {involving digital counting} - G01N 9/36: Analysing materials by measuring the density or specific gravity, e.g. determining quantity of moisture (methods of measurement in general G01N9/02 - G01N9/32) - F17C 2221/011: Oxygen - F17C 2250/0421: Mass or weight of the content of the vessel - F17C 2250/0426: Volume - F17C 2250/0495: the indicated parameter is a converted measured parameter - F17C 2270/025: Breathing - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A device for monitoring the mass of a fluid remaining in a tank as the fluid periodically or continuously leaves the tank includes a housing comprising an inlet adapted to be attached to an outlet of the tank and to receive fluid from the tank. A flow meter measures a plurality of flow rate measurements of the fluid as it leaves the tank. At least one processor is configured to determine a mass of the fluid that has left the tank during at least one measurement period, determine a mass of the fluid remaining in the tank based at least partially on an initial mass of the fluid in the tank and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank, and generate, based on the mass of the fluid remaining, an indication. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for monitoring the mass of a fluid remaining in a tank as the fluid periodically or continuously leaves the tank, comprising: (a) measuring, with a flow meter in communication with at least one processor, a plurality of flow rate measurements of the fluid as it leaves the tank during at least one measurement period, wherein each flow rate measurement of the plurality of flow rate measurements is determined at a time interval, and wherein the flow meter is disposed in a housing comprising an inlet adapted to be connected to an outlet of the tank such that the flow meter measures the plurality of flow rate measurements after the fluid leaves the tank and flows through a pressure regulator; (b) determining, with the at least one processor, a mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on: (i) an averaged value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period, (ii) a density of the fluid at a pressure and/or temperature of the fluid as it passes through the flow meter, and (iii) the time interval between the plurality of flow rate measurements; (c) periodically or continuously measuring, with the at least one processor and a pressure sensor in communication with the at least one processor, a pressure inside the tank, resulting in pressure data; (d) determining, with the at least one processor, a rate of change of the pressure in the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on the pressure data; (e) determining, with the at least one processor, a volume of the tank based at least partially on the rate of change in pressure in the tank during the at least one measurement period and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period; (f) determining, with the at least one processor, an initial mass of the fluid in the tank based at least partially on an initial pressure in the tank and the volume of the tank; (g) determining, with the at least one processor, a mass of the fluid remaining in the tank based at least partially on the initial mass of the fluid in the tank and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period; (h) generating, with the at least one processor and based at least partially on the mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an indication of at least one of the following: a volume of the fluid remaining in the tank, a consumption rate, a consumption rate history, the determined mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an estimated time remaining before the tank will be empty, or any combination thereof; and (i) communicating the indication to a remote system or device, wherein the remote system or device comprises at least one of the following: a robot, an automated valve configured to open or close based on the indication, a software application configured to plan or predict supply chain events, capital expenses, and/or delivery routes to customers, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, with the at least one processor, the estimated time remaining before the tank will be empty based at least partially on the determined mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, and the average value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure and/or temperature of the fluid is assumed, predetermined, or measured, wherein the density of the fluid at the pressure and/or temperature is assumed or predetermined, and wherein the initial mass of the fluid in the tank is assumed, predetermined, or measured. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication further comprises the volume of the tank. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a plurality of volumes of the tank, wherein the initial mass of the fluid in the tank is determined using an average value of the plurality of calculated volumes of the tank. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rate of change of the pressure in the tank is determined by conducting a plurality of pressure measurements of the tank at predetermined intervals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each flow rate measurement comprises a rolling mean of a plurality of flow rates. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication further comprises information identifying the tank. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the remote system or device comprises the automated valve connected to at least a second tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises at least one of the following: a visual representation on a display device or graphical user interface, a change in an appearance of a warning light, an audible alarm, an electronically generated voice, a release of a scented gas, an electronic alert, an electronic signal, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 11 A device for monitoring the mass of a fluid remaining in a tank as the fluid periodically or continuously leaves the tank, comprising: a housing comprising an inlet adapted to be attached to an outlet of the tank and to receive fluid from the tank; a flow meter disposed in the housing and configured to measure a plurality of flow rate measurements of the fluid after it leaves the tank and flows through a pressure regulator during at least one measurement period, wherein each flow rate measurement of the plurality of flow rate measurements is determined at a time interval; a pressure sensor in communication with the at least one processor, the pressure sensor configured to periodically or continuously measure a pressure inside the tank, resulting in pressure data; and at least one processor in communication with the flow meter and the pressure sensor, the at least one processor programmed or configured to: determine a mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on: an averaged value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period, a density of the fluid at a pressure and/or temperature of the fluid as it passes through the flow meter, and the time interval between the plurality of flow rate measurements; receive the pressure data; determine a rate of change of the pressure in the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on the pressure data; determine a volume of the tank based at least partially on the rate of change in pressure in the tank during the at least one measurement period and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period; determine an initial mass of the fluid in the tank based at least partially on an initial pressure in the tank and the volume of the tank; determine a mass of the fluid remaining in the tank based at least partially on the initial mass of the fluid in the tank and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period; generate, based at least partially on the mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an indication of at least one of the following: a volume of the fluid remaining in the tank, a consumption rate, a consumption rate history, the determined mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an estimated time remaining before the tank will be empty, or any combination thereof; and communicate the indication to a remote system or device, wherein the remote system or device comprises at least one of the following: a robot, an automated valve configured to open or close based on the indication, a software application configured to plan or predict supply chain events, capital expenses, and/or delivery routes to customers, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: determine the estimated time remaining before the tank will be empty based at least partially on the determined mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, and the average value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the indication further comprises the volume of the tank. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: determine a plurality of volumes of the tank, wherein the initial mass of the fluid in the tank is determined using an average value of the plurality of determined volumes of the tank. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the rate of change of the pressure in the tank is determined by conducting a plurality of pressure measurements of the tank at predetermined intervals. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the flow meter is configured to measure flow rate by calculating a rolling mean of a plurality of flow rates. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, further comprising: a display device disposed in or attached to the housing, the display device configured to display a visual representation based on the indication. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, further comprising: a communications device disposed in or attached to the housing, the communications device configured to communicate the indication to the remote system or device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the remote system or device comprises a processor executing the software application configured to plan or predict supply chain events, capital expenses, and/or delivery routes to customers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the remote system or device comprises the automated valve. ### Claim 21 A non-transitory computer-readable medium for monitoring the mass of a fluid remaining in a tank as the fluid periodically or continuously leaves the tank through an automated valve, comprising program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: measure, with a flow meter in communication with the at least one processor, a plurality of flow rate measurements of the fluid as it leaves the tank during at least one measurement period, wherein each flow rate measurement of the plurality of flow rate measurements is determined at a time interval; determine a mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on: an averaged value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period, a density of the fluid at a pressure and/or temperature of the fluid as it passes through the flow meter, and the time interval between the plurality of flow rate measurements; determine a mass of the fluid remaining in the tank based at least partially on a known, measured, or determined initial mass of the fluid in the tank and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period; generate, based at least partially on the mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an indication of at least one of the following: a volume of the fluid remaining in the tank, a volume of the tank, a consumption rate, a consumption rate history, the determined mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an estimated time remaining before the tank will be empty, or any combination thereof; and control the automated valve of the tank based at least partially on at least one of the mass of the fluid remaining in the tank and the indication.