The present disclosure relates to the LPG monitoring. In particular,
the present disclosure provides a system for monitoring LPG in a cylinder and automated booking for another cylinder.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Fluid containers are used in commercial and domestic locations,
including for cooking and other food preparation procedures as well as for heating.
Also used in industrial and commercial facilities, e.g., for storage of volatile and
non-volatile fluids such as propane gas, nitrogen gas, hydraulic fluid, etc. under
pressure for use in industrial manufacturing, processing, and fabrication.
[0003] LPG is used in various types of industrial installations and in
households. In these days, due to busy life schedule of people, people don't get time to check LPG cylinder daily, and they can't retrieve information of the actual amount of gas left in the cylinder by just lifting the cylinder. Generally, the emptiness of cylinder come into notice only when burner gets off instantly. Due to this user have to face many problems sometimes they don't have extra cylinder in home, and they don't get immediate booking of cylinder.
[0004] Existing system include either load cells or pressure sensors to check
level of gas in cylinder, but there are many disadvantages of using load cells as
relatively slow speed of response and the need for clean, dry, regulated air or
nitrogen. In addition, strain-gage load cells convert the load acting on them into
electrical signals. The gauges themselves are bonded onto a beam or structural
member that deforms when weight is applied. Also, pressure sensor needs to be
calibrated with the load cell to monitor weight which in turn results into
disadvantage because continuous monitoring causes wear and tear in load cells. To
overcome these difficulties, a system is required to measure level of LPG in the
cylinder that can last long, and that can automate the process of booking another
cylinder, before the level of LPG in the cylinder reaches beyond a limit.
[0005] There is, therefore, a need to provide an efficient, optimum, and
cost-effective system that can obviate the above-mentioned limitations.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0006] A general object of the present invention is to obviate the above-
mentioned problems associated with using prior art devices in a relatively simple and cost-effective manner.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is a system to assist in
detection of level of LPG in a cylinder.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is a system to detect LPG
level which is easy to install and safe.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reliable,
convenient, effortless system which helps in automatic refill reducing efforts of the manual booking.
[0010] Other object, features, and advantages will become apparent from
detail description and appended claims to those skilled in the art.
SUMMARY
[0011] Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to LPG monitoring.
In particular. In particular, the present disclosure provides a system for monitoring
LPG in a cylinder and automated booking for another cylinder.
[0012] According to an aspect, the present disclosure pertains to a system
to detect level of gas in a tank, the system may include a sensing element mounted
on the tank for detecting one or more parameters of the gas accommodated in the
tank, and correspondingly generate a set of signals, a control unit may be
operatively coupled to the sensing element, the control unit may include a processor
operatively coupled to a memory storing instructions executable by the processor,
and configured to receive the generated set of signals from the sensing element
extract value of one or more parameters from the received set of signals, compare
the extracted values with a set of predetermined values stored in a database, to
determine amount of gas in the tank, generate a warning signal, when the amount
of gas found below a predetermined limit, wherein the generated warning signal is
transmitted to a mobile computing device through a communication unit.
[0013] In an aspect, the sensing element may be a pressure gauge.

[0014] In an aspect, the one or more parameters of the gas may include
dynamic pressure, static pressure, or combination thereof.
[0015] In an aspect, the communication unit may be operatively coupled
with the sensing element and the control unit, and configured to transmit the set of
signals from the sensing element to the control unit, and further configured to
transmit the warning signal from the control unit to a mobile computing device.
[0016] In an aspect, the communication unit may include any or a
combination of GSM Module, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Li-Fi, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and ZigBee.
[0017] In an aspect, a power source may be configured to supply electric
power to the sensor and the control unit, and the power source may include
alternating current (AC) provided through an AC adaptor, direct current (DC)
provided through a DC adaptor, a battery source, or combination thereof.
[0018] Another aspect of the present disclosure pertains to an automated
LPG booking system, the automated LPG booking system may include a sensing element mounted on a tank storing the LPG for detecting one or more parameters of the gas accommodated in the tank, and correspondingly generate a set of signals, a control unit (104) operatively coupled to the sensing element, the control unit may include a processor operatively coupled to a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, and configured to determine amount of gas in the tank, and upon detection of the amount of gas below the predetermined limit, the control unit may generate a booking signal that may be transmitted to a mobile computing device through a communication unit.
[0019] In an aspect, the booking signal may pertain to automatic booking
of the tank from a dealer of a gas agency.
[0020] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set
forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a
part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the
present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles
of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of the proposed
system for detection of level of gas and automated booking, in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of the procedure used for
automated booking, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the
disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosures as defined by the appended claims.
[0025] Embodiments explained herein relate to LPG monitoring. In
particular, the present disclosure provides a system for monitoring LPG in a cylinder and automated booking for another cylinder.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of the proposed
system in order to explain its working, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] According to an embodiment, a system (100) for monitoring level
of gas in a tank (interchangeably referred as cylinder, hereinafter) is disclosed. The system (100) can include a sensing element (102), a control unit (104), a communication unit (106), and a power source (110).

[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, the gas stored in the tank can be LPG
(liquefied petroleum gas) which is a source of energy used for cooking, heating and
lightning. LPG mainly used in household gas cylinders consists of butane and
propane.
[0029] In another embodiment, the sensing element (102) can be mounted
on the tank for detecting one or more parameters the gas accommodated in the tank,
and correspondingly generate a set of signals. The sensing element (102) can be
pressure gauge.
[0030] In an exemplary embodiment, the sensing element (102) can be
selected from a group of gas pressure gauge, gas pressure indicator, manometer,
absolute pressure gauges, gauge pressure measuring devices, analogue pressure
gauges, and digital pressure gauges, or combination thereof.
[0031] In an embodiment, the one or more parameters of the gas includes
but not limited to dynamic pressure, static pressure, pressure, force, weight, voltage
or combination thereof.
[0032] In another embodiment, the generated set of signals can be
transmitted to the control unit (104), the control unit (104) can be operatively
coupled to the sensing element (102). The control unit (104) can include a processor
such as a microprocessor or central processing unit and a memory interconnected
by an interface circuit. In the depicted embodiment. The interface circuit can also
interconnects input and output (I/O) components such a display which may be a
touch screen, a network adapter, and storage.
[0033] The memory may be in the form of volatile memory or a
combination of volatile and non-volatile memory, including for example, dynamic
or static random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory,
solid state memory and the like.
[0034] The storage can be typically non-volatile and may be a hard-disk
drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), EEPROM, CD-ROM, DVD, or any other
suitable data storage element or medium, readable by processor.
[0035] The control unit (104) can be configured to receive the generated set
of signals from the sensing element (102), extract value of one or more parameters

from the received set of signals, and compare the extracted values with a set of predetermined values stored in a database, to determine amount of gas in the tank. Moreover, upon detection of amount of gas found below a predetermined limit, generate a warning signal.
[0036] In an embodiment, the generated warning signal can be transmitted
to a mobile computing device (108) through the communication unit (106). The mobile computing device can be associated to a registered user, and the user can be notified that the level of gas is low in the tank.
[0037] In another embodiment, communication unit (106) can include but
not limited to GSM module Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) module, Bluetooth module, Li-Fi module, optical fiber, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and ZigBee module.
[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, when wireless connectivity is not
available, the notification can be transmitted to the user's phone through the GSM
module, where the notification pertains to a message indicating that level of the
LPG is low in the cylinder, and the user can manually book the cylinder.
[0039] According to another embodiment of the disclosure, an automated
LPG booking system is disclosed. The automated LPG booking system can include a sensing element (102) mounted on a tank storing the LPG, and a control unit a control unit (104). The control unit (104) can be operatively coupled to the sensing element (102), and further comprising a processor operatively coupled to a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, and configured to determine amount of gas in the tank.
[0040] The sensing element (102) can be configured for detecting one or
more parameters of the gas accommodated in the tank, and correspondingly generate a set of signals that can be transmitted to the control unit (104), and the control unit analyse the received set of signals by extract value of one or more parameters from the received set of signals, and compare the extracted values with a set of predetermined values stored in the database, to determine amount of gas in the tank. Moreover, upon detection of the amount of gas below the predetermined limit, the control unit (104) can generate a booking signal that is transmitted to a

mobile computing device through the communication unit (106). The booking
signal can pertain to automatic booking of the tank from a dealer of a gas agency.
The mobile computing device can be associated to the dealer of the registered gas
agency, thus minimize the efforts of the user to book the tank.
[0041] In an exemplary embodiment, the mobile computing device can
include applications (also referred as app, hereinafter), or web interface which may
be downloadable from an app store and installable such as Andriod, iOS, Window
Phone BlackBerry etc. The app can include a user interface and protocols to
communicate. The mobile computing devices can include but not limited to a
mobile terminal, laptop, phone, tablet etc. The phone can display notification that
level of gas in the tank is low, therefore proceeding for automatic booking. The
phone can be associated to many entities such as user, and dealers of gas agency.
The app can include the functionality to monitor real-time level of gas in the tank,
and historical trends to check total number of days in which cylinder gets empty.
[0042] In an exemplary embodiment, payment of new cylinder can be done
automatically by already registered debit card, credit cart, and wallets such as paytm, phone pay, G-pay, and the likes. Also, the payment notification can be transmitted to the user phone, and user can initiate payment to book the cylinder, or can cancel the booking based on requirement.
[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, an alert unit such as buzzer can be
coupled with the system (100), the alert unit can facilitate in producing sound to notify the user to refill the cylinder.
[0044] In an exemplary embodiment, the user can set thorough the app to
book the cylinder manually, thus the system (100) would not automatically book the cylinder.
[0045] In one embodiment, the system (100) can include the
communication unit (106) that can be communicatively coupled to the control unit (104). In another embodiment, the communication unit (106) can be configured to establish communication in between the system (100) and one or more mobile computing devices associated with the user.

