Patents by Inventor Andrew Forster-Knight

Andrew Forster-Knight has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11287311
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a vibration sensor. The vibration sensor comprises: a sensor base to couple to a vibration source; a piezoelectric transducer coupled on a first side of the transducer to the sensor base; at least one conductor coupled to the piezoelectric transducer; and a seismic weight positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric transducer; wherein the sensor base, the piezoelectric transducer and the seismic weight are aligned along an axis and arranged so that relative movement between the sensor base and the seismic weight arising from the vibration source causes a current to be generated in the piezoelectric transducer and an output signal corresponding to the generated current is detectable on the at least one conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: South East Water Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Forster-Knight, Juan Londono, Eddy Mofardin, Ninad Mohan Dharmadhikari, Jonathan Philip Crook, Matthew Swan, Colin Neil Gehrig, Thomas James Merry, Owen David Neeson, Joseph Ignatius Maria Van Der Plas
  • Patent number: 11029196
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a vibration sensor. The vibration sensor comprises: a sensor base to couple to a vibration source; a piezoelectric transducer coupled on a first side of the transducer to the sensor base; at least one conductor coupled to the piezoelectric transducer; and a seismic weight positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric transducer; wherein the sensor base, the piezoelectric transducer and the seismic weight are aligned along an axis and arranged so that relative movement between the sensor base and the seismic weight arising from the vibration source causes a current to be generated in the piezoelectric transducer and an output signal corresponding to the generated current is detectable on the at least one conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: South East Water Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Forster-Knight, Juan Londono, Eddy Mofardin, Ninad Mohan Dharmadhikari, Jonathan Philip Crook, Matthew Swan, Colin Neil Gehrig, Thomas James Merry, Owen David Neeson, Joseph Ignatius Maria Van Der Plas
  • Publication number: 20210123541
    Abstract: A valve key for operating a fluid control valve between states, the valve key comprising a body having a key portion configured for operating a correspondingly keyed part of the fluid control valve; a telemetry system and comprising sensors configured to output parameters relating to an orientation and a rotational movement of the body; a location-positioning module configured to receive data from GPS; a communications module for transmitting data; and a controller configured to determine one or more of for the key: an orientation between substantially vertical or horizontal positions, a number of rotations and geographical coordinates, wherein the controller is configured such that the telemetry system is set to a low-power state, and set to an operating state, in which the telemetry system modules and the controller are configured to record the number of rotations, when the body is oriented in substantially vertical or horizontal positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: South East Water Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Peters, Andrew Forster-Knight, Juan Londono
  • Publication number: 20210055153
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a vibration sensor. The vibration sensor comprises: a sensor base to couple to a vibration source; a piezoelectric transducer coupled on a first side of the transducer to the sensor base; at least one conductor coupled to the piezoelectric transducer; and a seismic weight positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric transducer; wherein the sensor base, the piezoelectric transducer and the seismic weight are aligned along an axis and arranged so that relative movement between the sensor base and the seismic weight arising from the vibration source causes a current to be generated in the piezoelectric transducer and an output signal corresponding to the generated current is detectable on the at least one conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Forster-Knight, Juan Londono, Eddy Mofardin, Ninad Mohan Dharmadhikari, Jonathan Philip Crook, Matthew Swan, Colin Neil Gehrig, Thomas James Merry, Owen David Neeson, Joseph Ignatius Maria Van Der Plas
  • Patent number: 10683968
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to a pump control system for a pressure sewer installation. The system comprises a controller arranged to control supply of power to a pump of the pressure sewer installation. The controller is arranged to receive an output signal from a sensor in a fluid reservoir of the pressure sewer installation, the output signal being indicative of a measured fluid level in the fluid reservoir. A memory is accessible to the controller and is arranged to store operation information pertaining to operation of the pressure sewer installation. A wireless transceiver is in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote server over a communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: South East Water Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Leonard Moon, Martin Alexander Sutherland, Andrew Forster-Knight
  • Patent number: 10634540
    Abstract: A monitoring system for an access chamber to a pipe network. The system includes at least one sensor for determining a fluid condition associated with fluid in a conduit of the pipe network and at least one threshold level indicator for determining a threshold fluid level in the access chamber, the at least one threshold level indicator being associated with the at least one sensor. The system further includes a controller for receiving output signals from the at least one sensor and the at least one threshold level indicator and for controlling supply of power to the at least one sensor and a wireless transceiver in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote server over a communications network. The controller is arranged to supply power to the at least one sensor in response to receiving an output signal from the at least one threshold level indicator indicative of the fluid level having exceeded the threshold fluid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: South East Water Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Forster-Knight, Jean-Paul Lambe
  • Publication number: 20200072661
