US 11,988,656 B2
Remote monitoring of water distribution system
Brian Morrow, Carrollton, TX (US); Mike Vore, Oskaloosa, IA (US); Charles Kitowski, Colleyville, TX (US); Daniel Copeland, Bessemer, AL (US); Leon G. McCullough, West Des Moines, IA (US); and John Thomas Bohrer, Akron, OH (US)
Assigned to McWane, Inc., Birmingham, AL (US)
Filed by AMI Investments, LLC, Coppell, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/012,625.
Application 17/012,625 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/428,585, filed on May 31, 2019, granted, now 11,391,712.
Application 16/428,585 is a continuation of application No. 15/271,597, filed on Sep. 21, 2016, granted, now 10,317,384.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/895,670, filed on Sep. 4, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/221,479, filed on Sep. 21, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0400643 A1, Dec. 24, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 33/18 (2006.01); G01L 19/08 (2006.01); H04W 4/021 (2018.01); H04W 4/14 (2009.01)
CPC G01N 33/18 (2013.01) [G01L 19/086 (2013.01); H04W 4/021 (2013.01); H04W 4/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system to monitor water of a water distribution system at a valve of a fire hydrant, the system comprising:
a valve plate having a sealing surface and an exposed surface in contact with the water;
a remote measurement system, wherein the remote measurement system comprises:
at least one acoustic hydrophone located at the exposed surface of the valve plate and configured to measure for acoustic disturbances in the water and provide an electrical signal representative of leak induced vibration or sound; and
a communication interface coupled to the at least one acoustic hydrophone to receive the electrical signal from the at least one acoustic hydrophone, the communication interface configured to transmit leak induced vibration or sound information based on the received electrical signal from the at least one acoustic hydrophone to a monitoring system, wherein the monitoring system is configured to determine a leak based on the leak induced vibration or sound information.