System, method, and device for measuring and reporting changing levels of liquids in storage tanks

摘要

A system for measuring and reporting changing levels of liquids in a storage tank includes a sensing device having a fluid level sensor, an accelerometer, a wireless transceiver, and a microcontroller for detecting the volume of liquid in the storage tank in response to determining that the storage tank is not moving and sending an alert message if the volume of liquid in the storage tank has changed from a previous volume by a threshold amount. The system also includes a central tracking computer having a tracking database and being interfaced to the Internet, and a master control unit attached to the storage tank. The master control unit is for: receiving the alert message from the sensing device; obtaining the location of the storage tank; and communicating the alert message and the location of the storage tank to the central tracking computer for storage in the tracking database.

主权项

1. A system for measuring and reporting changing levels of liquids in a storage tank, comprising:
a wireless autonomous fluid level sensing device including:
a fluid level sensor for detecting a level of liquid in the storage tank;an accelerometer;a sensing device wireless transceiver; anda sensing device microcontroller in communication with the fluid level sensor, the accelerometer, and the sensing device wireless transceiver, the sensing device microcontroller executing instructions for:
detecting, using the fluid level sensor, the level of liquid in the storage tank, in response to determining, using the accelerometer, that the storage tank is not moving;converting the level of liquid in the storage tank into a volume of liquid in the storage tank; andsending, using the sensing device wireless transceiver, an alert message if the volume of liquid in the storage tank has changed from a previous volume by a threshold amount; a central tracking computer having a tracking database and being interfaced to the Internet; and a master control unit attached to the storage tank, said master control unit including:
a solar panel for converting light-energy into electrical power;a control unit battery for receiving and storing said electrical power from said solar panel;a GPS receiver module for receiving signals from a global positioning system and determining a location of said storage tank;a cellular data transceiver module for communicating with said central tracking computer via a cellular data network interfaced to the Internet;a local wireless network master transceiver module in wireless communication with the sensing device wireless transceiver; anda control unit microcontroller for:
controlling said local wireless network master transceiver module to receive the alert message from the wireless autonomous fluid level sensing device;controlling said GPS receiver module to obtain the location of the storage tank; andcontrolling the cellular data transceiver module to communicate, via the cellular data network and the Internet, the alert message and the location of the storage tank to the central tracking computer for storage in the tracking database.