Method and apparatus for determining time remaining for hot water flow
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining time remaining for fluid flow at a temperature from a fluid outlet [14] which receives fluid from a fluid source [18], comprising:
- a first temperature sensor [22] for sensing fluid temperature at a fluid outlet [14];
a second temperature sensor [34] for sensing fluid temperature at a fluid source [18];
a communication link [29]; and
a controller [38] in communication with said first temperature sensor [22] and said second temperature sensor [34] via said communication link [29], for comparing sensed fluid temperatures to determine time remaining for fluid flow at a temperature.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining time remaining for hot water flow at a particular temperature. A first, water outlet sensor system 22 is located near a water outlet such that temperature sensor 24 senses the water temperature of water flowing to a water outlet 14. A second, water heater sensor system 34 is located near a water heater storage vessel 18 for sensing the water temperature of water exiting the storage vessel 18. Water heater sensor system 34 includes a logic controller 38 for determining time remaining for hot water flow based upon sensed temperatures at water outlet 14 and storage vessel 18. Display device 42 provides information received from controller 38 and from water outlet sensor system 22. First and second sensor systems 22, 34 and display device 42 communicate via radio frequency communication link 29.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining time remaining for fluid flow at a temperature from a fluid outlet [14] which receives fluid from a fluid source [18], comprising:
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a first temperature sensor [22] for sensing fluid temperature at a fluid outlet [14];
a second temperature sensor [34] for sensing fluid temperature at a fluid source [18];
a communication link [29]; and
a controller [38] in communication with said first temperature sensor [22] and said second temperature sensor [34] via said communication link [29], for comparing sensed fluid temperatures to determine time remaining for fluid flow at a temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of determining time remaining for fluid flow at a temperature from a fluid outlet [14] which receives fluid from a fluid source [18], the method comprising:
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providing temperature sensors [22, 34] at a fluid outlet [14] and fluid source [18];
providing a controller [38];
sensing fluid temperature at the fluid outlet [14] and fluid source [18];
communicating sensed fluid temperatures to the controller [38]; and
determining time remaining for fluid flow at a temperature from the fluid outlet [14] with the controller [38] based upon the sensed fluid temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of determining time remaining for fluid flow at a temperature from a fluid outlet [14] which receives fluid from a fluid source [18], the method comprising:
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sensing fluid temperature at a fluid outlet [68];
sensing fluid temperature at a fluid source [72];
comparing at least two sensed fluid temperatures [74, 76, 80, Eqns. 1, 2, 3]; and
determining time remaining for fluid outlet flow at a temperature based upon the comparing step [80, Eqn. 3]. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of determining time remaining for fluid flow at a temperature from a fluid outlet which receives fluid from a fluid source, the method comprising:
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providing a fluid outlet fluid temperature [CT or DT];
sensing fluid temperature at a fluid source [72];
comparing at least two fluid temperatures [74, 76, 80, Eqns. 1, 2, 3, using CT or DT]; and
determining time remaining for fluid outlet flow at a temperature based upon the comparing step [80, Eqn. 3].
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Specification