Smart water filter system

• US 10,450,203 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danco Inc (NCH Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Danco Inc (NCH Corporation)
• Inventors: Schuster, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Clemente, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Varma, Akash K
• Application Number:
  US15/227,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20160340207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 210739
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/50 with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition B01D29/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/603 by flow measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/1573 Flow control valves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/003 using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices C02F9/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/68 by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water medicinal water A61K
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/005 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/445 Filter life
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/06 Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/10 as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/40 Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

Various examples are provided for smart water filter systems. In one example, a smart water filter system includes a solenoid valve (or other electrically operated valve) in a water supply line of a faucet, and a filter bank coupled to the water supply line. Activation of the valve can stop the flow of unfiltered water through the faucet while allowing the flow of filtered water through the faucet. In another example, a smart water filter system includes a three-port solenoid (or electrically operated) valve coupled to a faucet, and a filter bank coupled to the water supply line and to a second inlet port of the three-port solenoid valve. Activation of the three-port valve can stop the flow of unfiltered water through the faucet while allowing the flow of filtered water through the faucet.

Claims

1. A smart water filter system, comprising:

a solenoid valve comprising an inlet coupled to a water supply connection and an outlet coupled to a faucet feed connection, the water supply connection configured to connect to a water supply line and the faucet feed connection configured to couple to a faucet via a faucet feed line;

a filter inlet connection coupled between the water supply connection and the inlet of the solenoid valve, the filter inlet connection configured to be coupled to a filter bank; and

a filter outlet connection coupled between the outlet of the solenoid valve and the faucet feed connection, the filter outlet connection configured to be coupled to the filter bank;

where activation of the solenoid valve stops flow of unfiltered water through the faucet feed line and simultaneously initiates flow of only filtered water from the filter bank through the faucet feed connection.

2. The smart water filter system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to activate the solenoid valve in response to a first signal.

3. The smart water filter system of claim 2, wherein the first signal is provided by a sensor.

4. The smart water filter system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is a voice sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a bump sensor, a magnetic sensor, IR sensor or a RFID sensor.

5. The smart water filter system of claim 3, wherein the solenoid valve is deactivated in response to a second signal provided by the sensor.

6. The smart water filter system of claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve is deactivated in response to stopping water flow through the faucet feed connection.

7. The smart water filter system of claim 6, comprising a flow sensor configured to detect water flow through the faucet feed connection.

8. The smart water filter system of claim 1, comprising the filter bank comprising an inlet coupled to the filter inlet connection and an outlet coupled to the filter outlet connection.

9. The smart water filter system of claim 8, wherein the filter bank comprises one or more filter cartridges.

10. The smart water filter system of claim 1, wherein the water supply line is a cold water supply line.

11. A smart water filter system, comprising:

an electrically operated valve comprising an inlet coupled to a water supply line and an outlet coupled to a water feed line supplying a faucet; and

a filter bank having an inlet coupled to the water supply line before the inlet of the electrically operated valve and an outlet to provide filtered water from the filter bank, the outlet of the filter bank coupled to the water feed line after the outlet of the electrically operated valve, where the electrically operated valve is configured to control flow of unfiltered and filtered water through the faucet, where flow of the unfiltered water through the faucet is stopped by the electrically operated valve and flow of only filtered water from the filter bank to flow through the faucet is simultaneously initiated by the electrically operated valve.

12. The smart water filter system of claim 11, wherein the electrically operated valve stops the flow of unfiltered water through the faucet and initiates the flow of the filtered water through the faucet when activated.

13. The smart water filter system of claim 11, wherein the electrically operated valve stops the flow of unfiltered water through the faucet and initiates the flow of the filtered water through the faucet when deactivated.

14. The smart water filter system of claim 11, further comprising a control unit configured to control activation of the electrically operated valve in response to a control signal.

15. The smart water filter system of claim 14, wherein the control signal is received from an activation sensor.

16. The smart water filter system of claim 15, wherein the activation sensor is a voice sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a bump sensor, a magnetic sensor, IR sensor or a RFID sensor.

17. The smart water filter system of claim 15, wherein the control signal is a wireless signal transmitted by the activation sensor.

18. The smart water filter system of claim 14, wherein the control unit is further configured to control activation of the electrically operated valve in response to flow of filtered water through the water feed line.

19. The smart water filter system of claim 14, comprising a sensor configured to detect flow though the water feed line.

20. The smart water filter system of claim 11, wherein the water supply line is a cold water supply line.

21. A method for providing filtered water through a faucet, comprising:

activating an electrically operated valve in response to a filtered water request, where the electrically operated valve redirects unfiltered water away from the faucet and directs the filtered water to the faucet when activated;

monitoring for a change in water flow to the faucet; and

in response to detecting the change in the water flow, terminating flow of the filtered water to the faucet and directing the unfiltered water to the faucet by deactivating the electrically operated valve.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrically operated valve is a solenoid valve.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the unfiltered water is redirected to a filter bank to provide the filtered water.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the change in the water flow is detected by a flow sensor.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the filtered water request is provided in response to a user input received after initiation of unfiltered water flow through the faucet.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the user input is provided though a voice sensor, a touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a bump sensor, a magnetic sensor, IR sensor or a RFID sensor.