Sewer cleaning cover

Abstract

A sewer cleaning cover includes a body portion, a window plug removably coupled to the body portion, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. And the sewer cleaning cover is positioned on the sewer discharge cleaning piece. The window stopper is configured to enable a user to check the sewage discharge. The RFID tag is disposed on the body portion of the sewer cleaning lid and is configured to emit a return signal when energized.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 340,574, filed on May 11, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to plumbing systems, such as sewer systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a smart cleaning cover that provides instant access to information related to the plumbing system. Background Art

[0004] Cleaning covers enable access to the internal conduits of pipe sewers (e.g., the internal conduits of sewer systems). Since these pipes are usually formed of opaque materials, the cleaning covers must be removed to determine whether these pipes need cleaning. In addition, the maintenance history of the conduits is often not readily available. Therefore, even if the sewer system does not need cleaning, the cleaning covers need to be removed to make such a determination. This process may be tedious and inefficient. In addition, when the cleaning covers are removed, untreated sewage may overflow onto the ground, causing environmental problems. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present disclosure provides a sewer cleaning cover that can facilitate more efficient and environmentally friendly cleaning of sewer systems.

[0006] According to aspects of the present disclosure, a sewer cleaning cover includes a main body portion, a window plug removably coupled to the main body portion, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The main body portion is configured to be disposed on a sewer discharge cleaning piece. The window plug is configured to enable a user to inspect sewage discharge. The RFID tag is disposed on the main body portion and is configured to transmit a return signal when excited.

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the RFID tag can store a unique identifier (UID). The UID can enable access to information related to the sewer drain cleaning piece.

[0008] In another aspect of the present disclosure, information related to the sewer drain cleaning piece may include the installation date of the sewer cleaning cover, its cleaning and maintenance history, and / or its location.

[0009] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the body portion may include lead and / or cast iron.

[0010] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the body portion may include threads.

[0011] In still another aspect of the present disclosure, a window plug may be formed in the body portion.

[0012] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the window plug may include a window made of glass. The window may enable viewing and / or access to the sewer drain cleaning element.

[0013] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the window plug may include a gasket to seal the drain cleaning cover to the drain cleaning piece.

[0014] According to aspects of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method using a sewer cleaning cover includes: generating an excitation signal for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag through an RFID reader, the RFID tag being disposed on a main portion of the sewer cleaning cover, wherein the sewer cleaning cover is coupled to a sewer discharge cleaning piece; receiving a return signal from the RFID tag through the RFID reader; and determining a maintenance action of the sewer discharge cleaning piece based on the return signal.

[0015] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, maintenance actions may be performed without removing the drain cleaning cover.

[0016] In still another aspect of the present disclosure, a method may include transmitting information to a display of an RFID reader to display information associated with an RFID tag; and modifying the displayed information via the RFID reader.

[0017] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the RFID reader may be a mobile device.

[0018] According to aspects of the present disclosure, a system using a sewer cleaning cover may include a main body, a window plug removably connected to the main body, a radio frequency (RFID) tag, a processor, and a memory. The main body is configured to be disposed on a sewer discharge cleaning piece. The window plug is configured to enable a user to check sewage discharge. The RFID tag is disposed on the main body and is configured to emit a return signal when excited. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to generate an excitation signal for the RFID tag through an RFID reader, the RFID tag being disposed on the main body of the sewer cleaning cover, wherein the sewer cleaning cover is connected to the sewer discharge cleaning piece; receive a return signal from the RFID tag through the RFID reader; and determine a maintenance action for the sewer discharge cleaning piece based on the return signal.

[0019] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the instructions, when executed, may further cause the system to reprogram the UID of the RFID tag.

[0020] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the instructions, when executed, may further cause the system to transmit information to a display of the RFID reader to display information associated with the RFID tag; and modify the displayed information via the RFID reader.

