Description:BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to fuel consumption management and particularly to a cooking gas management system.
Description of Related Art
[002] Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) has become an integral energy source globally due to its versatility and convenience, extensively utilized in households for cooking, heating, and various industrial applications. Its popularity stems from being a portable, efficient, and cleaner-burning fuel compared to alternatives like coal or traditional wood fuels.
[003] However, the widespread use of LPG has brought about safety concerns, primarily concerning the potential for explosions. LPG is highly combustible and poses a significant risk if mishandled or leaked. The gas, being heavier than air, can accumulate in poorly ventilated areas, leading to highly flammable environments. Improper storage, faulty equipment, or human error can contribute to leaks or ignition, leading to severe accidents and, in extreme cases, explosions.
[004] One major challenge associated with LPG usage is the lack of accurate methods to determine the remaining gas in the cylinder. This uncertainty often leads to situations where users might unexpectedly run out of gas, causing inconvenience or, conversely, might continue using the cylinder without realizing the low levels, that can potentially lead to disruptions or dangers.
[005] The existing systems in the prior art have limitations when it comes to accurately gauging the level of gas remaining in the cylinder based on usage and potential leakage. Traditional methods like weighing the cylinder, using pressure gauges, or temperature-based measurements have inherent inaccuracies, making it challenging to provide real-time and precise information about the gas level within the cylinder.
[006] There is thus a need for an improved and advanced cooking gas management system that can administer the aforementioned limitations in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[007] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a cooking gas management system. The system comprising: a load cell sensor adapted to measure a weight of a gas cylinder containing the cooking gas. The system further comprising: a gas sensor adapted to detect the leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder. The system further comprising: a control unit communicatively connected to the load cell sensor and to the gas sensor. The control unit is configured to: receive the measured weight of the gas cylinder from the load cell sensor; receive the detected leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder from the gas sensor; estimate a gas depletion rate based on the detected leakage of the cooking gas; compare the measured weight of the gas cylinder with a threshold weight level; and activate a display unit to display a message indicating an approaching depletion of the cooking gas, when the measured weight of the gas cylinder is less than the threshold weight level, or the estimated gas depletion rate is above a threshold rate.
[008] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method for managing consumption of a cooking gas using a cooking gas management system. The method comprising steps of: receiving a measured weight of a gas cylinder from a load cell sensor; receiving a detected leakage of a cooking gas from the gas cylinder from the gas sensor; estimating a gas depletion rate based on the detected leakage of the cooking gas; comparing the measured weight of the gas cylinder with a threshold weight level; and activating a display unit to display a message indicating an approaching depletion of the cooking gas, when the measured weight of the gas cylinder is less than the threshold weight level, or the estimated gas depletion rate is above a threshold rate.
[009] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on their particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a cooking gas management system.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a cooking gas management system that is reliable.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a cooking gas management system that incurs a low cost for installation.
[0012] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0013] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram for a cooking gas management system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method for managing consumption of a cooking gas using a cooking gas management system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0020] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram for a cooking gas management system 100 (hereinafter referred to as the system 100) for managing consumption of a cooking gas, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to embodiments of the present invention, the cooking gas may be, but not limited to, a butane, a propane, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cooking gas may be Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG). Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the cooking gas, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0022] According to embodiments of the present invention, the system 100 may comprise the load cell sensor 102, a load cell amplifier 104, a gas sensor 106, a control unit 108, a display unit 110, a sound unit 112, a motor 114, a Bluetooth control application 116, and a remote-control unit 118.
[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the load cell sensor 102 may be adapted to measure a weight of a gas cylinder containing the cooking gas. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the load cell sensor 102 may have a weighing capacity of 50 kilograms (kg). Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any weighing capacity of the load cell sensor 102.
[0024] The load cell sensor 102 may be connected to the control unit 108 using the load cell amplifier 104, in an embodiment of the present invention. The load cell amplifier 104 may be adapted to amplify and digitally translate the measured weight of the gas cylinder into a binary format, in an embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the load cell amplifier 104 may be a hx711 load cell amplifier. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the load cell amplifier 104, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the gas sensor 106 may be adapted to detect the leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gas sensor 106 may be an MQ2-type gas sensor. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the gas sensor 106, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 108 may be connected to the load cell sensor 102 and the gas sensor 106. The control unit 108 may be configured to receive the measured weight of the gas cylinder from the load cell sensor 102. The control unit 108 may be configured to receive the detected leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder from the gas sensor 106.
