Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
  • G01F15/06—Indicating or recording devices
  • G01F15/061—Indicating or recording devices for remote indication
  • G01F15/063—Indicating or recording devices for remote indication using electrical means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
  • G01F15/00—Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
  • G01F15/07—Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism
  • G01F15/075—Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism using electrically-operated integrating means
  • G01F15/0755—Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism using electrically-operated integrating means involving digital counting

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring flow of fluid in at least one conduit, and a kit of parts forming the system.
• the system and method have applications in many industrial sectors and in particular where different fluids may be carried by the same conduits at different times.
• cleaning fluid of some type is periodically passed through conduits which usually carry desired fluids such as food or drink products, oil, gas, petroleum or any other fluids to effect periodic cleaning and prevent contamination or other effect on the conduit.
• desired fluids such as food or drink products, oil, gas, petroleum or any other fluids to effect periodic cleaning and prevent contamination or other effect on the conduit.
• the present invention has applications in breweries and in flow systems between the cellars and public areas of public houses, cafes, restaurants, bars and the like serving beer, soft drinks and wine and the like on draught.
• a system for monitoring flow of a fluid in at least one conduit comprising monitoring means for monitoring data relating to the volume flow of the fluid over a given period of time from data derived from a flow measurement means for measuring the total volume flow in the conduit at any given time.
• the present invention is based on the surprising discovery that a system may be provided to monitor fluid flow which uses flow data over a given time to give the user an accurate representation of fluid flow within the conduit in that time.
• Reference herein to a conduit is to any pipe, channel, hose or any other pathway through which a fluid may flow.
• Reference herein to a fluid is to any flowable solid, liquid, gas or vapour including water, detergent, food and drink products, oil, gas, air and also including fluids as dissolved or mixed solids or gases or mixtures thereof.
• Reference herein to a flow measurement means is to any commonly used flow meter such as turbine meters including infra red or Hall effect sensors or sensors using any other working principle.
• Reference herein to a given period of time can be any period of time suitable for the intended application, for example from one second to one month.
• the monitoring means may comprise any means to effectively monitor flow of fluid in at least one conduit as hereinbefore defined.
• monitoring means may comprise any means to collect store and process the data, displaying it to the user in suitable fashion.
• monitoring means comprises calculating means, storage means, processing means and display means.
• monitoring means also monitors data derived from an identification device for identifying the fluid in the conduit at any given time.
• the device for identification of a fluid in a conduit may be any known device for this purpose.
• the device may function by measuring any fluid property which allows differentiation between the different fluids conducted through the conduit, for example, viscosity, density, light or sound or other electromagnetic radiation transmission or impedance.
• the device measures an electrical property of the fluid such as impedance or capacitance.
• a device temperature sensor may also be provided to compensate for variations in the electrical property caused by fluctuations in temperature.
• Connection means may be provided for operative communication between the system and the identifying device and measuring means.
• the connection means may be in the form of radio or IR, modem, electrical cable, optical fibre or any other connection means suitable for operative communication.
• connection means is in the form of electrical cables.
• a system as hereinbefore defined may monitor flow of a fluid in one or more conduit.
• a system as hereinbefore defined comprises monitoring means to monitor data relating to the flow of the fluids in a plurality of conduits, each conduit provided with an identification device and flow measurement means.
• each of a plurality of conduits may carry a range of fluids which overlaps with the range of fluids in other conduits and the monitoring means may separately monitor flow of a certain fluid in each conduit in which it is present.
• the monitoring means may monitor data from a single location having a plurality of conduits or from a plurality of separate remote conduit locations.
• the monitoring means monitors data from a plurality of separate remote conduit locations, each comprising a plurality of conduits.
• a remote location is to a spatial distance between the locations such that dedicated electrical cables between two locations would not usually be provided.
• a remote location includes a location which is housed within the same large building as another location or different building, town, city or country.
• the system capacity for monitoring a plurality of remote conduit locations is particularly advantageous where several locations, each having a plurality of conduits must be all managed by the same system user.
• the invention allows simple monitoring of data from a variety of locations and thus simple comparison of performance and working parameters in those locations.
• the calculating means, storage means, processing means and display means may all be associated with the conduit or conduits.
• this form of local system is hand held, in the form of a pen, wand, magic eye or like device which monitors simple and limited fashion data, and displays for an example as a coded system of lights or like display, eg colour coded, in particular to indicate presence or absence of contamination or quality.
• central display and processing means and optionally calculating means are situated at mobile or fixed system user location remote from the conduit location or locations and connected to data storage means by a data link.
• This system distribution is cost effective and practical where several locations are all managed by the same system user and central display and processing means and optionally calculating means may be situated in a location which is convenient to the manager rather than local to the location or locations of the conduits.
• system user location may be at one of the conduit locations or remote from all the conduit locations.
• the location of the data storage means and calculating means may be any which is convenient to the system user.
• the user may wish for as little monitoring equipment as possible at the conduit location or locations, in which case the data storage and calculating means may be situated at the system user location with the central display and processing means.