[0046] In an embodiment, the system (100) can include the power source
(110), which can be alternating current (AC) provided through an AC adaptor, direct current (DC) provided through a DC adaptor, a battery source, or any other known power source. The battery source can be one or more dry cell batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion), etc.), and the likes.
[0047] The power source (110) can be operatively coupled with the sensing
element (102) and the control unit (104).
[0048] In an embodiment, a process (200) for automatic LPG booking is
explained with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 2.
[0049] The procedure begins at step 202 by monitoring level of LPG in a
cylinder using a sensing element (102) and analysed by a control unit (104). When
the determination is NO in step (202) i.e. the level of LPG is above a pre-defined
limit, the foregoing procedures will be repeated following a pre-defined number of
days. For example, the cylinder of a user gets empty after 30 days every month,
then after 10-15 days of installing a cylinder, the LPG level can be monitored, the
When the determination is YES in step (202), i.e. the level of LPG is found below
the pre-defined limit, the registered user can be notified (as shown at step (204)) by
transmitting a warning signal to a smart phone, simultaneously, a cylinder can be
automatically booked (as shown at step (206)) from respective dealers.
[0050] Further, the process is end when the cylinder is booked, and after
some days, the procedure for monitoring level of LPG in the cylinder can be repeated.
[0051] Although the preceding text sets forth a detailed description of
numerous embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment, as describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. One could implement numerous alternate embodiments, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0052] The present invention provides a system to obviate the above-
mentioned problems associated with using prior art devices in a relatively simple and cost-effective manner.
[0053] The present invention provides a system to assist in detection of
level of LPG in a cylinder.
[0054] The present invention provides a system to detect LPG level which
is easy to install and safe.
[0055] The present invention provides a reliable, convenient, effortless
system which helps in automatic refill reducing efforts of the manual booking.

We Claim:

1. A system (100) to detect level of gas in a tank, the system comprising:
a sensing element (102) mounted on the tank for detecting one or more parameters of the gas accommodated in the tank, and correspondingly generate a set of signals;
a control unit (104) operatively coupled to the sensing element (102), said control unit (102) comprising a processor operatively coupled to a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, and configured to:
receive the generated set of signals from the sensing element; extract value of one or more parameters from the received set of signals;
compare the extracted values with a set of predetermined values stored in a database, to determine amount of gas in the tank; generate a warning signal, when the amount of gas found below a predetermined limit, wherein the generated warning signal is transmitted to a mobile computing device (108) through a communication unit (106).
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing element (102) is a pressure gauge.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters of the gas comprises dynamic pressure, static pressure, or combination thereof.
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication unit (106) is operatively coupled with the sensing element (102) and the control unit (104), and configured to transmit the set of signals from the sensing element (102) to the control unit (104), and further configured to transmit the warning signal from the control unit (104) to a mobile computing device.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication unit (106) comprises any or a combination of GSM Module, Wireless Fidelity

(Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Li-Fi, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and ZigBee.
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a power source (110) is configured to supply electric power to the sensing unit and the control unit, wherein the power source include alternating current (AC) provided through an AC adaptor, direct current (DC) provided through a DC adaptor, a battery source, or combination thereof.
7. An automated LPG booking system (200) comprising:
a sensing element (102) mounted on a tank storing the LPG for detecting one or more parameters of the gas accommodated in the tank, and correspondingly generate a set of signals;
a control unit (104) operatively coupled to the sensing element, said control unit (104) comprising a processor operatively coupled to a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, and configured to determine amount of gas in the tank, wherein upon detection of the amount of gas below the predetermined limit, the control unit (104) generate a booking signal that is transmitted to a mobile computing device through a communication unit (106)
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the booking signal pertains
to automatic booking of the tank from a dealer of a gas agency.