A device and method for monitoring the water level and debris cover in a manhole

Abstract

The application discloses a device and method for monitoring water level and sundry covering condition in a manhole, relates to the technical field of city infrastructure monitoring, and solves the problem that people are unaware of the condition under the manhole in most cases, can only detect the condition on site by manual operation, and cannot acquire water level data in the manhole in real time and accurately, and judge the covering condition of the manhole, such as whether the manhole is covered by sundry or whether the manhole cover is displaced. Technical scheme points are as follows: a support is in a frame structure, and the support edge is detachably installed on a manhole seat, between a manhole cover and the manhole seat, or between the manhole cover and a manhole wall through fixed connecting pieces. The device has the effects that the device is simple in structure, easy to install and maintain, can adapt to various harsh underground environments, significantly improves the efficiency and safety of city infrastructure management, and provides a powerful guarantee for the normal operation of a city drainage and sewage system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of urban infrastructure monitoring technology, specifically to a device and method for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside manholes. Background Technology

[0002] Many urban infrastructure projects are buried underground, such as gas pipelines, power lines, communication lines, heating pipes, water supply pipes, drainage pipes, and sewage pipes. These underground facilities are connected to the surface through manholes, allowing maintenance and management personnel to access them for repair and management. Due to the construction requirements of these underground facilities installation and laying, as well as convenience of maintenance and other reasons, most manholes are located on roads. Therefore, the manhole covers must be able to withstand the destructive actions of vehicles and pedestrians, such as being run over and vibrating, requiring a certain load-bearing capacity and weight. This effectively isolates the surface from the underground environment. In most cases, people have no idea what's under the manholes. They can only rely on manual on-site inspections, and if necessary, opening the heavy manhole covers, which is not only inefficient but also poses certain safety hazards.

[0003] Because most manholes are typically located on or along roadsides, they inevitably accumulate water and sediment. The bottom of a manhole is usually much lower than the road surface, allowing surface water to seep in. Especially during rainy weather, groundwater can even breach the manhole cover and reach the surface. Therefore, maintaining the proper functioning of underground infrastructure requires timely monitoring of manhole water levels, including water level fluctuations and the presence of debris. It is particularly important to monitor water level changes in each drainage pipe during heavy rains to support decision-making by urban emergency management departments.

[0004] Therefore, to ensure the normal operation of underground facilities, timely monitoring of water conditions within manholes is crucial. This information includes water level, fluctuations in water level, and the accumulation of debris and foreign objects within the manholes. Especially during heavy rains, real-time monitoring of water level changes in each drainage pipe provides critical support for urban emergency management departments to make informed and effective decisions, thereby better responding to urban flooding and other emergencies. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a device for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole, comprising: The bracket has a frame-shaped structure, and its edges can be detachably installed on the manhole base, or between the manhole cover and the manhole base, or between the manhole cover and the manhole wall via fixing connectors. Support components, fixedly connected to the lower part of the bracket, are used to support the structure of the equipment body; A water immersion sensor, mounted on the upper part of the bracket, is used to monitor the water flowing into the gap between the manhole cover and the manhole seat; The transmitting antenna is located on the upper part of the bracket, in the gap between the manhole base and the manhole cover; The device body, fixed to the support, includes a housing, a control module, a power supply module, a water level sensor, and a camera. The control module is used for device authentication, data acquisition, and transmission control. The power supply module provides power to the entire device. The water level sensor monitors the water level inside the manhole. The camera detects the presence of garbage or foreign objects inside the manhole. The device body is connected to the water immersion sensor via a data cable, and a transmitting antenna is connected to the device body via a connecting cable to transmit the information collected by the device body from inside and outside the manhole to the backend server. Preferably, the frame structure of the bracket is open, and the fixing connector is installed at the opening of the bracket. The fixing connector includes a threaded screw and a screw set on the threaded screw. The screw has the same thread direction, and the thread direction of the threaded screw is opposite to that of the screw. Rotating the threaded screw synchronously drives the opening end of the bracket to move towards or away from each other.

[0007] Preferably, the water immersion sensor is installed in the gap between the manhole cover and the manhole base, so as to detect rainwater or water accumulation on the ground as soon as possible.

[0008] Preferably, the outer casing protects the entire device body, preventing damage from external forces. Furthermore, the casing contains protective components that ensure the water flow does not damage the circuit boards, water level sensors, and cameras inside the device body when it is submerged.

