Smart flow anomaly detector
First Claim
1. A smart flow anomaly detector for a liquid distribution system, comprising:
- a flow measuring device that derives a liquid flow value for both automatically operated fixtures and manually operated fixtures; and
a microprocessor, in communication with the flow measuring device, programmed to use the liquid flow value and a threshold liquid flow value to determine whether a flow anomaly exists and if the flow anomaly exists, to;
shut off liquid flow to one of the automatically operated fixture and the manually operated fixture; and
control liquid flow to the automatically operated fixture based on a comparison of a liquid flow value attributed to the automatically operated fixture and the threshold liquid flow value.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a smart flow anomaly detector for a liquid distribution system comprising a flow measuring device that derives a liquid flow value for both automatically operated fixtures and manually operated fixtures. A microprocessor is in communication with the flow measuring device and is programmed to use the liquid flow value and a threshold liquid flow value to determine whether a flow anomaly exists. If a flow anomaly exists, the automatically operated fixtures and/or manually operated fixtures may be shut off and there after liquid flow to the automatically operated fixtures will be controlled based on a comparison of the liquid flow value attributed to the automatically operated fixtures and the threshold liquid flow value. Additionally, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the microprocessor will generate a warning to alert the user when a flow anomaly occurs in the liquid distribution system.
54 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A smart flow anomaly detector for a liquid distribution system, comprising:
-
a flow measuring device that derives a liquid flow value for both automatically operated fixtures and manually operated fixtures; and
a microprocessor, in communication with the flow measuring device, programmed to use the liquid flow value and a threshold liquid flow value to determine whether a flow anomaly exists and if the flow anomaly exists, to;
shut off liquid flow to one of the automatically operated fixture and the manually operated fixture; and
control liquid flow to the automatically operated fixture based on a comparison of a liquid flow value attributed to the automatically operated fixture and the threshold liquid flow value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for detecting flow anomalies in a liquid distribution system, comprising:
-
deriving a liquid flow value to both automatically operated fixtures and manually operated fixtures with a flow measuring device;
comparing the liquid flow value to a threshold liquid flow value and upon detection of a flow anomaly;
shutting off liquid flow to the automatically operated fixture; and
controlling subsequent liquid flow to the automatically operated fixture based on a comparison of the liquid flow attributed to the automatically operated fixture and the threshold liquid flow value for that automatically operated fixture. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification