Fluid Monitoring System and Methods of Use

Abstract

A fluid monitoring system for monitoring a volume of a fluid source. The system includes a flow sensor coupled to a fluid line in hydraulic communication with the fluid source. The system includes a fluid monitor having a unit counter configured to: receive a flow signal from the flow sensor; and transmit a unit signal to a processor based on the flow signal and an adjustable unit value. The processor configured to determine a remaining volume value of the fluid source based on a first volume value and the unit signal. The monitor configured to calibrate the remaining volume value through adjustment of the unit value via a first set of binary rotary switches and adjustment of the first volume value via a second set of binary rotary switches. The system further includes a control panel having a plurality of flow monitors in communication with a plurality of flow sensors.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A beer keg fluid monitoring system, comprising:
 a flow sensor hydraulically connected to a beer keg via a first fluid line, said flow sensor hydraulically connected to a beer tap via a second fluid line, said flow sensor configured to transmit a first plurality of electrical pulses proportional to a fluid flow rate of a fluid flowing from said beer keg through said flow sensor to said beer tap via said first fluid line and said second fluid line;   a unit counter in communication with said flow sensor and configured to transmit a unit signal based on said fluid flow rate and a unit value, wherein said unit value is defined as a quantity of said first plurality of electrical pulses transmitted per a predetermined unit of volume of said fluid flowing from said beer keg through said flow sensor to said beer tap;   a presettable down counter configured to:
 receive the unit signal from the unit counter; and 
 determine a remaining volume value of said beer keg based on the unit signal and a first volume value of said beer keg; and 
   a display module configured to display the remaining volume value of said beer keg; and   a first one or more switches configured for the manual adjustment of said unit value by a user of said beer keg fluid monitoring system,   wherein said beer keg fluid monitoring system does not include, and cannot be connected to, a server.   
     
     
         2 . The beer keg fluid monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the unit signal comprises a second plurality of electrical pulses. 
     
     
         3 . The beer keg fluid monitoring system of  claim 1 , further comprising a volume selection module configured to adjust one of the first volume value and a low volume value. 
     
     
         4 . The beer keg fluid monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein the volume selection module configured to adjust one of said first volume value and said low volume value comprises a second one or more switches. 
     
     
         5 . The beer keg fluid monitoring system of  claim 1 , further comprising an alarm module configured to trigger a low alarm when the remaining volume value is less than a low volume value; the alarm module further configured to trigger a major alarm when the remaining volume value is zero. 
     
     
         6 . The beer keg fluid monitoring system of  claim 5 , wherein each of the low alarm and the major alarm comprising at least one of a light emitting diode and an audio alarm. 
     
     
         7 . The beer keg fluid monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the presettable down counter is configured to determine the remaining volume value based on the equation: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   V 
                   r 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     V 
                     1 
                   
                   - 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       P 
                       U 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               ; 
             
           
         
         wherein V r  is the remaining volume value; V 1  is the first volume value; P is a number of said first plurality of electrical pulses associated with the flow signal; and U is the unit value. 
       
     
     
         8 . A fluid monitoring system, comprising:
 a flow sensor hydraulically connected to a fluid source via a first fluid line, the flow sensor hydraulically connected to a fluid destination via a second fluid line, the flow sensor configured to transmit a plurality of electrical pulses proportional to a fluid flow rate of a fluid flowing from said fluid source through said flow sensor to said fluid destination via said first fluid line and said second fluid line;   a fluid monitor, comprising:
 a unit counter in communication with the flow sensor; the unit counter in communication with a first one or more switches; the unit counter configured to: receive the plurality of electrical pulses from the flow sensor; receive a unit value from the first one or more switches; and transmit a unit signal based on the plurality of electrical pulses and the unit value, wherein said unit value is defined as a quantity of said plurality of electrical pulses transmitted per a predetermined unit of volume of said fluid flowing from said fluid source through said flow sensor to said fluid destination, and wherein said first one or more switches are configured for the manual adjustment of said unit value by a user of said fluid monitoring system; 
   a presettable down counter in communication with a second one or more switches; the presettable down counter configured to:
 receive the unit signal from the unit counter; 
 receive a first volume value from the second one or more switches; determine a remaining volume value of the fluid based on the unit signal and the first volume value; 
 transmit a display signal associated with the remaining volume value; 
 receive a low volume value from the second one or more switches; and 
 trigger a low alarm when the remaining volume value equals the low volume value; 
   a display configured to receive the display signal and display the remaining volume value;   an enclosure housing the fluid monitor; and   an uninterrupted power system configured to power the fluid monitor,   wherein said fluid monitoring system does not include, and cannot be connected to, a server.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid monitoring system of  claim 8 , wherein the presettable down counter is configured to trigger a major alarm when the remaining volume value is zero. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid monitor of  claim 8 , wherein the presettable down counter is configured to determine the remaining volume value based on the equation: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   V 
                   r 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     V 
                     1 
                   
                   - 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       P 
                       U 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               ; 
             
           
         
         wherein V r  is the remaining volume value; V 1  is the first volume value; P is a number of said plurality of electrical pulses associated with the flow signal; and U is the unit value. 
       
     
     
         11 . A method of monitoring a fluid source, comprising the steps of:
 coupling a flow sensor to said fluid source via a first fluid line; coupling said flow sensor to a fluid destination via a second fluid line; the fluid source having a first volume;   providing a fluid monitor configured to:
 monitor a flow signal transmitted from said flow sensor, said flow signal comprising a plurality of electrical pulses proportional to a fluid flow rate of a fluid flowing from said fluid source through said flow sensor to said fluid destination via said first fluid line and said second fluid line; 
 determine a remaining volume value associated with the fluid source based on a first volume value associated with a first volume of the fluid source, the flow signal, and a first unit value, wherein said first unit value is defined as a quantity of said plurality of electrical pulses per a predetermined unit of volume of said fluid flowing from said fluid source through said flow sensor to said fluid destination; 
 display the remaining volume value; 
 trigger an alarm based on the remaining volume value and a predetermined alarm value; 
 imparting a flow of fluid from the fluid source through the first fluid line; 
 whereby the flow sensor transmits the flow signal to the fluid monitor; and 
 using the fluid monitor to determine the remaining volume value associated with the fluid source; 
   providing a first one or more switches in communication with said fluid monitor and configured for the manual adjustment of said first unit value by a user of said fluid monitor,   wherein said fluid monitor does not include, and cannot be connected to, a server, whereby the remaining volume value is displayed; and   whereby the alarm is triggered when the remaining volume value equals the predetermined alarm value.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: monitoring the remaining volume value; determining a remaining volume of the fluid source when the remaining volume value is zero; and adjusting the first unit value to a second unit value; whereby a difference between the remaining volume value and the remaining volume is reduced. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 adjusting said first one or more switches associated with the first unit value and the second unit value; and   adjusting a second one or more switches associated with the first volume value and the predetermined alarm value.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the alarm comprises at least one of a low alarm and a major alarm.