Bin level monitoring system
A bin level monitoring system bin level monitoring system comprising an optical sensor for sensing a feed level inside a feed bin, a circuit board communicatively connected to the sensor for receiving a level signal from the sensor and for processing the level signal to generate bin level data, a battery for powering the circuit board and sensor, an enclosure for enclosing the circuit board and a radio transmitter for transmitting the bin level data. The sensor may be a LIDAR sensor or a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor.
1. A bin level monitoring system comprising:
a sensor for sensing a bin level inside a bin having a roof including a sloped portion, wherein the sensor is a volumetric level sensor;
a circuit board communicatively connected to the sensor for receiving a level signal from the sensor and for processing the level signal to generate bin level data;
an enclosure for enclosing the circuit board, wherein the enclosure is mounted to the sloped portion of the roof on an outside surface of the roof;
a radio transmitter for transmitting the bin level data; and
a sensor-mounting bracket for mounting the sensor inside the bin, the bracket including:
an upper hanger portion that fits over an upright structural element of the roof, the hanger portion comprising a hole to receive a fastener for fastening the hanger to the upright structural element, wherein the upright structural element is a collar that surrounds a feed bin lid opening at a top of the bin;
a vertical portion extending downwardly from the hanger;
an angled portion extending obliquely from the vertical portion and beneath the hanger; and
a horizontal portion extending from the angled portion and having a lower face to which the sensor is mounted;
wherein the enclosure comprises an enclosure mounting plate having magnets for securing the enclosure to the sloped portion of the roof of the bin.
2. The bin level monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a battery electrically connected to a socket of the circuit board for powering the circuit board.
3. The bin level monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a server for receiving the bin level data.
4. The bin level monitoring system of claim 3 wherein the server automatically generates and transmits an order message for more feed to be delivered.
5. The bin level monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure further comprises a solar panel to charge a battery.
6. The bin level monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a LIDAR sensor or a time-of-flight (ToF) machine vision sensor.
7. The bin level monitoring system of claim 6 wherein the LIDAR sensor comprises a glass lens and a self-cleaning wiper for cleaning the glass lens.
8. The bin level monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the circuit board comprises a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) integrated circuit.
9. The bin level monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the circuit board comprises a SIM card slot.
10. The bin level monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the hanger portion is a U-shaped hanger portion.
11. A method of monitoring a bin level of a bin having a roof, the method comprising:
mounting a volumetric level sensor to the bin using a sensor-mounting bracket by fitting an upper hanger portion of the bracket over an upright structural element of the roof and by fastening the hanger portion to the upright structural element by inserting a fastener through a hole in the hanger portion, wherein the upright structural element is a collar that surrounds a feed bin lid opening at a top of the bin, wherein the bracket includes a vertical portion extending downwardly from the hanger portion, an angled portion extending obliquely from the vertical portion and beneath the hanger portion, and a horizontal portion extending from the angled portion and having a lower face to which the sensor is mounted;
mounting an enclosure enclosing a circuit board to a sloped portion of the roof on an outside surface of the roof;
sensing the bin level inside the bin using the sensor;
receiving a level signal by sensing the bin level;
processing the level signal to generate bin level data;
transmitting the bin level data;
wherein the mounting of the enclosure to the sloped portion of said roof is performed by securing an enclosure mounting plate having magnets to said sloped portion of the roof of the bin.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein sensing the bin level is performed using a LIDAR sensor or a time-of-flight (ToF) machine vision sensor.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising cleaning a glass lens of the LIDAR sensor using a self-cleaning wiper.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising charging a battery connected to the circuit board using a solar panel on the enclosure of the circuit board.
15. A bin level monitoring system comprising:
a sensor for sensing a bin level inside a bin having a roof including a sloped portion, wherein the sensor is a volumetric level sensor;
a circuit board communicatively connected to the sensor for receiving a level signal from the sensor and for processing the level signal to generate bin level data;
an enclosure for enclosing the circuit board, wherein the enclosure is mounted to the sloped portion of the roof on an outside surface of the roof;
a radio transmitter for transmitting the bin level data; and
a sensor-mounting bracket for mounting the sensor inside the bin, the bracket including:
an upper hanger portion that fits over an upright structural element of the roof, wherein the upright structural element is a collar that surrounds a feed bin lid opening at a top of the bin, the hanger portion fastening the hanger to the upright structural element;
a vertical portion extending downwardly from the hanger for supporting the sensor;
wherein the enclosure comprises an enclosure mounting plate for securing the enclosure to the sloped portion of the roof of the bin.
16. The bin level monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the sensor is a LIDAR sensor or a time-of-flight (ToF) machine vision sensor.
17. The bin level monitoring system of claim 15 further comprising a server for receiving the bin level data.
18. The bin level monitoring system of claim 17 wherein the server automatically generates and transmits an order message for more feed to be delivered.