FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a system and device for monitoring and controlling agricultural produce. In particular, the invention relates to a system for monitoring and controlling fluid in a bulk container such as milk or other agricultural produce.

BACKGROUND ART

The following references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the following prior art discussion does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part. Although the invention has broad scope relating to agricultural sensing and implementing systems, the specific example described herein relates to the dairy industry.

Currently there are problems with milk vat monitoring devices and controlling systems. Milk vats are generally non-standard, with numerous shapes, sizes, types and manufacturing sources. A device and/or system is needed that can be adapted to suit the wide variety of existing installations. Within a milk vat conditions, such as temperature, can vary significantly, so that there is a need to adapt a milk vat monitoring system to the various installation types whereby to achieve consistent results. Milk is required to be stored within specific temperature ranges, for example in vat located at a dairy. The milk must be kept within a specified temperature range until it is collected, typically by a tanker truck, and taken to a milk processing plant. If the milk spends too long outside the required temperature range it may spoil or otherwise not be saleable. A problem with milk collection is that whilst the milk within a partially filled vat may be within the required temperature range, an influx of warm milk direct from, for example, dairy cows straight after milking, can cause the temperature of the whole vat to rise. Ambient temperatures around the vat also rise and fall during the day, resulting in significant temperature swings within the milk in the vat. These conditions may also be found in other agricultural fluid collection processes, such as orange juice.

An object of the present invention is to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto. STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The invention according to one or more aspects is as defined in the independent claims. Some optional and/or preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The invention, in its broadest form, provides:

A sensor unit for determining the characteristics of a fluid within a container including:

a body defining an internal space to house one or more of the sensor unit's electrical components;

a communication device;

a mounting device; and

a sensor.

The sensor may include an inductance or compensated pressure sensing device. The sensor may include an elongate member extending from the body. The elongate member is preferably adapted to measure the temperature of a fluid or flowable material, such as dairy produce, including milk. The elongate member is preferably adapted to measure the level within a defined container of the fluid or flowable material.

In another form the present invention provides a system for sensing fluid properties within a container including:

a sensor having a body defining an internal space to house one or more of the sensor unit's electrical components;

a communication device;

a mounting device; and

a sensor comprising an elongate member extending from the body, the elongate member adapted to measure the temperature of a fluid or flowable material within the container; and

wherein the sensor is connected to a communication network to transmit information to a remote location.

CONTAINER

The container may be an industrial mixing, brewing, culturing or curing device, such as a vat or tank. The container is preferably a vat adapted to hold a large volume of flowable material, such as dairy product, particularly liquid including milk, grains or fuel. The vat or tank may be substantially sealed or may have an open upper region, for example have no roof or cap. However, preferably, the vat or tank is substantially sealed, either or both for:

(a) hygiene in the case of perishables;

(b) preservation with regard to volatiles;

The container is advantageously, but not exclusively, made from substantially chemically inert and thermally stable material relative to the flowable material and the temperatures of the processes associated with the container's use. The materials from which the container is made may include stainless steel, aluminium, galvanised or coated iron or an alloy thereof, and/or plastic such polypropylene.

SENSOR UNIT

The sensor unit is preferably a modular device or apparatus. The unit is preferably adapted to be retrofitted to the container.

BODY

The sensor unit includes a body. The internal space of the body may be a cavity defined by a casing or housing of the body. The body may be substantially sealable whereby to protect internal components against corrosion and corrosive materials. The sensor may extend from a sealed aperture located in a wall or block at one end or side of the body. The communication device, or one or more components thereof, may be sealably contained within the body.

The body may be made from a chemically and/or thermally stable material relative to the particular flowable material and the associated industrial or agricultural process involved.

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

The sensor unit preferably includes a communication device in the form of a wireless or wire cable connection adapted to communicate the sensor's readings to a remote or spaced receiving device.

The sensor unit may include a function or control device. The device may indicate the on/off status of the sensor unit. The control device may have a reset option to recalibrate, zero or otherwise reinstate proper operations to the sensor unit.

The electrical components may include power cables to power the sensor unit via mains power or another electrical power source. MOUNTING DEVICE

The sensor unit may be mounted to the container, to an adjacent substrate or to a bracket or structure extending from either a substrate or the container. The sensor unit may be fixed to the container by providing a sealed engagement of the elongate member extending through an aperture in the container wall, floor or roof. The sensor body may include a mounting device for engagement with the container. The mounting device may include a male and female threaded connection, or a spigot and recess arrangement.

