Water-monitoring apparatus capable of auto-tracing water level and non-contact signal relay for the same

Abstract

A water-monitoring apparatus includes a frame installed by water. A reel is mounted on the frame. A cable including lower and upper ends is wound on the reel. A buoy is connected with the cable. At least one sensor is used to detect a water quality parameter and to produce a signal representative of the water quality parameter. The at least one sensor is carried via the buoy and electrically connected with the lower end of the cable. The reel can be rotated to adjust a length of the cable extending from the reel so that the at least one sensor can always be immersed in the water. A signal relay includes a first block electrically connected with the at least one sensor and a second block electrically connected with a monitoring station wherein the first and second blocks are connected with each other in a non-contact electric manner.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0001] 1. Field of Invention[0002] The present invention is directed to monitor water quality and, more particularly, to a water-monitoring apparatus for detecting water quality parameters at constant depths.[0003] 2. Related Prior Art[0004] While developing, the world is encountering a more and more serious problem of pollution. Water pollution could be the worst among all kinds of pollution. More and more pollutants are dumped to reservoirs and open channels from fixed sources, e.g., factories and farms, or from mobile sources, e.g., vehicles. Such pollutants may be released into water directly, or may be washed into the water by rain. Once introduced into the water, such pollutants inevitably increase costs in treating the water and very often harm human bodies, life stock and aquatic lives.[0005] Before any proper measure can be taken to solve the problem of water pollution, by what pollutants and to what extent the water is polluted must be figured out. I...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0015] It is another objective of this invention to provide a non-contact signal relay for use in a reel structure to facilitate transmitting electric signals from an electric information source attached to the reel structure to a monitoring station without a rotational intervention.

0016] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a water-monitoring apparatus includes a frame installed on a well or a bank by water. A reel is mounted on the frame. A constant torque device is used to exert a constant torque on the reel. A cable including a lower end and an upper end is wound on the reel. A buoy is connected with the cable. A detecting device includes at least one sensor. The detecting device is carried via the buoy and electrically connected with the lower end of the cable. The detecting device is used for detecting at least one water quality parameter. A signal relay is electrically connected with the upper end of the cable for receiving an electric signal from the detecting device.

0017] In accordance with ano...

Problems solved by technology

While developing, the world is encountering a more and more serious problem of pollution.

Such pollutants may be released into water directly, or may be washed into the water by rain.

Once introduced into the water, such pollutants inevitably increase costs in treating the water and very often harm human bodies, life stock and aquatic lives.

Some water analyses are performed manually, however they are cumbersome.

It, however, is found difficult to have the pipes catch up with the water level changing vigorously from season to season.

When the water level becomes too low for the pipes to reach, it is impossible to pump water through the pipes.

However, the cable allows the buoy to drift for a long distance in any direction when the water level is high.

This could seriously affect the operation of the sensors.

For example, the buoy and therefore the sensors may be kept away from the water due to the cable tangling with a twig reaching out from the water, thus causing a failure.

However, the motor consumes a lot of energy.

However, friction between the mandrel and the brush interferes with the rotation of the reel and wears out the brush after serving for a period of time.

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