Visual monitoring system for covered storage tanks

Abstract

A visual monitoring system for covered storage tanks, comprising in combination a storage tank, an Imaging Unit and a Communication Unit. The storage tank has a peripheral wall, a fixed ceiling and a floating roof that travels up and down the peripheral wall. The Imaging Unit is positioned within the covered storage tank and includes a Camera, a Microcontroller, a Power Source and a Wireless Communication Interface. The Camera is mounted on one of the ceiling or the wall adjacent to the ceiling and is focused upon the floating roof. The Communication Unit receives wireless communication signals from the Imaging Unit providing imaging data regarding the floating roof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A visual monitoring system for covered storage tanks, comprising in combination:
 a storage tank having a peripheral wall, a fixed ceiling and a floating roof that travels up and down the peripheral wall;   an Imaging Unit positioned within the covered storage tank, the Imaging Unit comprising a Camera, a Microcontroller, a Power Source and a Wireless Communication Interface, the Camera being mounted on one of the ceiling or the wall adjacent to the ceiling, the Camera having a field of view that includes at least part of the floating roof; and   a Communication Unit remote from the covered storage tank, the Communication Unit comprising a Microcontroller, a Power Source and a Wireless Communication interface, the Communication Unit receiving wireless communication signals from the Imaging Unit providing imaging data regarding the floating roof via their respective Wireless Communication Interface.   
     
     
         2 . The visual monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein visual markers are located on the floating roof to provide positional information when used in conjunction with the Camera. 
     
     
         3 . The visual monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more sensors are associated with the Imaging Unit and image acquisition is automatically initiated by the Microcontroller of the Imaging Unit following the detection of an anomalous condition by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         4 . A method of visual monitoring of a floating roof of a covered storage tank, comprising:
 providing an Imaging Unit comprising a Camera, a Microcontroller, a Power Source and a Wireless Communication Interface;   providing a Communication Unit comprising a Microcontroller, a Power Source and a Wireless Communication interface;   positioning the Communication Unit remote from the covered storage tank;   positioning the Imaging Unit within the covered storage tank with the Camera being mounted on one of the ceiling or the wall adjacent to the ceiling, the Camera having a field of view including at least part of the floating roof; and   sending wireless communication signals from the Imaging Unit to the Communication Unit via their respective Wireless Communication Interface providing imaging data regarding the floating roof.   
     
     
         5 . The method apparatus of  claim 4  wherein a human operator initiates image acquisition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein image acquisition is automatically initiated by the Microcontroller of the imaging Unit on a scheduled basis. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein one or more sensors are associated with the Imaging Unit and image acquisition is automatically initiated by the Microcontroller of the Imaging Unit following the detection of an anomalous condition by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising a means of image encoding is provided and the wireless signals are encoded. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising where the means of image encoding is a means of motion video encoding. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the use of one or more visible markers to determine the elevation of the floating roof within the aboveground storage tank. 
     
     
         11 . method of  claim 4  further comprising the use of computer vision techniques to determine the elevation of the floating roof within the aboveground storage tank.