US5608171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Distributed, unattended wastewater monitoring system
Assignee: Yellowstone Environmental Science Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-21
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Granted: 1997-03-04
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Expires: 2014-12-21
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Hunter
- 👤 Frank M. Stewart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N35/00; G01N35/00584; G01N35/00722; G01N35/00871; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/34; G01F1/36; G01F1/363; G01F1/40; G01F1/44; G01F23/00; G01F23/14; G01F23/16; G01F23/165; G01F23/168; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/10; G01N35/00732; G01N9/00; G01N9/26; G01N9/28; G01N2001/1031; G01N2001/1043; G01N2035/00742; G01N2035/00782; G01N2035/00881
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 wherein a first antenna cable is attached to said first wireless transmitter/receiver and said first antenna cable is attached by means of a magnet to said cover.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said cover acts as said first antenna.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising an automatic sampler attached to and actuated by said secondary element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said base station further comprises an attached rain gauge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one rain gauge station comprising a rain gauge and a wireless transmitter having a third antenna and being adapted to transmit radio signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a relay station adapted to relay radio signals between said at least one flowmeter station and said base station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one flowmeter station further comprises a primary element and said primary element comprises a constriction having an entrance section and a throat section, wherein said entrance section has a shape that is an eccentric, truncated cone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said primary element produces pressures in the wastewater and said pressures are sensed by microelectromechanical devices.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
167 words
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.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
167 words
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.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 10 wherein a first antenna cable is attached to said first wireless transmitter/receiver and said first antenna cable is attached by means of a magnet to said cover.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said cover acts as said first antenna.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising attaching an automatic sampler to and actuating said sampler by said secondary element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said base station further comprises an attached rain gauge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising providing at least one rain gauge station comprising a rain gauge and a wireless transmitter having a third antenna and being adapted to transmit radio signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a relay station adapted to relay radio signals between said at least one flowmeter station and said base station.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said at least one flowmeter station further comprises a primary element and said primary element comprises a constriction having an entrance section and a throat section, wherein said entrance section has a shape that is an eccentric, truncated cone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said primary element produces pressures in the wastewater and said pressures are sensed by microelectromechanical devices.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
109 words
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.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
109 words
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.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said first and second wireless transmitter/receivers are adapted to transmit and receive said radio signals through said manhole cover.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
115 words
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.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
115 words
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.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said first and second wireless transmitter/receivers are adapted to transmit and receive said radio signals through said hole.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-03 | 2000-09-02 | 2001-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-03 | 2004-09-02 | 2005-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-03 | 2008-09-02 | 2009-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |