The present application relates to a container support comprising an electronic system for remote monitoring of the amount of fluids held in a container, which brings improvements of technical, practical and functional importance, in addition to other advantages already provided by the object of patent MU 7500099-7 of the same applicant, which makes reference to a support for GLP-type gas containers incorporating a consumption indicating device, said patent having been issued on August 24,1999. This application also relates to a signaling device containing the receiving unit of the remote monitoring system.

Description of the Prior Art The conception that is the object of patent MU 7500099-7 is due to the fact that, until the filing date, there was not low-cost and effective way to indicate, by means of the weight: (i) the gas volume contained in a gas container; (ii) the presence of a possible leakage ; (iii) the efficient supervision over the consumption of gas and (iv) resulting schdule of change, thus preventing great troubles in the event of a sudden lack of gas and, further, (v) to provide a guarantee of the correct initial weight of the container when it is considered to be filled.

The solution presented by patent MU 7500099-7 was to provide a support for GLP-type gas containers, with a consumption-indication device incorporated to them being capable of effectively eliminating the above-cited problems. For this purpose, this device comprises a base incorporating a tray-shaped portion, on which the gas container rests, this base being internally provided with a calibrated balance, associated to a display that is accessible from the outside by means of a viewer that is incorporated into the complementary base portion.

Objectives of the Invention An objective of the present invention is to provide a fluid monitoring system capable of permitting a precise remote attendance of the

amount of fluids in a container.

Also, an objective of this invention is to provide a container support comprising a fluid monitoring system that allows the attendance of the amount of fluids in a container.

Brief Description of the Invention The present invention has the objective of providing an electronic system for remotely monitoring the amount of fluids in a container, the container being supported on a container support provided with an indicating pointer that moves over a display, the electronic system comprising: (i) a transmitting unit comprising a magnetic sensor positioned at a portion of the display of the container support and associated to a transmitter; and (ii) a receiving unit arranged on a signaling device, the receiving unit comprising a receiver, the transmitter being actuated by the magnetic sensor by overlapping this magnetic sensor with a magnet positioned on the indicating pointer, the transmitter emitting signals recognized by the receiver, the receiving unit being arranged away from the transmitting unit.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a container support comprising a base associated to a support plafform by means of a calibration assembly and an indicting pointer moveable along a display, the support comprising an electronic system for remotely monitoring the amount of fluids in a container, this electronic system comprising: a transmitting unit arranged on the container support, this transmitting unit being provided with a magnetic sensor positioned a portion of the display and associated to a transmitter; and a receiving unit provided with a receiver associated to an oscillator, the receiving unit being positioned on a signaling device arranged away from the transmitting unit, the transmitter being actuated by the magnetic sensor by overlapping this magnetic sensor with a magnet positioned at the indicating pointer, the

transmitter emitting signals recognized by the receiver.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a signaling device particularly used in a fluid-monitoring system on a container, the signaling device comprising a first face provided with a grouping of multiple bores, a button, a fist luminous signaling means and a second luminous signaling means, and a second face parallel and opposed to the first one and provided with at least one contact pin.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to an embodiment represented in the drawings. The figures show: Figure 1 is a first perspective view of the container support object of the this invention; Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the container support object of this invention; Figure 3 is a cross-section front view of the container support; Figure 4 is perspective view of the container support associated to a sealed container; Figure 5 is a first schematic view of the contact of the magnet with the magnetic sensor that compose the monitoring system object of this invention; Figure 6 is a second schematic view of the contact between the magnet and the magnetic sensor that compose the monitoring system object of this invention; Figure 7 is a block diagram of the transmitting unit that composes the system of monitoring and controlling the consumption of fluids held in containers, object of this invention; Figure 8 is a block diagram of the receiving unit that composes the system for monitoring and controlling the consumption of fluids held in containers, object of the present invention; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the signaling device object of the present invention; Figure 10 is a side view of the signaling device object of the

present invention; Figure 11 is a top view of the signaling device object of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Figures According to a preferred embodiment and as can be seen in figure 1, the support 100 for containers 21 proposed now and with the improvements introduced is physically constituted by a circular-cap-shaped platform 1, on which a container 21 (hereinafter called gas-container 21) rests, and a circular-plate-shaped base 2 associated to the platform 1 by means of calibrated springs and a calibrated-balance mechanism, which will be described in greater detail later.

Still with regard to the base 2 and according to figure 2, the latter is provided, at its bottom portion, with castors 3, which facilitate the displacement of the support 100, and seals 23, which are broken by pins (not shown) located at the platform 1, when the support 100 is subjected to an excess weight.

As shown in figures 1 and 4, the platform 1 comprises a raised surface plane or a boss 4, which is surrounded by a lower rim 22 of the gas- container 21 when the latter is placed on the platform 1. This fitting guarantees an optimum stability in positioning the gas-container 21 on the support 100.

The front portion of the platform 1 comprises a display 5, which is accessible from the outside through a viewer 6, on which there is an indicating strip divided into three parts 7, each in a different color, for example: green, yellow, red, which correspond to the conditions of the gas- container: full, half-filled and empty, respectively.

According to figure 3, the calibrated-balance mechanism is positioned inside the base 2. This mechanism is formed by a rack-bar 8 associated to a traction spring and a pinion 9, to the vertical axle of which an indicating pointer 10 is coupled. The rack-bar 8 is further associated to a calibration assembly that consists of a spring 11, which is vertically tensioned in the direct proportion of the weight that rests on the platform 1.

The indicating pointer 10 comprises a first end 10a, which is associated to the vertical axle of the pinion 9, and a second free end 10b, which moves along the display 5, according to the weight that rests on the platform 1.

The calibration assembly also comprises a regulating axle 12, which extends from a adjustment cogwheel 13.

As can be seen in figures 5 and 6, the indicating pointer 10 comprises a magnet 20 arranged at its second end 10b. This magnet 20 may be fitted into a tear made at the end 10b or else it may be associated to the lower surface of this second end 10b.

When the indicating pointer 10 moves, the magnet 20 too is moved along the display 5.

Thus, when the gas-container 21 is placed on the platform 1 of the support 100, the platform 1 displaces vertically due to the weight of the gas-container 21 containing the fluid, which is a result of the vertical traction of the spring 11. With the traction of the spring 11, a minor movement of levers that are under the platform 1 is transmitted to the rack-bar 8, which causes the pinion 9 to turn and, consequently, brings about the displacement of the indicating pointer 10.

As the fluid that is held in this container or gas-container 21 is used, the latter gradually empties, and its weight also gradually decreases, that is to say, the weight-force on the platform 1 decreases as the fluid is withdrawn of the gas-container 21.

The reduction in weight of the gas-container 21 provides a variation in the calibration assembly, that is to say, a gradual relaxation in the vertical traction of the spring 11, which again urges the rack-bar 8 in order to modify the positioning of the second end 10b of the indicating pointer 10 along the display 5.

However, as illustrated in figures 5 and 6, the display 5 comprises a magnetic sensor 61 that composes the electronic system for monitoring fluids in a container 21. This magnetic sensor 61 is positioned at the display 5, at a determined part of the strip 7 where the monitoring is to

take place, that is to say, the magnetic sensor 61 is positioned on the strip of the display that indicates the amount of fluid in the container to give alarm.

The electronic system for monitoring and controlling fluids in a container 21 is formed by a transmitting unit 40 and a receiving unit 50, as shown in figures 7 and 8, respectively.

The transmitting unit 40 comprises the above-mentioned magnetic sensor 61, a transmitter 42 and a coder 43. The transmitting unit 40 is positioned on the support 100, so that the magnetic sensor 61 will be arranged on the display 5, as already mentioned, and is electronically linked to the transmitter 42. The transmitter, in turn, is associated to the coder 43, the function of which is to generate an identifying code that, being modulated to the signal transmitted by the transmitter 42, prevents the occurrence of interference between systems functioning in the same area. The transmitter 42 may consist, for example, of a transmitter of radio-frequency of 433MHz, P. C. I. in SMD technology, among others.

Both the magnetic sensor 61 and the transmitter 42 are fed by a first feeding source 64, for example, a 12-Volt-microbattery. The magnetic sensor 61 may be, for example, of the Reed Switch type. Its function is to actuate the transmitter 42 when the second end 10b of the indicating pointer 10 reaches the strip part 7 that is being monitored.

The transmitting unit 40 emits coded signals to the receiving unit 50 via radio-frequency FR. However, this transmission of signals happens only at the moment when the indicating pointer 10 reaches the strip 7 that is being monitored. During the rest of the time, that is to say, while the indicating pointer 10 does not reach the strip 7, the transmitting unit 40 remains deactivated. For this reason, it is possible to use a first feeding source 64 of a small size, which facilitates the positioning of this unit 40 on the support 100.

The receiving unit 50 comprises a receiver 51, a decoder 53, a time switch 55 and an oscillator 19. This receiving unit 50 is arranged within a signaling device 14, as shown in figures 9,10 and 11. This signaling device 14 is positioned away from the transmitting unit 40.

The receiver 51, which may be, for example, a 433MHz radio- frequency receiver, also P. C. I. in SMD technology, among others, is associated to a decoder 53, so as to receive the signals emitted by the transmitter 42 and verify the codification existing thereof. The receiver 51 is also associated to the time switch, which in turn is associated to an oscillator 19 capable of emitting sound-alert signals by means of transistors, for instance, by means of a low-power siren, or a buzzer.

A second feeding source 65 feeds the receiver 51 and the oscillator 19. Since the receiving unit 50 always remains turned on and ready to receive signals, its consumption of energy is higher than the consumption of energy of the transmitting unit 40. Therefore, the second feeding source 65 may be either an internal battery or an external feeding source, for example, the conventional electric network, which must supply a 12-Volt voltage around 300 mA of current. Other configurations of voltage and current may also be used.

If one chooses to use the conventional electric network as a second feeding source 65, it is known that it supplies an alternate current that may be of 110 Volts or 220 Volts. Thus, independently of the voltage supplied to the circuit, the latter is transformed into 12 Volts by a transformer or an equivalent component.

The coder 43 and the decoder 53 are electronically adjusted while assembling the system.

The time switch 55 is also associated to the receiver 51. This time switch 55 is formed by an integrated circuit containing timers that have the function of actuating the oscillator 19 for a pre-established time. The time switch 55 may also be employed in the case of luminous alarms by luminous signaling means or LEDs.

The oscillator 19, in turn, consists of a circuit that, by means of transistors, produces a sound. Once it is associated to the time switch 55, this sound will be produced at pre-established intervals of time.

As already mentioned, the receiving unit 50 is positioned on a signaling device 14, illustrated in figures 9,10 and 11, which is positioned

away from the support 100, where the transmitting unit 40 is arranged. This device 14 comprises a first face 16, provided with a grouping of multiple bores 15, a button 18, and at least two luminous signaling means or LEDs, the first luminous signaling means or LED 17 being preferably red, and the second luminous signaling means or LED 17'being preferably green.

The multiple bores 15 are grouped in the fact 16 of the device 14, so that they will remain adjacent the oscillator 19, which is arranged inside the signaling device 14 and that produces the sound alert signal. Therefore, the function of these multiple bores 15 is to exteriorize the sound signal produced by the oscillator 19.

With regard to the first LED 17, preferably red, it has the function of emitting a luminous alert in order to indicate that the fluid level inside the gas-container 21 has reached the previously defined monitoring point. On the other hand, the second LED 17', preferably green, is intended to indicate the correct functioning of the receiving unit 50, that is to say, if this second LED 17'is on (emitting green light), this means that the receiving unit 50 is functioning correctly ; but if this LED 17'goes out (stops emitting light), then this means that the receiving unit 50 has a problem and has stop functioning.

In this case, this second LED 17'is also fed by the second feeding source 65.

Once the magnetic sensor 61 is arranged at the strip 7 to be monitored, the gas-container 21 is positioned on the platform 1 of the support 100, so that the second end 10b of the indicating pointer 10 is moved in order to be position at one of the strips of the display 5 different from the one that comprises the magnetic sensor 61. As the fluid existing inside this gas- container 21 is used, its weight decreases, and the end 10b of the pointer 10 is displaced towards the monitoring strip 7, as shown in figure 5.

When the second end 10b of the pointer 10 reaches the monitored strip 7, causing the magnet 20 to overlap the magnetic sensor 61, the magnetic field of the magnet 20 attracts the magnetic sensor 61, resulting in contact between the magnet 20 and the sensor 61. Once this contact is made, the circuit of the transmitting unit 40 is closed, and the transmitter 42

is actuated.

Once the circuit of the transmitting unit 40 has been activated, the coder 43 is also actuated, which modulates the code of the equipment at the signals to be transmitted. Then the transmitter 42 emits coded signals via radio-frequency RF, which are received by the receiving unit 50, positioned in the signaling device 14, which is away from the support 100.

The receiving unit 50 receives the signals emitted by the transmitter 42 through the receiver 51, which then sends the received signals to the decoder 53, so that the latter can recognize the code that has been inserted into the transmission signals. Once this code has been recognized as being correct, the receiving unit 50 simultaneously actuates the time switch 55, which imposes a pre-established time on the oscillator 19, that is to say, the time switch 55 controls the emission of the sound alert produced by the oscillator 19, according to the time already established by the manufacturer. This pre-established time may be, for instance, about 5 minutes.

Besides actuating the oscillator 19, in order to emit a signaling sound, the receiving unit 50 also actuates the first LED17, so that the latter will be blinking and signaling to the user that the fluid level inside the gas- container 21 has reached the monitored limit.

Both the sound alert and the luminous alert may be manually deactivated by touching the button 18; there may also be the option of automatic deactivation. Thus, there are three ways of deactivating the sound alert :: 'manual deactivation automatic deactivation; and manual and automatic deactivation.

Further with respect to the signaling device 14 and as shown in figures 10 and 11, this device also comprises a second face 23 that is parallel and opposed to the first face 16, on which at least two contact pins 24 are positioned. These contact pins 24 are intended to be connected to the terminals of the conventional electric network, when an external feeding

source is chosen for the receiving unit 50.

Thus, both when using an internal feeding source or an external feeding source for the receiving unit 50, the signaling device 14 may be positioned at numberless places away from the support 100 ; for instance, in the kitchen or in the storeroom, among other rooms of the building. In this case, the user does not need to worry about monitoring the consumption of gas by observing the position of the indicating pointer 10 at the display 5, to check the conditions of the gas-container 21-this practice is troublesome if the gas-container 21 is not close to the stove in the kitchen, but rather in the external part of the house, which is more common. The monitoring of the consumption may be automatically carried out by the electronic system, remotely and by means of sound signals emitted by the oscillator 19 and by the luminous signals emitted by the first LED 17.

Thus, the present support for gas-containers with a system for remotely monitoring the consumption of gas achieves the proposed objectives, performing, in a practical and efficient way, the functions for which it is intended, providing a number of advantages and benefits inherent in its utilization, with innovatory characteristics.

A preferred embodiment of the invention having been described, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention embraces other possible variations, being limited only by the contents of the accompanying claims, which includes the possible equivalents.