Self-Powered Non-Contact Water Appliance

• US 20080284175A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hydro-Industries Tynat Limited
• Original Assignee: Hydro-Industries Tynat Limited
• Inventors: Nagler, Ehud
• Application Number:
  US11/568,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284175A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/105 Bulb groups
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7066 via a direct connection, i.e. a gearless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy

Abstract

The self-powered non-contact water outlet appliance of the present invention is configured so as to be deployed at a point of use as a unitary housing that encases a power supply unit and a flow control system. The power supply unit includes a pipeline-deployed electric generator deployed in a fluid flow passage configured in the outlet appliance and a power storage device that is charged by the electric generator. The generator is operatively responsive to a flow of fluid through the fluid flow passage. The flow control system includes an electronically actuated fluid flow control valve configured to control a flow of fluid through the outlet appliance, at least one sensor configured to sense a necessity to actuate the flow control valve, and a management system configured to manage operation of the flow control valve conditional to output received from the at least one sensor. Therefore, the water outlet appliance of the present invention may be connected to substantially any suitable water system supply pipeline at the point of use by performing a single connection action.

Claims

1. A self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance, comprising:

(a) an electronically actuated flow control system; and

(b) a power supply unit including;

(i) a pipeline-deployed electric generator deployed in a fluid flow passage configured in the outlet appliance, said pipeline-deployed electric generator operatively responsive to a flow of fluid through said fluid flow passage; and

(ii) a power storage device charged by said electric generator;

wherein said flow control system is powered by said power supply unit, and said flow control system, and said power supply unit are mounted within at least one casing element that is deployable at a point of use as a unitary housing.

2. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 1, wherein said flow control system includes an electronically actuated fluid flow control valve configured to control a flow of fluid through the outlet appliance.

3. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 2, wherein said flow control system includes at least one sensor configured to sense a necessity to actuate said flow control valve.

4. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 3, wherein said flow control system includes a management system configured to manage operation of said flow control valve conditional to output received from said at least one sensor.

5. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 4, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to detect the presence and absence of a user.

6. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 5, wherein said management system is configured to open said flow control valve when said sensor detects the presence of said user and to close said flow control valve when said sensor does not detect the presence of said user.

7. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 5, wherein said sensor is a proximity sensor.

8. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 1, wherein said unitary housing includes a faucet

9. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 1, wherein said power storage device is a rechargeable battery.

10. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 1, wherein said electric generator includes:

(a) a rotor having rotor blades extending outwardly from a central axle, said rotor being deployed within said fluid flow passage so as to be in a fluid flow path of said fluid flow passage such that a flow of fluid through said fluid flow passage effects rotation of said rotor, and at least a portion of at least one rotor blade of said rotor is configured with magnetic properties; and

(b) an induction coil deployed so as to circumscribe an exterior of said fluid flow passage in proximity to said rotor such that a change in magnetic field caused by rotation of said rotor within said supply pipeline generates a flow of electric current in said induction coil.

11. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 10, wherein an inside diameter of said fluid flow passage is substantially unchanged throughout a length of said electric generator.

12. The self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 1, wherein said at least one casing element is configured as two casing elements such that upon installation said two casing elements are interconnected so as to form said unitary housing.

13. A pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance comprising:

(a) an electronically actuated flow control system; and

(b) a power supply unit including;

(i) a pipeline-deployed electric generator deployed in a fluid flow passage configured in the outlet appliance, said pipeline-deployed electric generator operatively responsive to a flow of fluid through said fluid flow passage; and

(ii) a power storage device charged by said electric generator;

wherein said flow control system is powered by said power supply unit, and said flow control system and said power supply unit are pre-assembled within at least one casing element that is deployable at a point of use as a unitary housing, and a sole connection action by which said unitary housing is connected to a fluid supply renders the pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance ready for use.

14. The pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 13, wherein said flow control system includes an electronically actuated fluid flow control valve configured to control a flow of fluid through the outlet appliance.

15. The pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 14, wherein said flow control system includes at least one sensor configured to sense a necessity to actuate said flow control valve.

16. The pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 13, wherein said unitary housing includes a faucet

17. The pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 13, wherein said at least one casing element is configured as two casing elements such that upon installation said two casing elements are interconnected so as to form said unitary housing.

18. The pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance of claim 13, wherein said unitary housing provides access to an inlet port of said fluid flow passage and said sole connection action is the interconnection of said inlet port to a fluid supply outlet.

19. A method for providing non-contact control of a flow of fluid from a fluid flow outlet appliance, comprising:

(a) providing pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance having;

(i) an electronically actuated flow control system;

(b) providing a power supply unit including;

(i) a pipeline-deployed electric generator deployed in a fluid flow passage configured in the outlet appliance, said pipeline-deployed electric generator operatively responsive to a flow of fluid through said fluid flow passage; and

(ii) a power storage device charged by said electric generator;

wherein said flow control system is powered by said power supply unit, and said flow control system and said power supply unit are mounted within at least one casing element that is deployable at a point of use as a unitary housing;

(c) deploying said at least one casing element at said point of use as said unitary housing;

(d) performing a sole connection action by which said pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance is connected to a fluid supply and rendered ready for use; and

(e) operating said pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said flow control system is implemented with an electronically actuated fluid flow control valve configured to control a flow of fluid through the outlet appliance.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said flow control system is implemented with at least one sensor configured to sense a necessity to actuate said flow control valve.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said flow control system is implemented with a management system deployed in said casing and configured to manage operation of said flow control valve conditional to output received from said at least one sensor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to detect the presence and absence of a user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said management system is implemented so as to open said flow control valve when said sensor detects the presence of said user and to close said flow control valve when said sensor does not detect the presence of said user.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said sensor is implemented as a proximity sensor.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said unitary housing is implemented so as to include a faucet.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said power storage device is implemented as a rechargeable battery.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein said electric generator is implemented so as to have:

(a) a rotor having rotor blades extending outwardly from a central axle, said rotor being deployed within said fluid flow passage so as to be in a fluid flow path of said fluid flow passage such that a flow of fluid through said fluid flow passage effects rotation of said rotor, and at least a portion of at least one rotor blade of said rotor is configured with magnetic properties; and

(b) an induction coil deployed so as to circumscribe an exterior of said fluid flow passage in proximity to said rotor such that a change in magnetic field caused by rotation of said rotor within said supply pipeline generates a flow of electric current in said induction coil.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said electric generator is implemented such that an inside diameter of said fluid flow passage is substantially unchanged throughout a length of said electric generator.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein said at least one casing element is configured as two casing elements such that upon installation said two casing elements are interconnected so as to form said unitary housing.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein said sole connection action is performed as the interconnecting of an inlet port of said fluid flow passage to a fluid supply outlet.