IP Library Granted Patent US 12,139,326
Granted Patent B2
US 12,139,326 · App. 16/848,459 · Granted Nov 12, 2024

Monitoring fullness of containers

Inventors: Michael Hess (Canandaigua, NY); Michael Roy (Webster, NY)
Assignee: WASTE HARMONICS, LLC
B65F1/1405B65F1/1484G01F17/00B65F2210/12B65F2210/1443B65F2210/168B65F2210/20G06Q10/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,139,326
App. No.
16/848,459
Granted
Nov 12, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A waste container monitoring system may include a monitoring device configured to be positioned in a waste container, a remote processing system, and sensors to monitor conditions of the container. A communication connection communicates the one or more conditions to the remote processing system. A waste compactor monitoring system may include a monitoring assembly having a hub device and one or more sensors connected to the hub device and distributed around the waste compactor system, the one or more sensors being configured to monitor one or more conditions of the waste compactor system. A sensor assembly for a waste container monitoring system may connect to a hydraulic reservoir in a waste compactor. The sensor assembly may include a breather cap, a sensing element for detecting a level and/or a temperature of fluid in the hydraulic reservoir, and a dip tube to support the sensing element inside the hydraulic reservoir.

Claims (23)

1. A waste compactor monitoring system comprising:

a monitoring assembly;

a remote processing system; and

a communication connection connecting the monitoring assembly to the remote processing system; wherein

the monitoring assembly comprises a hub device and two or more sensors connected to the hub device and positioned on a waste compactor system, wherein a first sensor of the two or more sensors monitors a first condition of the waste compactor system and a second sensor of the two or more sensors monitors a second condition of the waste compactor system that is different from the first condition; wherein

the first sensor comprises a level sensor for detecting a level of hydraulic fluid in a reservoir; and wherein

the communication connection is configured to communicate the first and second conditions to the remote processing system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the two or more sensors comprise a pressure sensor connected to a hydraulic line of the waste compactor system, and wherein the hub device comprises a controller configured to determine fullness of a container of the waste compactor system based on pressure data from the pressure sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the two or more sensors comprise a proximity sensor positioned to detect the presence or absence of the waste compactor system or a container of the waste compactor system.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the two or more sensors comprise a connection sensor configured to detect the presence or absence of a connection of the compactor system to power or to a fixed connection.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote processing system comprises a scheduling system configured to autonomously schedule servicing of the container.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication connection is configured to communicate sensor configuration information to the monitoring assembly.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the hub device comprises a controller configured to analyze data from the two or more sensors and determine the first and second conditions of the waste compactor system.

8. A sensor assembly for a waste container monitoring system, the sensor assembly configured to connect to a hydraulic reservoir in a waste compactor, the sensor assembly comprising:

a breather cap configured to facilitate intake of air into the reservoir;

a sensing element configured to detect a level of fluid in the hydraulic reservoir;

a dip tube carried by the breather cap and positioned to support the sensing element inside the hydraulic reservoir; and

one or more wire leads connected to the sensing element and extending from the sensing element, through the dip tube, and through the breather cap, wherein the one or more wire leads are configured to provide a signal connection to the sensing element.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 8 wherein the sensing element comprises a float level sensor.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 8 wherein the sensing element comprises a reed switch or a limit switch.

11. The sensor assembly of claim 8 , further comprising an external connector element configured to operatively connect the sensing element to the waste container monitoring system.

12. The sensor assembly of claim 11 , further comprising one or more intermediate connector elements configured to connect the sensing element to the external connector element.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 8 , wherein the sensing element is further configured to detect a temperature in the hydraulic reservoir.

Assignments (5)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 29, 2023
From: WASTE HARMONICS, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065086/0739 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF THE CONVEYING PARTY FROM CITIBANK, N.A., TO CITIZENS BANK, N.A. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 065028 FRAME 0618. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENTS. Recorded Sep 28, 2023
From: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
To: WASTE HARMONICS HOLDINGS, LLC; WASTE HARMONICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065049/0466 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENTS Recorded Sep 26, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: WASTE HARMONICS HOLDINGS, LLC; WASTE HARMONICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065028/0618 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2022
From: WASTE HARMONICS HOLDINGS, LLC
To: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059462/0648 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: HESS, MICHAEL; ROY, MICHAEL
To: WASTE HARMONICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 052469/0925 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62840787 · Apr 30, 2019
Related Publication 20200346852A1 · Nov 5, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,443,169