Abstract:
A portable, weather resistant flow control system with a flow controller contained within an enclosure that includes a rigid body preventing deformation of the enclosure during transport and a door with a seal providing proving protection from harsh weather and environmental conditions, where the system includes a power charger for powering a remote terminal, a wireless communication unit, and back up batteries.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present embodiments generally relate to a flow meter system that is tough, weather resistant and liftable without deformation for use in the field, particularly in harsh environments such as the Arctic or Saudi Arabia. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A need exists for a sturdy flow meter system that is factory built and pre-installed for immediate use in the field. 
     A further need exists for a highly reliable flow meter system with a remote terminal unit for easy and fast communication in the field without needing a lot of technical support crew in a hazardous environment. 
     The present embodiments meet these needs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a flow meter enclosure with the door open. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a view of the door including a door extension in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of on embodiment in accordance with the present invention including a solar array as a source of power. 
     
    
    
     The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the present system in detail, it is to be understood that the system is not limited to the particular embodiments and that it can be practiced or carried out in various ways. 
     The present embodiments relate to a portable weather resistant flow control system. 
     The system includes a flow control enclosure, which can be made from powder coated metal. 
     The flow control enclosure can have a body and a movable door that can be adapted to engage the body. The body can generally be a rectangular box with the movable door hinged to the body overlapping the walls of the rectangular box. The movable door can be removable from the body and attachable to the body with a plurality of fasteners, such as two fasteners, for two opposing walls. 
     The body that is square or rectangular can have five walls each having an outer side and an inner side. One of the walls forms a base. 
     The body can further be oval or circular in shape then only two or three walls would be used with one wall being for the bottom or base. 
     In an embodiment, at least one movable door fastener can be used to secure each wall to the movable door. 
     In one embodiment the body can be about 54 inches high, about 54 inches wide and about 28 inches deep. The body can be made from a power coated aluminum, which can have an aluminum thickness of between about ⅛ to about ⅜ inches. 
     The movable door can be the same height and width as the body, but can have an overhanging lip of up to several inches enabling the movable door to cover the open portion of the body and cover part of any wall that forms the portions of the body engaging the movable door. The movable door can be powder coated aluminum with an aluminum thickness of about ⅛ inches to about 3/16 inches. 
     The movable door can include a door extension for providing access to some components within the enclosure without requiring the movable door to be unlatched exposing every element to a potentially harsh environment. 
     A seal such as a rubber gasket that can have about a width of about 1 inch, a thickness of about 0.25 inches and can be fastened to the movable door to provide a weather tight sealing engagement with the body, so that no water, steam, sand or other undesirable materials get inside the enclosure. 
     A flow controller can be positioned within the door extension, but can also be disposed within the body. An example of a flow controller can be a unit available from Daniels™ of Houston, Tex. or a unit available from Fisher Scientific. 
     A remote terminal unit “RTU” monitoring controller can also be disposed in the door extension. In one embodiment the RTU monitoring controller can include a voltmeter for determining the voltage generated by a solar array. 
     The flow controller can be positioned on a back plane and can further be bolted to the plane. Parts of the flow controller can be removed from the back plane for repair if needed. 
     The back plane can be removably secured to the body of the enclosure and can be secured to the back of the enclosure. 
     A pedestal can be used for maintaining the flow control enclosure above a surface such as the ground, in case of flooding so none of the tanks or equipment are exposed to drifting sands, flood waters or other elements including wildlife. 
     A first lifting eye can be riveted, welded or bolted to a first wall of the body and a second lifting eye can be similarly connected to a second wall opposite the first lifting eye. This configuration can enable a crane, such as a pedestal crane to lift the portable weather resistant flow control system with all the equipment mounted in it without deforming the flow control enclosure. Non-deforming lifting of such heavy and calibrated equipment without damage is an amazing feat and is needed in the field. 
     In another embodiment, a flange can be riveted, welded or bolted to one of the walls. The flange can encircle the walls, like a small frame on top of the body. The flange can also be used to support the first and second lifting eyes. The flange can also have lifting holes drilled in it for lifting of the portable weather resistant flow control system without the lifting eyes. 
     A foldable tray can be mounted to the body on the inside for supporting a computer. The foldable computer tray can be sized to accommodate portable computing devices such as lap tops. The foldable tray can fold out from the body providing a unique space saving feature. 
     The system can provide continuous low voltage power to other field sources from an A/C power source. If the AC source fails, the system can continue to operate using the batteries for at least about 48 hours. 