SENSOR

The elongate member may be flexible or rigid or a combination thereof. The elongate member may comprise a rod, tube or cable. Preferably the elongate member is rigid. Preferably the elongate member defines a cavity and/or is substantially hollow along its length. Preferably the elongate member is adapted to facilitate the measurement of the temperature of a fluid or flowable material at a distance or location substantially spaced from the body. The elongate member may include a means to measure the level of the fluid or flowable material in the container. Preferably, the elongate member is made of metal and uses an induction device to measure the fluid or flowable material level in the container.

The sensor unit may measure a variety of different parameters regarding the contents of the container or the container's surroundings, including temperature, pressure and humidity.

NETWORK

The sensor unit is advantageously connected to a communication network to communicate the readings obtained from the sensor unit to a remote processing and actioning device. The data or information derived from the sensor unit is

advantageously used to generate an alert or notification to a portable digital device, such as a smart phone. Alternatively, the sensor unit may be used to generate an alert or notification to be delivered to an administrative computer device or station and/or to an end user portal. Firewalls advantageously may be used to protect the privacy of the information so communication or the integrity of the alerts or notifications against corruption or security breach. As the handled product of the fluid or flowable material may be financially valuable or security-vulnerable, maintaining the integrity and security of the system using firewall provisions may be advantageous.

ELONGATE MEMBER

The elongate member may be in the form of a wand or long shaft adapted to extend into the bulk of the fluid or flowable material to measure the core temperature thereof. The level measuring means of the elongate member may rely on inductance or compensated pressure sensing technology to detect changes in fluid or flowable material levels. In the case of milk, this may advantageously be used to detect the milking start, so that milking times can be accurately plotted. If milking times fall outside the recommended range, an alert or notification can be delivered via the network to the administrator or the end user either via the portable device or the portal.

SYSTEM FOR SENSING

The combination of sensing parameters allows the system for monitoring and controlling agricultural produce to determine a number of process states based on a set of algorithms. In relation to the system's application to the dairy industry, the process states may include any one or more of milking start/end, cleaning in place (CIP) start/end and pick-up. The determination of these states may advantageously allow the system alerts and notifications to operate in a pro-activate manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a system that for monitoring milk vats according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is perspective review of a monitoring like device;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a milk vat according to the first embodiment;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a sensor device according to a second embodiment; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view all the monitoring and controlling system of the first embodiment associated with a network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawing. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawing are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention, except as may be recited in the claims accompanying this specification.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, an agricultural monitoring and controlling system 1 includes an on- farm installation 10. The installation 10 comprises multiple sensors 20 (a-d) in communication by either wired or wireless connection to a modem 50 and thereafter to a communication network, such as a mobile or cellular network 60 or direct to the internet 65. A portable digital device, such as a mobile phone 70 including software made to support the inventive system, allows an operator to receive data from the sensors 20. The system 1 further includes one or more user portals 80 and an administrator interface 90 via a communication network, such as the internet 65. Security barriers in the form of firewalls 66 are interposed between the mobile network 60 and the internet 65, and the user portals 80 and the administrator interface 90. The software made to support the system may be a dedicated application or may be a web browser.

A sensor unit 24 is shown in Fig. 2. The sensor unit 24 comprises a local function box 22 mountable to a proximal substrate (not shown) and in communication with a sensor 30 either wirelessly (not shown) or by wire cable 27 of variable length, depending upon the application. Extending from a sensor housing 32, is an elongate sensor wand 40. The sensor wand 40 is of indeterminate length, which length depends on the distance to which the wand 36 must extend into a vat or tank 45 in a particular application. The housing 32 includes a mounting device such as in this embodiment, a hinged annular clamp 33. The clamp 33 holds the cover 32 on the sensor and allows the device to be assembled/dissembled. The clamp 33 is locatable intermediate sensor wand's 40 length which may be used to locate the housing 32 at or near the top of a container of fluid such as the vat or tank 45. The housing 32 is substantially cylindrical along its length. It terminates at its lower end with an annular skirt rim 35.

The housing 32 contains a cylindrical plastic plug 36 which electrically isolates an outer conductor of the wand 40. A conductive strap 37 connects the outer wall of the housing 32 to the inner conductor of the wand (not shown) to earth same. The extent of immersion of the wand 40 in the fluid to be measured generates a voltage value which, when calibrated, can be used to determine the level of the fluid in a vat 45 (see Fig. 3). Furthermore, intermediate the length of the wand 40, a thermometer is located (not shown) for the measurement of the temperature of in the fluid in the vat or tank 45. The function box 21 comprises a housing 22 adapted to be fixedly attached to a substrate via a lower flange 23. On the housing 22 is an LED indicator 23 a and a reset or on/off button 23b for the benefit of a local operator we're by the operator can assess the "online" or "on/off status of the sensor unit 24 and locally reset the unit, if required.

