AU2004200678B2 - Water Monitoring System - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (ORIGINAL) Name of Applicant: C-Tech Services Pty Ltd Actual Inventor(s): Derek Wayne Braden Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000. Invention Title: "Water Monitoring System" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: PAOPERUccSPECIFICATIONS\WATER MONITORING SYSTEM - =Pctc.doc-2002/04 WATER MONITORING SYSTEM The present invention relates to a water monitoring system, to components of the system and to a method of monitoring water using the system. 5 There are many instances where it is desired to monitor the properties/quality of water in an underground conduit (pipe). For example, it may be required to monitor water pressure with a view to achieving adequate flow without undue stress on the conduit etc. through which the water is transported and delivered. It may also be required to monitor the 10 content of dissolved species in order to make sure that the water is of a suitable quality for its intended use. Thus, it is frequently desired to monitor the chlorine content of water with a view to guarding against unacceptable levels of microbiological species. This is especially relevant where the water is intended for human consumption. 15 Conventional methods of analysing an underground water supply involve feeding the water through suitable analytical equipment. This equipment is typically in communication with the underground water supply via a fire plug. A fire plug is a fitting which is attached to the water supply conduit and allows access to the water when required, such as for sampling purposes or in a fire situation, but otherwise prevents release of the water. To 20 achieve this the fire plug includes a ball valve. To prevent release of water the ball sits against a seat in the valve to form a seal. The ball is usually pushed firmly against the seat as a result of water pressure, although a spring actuated mechanism may also be used where the water pressure is insufficient to maintain the ball against the seat. To access water the ball is displaced from the seal thereby breaking the seal. Water then flows, or 25 may be pumped, through the fire plug. Using conventional monitoring/sampling systems a volume of water is extracted from the water conduit via the fire plug, analysed as necessary and then discarded, usually at ground level. This can be unsightly, especially in areas where conservation of water is a sensitive 30 issue. Furthermore, monitoring/sampling tends to take place intermittently over a prolonged period of time. Whilst the volume of water withdrawn from the conduit for 2704708. -2 monitoring/sampling on each occasion may not be significant, over a prolonged period the cumulative amount of water involved may be significant in terms of the overall volume of water discarded. 5 It would therefore be desirable to provide a water monitoring system which does not result in loss or release of water after sampling and analysis of water has taken place. The present invention seeks to address this need by providing a water monitoring system which receives water for analysis from an underground conduit via a conventional fire plug and returns the water after analysis to the conduit via the fire plug. Use of the water 10 monitoring system in accordance with the present invention allows the properties of water in an underground conduit to be analysed whilst also conserving water. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a water monitoring system for analysis of water in an underground conduit, the water being accessible via a 15 fire plug attached to the conduit, which system comprises: water analysis means; a connector that is adapted to be secured to the fire plug and allow water in the underground conduit to be accessed through the fire plug, the connector comprising a water extraction line to deliver water from the underground conduit through the fire plug to the water analysis means, and a water return line to return water from the water analysis means to the 20 fire plug; and a pump for delivering water to the water analysis means and returning water to the fire plug after analysis by the water analysis means, wherein the connector comprises a valve release mechanism adapted to open a ball valve of the fire plug when the connector is secured to the fire plug. 25 An important aspect of the present invention is the design of the connector component of the system. As will be explained in more detail below, this allows water to be removed from the underground conduit for analysis and returned to the conduit after analysis. Use of the connector in accordance with the present invention therefore avoids water being discarded after it has been analysed. 30 The connector comprises a body portion which has extending therethrough three P:\OPERUc\SPECIFICATIONS\WATER MONITORING SYSTEM - completc.doc-20/0Z/04 -3 independent, and essentially parallel, elongate channels. The function of these channels is explained below. Conveniently, the body portion may be substantially cylindrical with the channels running parallel to the axis thereof. In this case, one channel usually extends down the middle of the cylinder with the other two being provided either side of this 5 central channel. The channels will usually be formed by drilling through a solid body in order to form the body portion of the connector. The body portion is sized to be fitted to a fire plug. In order to allow water in an underground conduit to be accessed through the fire plug after 10 the connector is secured to the fire plug, the connector includes a mechanism for opening the valve of the fire plug. As explained, fire plugs include a ball valve and the connector includes a valve release mechanism which is adapted to displace the ball in the valve mechanism, thereby opening the valve. This valve release mechanism may be a plunger which extends through one of the elongate channels provided in the body portion. Usually, 15 the plunger will extend through the channel running through the centre of the body portion and this channel is therefore typically configured to be directly above the ball of the fire plug when the connector is secured to the fire plug. The other two elongate channels are used for extraction of water from, and return of water to, the underground conduit via the fire plug. For ease of distinction these channels are referred to herein as flow channels. 20 The plunger may be moved up and down in a vertical plane relative to the connector. One end of the plunger may therefore be extended down into the fire plug and this downward motion causes the ball in the valve assembly of the fire plug to be displaced, thereby breaking a seal previously formed by the ball surface and a suitably shaped seat provided 25 on an inner surface of the fire plug. This opens the valve in the fire plug. The plunger may take the form of a resilient shaft having an enlarged distal head for contact with the ball in the valve assembly of the fire plug. The enlarged distal head may take the form of a rubber flange attached to the end of the plunger. 30 It will be appreciated that, in order to open the valve of the fire plug, the plunger must be sufficiently long so that its range of downward movement will result in adequate PAOPERUcc\SPECIFICATIONS\WATER MONITORING SYSTEM- complm.do.-20/02/O 4