     Turning now to the Figures,  FIG. 1  depicts a portable self contained weather resistant low voltage flow control system having an flow control enclosure  8  including a body  9  with a movable door  10  mounted atop a pedestal  76 . The pedestal  76  can include pedestal flanges  75  for mounting the flow control enclosure on a surface  77 . The movable door  10  is illustrated in the open position, but can be closed and secured with movable door fasteners  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ,  11   d . A seal  12  can be located on the inner side of the movable door  10 , which can provide a means for keeping elements such as sand and rainwater out of the interior of the flow control enclosure  8 . 
     The body  9  can includes a top  50 , a bottom  52  and sides  54   a ,  54   b . Each of the top  50 , bottom  52  and sides  54   a ,  54   b  can be covered completely or partially with insulation  74 . 
     A bulkhead  13  can be disposed in the body  9  forming a top compartment  25  and a bottom compartment  26 . At least two batteries  27   a ,  27   b  can be disposed within bottom compartment  26 . Batteries  27   a ,  27   b ,  27   c ,  27   d  are shown stored in the bottom compartment  26  and can fit into respective spaces formed by separator  100 . The bottom compartment  26  can be sealed by bottom seal  86  on the movable door  10 . 
     A back plane  24  can be mounted to at least the bulkhead  13  within the top compartment  25  for supporting electronics equipment. 
     The flow control system can provide about 12 volts to about 24 volts of power continuously to the remote terminal unit  29  and the wireless communication unit  31  while providing continuous communication for at least intermittent monitoring of field equipment. 
     An input/output (I/O) termination assembly  30  can be mounted to the back plane  34 , wherein the IO termination assembly  30  can provide connections for at least one piece of field equipment to a remote terminal unit  29 . The connected piece of field equipment can provide measurements or data for storage on the remote terminal unit  29  and transmission by the wireless communications unit  31 . 
     The wireless communications unit  31  can be mounted to the back plane  24  and can be connected to the wireless communication unit  31 . The wireless communication unit  31  can take data from the remote terminal unit  29  and transmits that data, via radio frequencies, to receivers located remotely from the flow control enclosure  8 . 
     An A/C terminal assembly  34  can be connected to an external A/C power source  68  through a surge protector  36  in order to protect the A/C terminal assembly  34  from power surges. The A/C terminal assembly  34  can further be mounted to the back plane  24  for receiving and distributing a continuous flow of A/C current from an A/C power source  68  to at least one uninterruptable power supply  32  (DC-UPS). 
     At least one uninterruptable power supply  32  can be mounted to the back plane  24  for providing between about 10 volts to about 30 volts of DC power to at least two batteries  27   a ,  27   b . The uninterruptable power supply  32  can be connected to the batteries through a low voltage distribution block  38   a.    
     The low voltage distribution block  38   a  can be mounted to the back plane  24  and can be in communication with a second low voltage distribution block  38   b . The second low voltage distribution  38   b  block can provide power to the wireless communications unit  31  and the remote terminal unit  29 . 
     A DC-DC converter  39  mounted to the back plane  24  can also communicate with the voltage distribution block  38   a.    
     At least two removable lifting eyes  82   a ,  82   b  can be secured to the enclosure for lifting of the flow control enclosure  8  by a crane. 
     A foldable computer tray  18  can be located in the upper compartment  25  and can provide a means for supporting a portable computer such as a lap top. 
       FIG. 1  also shows a switch  106 , which can be in communication with the AC terminal assembly  34  and the uninterruptable power supply  32  DC-UPS. 
     An outlet  108  is illustrated in communication with the AC terminal assembly  34 . The outlet can be about a 110 volts to about a 220 volts outlet. 
     In another embodiment, the wireless communication unit  31 , remote terminal unit  29 , I/O termination assembly  30 , the uninterruptable power supply  32 , the A/C terminal assembly  34 , the surge protector  36 , the low voltage distribution block  38   a  and the converter  39  disposed on the back plane  24  can be in a sealed watertight, water resistant top compartment. 
     In another embodiment, a ground fault interrupter  56  can be disposed between the AC terminal assembly  34  and the uninterruptable power supply  32  DC-UPS. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the flow control enclosure  8  with body  9  and movable door  10  in a closed position mounted on pedestal  76 . A door extension  51  can be seen in the movable door  10 . The door extension can include a viewing port  53 . The viewing port  53  can further include a hinged surface which can provides access to the interior of the door extension. The movable door  10  can be attached to the body  9  of the flow control enclosure  8  with fasteners  11   a ,  11   d , as shown in this Figure. 