[0021] Further details and exemplary aspects of the disclosure are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] A better understanding of the features and advantages of the disclosed technology will be obtained by referring to the following detailed description, which sets forth illustrative aspects of the principles utilizing the technology, and the accompanying drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a sewer cleaning cover system including an RFID reader and an RFID tag according to the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A front perspective view of a sewer cleaning cover of a sewer cleaning cover system;

[0025] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partially separated perspective view of a sewer cleaning cover;

[0026] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A side perspective view of a window plug of a sewer cleaning cover;

[0027] Figure 5 It shows Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an RFID reader is shown;

[0028] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a controller of the RFID reader shown; and

[0029] Figure 7 is a functional block diagram of a method of using a sewer cleaning cover according to the present disclosure.

[0030] Further details and exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Any of the above aspects and aspects of the present disclosure may be combined without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Aspects of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar or identical elements.

[0032] Generally, the present disclosure relates to drain cleaning covers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to drain cleaning covers having a window plug and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

[0033] According to the present disclosure, the phrases "in one aspect", "in various aspects", "in aspects", "in some aspects" or "in other aspects" may each refer to one or more of the same or different aspects according to the present disclosure.

[0034] Although the present disclosure will be described in terms of specific aspects, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims. In order to facilitate an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the exemplary aspects shown in the accompanying drawings, and specific language will be used to describe these aspects.

[0035] Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags provide real-time data about products with minimal human intervention. RFID tags have advantages in harsh environments because, unlike traditional barcodes, they can withstand exposure to moisture, chemicals, and high temperature fluctuations. RFID tags are employed in the disclosed sewer cleaning system to provide real-time maintenance data of the disclosed sewer system.

[0036] refer to Figure 1 , the sewer cleaning cover system of the present disclosure includes an RFID tag 300 and an RFID reader 320. The RFID tag 300 is configured to interact with the RFID reader 320 which can be controlled by a user A. Figure 2 , the sewer cleaning cover system includes a sewer cleaning cover 100 including an RFID tag 300. The sewer cleaning cover 100 is fixed to a sewer discharge cleaning member (e.g., a "trap") 10. The sewer cleaning cover 100 additionally includes a main body portion 110 and a window plug 200. The RFID tag 300 is configured to emit a return signal R when excited.

[0037] The main body 110 of the sewer cleaning cover 100 is generally made of the same / similar material as the sewer discharge cleaning piece 10. The main body 110 can be made of metal, plastic, composite material and / or alternative durable materials such as lead or cast iron. The main body 110 can be treated with a corrosion-resistant coating to prevent rust, such as plasma electrolytic oxidation, chromate conversion coating, paint or powder coating. Although shown in a circular shape, the main body 110 can include any suitable shape. The main body 110 supports the RFID tag 300 thereon and can include a thread 140 (or rib) formed in the outer edge 130 to be firmly attached to the sewer discharge cleaning piece 10 and / or removed from the sewer discharge cleaning piece. It is conceivable that the main body 110 can be fixed to the sewer discharge cleaning piece 10 by any suitable attachment technology (e.g., snap fit, friction fit, fastening, bonding, etc.). In some aspects, body portion 110 can be secured to drain cleaning element 10 by adding a sealant (eg, wax) around outer edge 130 to provide a watertight seal.

[0038] The body portion 110 may include one or more latches 170 to assist the user A in moving the drain cleaning cover 100 into or out of the drain drain cleaning piece 10. For example, the user may hammer the latch 170 to move the drain cleaning cover 100 into the drain drain cleaning piece 10. The outer edge 130 may include one or more holes 150 disposed on the outer edge 130. The RFID tag 300 is disposed on the body portion 110 of the drain cleaning cover 100. Although the latch 170 is shown as being generally square in shape, any suitable shape, such as a semicircular shape, may be used.

[0039] Although drain cleaning element 10 may include any suitable shape, drain cleaning element 10 may be a U-trap. Drain cleaning cover 100 may be secured to first end 20 and / or second end 30, or any suitable alternative portion of drain cleaning element 10.

