Abstract:
A hot water unit fluid supply control system for a hot water unit is disclosed. The hot water unit has a heating system that is operable in a heating cycle to heat up water in at least a first region of the water unit, and a sensor arrangement for sensing a temperature of water of the hot water unit. The control system comprises a control unit configured to: receive operational data relating to an operation of the heating system; receive temperature data from the sensor arrangement; and allow for a volume of water from the first region to be released from the hot water unit as treated water or usable water based on: the operational data, and the temperature data from the sensor arrangement.
Abstract:
Some embodiments relate to a vibration sensor. The vibration sensor comprises: a sensor base to couple to a vibration source; a piezoelectric transducer coupled on a first side of the transducer to the sensor base; at least one conductor coupled to the piezoelectric transducer; and a seismic weight positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric transducer; wherein the sensor base, the piezoelectric transducer and the seismic weight are aligned along an axis and arranged so that relative movement between the sensor base and the seismic weight arising from the vibration source causes a current to be generated in the piezoelectric transducer and an output signal corresponding to the generated current is detectable on the at least one conductor.
Abstract:
A hot water unit fluid supply control system comprises a switching device coupled to a hot water unit, a rainwater tank and a potable water source. The switching device is configured to selectively switch between a first state, which allows fluid communication between the hot water unit and the rainwater tank, and a second state, which allows fluid communication between the hot water unit and the potable water source. The hot water unit fluid supply control system comprises a control unit configured to: receive fluid characteristic information associated with fluid in the hot water unit from one or more sensors; activate or deactivate a pump of the rainwater tank based on a comparison of a fluid characteristic parameter of the fluid characteristic information with requirements of the hot water unit to thereby cause the switching device to assume the first or second state.
Abstract:
A pressure sewer control system comprises a server in communication with one or more pressure sewer installations across a communications network. Each of the one or more pressure sewer installations comprises a controller and one or more sewerage tanks. The server is configured to determine weather data for a region associated with the pressure sewer installation and to estimate power generating capability of a weather-dependent power generator of the pressure sewer installation for a time period based on the weather data. The server is further configured to receive fluid level data indicative of a fluid level in the one or more sewerage tanks from the controller and to determine whether a pump action should be instigated by the controller to pump fluid from the sewage tank based on the estimated power generating capability of the weather-dependent power generator and the fluid level data. The server is further configured to transmit a pump control instruction to the controller to cause the controller to activate the pump in response to determining that a pump action should be instigated by the controller.
Abstract:
Embodiments relate generally to a management system for controlling operations of a reservoir. The management system comprises a wireless transceiver in communication with a controller associated with the reservoir to allow the management system to communicate with the controller over a communications network. The management system further comprises a processor for determining weather data for a particular region, wherein the reservoir is associated with the region, determining operation instructions based on at least the weather data; and transmitting via the wireless transceiver a command signal to the controller, wherein the command signal includes operation instructions for activating a flow control mechanism associated with the reservoir.
Abstract:
Embodiments relate generally to water meters and to systems and networks that contain such water meters. Particular water meters described herein are enabled for communication with a remote server to transmit flow measurement information. Some embodiments have a vibration sensor included in the water meter to sense vibration originating in the upstream water supply network that may indicate the possible presence of an upstream water leak.
Abstract:
A monitoring system for remote monitoring of an activity at one or more facilities by a vehicle. The system comprises a monitoring unit including program memory and a processor, the program memory accessible by the processor to execute instructions stored therein and a communications interface for communicating with a remote device across a communications network, the remote device being co-located with the vehicle. The processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to receive at the communications interface data from the remote device, the data comprising a vehicle identifier and a vehicle location indicator and access a zone data record, the zone data record comprising a plurality of zones, each zone having a virtual geographical boundary associated with a physical geographical area including at least one facility. The processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to determine whether the vehicle is located within a zone of the zone data record for a preconfigured period of time based on the vehicle location indicator and the zone data record and responsive to determining that the vehicle is located within the zone for the preconfigured period, determine performance of the activity at the one or more facilities by the vehicle.
Abstract:
A sensor unit support structure for supporting a sensor unit in a manhole. The support structure comprises an elongate beam adjustable along its length to span a width of the manhole and support the sensor unit within the manhole. The support structure further comprises first and second mounting brackets associated with respective first and second ends of the beam, each mounting bracket being configured to fasten the beam to an inner surface of the manhole. The support structure further comprises first and second temporary brackets associated with respective first and second mounting brackets. The first and second mounting brackets are configured to be removably coupled to the respective first and second temporary brackets, each temporary bracket being configured to engage a rim of the manhole to allow the first and second mounting brackets to be positioned in the manhole and temporarily supported in position until the mounting brackets are fastened to the inner surface of the manhole.
Abstract:
Embodiments relate generally to methods and systems for configuring a safety monitor application in a handheld mobile computing device comprising a movement detecting component and a wireless communications subsystem. An example method comprises: downloading the safety monitor application and storing the safety monitor application in a memory of the computing device, obtaining an activation code associated with an online configuration server, activating the safety monitor application using the activation code, retrieving configuration information from the online configuration server based on the activation code and implementing the configuration information to configure operations of the safety monitor application.
Abstract:
A valve key for operating a fluid control valve between open and closed states, the valve key comprising a body having a key portion configured for operating a correspondingly keyed part of the fluid control valve; a telemetry system operatively coupled to the body, the telemetry system comprising one or more sensors configured to output parameters relating to an orientation and a rotational movement of the body; a location-positioning module configured to receive data from global positioning satellites; a communications module for transmitting data to a remote server; and a controller configured to determine an orientation of the key between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position, a number of rotations of the key with respect to its longitudinal axis when the key portion is coupled to the fluid control valve and geographical coordinates relating to a location of the key from the output parameters and the satellite data, wherein the controller is configured such that the telemetry system is set to a low-power state when the body is oriented in a substantially horizontal position, and set to an operating state, in which the telemetry system modules and the controller are configured to record the number of rotations of the key, when the body is oriented in a substantially vertical position.