     The door extension  51  can be adapted to house a remote terminal unit monitoring controller  102 , such as one made by Bristol, which can be in communication with the remote terminal unit  29 . The door extension  51  can also house a flow controller  104 , such as Daniel 2358A or one made by Omni Products, Inc., which can be in communication with the A/C terminal assembly  34  and at least one piece of field equipment. 
     In an embodiment, the remote terminal unit monitoring controller  102  can further comprise a volt meter for tracking voltage produced by the solar array. An example of a volt meter can be a Morningstar Sunsaver  10  solar controller ss-10L-24 volt. 
       FIG. 2  also illustrates second lifting eye  82   b , which can provide a balanced means for lifting and moving the flow control enclosure  8 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention utilizing solar power. A solar array  110  is illustrated in communication with the flow control enclosure  8 . 
     Like the previous embodiment, a body  9  can be mounted on a pedestal  76 . The body  9  can have a top  50 , a bottom  52  and walls  54   a ,  54   b . The body can be enclosed by a movable mounted door  10 . The movable door  10 , which can include a seal  12  and a bottom seal  86  for providing a weather tight seal with the body  9 . The movable door  10  can be secured shut with movable door fasteners  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c ,  11   d.    
     Like the previous embodiment, a bulkhead  13  can separate a top compartment  25  and a bottom compartment  26 , with at least two batteries  27   a ,  27   b  disposed within bottom compartment  26 . Batteries  27   a ,  27   b ,  27   c ,  27   d  are shown stored in the bottom compartment  26  and can fit into respective spaces formed by the separator  100  which can form up to about 8 spaces for about 8 batteries. The bottom compartment  26  can be sealed by bottom seal  86  on the movable door  10 . 
     The top compartment  25  can include a back plane  24 , which can be mounted to at least the bulkhead  13  within the top compartment  25  for supporting electronic equipment. A wireless communication unit  31  can be mounted to the back plane  24 , wherein the wireless communication unit  31  can be in connection with the at least two batteries  27   a ,  27   b.    
     The remote terminal unit  29 , the wireless communication unit  31 , and the input/output (I/O) termination assembly  30  can work in much the same way as described with respect to  FIG. 1 , such as for storing and transmitting data received from pieces of equipment in the field. The remote terminal unit  29  can be mounted to the back plane  24  and can be in communication with the wireless communication unit  31  and the at least two batteries. 
     The I/O termination assembly  30  can be mounted to the back plane  24 , wherein the I/O termination assembly  30  can provide connections for at least one piece of field equipment to the remote terminal unit  29 . The remote terminal unit  29  can be mounted on the back plane  24  and can communicate data to the wireless communication unit  31  for transmission via radio frequency. 
     A solar controller  112  can be in communication with a low voltage distribution block  38   a , which can be mounted to the back plane  24 . The low voltage distribution block  38   a  can receive power from a solar array  110  and can distribute power to a DC-DC converter  39 , the batteries  27   a ,  27   b ,  27   c ,  27   d  and to a second low voltage distribution block  38   b . The second low voltage distribution block  38   b  can power the remote terminal unit  29 , the wireless communications unit  31 , and the batteries  27   a ,  27   b ,  27   c ,  27   d.    
     A DC-DC converter  39  can be mounted to the back plane  24  and can be connected to the low voltage distribution block  38   a.    
     In an embodiment, a ground fault interrupter  56  can be in communication with the wireless communication unit  31 . 
     In an embodiment, the solar array ( 110 ) can supply between about 10 volts to about 30 volts of power using photovoltaics. Photovoltaics is generally known as the field of technology and research related to the application of solar cells for energy by converting sunlight directly into electricity. This is extremely beneficial due to the growing demand for clean sources of energy and the manufacture of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has expanded dramatically in recent years 
     These embodiments provide a durable flow control enclosure, which further has an advantage in that no external source of power is required. The solar array generates enough power to operate the system. 
     In an embodiment, the remote terminal unit monitoring controller can have an indicator, which can be illuminating. In additional embodiments, the indicator can provide illuminations, sounds, visuals, or other means of providing an indication when the solar array is charging, when a load is disconnected or combinations thereof. 
     While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on the embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the embodiments might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.