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4 displacement of the ball in the valve assembly. It will also be appreciated that to keep the valve open the plunger must be retained in its "down" position against any opposing upward force exerted by the ball in the valve assembly. To facilitate this the (shaft of the) plunger may be threaded on its outer surface and the elongate channel through which the 5 plunger passes internally threaded. With this arrangement the plunger is moved down (and up) by rotation (and counter-rotation) of the plunger. The upper end of the plunger may be shaped to receive a tool that enables the plunger to rotated with ease. It may also be necessary to use a lubricant on the threads of the plunger and shaft to ensure consistent ease of rotation of the plunger. 10 In this embodiment, to avoid leakage of water, the elongate channel through which the plunger passes is of an internal diameter as close as possible to the external diameter of the shaft of the plunger (taking into account that the shaft and channel will be threaded). Furthermore, the channel may also be provided with at least one circular groove in which 15 is seated a rubber "O"-ring. The effect of the "O"-ring is to form a water tight seal between the inner surface of the channel and the outer surface of the shaft of the plunger. The "O"-ring(s) may be provided above and/or below, preferably above, the threaded regions of the channel. At no point should the "O"-ring(s) come into contact with the threaded portion of the plunger during the range of up and down movement thereof. This 20 could compromise the seal required. In order to extract water from the underground conduit, the water delivery line of the connector comprises a length of hosing one end of which in use is fed through one of the flow channels, through the fire plug (when the ball valve is open) and into the conduit 25 itself. Use of this hosing allows water in the conduit itself to be accessed and analysed so that the results obtained are representative of the real-time situation in terms of the characteristics of the water in the conduit. Furthermore, by sampling water taken directly from the conduit, fluctuations in water characteristics may be more readily determined. 30 In order for it to be passed into the underground water conduit, through the connector and fire plug, the hosing must be sufficiently long and appropriately sized. The hosing must P:\OPERUcc\SPECIFICATIONS\WATER MONITORING SYSTEM - completidoc-20/024 -5 also be resilient/stiff but at the same time flexible. It will be appreciated that in passing through the fire plug the hosing will be deflected around the ball of the (open) valve assembly, beyond and into the water conduit. If the hosing has poor flexibility or is not sufficiently resilient, this will not be possible. Usually, the hosing is formed from a 5 polymeric material such as polyethylene. Typically, the hosing will have an internal diameter of about 5 mm and an external diameter of about 8 mm. The end of this hosing is fed through a fitting which is provided at the open end of the relevant flow channel and which allows the hosing to be fed through the fitting, and 10 ultimately into the underground conduit, without leakage of water (the ball valve of the fire plug will be open when the hosing is fed through the fitting). To facilitate this the fitting may include a hosing attachment portion and a ball valve which is attached at the open end of the flow channel and which may engage the hosing attachment portion in "snap-on" fashion thereby forming a water-tight seal. The hosing attachment portion includes a 15 (steel) grip ring and an internal "O"-ring. In use the hosing is passed through the grip ring and "O"-ring after the hosing attachment means has been attached to the ball valve component and the ball valve opened. As the hosing is fed through this fitting the grip ring prevents the hosing being forced out of the fitting due to water pressure in the underground conduit and the "O"-ring maintains a water tight internal seal against the outer surface of 20 the hosing. When it is desired to withdraw the hosing the ball valve of the fitting remains open until the end of the hosing travels beyond the valve but is still retained within the body of the fitting. The ball valve may then be closed and the hosing attachment portion removed from the valve portion. This enables the end of the hosing to be delivered to and retracted from the underground conduit without leakage of water. In the art the type of 25 fitting used is sometimes called a "wet tap". The other end of the hosing is attached to the inlet of the pump, as will be described in more detail below. This attachment may be via a (stainless steel) high pressure "snap-on" fitting which includes a one-way valve to prevent flow until the fitting is mated with a 30 matching fitting provided at the pump inlet. The pump outlet and inlet of the water analysis means are also linked by suitable hosing and attachment means.