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a vibration sensor. The vibration sensor comprises: a sensor base to couple to a vibration source; a piezoelectric transducer coupled on a first side of the transducer to the sensor base; at least one conductor coupled to the piezoelectric transducer; and a seismic weight positioned on a second side of the piezoelectric transducer; wherein the sensor base, the piezoelectric transducer and the seismic weight are aligned along an axis and arranged so that relative movement between the sensor base and the seismic weight arising from the vibration source causes a current to be generated in the piezoelectric transducer and an output signal corresponding to the generated current is detectable on the at least one conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew Forster-Knight, Juan Londono, Eddy Mofardin, Ninad Mohan Dharmadhikari, Jonathan Philip Crook, Matthew Swan, Colin Neil Gehrig, Thomas James Merry, Owen David Neeson, Joseph Ignatius Maria Van Der Plas
  • Publication number: 20180100623
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to a pump control system for a pressure sewer installation. The system comprises a controller arranged to control supply of power to a pump of the pressure sewer installation. The controller is arranged to receive an output signal from a sensor in a fluid reservoir of the pressure sewer installation, the output signal being indicative of a measured fluid level in the fluid reservoir. A memory is accessible to the controller and is arranged to store operation information pertaining to operation of the pressure sewer installation. A wireless transceiver is in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote server over a communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Rodney Leonard Moon, Martin Alexander Sutherland, Andrew Forster-Knight
  • Patent number: 9869430
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to a pump control system for a pressure sewer installation. The system comprises a controller arranged to control supply of power to a pump of the pressure sewer installation. The controller is arranged to receive an output signal from a sensor in a fluid reservoir of the pressure sewer installation, the output signal being indicative of a measured fluid level in the fluid reservoir. A memory is accessible to the controller and is arranged to store operation information pertaining to operation of the pressure sewer installation. A wireless transceiver is in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote server over a communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: South East Water Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Leonard Moon, Martin Alexander Sutherland, Andrew Forster-Knight
  • Publication number: 20170227391
    Abstract: A monitoring system for an access chamber to a pipe network. The system comprises at least one sensor for determining a fluid condition associated with fluid in a conduit of the pipe network and at least one threshold level indicator for determining a threshold fluid level in the access chamber, the at least one threshold level indicator being associated with the at least one sensor. The system further comprises a controller for receiving output signals from the at least one sensor and the at least one threshold level indicator and for controlling supply of power to the at least one sensor and a wireless transceiver in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote server over a communications network. The controller is arranged to supply power to the at least one sensor in response to receiving an output signal from the at least one threshold level indicator indicative of the fluid level having exceeded the threshold fluid level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: South East Water Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Forster-Knight, Jean-Paul Lambe
  • Publication number: 20160029192
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to methods and systems for configuring a safety monitor application in a handheld mobile computing device comprising a movement detecting component and a wireless communications subsystem. An example method comprises: downloading the safety monitor application and storing the safety monitor application in a memory of the computing device, obtaining an activation code associated with an online configuration server, activating the safety monitor application using the activation code, retrieving configuration information from the online configuration server based on the activation code and implementing the configuration information to configure operations of the safety monitor application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventor: Andrew Forster-Knight
  • Publication number: 20140266702
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to methods and systems for providing a computerised safety monitor application in a handheld mobile computing device. An example method comprises: within the safety monitor application, allowing user configuration of a monitor time period; executing a timer function to run a timer from a beginning of the monitor time period; in response to a signal from the movement detection component indicative of movement of the mobile computing device by more than a threshold movement amount, resetting the timer to run from the beginning of the monitor period; and in response to the timer reaching an end of the monitor time period, generating and transmitting an alarm message to at least one remote destination using the wireless communication means of the handheld mobile computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: South East Water Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Forster-Knight
  • Publication number: 20130307701
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a fluid monitoring system, comprising: a housing positioned in-ground above a buried fluid conduit, the housing having a lockable access hatch to allow access to an internal volume of the housing from surface level; at least one sensor accessible through the internal volume and arranged to sense at least one condition of fluid in the fluid conduit; and a wireless telemetry unit supported in the housing and coupled to receive output signals from the at least one sensor in relation to the at least one condition. Some embodiments relate to methods usable by such systems. Some embodiments relate to fluid supply/drainage zone monitoring systems and methods employing multiple in-ground installations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: South East Water Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Forster-Knight
  • Publication number: 20130243614
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to a pump control system for a pressure sewer installation. The system comprises a controller arranged to control supply of power to a pump of the pressure sewer installation. The controller is arranged to receive an output signal from a sensor in a fluid reservoir of the pressure sewer installation, the output signal being indicative of a measured fluid level in the fluid reservoir. A memory is accessible to the controller and is arranged to store operation information pertaining to operation of the pressure sewer installation. A wireless transceiver is in communication with the controller to allow the controller to communicate with a remote server over a communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: South East Water Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Leonard Moon, Martin Alexander Sutherland, Andrew Forster-Knight