• the display and processing means are provided centrally at the system user location
• data storage means and optionally calculating means are situated at the conduit locations.
• This system distribution allows a simple division of the system tasks into local calculating and storage and central display and processing. Data relating to a single location is held at that location for downloading over a data link and processing.
• any data link may be provided which is suitable for the system as hereinbefore described.
• the link may be by IR, radio transmission or optical fibre or by a modem link.
• the data link is a modem link.
• Modems are an economic means for data transfer, requiring no installation of extra wiring or devices other than a standard modem and also allow a mobile system user location.
• any number of data storage means and data calculating means may be provided for a plurality of conduits.
• each conduit is provided with data storage means and optionally data calculating means.
• both the data storage means and data calculating means may be dedicated to a single conduit allowing a simple and transparent system set up.
• a single data storage means and optionally a data calculating means may be provided for a plurality of conduits at a conduit location. This can be advantageous in memory management and provides an option for possible time sharing of the calculating means between the conduits.
• any array of memory banks may be provided which allows efficient data storage and retrieval.
• data storage means for each conduit allocates a plurality of memory banks.
• a plurality of memory banks may be used to store information about fluid flow in a variety of different ways. For example data may be allocated according to time segments or according to fluid type, as been identified by the fluid identification device.
• the data calculating means stores the measured volume flow in a memory bank associated with a given conduit and a given fluid type identified.
• each memory bank for each conduit holds volume flow data for a given fluid in that conduit. Volume flow of other fluids is held in other memory banks for the same conduit.
• the data may be continuously or non-continuously downloaded from the storage means to the processing and display means by down loading means. Continuous downloading is suitable for applications where a constant update of the fluid flow data is necessary, such as for process control.
• the system as hereinbefore defined comprises automatic downloading means to automatically download the data from the storage means to the processing and display means at pre-set time intervals.
• This discontinuous downloading is suitable for applications where updates are required less frequently. This is the case for stock control, accounting and other user functions.
• the downloading means may be a direct link from the or each storage means to the processing and display means of, a plurality of storage means of a conduit location may be connected together, with a single link to the processing and display means, for example in a daisy chain arrangement.
• This latter arrangement has the advantage of one simple communications link between each conduit location having a plurality of storage means and the system user location.
• the pre-set time intervals may be hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly as required.
• Automatic downloading means may be controlled by any suitable means. Preferably automatic downloading means are controlled by the processing means. In this way, the system user can change downloading frequency where required from the processing means at the system user location.
• the system as hereinbefore defined may comprise activation means to activate and de-activate the identification device, flow measurement means and other system components.
• activation means are provided such that monitoring is activated responsive to a movement of fluid in a conduit.
• activation means are provided such that monitoring is deactivated responsive to lack of movement of fluid in the conduit.
• the activation means may advantageously be adapted to monitor signals from the flow measurement means to fulfil the above described function.
• a system as hereinbefore described may monitor additional data which is also useful for management of conduit locations. For example, many fluids conducted by conduits are required to be kept at or dispensed at a certain temperature. Equipment provided to fulfil this purpose can be expensive and condition monitoring of the equipment is therefore recommended to anticipate breakdown of the equipment and so avoid the costs associated with such breakdown.
• a system as hereinbefore defined for monitoring flow of a cold fluid comprises a condition monitoring system for cooling equipment adapted to cool fluid in the conduit or cool air temperature around the conduit, the condition monitoring system comprising condition monitoring sensors adapted to monitor the current drawn by and/or the duty cycle of the equipment, and condition monitoring means to generate a condition value which is stored in data storage means and displayed and processed at the display and processing means.
• condition values can then be monitored using the system of the present invention, to give the system user more valuable information.
• condition monitoring system may be distributed within the fluid flow monitoring system and condition monitoring sensors may be incorporated anywhere where the current drawn by and/or duty cycle of the equipment may be monitored.
• condition-monitoring sensors are incorporated into the connection between the equipment and the electricity supply. This provides an accessible position for the condition monitoring sensors with a reliable indication as to the duty cycle and current drawn.
• condition-monitoring sensors are incorporated into a standard electricity supply socket. In this way the condition monitoring system may be fitted without any adaptation to the cooling equipment.
• temperature monitoring means are provided for monitoring ambient temperature at the conduit location wherein the ambient temperature values are stored in data storage means and displayed and processed at the display and processing means.
• a fluid flow monitoring system as hereinbefore defined comprises temperature monitoring means for monitoring temperature of the fluid in the conduit after cooling and immediately before exit from the conduit, wherein the fluid temperature values are stored in data storage means and displayed and processed at the display and processing means.
• the monitoring means may also monitor any cooling parameters including the current drawn by or duty cycle of cooling equipment cooling fluid in the conduit or cooling equipment cooling air temperature around the conduit, temperature of the fluid in the conduit after cooling and ambient temperature at the conduit location. This data may be processed and displayed.
• the system as hereinbefore defined comprises warning means for producing a warning when the monitored values fall outside a pre-set range.
• the warning may be in the form of a screen display, alarm or a visual or auditory or any other conventional warning.
