Container valve node system

Abstract

A container system includes a container that includes a container chassis that defines a container volume and a container outlet having a first aperture. The container system includes a valve system is coupled to the container outlet and a container valve node system. The container valve node system includes a valve system coupling device coupling the container valve node system to at least one of the container outlet or the valve system, and includes a node device coupled to the valve system coupling device. The node device includes a node chassis that houses a communication system, a processing system coupled to the communication system, and a memory system that is coupled to the processing system and that includes instruction that causes the processing system to provide a container engine configured to communicate container system information associated with the container system via the communication system.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A container system, comprising:
 a container that includes a container chassis that defines a container volume and a container outlet having a first aperture;   a valve system coupled to the container outlet, and   a container valve node system, wherein the container valve node system comprises:
 a valve system coupling device coupling the container valve node system to at least one of the container outlet or the valve system; 
 a valve cap coupled to and movable with the valve system, wherein the valve cap includes one of a magnet and a sensor; and 
 a node device coupled to the valve system coupling device, wherein the node device includes a node chassis that houses: 
   a sensor system comprising the other of the magnet and the sensor that detects the presence or absence of the magnet as an indicator of a change in a condition of the valve system;
 a processing system; and 
 a memory system that is coupled to the processing system and the sensor system that includes instruction, that when executed by the processing system, causes the processing system to process information relating to the detected presence or absence of the magnet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the node chassis houses a communication system and a container engine each in communication with the processing system, the container engine configured to communicate container system information associated with the container system via the communication system. 
     
     
         3 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container valve node system includes a level sensor coupled to the valve system coupling device, and
 wherein, the level sensor coupled to the valve system coupling device is substantially adjacent the at least one of the container outlet or the valve system to permit the level sensor to generate at least one of container chassis information included in the container system information or container volume information included in the container system information.   
     
     
         4 . The container system of  claim 3 , wherein the valve system coupling device includes at least one strap portion that is configured to couple to and decouple from a valve housing included on the valve system. 
     
     
         5 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve system coupling device, when coupled to the at least one of the container outlet or the valve system, prevents movement of the container valve node system in relation to the container chassis and the valve system. 
     
     
         6 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve system comprises:
 a valve housing defining an interior chamber connecting a container outlet port and a front port, wherein the container outlet port is coupled to the container outlet;   a valve element that is rotationally supported in the interior chamber for movement between a valve open position and a valve closed position;   a stem that extends through an aperture in the valve housing and coupled with the valve element; and   a handle coupled to the stem for selective rotation of the valve element via the stem, wherein the valve cap is coupled to the stem and the handle.   
     
     
         7 . The container system of  claim 6 , wherein the other of the magnet and the sensor is coupled to the node device such that, when the valve system coupling device is coupled to at least one of the valve system and the container outlet, the other of the magnet and the sensor is positioned to detect when the valve element is in the valve open position and detects when the valve element is in the valve closed position, and the sensor is configured to generate a valve open signal when the valve element is in the valve open position and a valve closed signal when the valve element is in the valve closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The container system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor and
 wherein the magnet is substantially adjacent the Hall effect sensor when the valve element is in the valve closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the node device is coupled to the valve system coupling device via a node device engagement member that is coupled to the valve system and that includes at least one node device securing element that when engaged with a respective at least one valve system coupling securing element included on the node device prevents at least one of vertical motion or horizontal motion of the node device relative to the valve system coupling device. 
     
     
         10 . The container system of clam  9 , wherein the node device engagement member includes at least one release mechanism that disengages at least one node device securing element from its respective at least one valve system coupling securing element to permit at least one of vertical motion or horizontal motion of the node device in relation to the valve system coupling device. 
     
     
         11 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication system includes a first type communication interface for communicating the container system information over a wide area network, and a second type communication interface for communicating over a local area network with a second node device. 
     
     
         12 . The container system of  claim 11 , wherein the second node device is coupled to the container chassis. 
     
     
         13 . A container valve node system, comprising:
 a valve system coupling device that is coupled to a valve system of a container outlet;   a level sensor disposed in the valve system coupling device, the level sensor being disposed to be directly adjacent a portion of the container; and   a node device coupled to the valve system coupling device, wherein the node device includes a node chassis that houses:
 a communication system; 
 a processing system coupled to the communication system; and 
 a memory system that is coupled to the processing system and that includes instructions, that when executed by the processing system, causes the processing system to provide a container engine that is configured to: 
 communicate container system information associated with a container system via the communication system. 
   
     
     
         14 . The container valve node system of  claim 13 , wherein the valve system coupling device comprises a collar that extends about an outlet of a container. 
     
     
         15 . The container valve node system of  claim 14 , wherein the level sensor is disposed on an upper portion of the outlet of the container and a lower portion of the outlet of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The container valve node system of  claim 14 , wherein the level sensor comprises a first sensor disposed on an upper portion of the outlet of the container and a second sensor disposed on a lower portion of the outlet of the container. 
     
     
         17 . The container valve node system of  claim 13 , further comprising a cap disposed on the valve, and wherein the node chassis comprises:
 a top wall;   a bottom wall that is located opposite the node chassis from the top wall;   a first side wall that is located opposite the node chassis from a second side wall and that both extend between the top wall and the bottom wall;   a front wall that extends between the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall; and   a rear wall that that is located opposite the node chassis from the front wall and that extends between the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall, wherein at least a portion of the top wall is adjacent the cap when the valve node system is coupled to the valve system.   
     
     
         18 . The container valve node system of  claim 17 , wherein the top wall includes one of a magnet and a magnetic sensor that is adjacent the cap. 
     
     
         19 . The container valve node system of  claim 13 , wherein the node device is coupled to the valve system coupling device via a node device engagement member that is coupled to the valve system coupling device and that includes at least one node device securing element that when engaged with a respective at least one strap securing element included on the node device prevents at least one of vertical motion or horizontal motion of the node device in relation to the valve system coupling device. 
     
     
         20 . The container valve node system of  claim 19 , wherein the node device engagement member includes at least one release mechanism that disengages at least one node device securing element from its respective at least one strap securing element to permit at least one of vertical motion or horizontal motion of the node device relative to the valve system coupling device. 
     
     
         21 . A valve system coupling device, comprising:
 at least one strap portion that is configured to couple with and decouple from at least one of a container outlet defined by a container chassis that defines a container volume or a valve system that is configured to couple to the container outlet;   a first sensor associated with the at least one strap portion and configured to detect a fluid level in the container outlet;   a cap configured to couple to the valve system, the cap being rotatable with a portion of the valve system and including one of a magnet and a second sensor; and   a node device engagement member that is coupled to the at least one strap portion, and that includes at least one node device securing element, the at least one node device securing element being configured to secure a node device in a location adjacent said one of the magnet and the second sensor of the cap, the cap being rotatable relative to the node device when the node device is secured by the at least one node device securing element.