[0040] refer to Figure 2-Figure 3 , the main body 110 of the sewer cleaning cover 100 defines an opening 120 for supporting the window plug 200 therein. The window plug 200 is configured to enable user A to inspect the sewage discharge behind the sewer cleaning cover 100. The main body 110 of the sewer cleaning cover 100 may additionally define an opening 160 to which the valve 400 may be mounted. In some aspects, the window plug 200 may be disposed at the distal end of the valve 400. When the valve 400 is opened, excess fluid may be discharged from the trap or blocked pipe, or if the window plug 200 is disposed on the end of the valve 400, the user may actuate the valve 400 to inspect the sewage discharge behind the sewer cleaning cover 100. The valve 400 may be any mechanism capable of permitting fluid to flow out, such as a ball valve. It is conceivable that the main body 110 of the sewer cleaning cover 100 may have only the opening 160. The valve 400 may be secured to the opening 160 , for example, by threading, snap-fitting, friction-fitting, or any other suitable means.

[0041] The window plug 200 generally includes a window 210, a handle portion 220, a washer 230 and a thread 240 ( Figure 3 ). The opening 120 may be threaded and configured to receive the threads 240 of the window plug 200. The threads 240 are located behind the handle portion 220 to enable secure attachment to and / or removal from the body portion 110. Although the window plug 200 is shown as being removably coupled to the body portion 110, the window plug 200 and the body portion 110 may be secured by any suitable securing technique. For example, the window plug 200 and the body portion 110 may be coupled by mechanical fasteners (such as nut and bolt attachments), or may be welded together.

[0042] The window 210 of the window plug 200 is transparent so that the sewer discharge cleaning part 10 can be seen. For example, user A can view the sewage state (such as blockage) without removing the sewer cleaning cover 100, thereby preventing untreated sewage from overflowing. The window 210 is removable so that the sewer discharge cleaning part 10 can be approached when the sewer cleaning cover 100 cannot be removed during maintenance. For example, the window 210 can be removed and a drain pipe, a camera, a hose or other equipment can be inserted through the opening 120. The window 210 can be made of materials such as glass, plastic, composite materials and / or rotomolding materials. In order to ensure durability, any material in the window 210 can be anti-shattering or impact-resistant. The handle portion 220 is formed around the window 210 and includes an edge 222 so that the user A can grip during maintenance. Although shown as a hexagon, the handle portion 220 can include any suitable alternative shape. For example, the handle portion 220 can be shaped to fit closely with a wrench or alternative tool of a specific shape so that the window plug 200 can be easily removed. The handle portion 220 can be made of the same / similar material as the body portion 110. The handle portion 220 can be made of metal, plastic and / or composite materials such as lead or cast iron. The gasket 230 is located in the space between the handle portion 220 and the sewer discharge cleaning part 10 to seal the cavity and prevent leakage. The gasket 230 can be flexible and made of paper, rubber, silicone, metal, cork, felt, neoprene, nitrile rubber, fiberglass, plastic polymers and / or the like.

[0043] Now return to reference Figure 1 , the RFID tag 300 is disposed on the main body portion 110 of the sewer cleaning cover 100. The RFID tag 300 is typically secured to an outer surface and / or edge of the main body portion 110. Although the RFID tag 300 may be adhered to any suitable surface of the sewer cleaning cover 100, the location is typically selected on the outer surface of the main body portion 110 to enable access to the sewer drain cleaning piece 10 and to prevent damage due to exposure to raw sewage. The RFID tag 300 may be adhered to the main body portion 110 by any suitable method, including a film or foam adhesive, epoxy screws / rivets, or embedding methods. For example, an epoxy bonding compound may be used on the RFID tag 300 to ensure secure adhesion to the main body portion 110, especially when made of metal.

[0044] RFID tag 300 is configured to interact with RFID reader 320, which generates an excitation signal E for RFID tag 300. Once excited, RFID tag 300 is configured to transmit a return signal R. RFID tag 300 can be a passive RFID system or an active RFID system. Typically, a passive RFID system is used, which does not require a power supply or a transmitter and is therefore cheaper, smaller and easier to manufacture than an active RFID tag. RFID tag 300 can operate in a low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) or ultra high frequency (UHF) band. LF or LF bands can be used. The LF band covers frequencies from about 30kHz to 300kHz. The HF band covers frequencies from about 3 to 30MHz and is more sensitive to interference.