• the system as hereinbefore defined may also comprise means for producing a warning when the fluid flow monitored falls outside a pre-set range, or when flow of a certain fluid is detected. Such information is useful for determination of leaks, warnings of future low or high stock level or identification of faults in line hygiene due to infrequent or insufficient cleaning. Warning means at any point of the system may produce the warning.
• a system as hereinbefore defined comprises warning means at a conduit location for producing a warning when the fluid flow monitored falls outside a pre-set range or when flow of a certain fluid is detected. This information is often of more value to the individual manager of a conduit location than the system user.
• the present invention provides a method for monitoring flow of a fluid in at least one conduit using a system as hereinbefore defined.
• the method corresponds to the system as hereinbefore defined and corresponding method steps have the same advantages as those described for the corresponding device features.
• the system of the present invention has many varied applications in monitoring of fluid in a conduit. It provides a valuable data source for the user whether they are managing a plurality of conduit locations or a single location.
• Figure 1 is a scheme of the present invention showing the system components in use at a conduit location such as public house, cafe or bar with links to system components at a system user location.
• Figure 2 is a scheme showing the system distribution where a plurality of conduit locations and a system user location with central display and processing means are provided.
• Figure 3 is a scheme showing communication links between a plurality of data storage means and the system user location.
• Figure 4 shows the scheme of Figure 4 in an alternative embodiment.
• FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the functioning of the present invention.
• Figure 6 is a table showing a typical print out from the system according to the present invention.
• Figure 7 is a table showing a further typical print out from the system according to the present invention.
• Figure 1 a preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention in location in, for example, a public house.
• the system (1) monitors data from a plurality of conduit locations, that is, from a number of different public houses.
• Each public house comprises one conduit location with a plurality of conduits.
• Each conduit (2) is provided with a flow meter (3) and an identification device (4) for identifying the fluid in the conduit at any given time.
• the flow meter and identification device may be located within the same housing.
• the fluid flow from the keg (5) to font (6) is as follows.
• the fluid in keg (5) is pressurised by gas to about 8 - 10 psi.
• Conduit (2) is permanently full of liquid which, when font (6) is activated, runs through pump (7) and ice block (8) towards the font.
• Some conduits dispense fluid in metered quantities, usually of half a pint, through plenum chamber (9) and a solenoid activated valve (10). Other conduits are not metered and the quantity dispensed is determined directly by the font operator.
• Data storage means (11) and data calculating means (12) are provided at the conduit location and information is downloaded from the conduit location to central display and processing means (13), which is provided in a PC via modem link (14).
• Figure 1 also shows the condition monitoring system which can form part of the present invention.
• Condition monitoring sensors (17) are associated with ice block (8) and fan (18).
• the condition values corresponding to the duty cycle and current drawn of the ice block (8) and fan (18) are stored in data storage means (11) and displayed and processed at the display and processing means (13).
• FIG 2 is shown the system distribution of the preferred embodiment. Most of the system components are situated at each conduit location (15) which is a public house, cafe etc. except for central display and processing means (13) which is linked to each location by modem link (14) and situated in a location convenient to the system user.
• the data storage means (11) and data calculating means (12) are in the form of a micro controller with an external address bus provided with a plurality of buffers, each having a plurality of inputs.
• Figures 3 and 4 are schemes which illustrate links between a plurality of data storage and data calculating means (12) and central display and processing means (13).
• each data storage means (11) associated with an individual conduit is linked by a modem link (14) to the central display and processing means (13) of the system user location.
• Each data storage means may be at the same or differing conduit location.
• Figure 5 shows information flow from a single conduit (2) to the central display and processing means (13). Fluid movement is sensed by flowmeter (3), which activates the system (1). Data calculating means in the form of micro controller (12) uses the identification of the fluid from identification device (4) to select which memory bank (16) of data storage means (11) will hold the data.
• Each memory bank is dedicated to a given fluid which might be identified in the conduit (2) in question. For example, there may be four memory banks active for the conduit, one for the brand of beer in the keg to which the conduit is connected, one for cleaning fluid, one for water and one for air/gas. This last memory bank detects an empty or emptying conduit and may produce a warning at the conduit location to change the keg.
• Each conduit is provided with an array of memory banks for storage of fluid flow data for each fluid which may be present in it.
• the data storage means (11) is automatically downloaded to the central display and processing means (13) at weekly intervals via a modem link.
• Figure 6 shows a volume audit report.
• the conduit location is shown at "site”.
• the volume audit report line frame has been set at 7 days and the volumes monitored by the system are displayed in the table.
• the table shown in Figure 7 is a graphical representation of the data shown in Figure 6 obtainable with the system.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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• 1998
  • 1998-10-28 GB GBGB9823560.9A patent/GB9823560D0/en not_active Ceased
• 1999
  • 1999-10-11 EP EP99949202A patent/EP1125099A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-10-11 AU AU62180/99A patent/AU6218099A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-10-11 WO PCT/GB1999/003367 patent/WO2000025097A1/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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