P:\OPER\Jcc\SPECIFICATIONS\WATER MONITORING SYSTEM - c ple.doc-20/02/04 -6 Conventional water analysis equipment may be used provided that the equipment may be used in, or configured to, the kind of water circulation approach described herein. Such systems are usually battery powered. The system may be designed and configured to 5 monitor a range of parameters including water pressure, turbidity and dissolved species, such as dissolved gases and ions. The system will usually include a microprocessor unit in order to log and store data, a transmitter and receiver (such as a modem) in order to relay information from and to the system, and alarm functionality to identify when a pre-set limit in terms of some water property has been breached. Water analysis means useful in 10 practice of the invention are well known and commercially available. Water that has been analysed by the water analysis means is returned to the underground water conduit through the connector and into the fire plug. This is achieved using the water return line which will typically be a length of hosing from an outlet of the water 15 analysis means to the open end of the other flow channel. One end of the hosing will include a fitting to allow attachment to the outlet of the water analysis means. The other end of the hosing will include a fitting which allows it to be attached to a "one-way" valve provided at the open end of the other flow channel. Preferably, the fitting and valve may be attached to each other in "snap-on" fashion. 20 Conventional hoses, valve assemblies and clip-on attachment means are used in practice at of the present invention, bearing in mind that these components must have a suitable pressure rating based on the intended application. Typically, components rated to 2000 psi will be adequate for most applications. 25 To achieve circulation of water as is necessary in accordance with the present invention the water monitoring system also includes a water pump. This is usually positioned in the water extraction line prior to the inlet of the water analysis means, as described. The pump must be sufficiently powerful to overcome any pressure exerted at the fire plug due to 30 water pressure in the underground conduit in order to ensure that water may be pumped back into the plug after analysis. The rating of the pump will usually be of from 4-10 bar, PAOPER\Jcc\SPECIFICATIONS\WATER MONITORING SYSTEM -cnplete.doc.-20/02/04 -7 preferably about 7 bar. A suitable pump may be selected based on the water pressure observed at the fire plug. Pumps useful in the invention are commercially available. The pump will usually be equipped with a timer which is configured to control when a volume of water is to be withdrawn from the underground conduit for analysis. This timer will 5 usually be under the control of a microprocessor as part of the water analysis means. In use the connector is secured to a fire plug and to facilitate this the connector will include a fire plug engagement means. This typically takes the form of a locking ring. This locking ring can be, or is, secured to the body portion of the connector and is adapted to be 10 attached to the fire plug, thereby securing the connector to the fire plug. The locking ring is designed to be coupled with a corresponding fitting on the fire plug. In one embodiment the locking ring takes the form of a ring flange that is sized to slide over the body portion. In this case the body portion also includes a projecting rim or 15 projecting tabs against which the locking ring abuts. The rim or tabs are provided at the end of the body portion to be secured to the fire plug. The locking ring also includes a number of drilled and threaded holes provided around its circumference. These holes are positioned so that as a threaded bolt is screwed down through each hole, the end of the bolt will engage the rim or tabs provided on the body portion. The effect of this is to move the 20 locking ring up relative to the body portion. However, in use, the locking ring is held in place by corresponding lugs provided on the body of the fire plug. Thus, the effect of screwing the bolts down through the locking ring will have the effect of applying downward pressure on the body portion of the connector. The pressure being applied is responsible for creating and maintaining a water-tight seal between the connector and fire 25 plug. To ensure a water-tight seal a resiliently compressible gasket is provided between the mating surfaces of the connector and fire plug. Other arrangements may of course be used for securing the connector to the fire plug. For example, the locking ring may be fixed relative to the fire plug and bolted onto the body 30 portion in order to join the connector and fire-plug in a water-tight manner. The locking ring may be secured to the body portion by welding, for example. It is equally possible P:\OPER\Jcc\SPECIFICATIONS\WATER MONITORING SYSTEM -vcoPItcdoc-20/0204 -8 though that the locking ring may be provided as an integral part of the body portion, and the body portion may be machined or cast to achieve this. Preferably, a single locking ring may be designed to mate with a range of different fire 5 plugs so that the connector becomes universal in applicability. It will be appreciated that if the seal between the connector and the fire plug is not water tight, water may escape from the underground conduit through the fire