Process and system for controlling modulation assisted valves for the internet of things

• US 10,368,504 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Francis Sabadin
• Original Assignee: Paul Francis Sabadin
• Inventors: Sabadin, Paul Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodden, Joshua E
• Application Number:
  US14/760,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20150351337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,003 Days
• Field of Search: 700282
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3026 the controlling element being a gate valve, a sliding valve or a cock B05B1/3006, B05B1/326 take precedence; gate valves or sliding valves in general F16K3/00; cocks in general F16K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/74 driven by the discharged fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/042 with electric means, e.g. for controlling the motor or a clutch between the valve and the motor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

The invention includes a process and system for controlling a genus of valve, typically in a pipe network. The genus of valve is herein referred to as a modulation assisted valve (MAV). The process and system of controlling said MAV'"'"'s comprises a multitude of embodiments of such MAV'"'"'s as deployed in a plurality of network configurations of pipes, such networks of pipes further interconnected with means of modulating the fluid forces encountered by such MAV'"'"'s so as to assist in the actuation of such MAV'"'"'s. The coordinated modulation of fluid forces within embodiments of pipe networks enables MAV'"'"'s that are connected in common with the same pipe network to be controlled and actuated with reduced electrical energy consumed by said MAV'"'"'s.

Claims

1. A process of controlling a remote valve in a network of pipes, the process comprising:

a. ensuring that said remote valve is installed in said network of pipes;

b. ensuring that characteristics of said remote valve comprise;

i. having two or more flow settings;

ii. having a command receiver, said command receiver being a means for receiving commands to electromechanically actuate said remote valve between a first of said two or more flow settings and a second of said two or more flow settings;

iii. having a threshold actuation pressure, said threshold actuation pressure defining a total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve equal to or below which said remote valve possesses an ability to be electromechanically actuated from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings while above said threshold actuation pressure said remote valve lacks said ability to be electromechanically actuated from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings;

c. ensuring that a means of modulating pressure in said network of pipes is installed in said network of pipes;

d. ensuring that said means of modulating pressure is in fluid communication with said remote valve;

d. ensuring that an electronic control system is enabled to command said means of modulating to modulate said total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve;

e. ensuring that said electronic control system is in communication with said command receiver of said remote valve;

f. using said electronic control system to effect an ordered sequence of sub-steps comprising;

i. commanding said means for modulating to set said total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve to be less than or equal to said threshold actuation pressure with the intent of enabling the electromechanical actuation of said remote valve from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings;

ii. commanding said remote valve to actuate from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings while said total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve is less than or equal to said threshold actuation pressure;

whereby said actuation of said remote valve is assisted by said pressure modulation.

2. The process of controlling a remote valve as in claim 1, wherein said step of ensuring that a means of modulating pressure in said network of pipes is installed in said network of pipes is ensuring that a modulating valve is installed in said network of pipes.

3. The process of controlling a remote valve as in claim 2, wherein said step of ensuring that a modulating valve is installed in said network of pipes is ensuring that a valve having an on setting and an off setting is installed in said network of pipes.

4. The process of controlling a remote valve as in claim 1, wherein said step of ensuring that said electronic control system is in communication with said command receiver of said remote valve is ensuring that said electronic control system is in radio frequency communication with said command receiver of said remote valve.

5. The process of controlling a remote valve as in claim 4, further comprising the step of ensuring that said remote valve is configured to deliver fluids for the cultivation of plants.

6. A system for controlling a remote valve in a network of pipes, the system comprising:

a. one or more computers,

said one or more computers defining a computer network,

at least one of said one or more computers being configured with a means of communicating with a command receiver of said remote valve,

said remote valve having two or more flow settings,

said remote valve being installed in said network of pipes,

said command receiver being a means for said remote valve to receive commands to electromechanically actuate said remote valve between a first of said two or more flow settings and a second of said two or more flow settings,

said remote valve being further configured to have a predetermined threshold actuation pressure, said threshold actuation pressure defining a total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve equal to or below which said remote valve possesses an ability to be electromechanically actuated from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings while above said threshold actuation pressure said remote valve lacks said ability to be electromechanically actuated from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings,

at least one of said one or more computers being configured with a means of communicating with a means of modulating said total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve in said network of pipes,

at least one of said one or more computers being further configured to effect an ordered sequence of steps comprising;

i. commanding said means for modulating to set said total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve to be less than or equal to said threshold actuation pressure with the intent of enabling said electromechanical actuation of said remote valve from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings;

ii. commanding said remote valve to actuate from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings while said total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve is less than or equal to said threshold actuation pressure;

whereby said system assists in said actuation of said remote valve by coordinating said actuation with said modulation of said fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve.

7. A system as in claim 6, wherein said means of modulating is a pressure modulating valve.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein said pressure modulating valve is a valve having an on setting and an off setting.

9. A system as in claim 6, wherein said command receiver is a radio frequency receiver.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein said remote valve is configured to deliver fluids for the cultivation of plants.

11. An electronic valve for controlling fluids, the valve comprising:

a. at least one inlet port, said at least one inlet port having a means of being fluidly connected with a network of pipes;

b. at least one outlet port;

c. an electromechanically actuated gating mechanism disposed between at least one of said at least one inlet port and at least one of said at least one outlet port, said gating mechanism being for the purpose of throttling the flow of fluids between said at least one of said at least one inlet port and said at least one of said at least one outlet port, said gating mechanism having two or more flow positions, said valve further configured to have a predetermined threshold actuation pressure, said threshold actuation pressure defining a total fluid pressure imposed across said at least one of said at least one inlet port and said at least one of said at least one outlet port above which said gating mechanism is so configured as to be held electromechanically immovable between a first of said two or more flow positions and a second of said two or more flow positions due to resultant hydraulic forces acting upon said gating mechanism and below which said gating mechanism is so configured as to be electromechanically movable between said first of said two or more flow positions and said second of said two or more flow positions due to resultant hydraulic forces acting upon said gating mechanism;

d. a local electrical power supply, wherein said valve is disconnected from all external sources of electrical actuation power, said power supply being collocated with said valve, wherein source of power for said power supply is at least one selected from the group comprising a chemical battery, a photovoltaic array, an energy storage capacitor, and a hydroelectric generator, said hydroelectric generator being configurable to connect with and harvest hydraulic power from said network of pipes, said power supply being electrically connected so as to supply power for said electromechanically actuated gating mechanism;

e. a radio frequency receiver, said radio frequency receiver being collocated with said valve, said radio frequency receiver being in communication with said gating mechanism such that said radio frequency receiver is enabled to receive and relay actuation commands for actuating said gating mechanism.

12. The electronic valve of claim 11, wherein the type of said power supply is not an electrochemical battery, wherein said power supply further comprises said energy storage capacitor, said capacitor being electrically integrated with said power supply so as to store electrical energy generated within said power supply, thereby essentially obviating the need for said valve to use electrochemical batteries.