[0009] Preferably, the protective component is a downward-facing groove at the bottom of the equipment casing, forming a water-proof chamber. The water-proof chamber is a closed space with only the downward-facing side open. When the water level rises to the bottom of the equipment casing, the air in the water-proof chamber is sealed off. When the water level rises above the bottom of the equipment casing or even submerges the equipment casing, the air in the water-proof chamber is only slightly compressed due to atmospheric pressure, so the water level inside the water-proof chamber does not change much, keeping the upper part in a water-free state and protecting the internal water level sensor and camera from water immersion.

[0010] Preferably, the power supply module is battery powered.

[0011] Preferably, the water level sensor on the device body is an ultrasonic ranging sensor or a laser ranging sensor.

[0012] Preferably, the camera on the device is equipped with a supplementary lighting element.

[0013] Preferably, the control module inside the equipment is configured to execute a multi-level priority monitoring process: a routine monitoring process, a water level change monitoring process, and an emergency monitoring process.

[0014] Preferably, the camera intermittently takes pictures of the inside of the cellar, collecting the brightness values ​​of the same location in the photos taken at different times. The location of the sampling point is random. The brightness difference between these sampling points is calculated to make a judgment. When the collected brightness difference is within a small fluctuation range, it indicates that the cellar is in a normal water state; otherwise, there is garbage or other foreign objects in the cellar.

[0015] A method for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole includes the following steps: S1: Install the bracket inside the well, and install the water immersion sensor, transmitting antenna and equipment body on the bracket; S2: Perform routine monitoring procedures and use water immersion sensors to collect water immersion information in the gap between the manhole cover and the manhole seat; S3: The water level sensor inside the equipment body detects changes in the water level inside the well. S4: The camera inside the equipment detects the coverage of garbage and foreign objects in the manhole; S5: The control module receives and executes the monitoring information from S2, S3 and S4, and transmits the information to the transmitting antenna. The transmitting antenna then transmits the monitoring data to the data center via a wireless network.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: (1) Traditional manhole monitoring relies on manual inspections at the site on a regular basis. This not only requires a lot of manpower, but also requires special tools and safety protection equipment. This invention, through the integrated design of bracket, sensor and equipment body, can be directly installed between manhole cover and well seat. It can achieve 24-hour automatic monitoring without opening the cover, completely get rid of the dependence on manual inspection, that is, replace manual on-site operation and reduce labor costs. (2) Manholes are mostly located on roads with high traffic volume. When manually opening the manhole for inspection, temporary warning signs need to be set up, which is easily disturbed by passing vehicles and poses safety hazards such as collisions and crushing. At the same time, toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and methane may accumulate in the manhole, directly threatening the health of maintenance personnel. This invention transmits data remotely wirelessly, so that staff can obtain monitoring information without getting close to the manhole. This fundamentally avoids the safety risks brought by road operations and the underground environment, greatly reduces the incidence of safety accidents, avoids the risks of road operations, and ensures the safety of personnel. (3) The device includes a water immersion sensor, a water level sensor and a camera, which can simultaneously collect three key information: the ground water immersion status, the dynamic water level in the well and the coverage of garbage and foreign objects. The water immersion sensor is installed in the gap of the well cover and can capture the signal of rainwater seepage into the ground in the first time. The water level sensor can monitor the rate of rise and fall of the water level in real time. The camera can clearly capture the blockage of the pipe inlet (such as plastic bag wrapping, silt accumulation, etc.), ensuring a comprehensive perception of the manhole status and avoiding misjudgment caused by monitoring a single indicator. (4) The water-proof chamber of the equipment adopts a "bottom-opening closed cavity" structure. Utilizing the principle of air pressure balance, it can maintain internal dryness even when the well is completely submerged, ensuring that the water level sensor and camera are always in a water-free environment. This design can withstand long-term immersion and water pressure impact, maintaining continuous data acquisition even in extreme scenarios such as rainstorms and flooding, thus improving data acquisition efficiency.