plug when the ball valve of the fire plug is open. As noted, to avoid this a washer, gasket or thrust bearing 10 may be used where opposing surfaces of the connector and fire plug mate. The materials from which the various components of the system described herein may be constructed will need to be selected based on the conditions likely to be encountered when the system is used. This will involve considerations based on such things as mechanical 15 properties and corrosion resistance. One skilled in the art will have no difficulty in selecting suitable materials to use. By way of example, the locking ring may be formed of steel. The body portion of the connector may be formed of stainless steel, brass or high density plastic. The plunger may be formed of stainless steel. Thrust bearings may be formed of brass and washers of rubber or canvass reinforced rubber. 20 The water monitoring system of the present invention will usually be provided in a housing in order to provide protection from the elements and/or vandalism. The housing usually takes the form of a powder-coated aluminium cover which is provided over the system and which may be attached to the fire plug itself, thereby securing the cover in position. The 25 cover will usually have a lockable door to permit access to the system and its components. The present invention also extends to the connector described herein, and to uses of the system and connector in a water monitoring application. 30 An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying non-limiting figures in which: PAOPERUcc\SPECIFICATIONS\WATER MONITORING SYSTEM - cmpIcltc.doc-20/0204 -9 FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of components of a connector for use in a water monitoring system in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the connector in assembled form; and FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector in accordance with the 5 invention when in use. Figures 1 and 2 show a connector (1) comprising a cylindrical body portion (2). The locking ring (3) comprises a flange with lugs (4) provided at its periphery. The locking ring (3) also includes a series of drilled and threaded holes (5) that are sized to receive 10 threaded bolts (6). The locking ring (3) slides over the body portion (2) and abuts against a circumferential rim (7) provided at the lower end of the body portion (2) such that ends of the bolts (6) will engage the rim (7) when the bolts are screwed down through the holes (5). The body portion (2) includes an elongate channel (8) which is internally threaded. This channel (8) receives a plunger (9) in the form of an elongate pin/shaft. A portion of 15 the outer surface of the plunger (9a) is threaded to co-operate with the threads provided on the inner surface of the elongate channel (8). At one end the plunger (9) includes a rubber washer (10) for contact with the ball of the valve assembly of a fire plug. The washer (10) is secured to the end of the plunger (9) using a screw (11). The connector (1) also includes a rubber gasket/thrust bearing (12) at the lower surface that will be mated with the fire 20 plug. The body portion (2) also includes two elongate flow channels (13, 14) extending through it. The channels (13, 14) form part of the water delivery line and water return line of the connector. Figure 3 shows the body portion (2) secured to the body of a fire plug (15). Note that the 25 lugs (4) of the locking ring engage the body of the fire plug (15) from below so that, as the bolts (6) are screwed down, downward pressure is applied to the body portion (2). In turn this will compress the gasket (12). The fire plug (15) is attached to an underground water conduit/pipe (16) via flanges (I5a, 16a). The fire plug includes a ball valve comprising a ball (17) and a seat (18). When the valve is closed the ball (17) and seat (18) are in contact 30 thereby forming a seal. In Figure 3 the ball (17) is displaced downwardly by the plunger (9). Figure 3 also shows two rubber "O"-rings (19) provided within the elongate channel C:\NRfr\DCC\ALL\27147OLDOC-302/2010 - 10 (8) through which the plunger (9) extends. In the configuration shown in Figure 3 water from the underground conduit (16) is accessible through the fire plug (15). The elongate flow channels (13, 14) include one-way 5 valves (13a, 14a) at their upper ends to prevent release of water when the ball valve is open. In use a length of hosing (20) is fed down the elongate channel (13), through the fire plug (15) and into the underground conduit (16). This is achieved by feeding the hosing (20) down through the flow channel (13) into the fire plug where it is deflected around and beyond the ball (17). The valve assembly (13a) is adapted to allow the hosing (20) to be 10 fed through it when the valve is open without leakage of water. The valve assembly may be a "wet tap". The hosing (20) is used to withdraw water from the underground conduit (16) and this water is then delivered via a pump (not shown) to the inlet of a water monitoring means (also not shown). After analysis water is returned to the fire plug (15) from the water analysis means by a return hose (21) attached to the valve (1 4a) of the other 15 flow channel (14). Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps 20 but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived 25 from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims (18)