[0045] Reference now Figure 5-Figure 6 , the RFID reader 320 includes a display 322, a controller 324, an antenna 326, and a frequency generator 328. The display 322 can display information related to the sewer drain cleaning piece 10. The controller 324 manages the interaction between RFID products, including reading data, transmitting data, and managing data between any system components. The antenna 326 sends a radio frequency signal to the RFID tag 300 and receives a return signal R including the UID from the RFID tag 300. The frequency generator 328 generates a corresponding frequency for the generated signal.

[0046] Further references Figure 6 , the controller 324 typically includes a processor 330, a memory 340, a database 350, and / or a network interface 360. The processor 330 is connected to the memory 340, which is a computer-readable storage medium or memory.

[0047] In aspects of the present disclosure, processor 330 may be another type of processor, such as a digital signal processor, a microprocessor, an ASIC, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a central processing unit (CPU).

[0048] The memory 340 stores data related to the drain cleaning piece 10 and can be a volatile type of memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), or a non-volatile type of memory (e.g., flash media, disk media, etc.). In some aspects of the present disclosure, the memory 340 can be separate from the RFID reader 320 and can communicate with the processor 330 through a communication bus of a circuit board and / or through a communication cable (e.g., a serial ATA cable or other type of cable). The memory 340 includes computer-readable instructions that can be executed by the processor 330 to operate the RFID reader 320. The database 350 can be used as a storage device for storing / retrieval of information related to the drain cleaning piece 10, which is keyed by the UID of the RFID 300.

[0049] In other aspects of the present disclosure, the RFID reader 320 may include a network interface 360 ​​to communicate with other devices or servers. In contrast to the processor, the network interface 360 ​​may also be implemented in a system with weights implemented as memristors, chemistry or other inference calculations. The disclosed process may be run on the RFID reader 320 or on a user device, including, for example, running on a mobile device, an IoT (Internet of Things) device, or a server system. User A may be able to view sewage discharge cleaning information through a mobile application that interacts with another device on the RFID tag 300, the RFID reader 320, or the network interface 360. For example, when maintenance is required, user A may receive an alarm on their mobile device.

[0050] refer to Figure 5 The present disclosure also relates to a method of using the sewer cleaning cover 100. The method includes generating an excitation signal E for the RFID tag 300, receiving a return signal R from the RFID tag 300, and determining a maintenance action based on the return signal R.

[0051] Initially at step 702, the RFID reader 320 generates an excitation signal E for the RFID tag 300. For example, if user A is in close proximity to the drain cleaning cover 100, user A can scan the RFID tag 300 using the RFID reader 320 to generate an excitation signal E that excites the RFID tag 300. In some aspects, the window 210 can have an ID code etched into the glass for scanning by the reader.

[0052] In step 704, a return signal R from the RFID tag 300 is received by the RFID reader 320. The return signal R typically includes a UID associated with the RFID tag 300. The UID is a smart tag that encodes digital data. For example, the UID can be derived from a serial number, a production date and / or time, a stock number, a batch number, a model number, or a binary code associated with the sewer cleaning cover 100. The UID retrieval can be used to identify a specific instance of the sewer cleaning cover 100. For example, when a recall is announced, user A can scan the UID to obtain the batch number to determine whether the sewer cleaning cover 100 is defective and / or needs to be replaced. The UID is typically linked to a database entry in the database 350 of the RFID reader 320. The database 350 can use the UID to obtain additional information related to the sewer discharge cleaning piece 10, including: the installation date of the sewer cleaning cover 100, the cleaning and maintenance history, and / or the location of the sewer discharge cleaning piece 10. This information can be transmitted to the display 322 on the RFID reader 320. The RFID reader 320 can be configured to modify the displayed information and / or input additional information. In the event that the UID is not permanently burned into the RFID tag 300, the RFID reader 320 can be configured to reprogram the UID of the RFID tag 300 and / or the additional information stored thereon. For example, if the sewer cleaning cover 100 is replaced, the RFID tag 300 can be reused and modified for use with the new sewer cleaning cover 100. The RFID tag 300 can also be encrypted for security purposes.