[0017] (5) There are three priorities for water situation monitoring, which correspond to routine monitoring, water level change monitoring and emergency monitoring respectively. With these three-level process design, the device can adaptively adjust the working mode according to the actual scenario. Compared with fixed high-frequency monitoring, this "on-demand energy consumption" mode can reduce energy consumption, reduce battery replacement frequency and reduce operation and maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 A diagram illustrating the detection of trash and foreign objects by a camera; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating information transmission between a communication base station and a cloud computing center. Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the bracket and equipment body installation; Figure 4 This is a top view of the support frame; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the equipment. Figure 6 A schematic diagram illustrating the formation of a water-proof chamber between the internal and external casing of the equipment. Figure 7 This is a flowchart of the routine monitoring process; Figure 8 Flowchart for entering the dense continuous acquisition sub-process detection; Figure 9 Flowchart for detecting water level changes; Figure 10 This is a flowchart for emergency monitoring. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] The device of this invention mainly includes: The bracket has a frame-shaped structure, and its edges can be detachably installed on the manhole base, between the manhole cover and the manhole base, or between the manhole cover and the manhole wall via fixed connectors. Considering the dimensional errors in the manufacturing process of manhole covers and manhole bases, the diameters of manhole covers and manhole bases produced by different manufacturers at different times may vary. The adjustment component includes a threaded screw and a screw set on the threaded screw. The screw has the same thread direction, while the threaded screw has the opposite thread direction. Rotating the threaded screw synchronously drives the open ends of the bracket to move towards or away from each other, so that the bracket can adapt to manhole covers of different sizes.

[0021] The support component, fixedly connected to the lower part of the bracket, is used to support the structure of the equipment body. Here, the support component can be designed in the shape of a support net, fixedly connected to the lower part of the bracket, forming a downwardly protruding load-bearing structure. The support net can be flexible, and can be a mesh structure composed of ropes, chains, or filaments, etc. Its function is to connect the equipment body to the bracket. It also prevents personnel from falling to the bottom of the manhole, thus integrating the data acquisition and monitoring equipment with the fall protection net.

[0022] The support structure can also be a simple downward-extending structure on which the equipment body is directly mounted. In some applications, the entire manhole opening must be unobstructed visually and cannot be covered with a fall-prevention net.

[0023] The water immersion sensor, installed on the upper part of the bracket, is used to monitor the water flowing into the gap between the manhole cover and the manhole base. The water immersion sensor is specifically installed in the gap between the manhole cover and the manhole base, so as to detect rainwater or water accumulation on the ground in the first instance. The transmitting antenna is mounted above the bracket, in the gap between the manhole cover and the manhole base; An upward-facing groove is cut into the bracket at the gap between the manhole cover and the manhole seat. The transmitting antenna and water immersion sensor are installed in the groove, and a pressure-resistant plate is installed inside the groove. The pressure-resistant plate fits snugly against the water immersion sensor and the transmitting antenna to protect them. In addition, the bracket has a slot for placing a data cable. Figure 4 The data cable connects the device body to the water immersion sensor; The device body, fixed to the support frame and with no visual obstruction between it and the bottom of the manhole, includes a housing, a control module, a power supply module, a water level sensor, and a camera. The control module is used for device authentication, data acquisition, and transmission control. The power supply module provides power to the entire device. The water level sensor monitors the water level inside the manhole. The camera detects the presence of garbage or foreign objects covering the manhole. The device body is connected to the water immersion sensor via a data cable, and the transmitting antenna is connected to the device body via a connecting cable to transmit the information collected by the device body from inside and outside the manhole to the backend server. The connecting cable is also placed in a slot on the support frame. The device body transmits all the information collected from the water level sensor, camera, and water immersion sensor to the transmitting antenna (the sensors have no active function; they are all controlled and operated by the device body). The transmitting antenna and communication base station exchange data with the backend cloud computing server.

[0024] The outer casing protects the entire device, preventing damage from external forces. Internally, protective components ensure that the water flow does not damage the circuit boards, water level sensors, or cameras when the device is submerged. These components can be downward-facing recesses at the bottom of the casing, forming a water-proof chamber. This chamber is a closed space with only the downward-facing side open. When the water level rises to the bottom of the casing, the air in the water-proof chamber is trapped. When the water level exceeds the bottom of the casing and submerges it, the air inside is only slightly compressed due to atmospheric pressure, resulting in minimal water level change and keeping the upper part dry. This prevents water flow from damaging the circuit boards, water level sensors, and cameras inside the device. The mainboard, as the core control unit of the entire device, is primarily responsible for realizing the three key functions of the device: authentication, data acquisition, and data transmission. For authentication, the mainboard ensures the legitimate use of the device through a built-in security chip and encryption algorithm. In data acquisition, the mainboard coordinates the working timing and data format of each sensor. For data transmission, the mainboard sends the acquired data to a remote server or local storage device via wired or wireless communication interfaces. The power supply module, as the system's energy source, typically uses a rechargeable lithium battery. This power supply method has advantages such as small size, light weight, and easy replacement, and can meet the continuous operation requirements of the device in most application scenarios. Water level sensors, as important measuring elements, are implemented in various forms: traditional water level gauges directly measure water level height through mechanical structures; laser rangefinders use optical principles for non-contact measurement; and ultrasonic ranging calculates water level changes based on sound wave reflection time. Among these, ultrasonic ranging technology has become the most widely used solution in the current water level monitoring field due to its high measurement accuracy, strong anti-interference ability, and simple installation and maintenance. In addition, ultrasonic ranging sensors can also measure velocity, i.e., the speed of water flow at the bottom of the manhole.