1. A water monitoring system for analysis of water in an underground conduit, the water being accessible via a fire plug attached to the conduit, which system comprises: 5 water analysis means; a connector that is adapted to be secured to the fire plug and allow water in the underground conduit to be accessed through the fire plug, the connector comprising a water extraction line to deliver water from the underground conduit through the fire plug to the water analysis means, and a water return line to return water from the water analysis 10 means to the fire plug; and a pump for delivering water to the water analysis means and returning water to the fire plug after analysis by the water analysis means, wherein the connector comprises a valve release mechanism adapted to open a ball valve of the fire plug when the connector is secured to the fire plug. 15

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve release mechanism comprises a plunger extending through the connector.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plunger comprises a threaded 20 portion adapted to co-operate with an internally threaded portion of an elongate channel extending through the connector.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the plunger comprises an enlarged distal head for contact with the ball in the valve of the fire plug. 25

5. The system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, in order to prevent water leakage, the elongate channel through which the plunger extends is of an internal diameter as close as possible to the external diameter of the plunger, and wherein the elongate channel comprises at least one circular groove in which is seated an "O"-ring. 30

6. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the water extraction line comprises an elongate channel extending through the connector and hosing C:\NRPonb(DCC\ALLX2704708I DOC-3/02/2010 -12 which is adapted to be fed down the elongate channel, via a fitting provided on the connector, the fitting being adapted to allow the hosing to be fed through it whilst maintaining a water-tight seal. 5

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fitting is a "wet tap".

8. The system as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the hosing is formed of polyethylene. 10

9. The system as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein one end of the hosing is attached to an inlet of the pump and wherein an outlet of the pump is attached by a length of hosing to an inlet of the water analysis means.

10. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the water return 15 line comprises a length of hosing attached at one end to an outlet of the water analysis means and at the other end to a one-way valve provided at the open end of an elongate channel extending through the connector.

11. The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector 20 further comprises a fire plug engagement means which is adapted to secure the connector to the fire plug with a water-tight seal.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fire plug engagement means comprises a locking ring which is adapted to apply downward pressure on the connector in 25 order to secure the connector to a fire plug.

13. A water monitoring system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures. 30

14. A connector as defined in any one of claims I to 13.

15. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the CANRPorbl\DCCALL\2704708-) DOC-4A02/2010 - 13 accompanying figures.

16. A method of monitoring water in an underground conduit, the water being accessible via a fire plug attached to the conduit, which method comprises use of a water 5 monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims I to 13.

17. A method of monitoring water in an underground conduit, the water being accessible via a fire plug attached to the conduit, which method comprises use of a connector as claimed in claim 14 or 15. 10

18. A method of monitoring water as claimed in claim 16 or 17 substantially as hereinbefore described.