FAUCET FLOW TIMING SYSTEM THAT MONITORS VOLUME OF WATER USAGE

• US 20080262755A1
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Umagination Labs, LP
• Original Assignee: Umagination Labs, LP
• Inventors: Dayton, Douglas C., Park, Sung, Florence, Mark R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,742,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/45
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/0755 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/00 Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use

Abstract

A battery powered, low voltage faucet flow timer, water usage calculator, and energy consumption awareness meter is simple to install and calibrate and may enable a user to understand the water usage associated with showering, bathing or other open faucet water use activity. The device may provide a simple method for calculating the flow characteristics for a shower, bath or other faucet and entering this flow rate into the timing device so that the timer provides an accurate calculation of water usage indicating both the time spent with the water running and approximate total water usage.

Claims

1. A method of calculating an attribute of water usage with a water usage meter, comprising:

determining a flow rate of a household faucet as an interval of time over which an amount of water is consumed;

measuring a water consumption time interval during a water consuming activity at the household faucet;

calculating a volume of water consumed using the flow rate and the water consumption time interval; and

calculating potential water savings for a future water consuming activity if at least one of the flow rate and the water consumption time interval were to be adjusted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the flow rate comprises actuating a start button of a water usage meter to commence timing and a stop button to terminate timing.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing a selector switch on the water usage meter to select a flow rate.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically starting and stopping the timer when the acoustic signature of running water is detected by an audio recognition system of the water usage meter.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying calculated water usage statistics.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the statistics are at least one of a total time of water usage, an amount of water consumed, a cost of water consumed, a cost of energy consumed, an amount of energy consumed, an aggregate water usage and water consumption trends.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of water consumed, a water temperature and an energy delivery cost are used to calculate potential cost savings if at least one of the water temperature and water consumption were to be adjusted.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of water consumed and a water delivery cost are used to calculate potential cost savings if the water consumption were to be adjusted.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein power for the water usage meter is provided by a battery.

9. (canceled)

11. A water usage meter, comprising:

a measurement system to measure a flow rate of a household faucet as an interval of time over which a defined amount of water is consumed;

a timer to measure a water consumption time interval during a water consuming activity at the household faucet; and

a calculator to calculate a volume of water consumed using the flow rate, the water consumption interval, and a potential water savings for a future water consuming activity if at least one of the flow rate and the water consumption time interval were to be adjusted.

12. The meter of claim 11, further comprising a start button of the measurement system to commence timing and a stop button to terminate timing.

13. The meter of claim 11, further comprising a selector switch disposed on the meter to select the flow rate.

14. The meter of claim 11, further comprising an audio recognition system for automatically starting and stopping the timer when the acoustic signature of running water is detected.

15. The meter of claim 11, further comprising a display to display water usage statistics.

16. The meter of claim 15, wherein the statistics are at least one of a total time of water usage, an amount of water consumed, a cost of water consumed, a cost of energy consumed, an amount of energy consumed, an aggregate water usage and water consumption trends.

17. The meter of claim 11, wherein the calculator uses the amount of water consumed, a water temperature and an energy delivery cost to calculate potential cost savings if at least one of the water temperature and water consumption were to be adjusted.

18. The meter of claim 11, wherein the calculator uses the amount of water consumed and a water delivery cost to calculate potential cost savings if the water consumption were to be adjusted.

20. The meter of claim 11, wherein power for the water usage meter is provided by a battery.

19. (canceled)

21. A method of conserving water during a water consuming activity monitored by a water usage meter, comprising:

collecting water consumption information for a particular water supply over a period of time;

calculating whether more or less water was consumed during the water consuming activity relative to a programmed value of water consumption;

calculating and storing a water consumption credit if less water was consumed than a programmed value, or calculating and storing a water consumption debit if more water was consumed than a programmed value; and

applying the water consumption credit or debit to the calculation of a volume of water allocated for one or more future water-consuming activities.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the water consuming activity is automatically terminated when the allocated volume of water usage is reached.

23-24. -24. (canceled)