[0025] A smart camera system installed inside the manholes can monitor in real time the extent of debris and foreign objects covering or clogging the manhole openings. This automated monitoring method completely replaces the traditional manual inspection mode. When the system is working, the cameras continuously collect ambient brightness data inside the manhole. Since manholes typically contain water, the reflective properties of the water surface give it uniform optical characteristics. During monitoring, the cameras sample and measure brightness values ​​at multiple random locations within the manhole, calculating the brightness difference between these sampling points. When the collected brightness difference is within a small fluctuation range, it indicates a normal water condition inside the manhole; conversely, the presence of debris or other foreign objects will cause significant fluctuations in the collected brightness difference due to the irregular shapes and reflective properties of these objects. All collected monitoring data is processed and analyzed in real time by the built-in control module, and the results are transmitted wirelessly to the backend server system. Managers can obtain this information promptly through the monitoring platform, enabling them to respond quickly and arrange for professional personnel to clean and maintain manholes containing debris and foreign objects, ensuring the normal operation of the drainage system.

[0026] Water in manholes comes from two sources: internal sources, such as upstream pipes from sewage drainage wells; and surface rainwater and accumulated water. The former can be determined by the rate of water level change or by monitoring the water flow velocity in the pipes. The latter is related to the weather. Rainwater or accumulated water enters manholes through two pathways: one is through the gap between the manhole cover and the base, where the water volume is relatively small but reaches the manhole first; the second is through the pry holes in the manhole cover, where the water volume is relatively larger. Water immersion sensors are installed in the gap between the manhole cover and the base to detect rainwater or accumulated water on the ground immediately, allowing for appropriate measures to be taken.

[0027] Generally, water level monitoring can be categorized into three priorities: routine monitoring, water level change monitoring, and emergency monitoring, with emergency monitoring being the highest priority. Typically, the water level in manholes remains relatively stable most of the time. Significant changes only occur under exceptional weather conditions, and it is precisely in these exceptional circumstances that special attention is required.

[0028] The routine monitoring procedure is the process for daily monitoring and monitoring during rain and snow using the device of this invention. During daily monitoring, the frequency of water level data collection is relatively low, meaning the time interval between two collections is relatively long, approximately once every three hours. However, during rainy or snowy weather with water accumulation, the collection frequency needs to be increased, which can be set to once every twenty minutes, to promptly understand changes in the well water level. This procedure begins once the device is started. Figure 7 As shown, the specific process is as follows: 1. Information on water immersion was collected. Most of the time there was no water immersion, and water immersion only occurred during rainy or snowy weather. 2. If there is flooding (rain or snow accumulation), the water level sampling frequency needs to be increased, and a dense continuous sampling subprocess needs to be initiated. 3. The dense continuous data collection subprocess will end after collecting a certain number of times (which can be set), for example, collecting once every 5 minutes, and collecting continuously for 10 times. 4. Return to normal and wait for a certain (pre-set) time before performing water immersion sampling again, such as 30 minutes; 5. If there is no flooding (normal weather), collect water level information normally, and then wait for a certain (pre-set) time before returning to flooding data collection, such as 3 hours.

[0029] The intensive continuous data acquisition sub-process will collect water level information according to pre-set values ​​and time intervals. The time intervals here will be much shorter than the waiting time in a conventional data acquisition process. Figure 8 As shown, the specific process is as follows: 1. Set the number of data collections to zero and begin calculating the number of data collections. 2. Collect water level information, increment the collection count by 1, and obtain the current number of collections; 3. Compare the number of times the data has been collected to whether it is greater than or equal to a preset value. The preset value can be set to 10. If the number of times the data has been collected is greater than or equal to the preset value, the subprocess will terminate and exit. 4. If the number of data collections is less than the preset value, wait for a certain time interval, such as 5 minutes, before continuing the next water level data collection.