In one form, if the sensor is mounted to an upper portion of a vat such that the wand 40 extends from the upper fluid level to the bottom of the vat, such as in Fig. 3, then a temperature detector (not shown) associated with the wand 40 may be located near the end of the wand closest to the bottom of the vat. In this way the sensor can detect the temperature of the fluid even when the vat is only partially filled.

In another form, if the sensor is mounted to a lower portion of a vat, such as to an end of vat 45b shown in Fig 5, the wand may not need to extend across the entire vat and the temperature detector may be at any point of the wand. In this form, the sensor may be mounted at a lower point on the vat 45b such that the entirety of the wand is submerged below the fluid level in the vat even when the vat contains a minimal volume of fluid.

Referring specifically to Fig. 3, a sensor unit 24 is mounted to the upper convex roof 46 of the milk vat 45, such that the wand 40 extends through an aperture in the roof 46 and it is locked in vertical position by a lock nut 41 (in this case, with the annual (33 is not used to mount the housing 32). The wand 40 extends substantially to the internal surface of the base 47 at the bottom of the vat 45 and is adapted to give and accurate reading of the temperature and the level of the liquid contained in the vat 45. On a side wall of the vat 45, there is mounted a junction box 48 that may be used to connect multiple sensors or other electrical devices.

The vat 45 may be in the form of a vertically axially aligned vat 45a or a horizontally aligned substantially cylindrical tank 45b as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the sensor 20a or 20b respectively is mounted to the upper wall or roof 46 thereof to allow the wand 24 to depend therethrough into the cavity defined by the vat or tank 45.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a sensor 1 10 according to another embodiment comprising a rectangular shaped block case 130 to which is connected a function box 120 at one end 138 and a sensor unit 112 at the other 139. The case 130 and sensor 110 are attachable to a vat wall by threaded engagement to a male threaded spigot extending outwardly from the vat wall and adapted to cooperate with a floating nut 114 oriented transverse to the long axis of the case 130. Correspondingly, the sensor 110 and wand 140 are also oriented axially transverse to the long axis 131. The case 130 is formed in two parts 130a,b which a re-joined by fixing to each other a pair of co-extensive opposed outwardly extending flanges 132a,b that each lie in parallel and adjacent planes transverse to the long axis 131. The end of the sensor unit 112 opposed to the end with the floating nut 1 14 terminates in a male threaded end adapted to engage with a corresponding female floating nut (not shown).

The sensor 110 also measures the fluid levels and the temperature. It connects to the base of the vat 45. The sensor 1 10 comprises a temperature compensating pressure sensor to sense the pressure of the fluid in the vat 45. This pressure value is converted to the fluid height/level in the vat 45. The sensor 110 has a temperature sensor in the wand 140 that goes up inside the vat after it is attached to a vat outlet at the base of the vat 45. In the embodiments, both an inductive fluid level sensor and pressure type sensor are described, however a variety of sensors may be employed to measure the fluid level in the tank to determine volume. As the volume of the vats described herein are fixed, either fluid level within the vats or fluid pressure at a known level within the vat will allow a calculation of volume to be made. In one form it is not necessary for the sensor 1 10 to determine the volume within a vat, but to determine the relative or change in volume within the vat.

The sensors 20a,b enable the operator to monitor activities such as the start and end of the milking process, cleaning in place (CIP) start and run time, as well as the temperature and vat and tanker levels. From this information input, the system 1 generates alerts, alarms and/or orders which may further result in action or compliance by the operator or the administrator.

The sensor 20 may be deployed in a fuel tank of a tanker or in a grain silo in other agricultural applications. In regard to fuel supplies, advantageously the sensor 20 maybe fitted to a fuel tank to enable a fuel supplier too determine an agricultural installations fuel needs and to optimise delivery times and volumes. However, the primary application for this invention is in relation to the monitoring of dairy installations and implementation of actions as a consequence.

Throughout the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word "comprise" and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

In the present specification, terms such as "apparatus", "means", "device" and

"member" may refer to singular or plural items and are terms intended to refer to a set of properties, functions or characteristics performed by one or more items or components having one or more parts. It is envisaged that where an "apparatus", "means", "device" or "member" or similar term is described as being a unitary object, then a functionally equivalent object having multiple components is considered to fall within the scope of the term, and similarly, where an "apparatus", "assembly", "means", "device" or "member" is described as having multiple components, a functionally equivalent but unitary object is also considered to fall within the scope of the term, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation, typically with the sensor housing 32 uppermost.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.