[0027] The control unit 108 may be configured to receive the detected leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder from the gas sensor 106. The control unit 108 may be configured to compare the measured weight of the gas cylinder with a threshold weight level. The control unit 108 may be configured to activate the display unit 110 to display a message indicating an approaching depletion of the cooking gas, when the measured weight of the gas cylinder is less than the threshold weight level, or the estimated gas depletion rate is above a threshold rate.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 108 may be an Arduino Mega 2560. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the control unit 108, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the display may be adapted to display the message indicating an approaching depletion of the cooking gas, when the measured weight of the gas cylinder is less than the threshold weight level, or the estimated gas depletion rate is above the threshold rate. The display unit 110 may further be adapted to display the message indicating a sufficiency of the cooking gas in the gas cylinder, upon detecting the measured weight of the gas cylinder greater than the threshold weight level, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the display unit 110 may be adapted to display the message indicating the detected leakage, upon detecting the leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder by the gas sensor 106, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] According to embodiments of the present invention, the display unit 110 maybe, but not limited to, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display, an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display, and so forth. Further, the display unit 110 may feature a backlight that may be turned on and/or turned off based on a requirement. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the display unit 110 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sound unit 112 may be adapted to alert a user. The sound unit 112 may be activated upon detecting the leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder by the gas sensor 106, in an embodiment of the present invention. According to embodiments of the present invention, the sound unit 112 may be, but not limited to, an alarm, a megaphone, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sound unit 112 may be a buzzer. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the sound unit 112, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the motor 114 may be adapted to turn off a knob of a gas stove upon detecting the leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder by the gas sensor 106. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the motor 114 may be a Direct Current (DC) servo motor. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the motor 114, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the remote-control unit 118 may be adapted to enable a user to remotely control the knob of the gas stove through the Bluetooth control application 116. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the remote-control unit 118 may be an HC05 remote-control unit. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the remote-control unit 118, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0034] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method 200 for managing the cooking gas using the system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] At step 202, the system 100 may receive the measured weight of the gas cylinder from the load cell sensor 102.
[0036] At step 204, the system 100 may receive the detected leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder from the gas sensor 106.
[0037] At step 206, the system 100 may estimate the gas depletion rate based on the detected leakage of the cooking gas.
[0038] At step 208, the system 100 may check if the estimated gas depletion rate is above the threshold rate. If the estimated gas depletion rate is above the threshold rate, then the method 200 may proceed to a step 212. Else, the method 200 may continue to a step 210.
[0039] At step 210, the system 100 may compare the measured weight of the gas cylinder with the threshold weight level. Upon comparison, if the measured weight of the gas cylinder is less than the threshold weight level, then the method 200 may proceed to the step 212. Else, the method 200 may revert to the step 202.
[0040] At step 212, the system 100 may activate the display unit 110 to display the message indicating the approaching depletion of the cooking gas.
[0041] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended c2laims.
[0042] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. , Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A cooking gas management system (100), the system (100) comprising:
a load cell sensor (102) adapted to measure a weight of a gas cylinder containing the cooking gas;
a gas sensor (106) adapted to detect the leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder;
a control unit (108) communicatively connected to the load cell sensor (102) and to the gas sensor (106), characterized in that the control unit (108) is configured to:
receive the measured weight of the gas cylinder from the load cell sensor (102);
receive the detected leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder from the gas sensor (106);
estimate a gas depletion rate based on the detected leakage of the cooking gas;
compare the measured weight of the gas cylinder with a threshold weight level; and
activate a display unit (110) to display a message indicating an approaching depletion of the cooking gas, when the measured weight of the gas cylinder is less than the threshold weight level, or the estimated gas depletion rate is above a threshold rate.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit (110) is adapted to display the message indicating a sufficiency of the cooking gas in the gas cylinder, upon detecting the measured weight of the gas cylinder greater than the threshold weight level.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit (110) is adapted to display the message indicating the detected leakage, upon detecting the leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder by the gas sensor (106).
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a motor (114) adapted to turn off a knob of a gas stove upon detecting the leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder by the gas sensor (106).
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, comprising a remote-control unit (118) to enable a user to remotely control the knob of the gas stove though a Bluetooth control application (116).
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a sound unit (112) adapted to alert a user, wherein the sound unit (112) activated upon detecting the leakage of the cooking gas from the gas cylinder by the gas sensor (106).
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas sensor (106) is a MQ2-type gas sensor.
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load cell sensor (102) is connected to the control unit (108) through a load cell amplifier (104).
9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load cell amplifier (104) is a hx711 load cell amplifier.
10. A method (200) of managing consumption of a cooking gas using a cooking gas management system (100), the method (200) characterised by step of:
receiving a measured weight of a gas cylinder from a load cell sensor (102);
receiving a detected leakage of a cooking gas from the gas cylinder from the gas sensor (106);
estimating a gas depletion rate based on the detected leakage of the cooking gas;
comparing the measured weight of the gas cylinder with a threshold weight level; and
activating a display unit (110) to display a message indicating an approaching depletion of the cooking gas, when the measured weight of the gas cylinder is less than the threshold weight level, or the estimated gas depletion rate is above a threshold rate.
Date: November 23, 2023
Place: Noida

Dr. Keerti Gupta
Agent for the Applicant
(IN/PA-1529)