[0053] At step 706, user A may determine whether to perform a maintenance action, and / or which specific maintenance action to perform, based on information from database 350 displayed on RFID reader 320 according to return signal R. For example, user A may observe potential blockages through window 110 and review the cleaning and maintenance history of drain cleaning device 10. After reviewing the cleaning and maintenance history, user A may determine any needed maintenance, such as removing sewage or unclogging a blocked pipe in drain cleaning device 10.

[0054] It should be understood that the foregoing description is only an explanation of the present disclosure. Without departing from the present disclosure, those skilled in the art can design various substitutions, modifications and variations. For example, although some aspects of this article are described as separate aspects, each of the aspects of this article can be combined with one or more of the other aspects of this article. The specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as restrictive, but as the basis of the claims, and as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to adopt the present disclosure in various ways in any appropriate detailed structure. The aspects described with reference to the drawings are only presented to show some examples of the present disclosure. Other elements, steps, methods and techniques that are not substantially different from those described above and / or in the appended claims are also intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A sewer cleaning cover, comprising: a main body portion configured to be disposed on a sewer drain cleaning member; a window plug removably coupled to the body portion, the window plug being configured to enable a user to inspect a sewage discharge; as well as A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag configured to transmit a return signal when energized is disposed on the body portion.

2. The sewer cleaning cover according to claim 1, wherein: The RFID tag stores a unique identifier (UID) that enables access to information related to the sewer drain cleaning article.

3. The sewer cleaning cover according to claim 2, wherein: The information associated with the drain cleaning cover includes the installation date, cleaning and maintenance history, and / or location of the drain cleaning cover.

4. The sewer cleaning cover according to claim 1, wherein: The body portion is composed of at least one of lead and cast iron.

5. The sewer cleaning cover according to claim 1, wherein: The body portion includes threads.

6. The sewer cleaning cover according to claim 1, wherein: The window stopper is formed in the body portion.

7. The sewer cleaning cover according to claim 1, wherein: The window plug includes a window through which the sewer drain cleaning element can be viewed and / or accessed, and wherein the window is constructed of glass.

8. The sewer cleaning cover according to claim 1, wherein: The window plug includes a gasket to seal any gap between the drain cleaning cover and the drain cleaning member.

9. A computer-implemented method of using a drain cleaning cover, the method comprising: generating, by an RFID reader, an excitation signal for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag disposed on a body portion of the drain cleaning cover, wherein the drain cleaning cover is coupled to a drain drain cleaning member; receiving a return signal from the RFID tag via the RFID reader; and A maintenance action for the sewer drain cleaning element is determined based on the return signal.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein: The RFID tag stores a unique identifier (UID) that enables access to information related to the sewer drain cleaning article.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein: The information associated with the drain cleaning cover includes the installation date, cleaning and maintenance history, and / or location of the drain cleaning cover.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising: The UID of the RFID tag is reprogrammed.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein: The maintenance action is performed without removing the sewer cleaning cover.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising: transmitting information to a display of the RFID reader to display information associated with the RFID tag; and The displayed information is modified via the RFID reader.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein: The RFID reader is a mobile device.

16. A system for using a sewer cleaning cover, comprising: a main body portion configured to be disposed on a sewer drain cleaning member; a window plug removably coupled to the body portion, the window plug being configured to enable a user to inspect a sewage discharge; as well as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag configured to transmit a return signal when energized, the RFID tag being disposed on the body portion; processor; as well as a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: generating, by an RFID reader, an excitation signal for the RFID tag disposed on the body portion of the drain cleaning cover, wherein the drain cleaning cover is coupled to a drain cleaning member; receiving the return signal from the RFID tag by the RFID reader; and A maintenance action for the sewer drain cleaning element is determined based on the return signal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein: The RFID tag stores a unique identifier (UID) that enables access to information related to the sewer drain cleaning article.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein: The instructions, when executed, further cause the system to: The UID of the RFID tag is reprogrammed.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein: The maintenance action can be performed without removing the drain cleaning cover.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein: The instructions, when executed, further cause the system to: transmitting information to a display of the RFID reader to display information associated with the RFID tag; and The displayed information is modified via the RFID reader.

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