[0030] The water level change monitoring process primarily addresses situations where water levels rise suddenly, either due to upstream rainwater discharge or local flooding. In such cases, it's necessary to increase the frequency of water level data collection. Figure 9 As shown, the specific process is as follows: 1. Collect water level information; 2. Calculate the water level change. There are several methods for this calculation. For example, subtract the previous water level value from the current value, or take a weighted average of the differences between the current water level value and the previous two (or more) water level values. Because the water surface becomes uneven when the water level rises, the collected water level values ​​will have a certain degree of error. 3. If the water level change exceeds a pre-set threshold, such as rising by 10 centimeters per minute, then the intensive continuous data collection subprocess will be initiated. 4. Then, after waiting for a certain period of time, continue collecting water level information; 5. If the water level change is less than the preset threshold, the system will not take any action. It will wait for a certain period of time before continuing to collect water level information.

[0031] Emergency monitoring procedures are primarily designed for special weather conditions, requiring people to know in advance about the overall development of events in a given area. Figure 10 As shown, the specific process is as follows: 1. Collect water level information; 2. Check the instructions (if no new instructions are given, use the previous instruction as the standard); 3. If the detected instruction is "Stop", then terminate this process; 4. If it is not a "stop" command, wait for a certain period of time before continuing to collect water level information.

[0032] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as exemplary and non-limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0033] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole, characterized in that, include: The bracket has a frame-shaped structure, and its edges can be detachably installed on the manhole base, or between the manhole cover and the manhole base, or between the manhole cover and the manhole wall via fixing connectors. Support components, fixedly connected to the lower part of the bracket, are used to support the structure of the equipment body; A water immersion sensor, mounted on the upper part of the bracket, is used to monitor the water flowing into the gap between the manhole cover and the manhole seat; The transmitting antenna is located on the upper part of the bracket, in the gap between the manhole base and the manhole cover; The device body, fixed to the support, includes a housing, a control module, a power supply module, a water level sensor, and a camera. The control module is used for device authentication, data acquisition, and transmission control. The power supply module provides power to the entire device. The water level sensor monitors the water level inside the manhole. The camera detects the presence of garbage or foreign objects inside the manhole. The device body is connected to the water immersion sensor via a data cable, and the transmitting antenna is connected to the device body via a connecting cable to transmit the information collected by the device body from inside and outside the manhole to the backend server.

2. The device for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bracket has an open frame structure. The fixing connector is installed at the open structure of the bracket. The fixing connector includes a threaded screw and a screw set on the threaded screw. The screw has the same thread direction, and the thread direction of the threaded screw is opposite to that of the screw. Rotating the threaded screw synchronously drives the open end of the bracket to move towards or away from each other.

3. The device for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water immersion sensor is installed in the gap between the manhole cover and the manhole base, so as to detect rainwater or water accumulation on the ground as soon as possible.

4. The device for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer casing protects the entire device, preventing damage from external forces. Furthermore, the casing contains internal protective components that ensure the water flow does not damage the internal circuit boards, water level sensors, or cameras when the device is submerged.

5. The device for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole according to claim 4, characterized in that, The protective component is a downward-facing groove at the bottom of the equipment casing, forming a water-proof chamber. The water-proof chamber is a closed space with only the downward-facing side open. When the water level rises to the bottom of the equipment casing, the air in the water-proof chamber is sealed off. When the water level rises above the bottom of the equipment casing or even submerges the equipment casing, the air in the water-proof chamber is only slightly compressed due to atmospheric pressure, so the water level inside the water-proof chamber does not change much, keeping the upper part in a water-free state and protecting the internal water level sensor and camera from water immersion.

6. The device for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply module is powered by a battery.

7. The device for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water level sensor on the equipment body uses an ultrasonic ranging sensor or a laser ranging sensor.

8. The device for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module inside the equipment is configured to execute multi-level priority monitoring processes, including routine monitoring, water level change monitoring, and emergency monitoring.

9. The device for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole according to claim 1, characterized in that, The camera intermittently takes pictures of the inside of the cellar, collecting brightness values ​​at the same location in the photos taken at different times. The location of the sampling point is random. The brightness difference between these sampling points is calculated to determine whether the cellar is in a normal water state. If the brightness difference is within a small fluctuation range, it indicates that there is garbage or other foreign objects in the cellar.

10. A method for monitoring the water level and debris coverage inside a manhole, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Install the bracket inside the well, and install the water immersion sensor, transmitting antenna and equipment body on the bracket; S2: Perform routine monitoring procedures and use water immersion sensors to collect water immersion information in the gap between the manhole cover and the manhole seat; S3: The water level sensor inside the equipment body detects changes in the water level inside the well. S4: The camera inside the equipment detects the coverage of garbage and foreign objects in the manhole; S5: The control module receives and executes the monitoring information from S2, S3 and S4, and transmits the information to the transmitting antenna. The transmitting antenna then transmits the monitoring data to the data center via a wireless network.

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