Monitoring and Controlling Water Consumption and Devices in a Structure

• US 20100114386A1
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Green Drain Inc.
• Original Assignee: Liquibbreaker, LLC
• Inventors: Fima, Giovanni
• Granted Patent: US 7,966,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 1/00 Methods or layout of installations for water supply E03B3/00, E03B9/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1051 for domestic hot water
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/12 Preventing or detecting fluid leakage
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/174 Supplying heated water with desired temperature or desired range of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/20 characterised by control inputs
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/212 Temperature of the water
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/238 Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/242 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/248 of water storage tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/269 Time, e.g. hour or date
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/281 Input from user
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/31 of valves having only one inlet port and one outlet port, e.g. flow rate regulating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/355 Control of heat-generating means in heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/45 remotely accessible
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/486 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/002 by using thermal means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/186 for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 : using pressure measurements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 : Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling water consumption in a water-based system are disclosed using one or more sensors for generating signals indicative of the operation thereof. One or more interface modules are provided as breaker circuits for receiving the generated signals, and a fluid control device is operable for limiting the water consumption. A motherboard receives the interface modules and provides communication therebetween for information processing. Signals from the various sensors are supplied to a controller, which provides signals to status indicators, and also operates to provide alarm signals via network interfaces to remote locations. In an alternate embodiment, a water monitoring system is designed to shut off the water supply to the water device and to shut off either the electrical supply or the gas supply to the heating unit of the water device in response to sensing a malfunction through one or more sensed parameters.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and controlling water consumption in a structure, the system comprising:

a first flow sensor configured to monitor water consumption in a first region of the structure, and a second flow sensor configured to monitor water consumption in a second region of the structure;

a first interface module configured to receive flow signals from a first sensor;

a second interface modules configured to receive flow signals from a second flow sensors;

the first and second modules configured to produce a first and second control signal, respectively; and

a controller configured to control as a function of at least one of the first and second control signals (1) first and second fluid control devices, and (2) at least one of (a) a hot water heater and (b) a climate control unit of the structure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to shut off the climate control unit if the water consumption in the first and second regions is less than a predetermined threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control a hot water heater and a climate control unit as the function of at least one of the first and second control signals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second interface modules are further configured to interrupt (a) a flow of water and (b) a flow of energy to an appliance.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the climate control unit comprises a HVAC unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller directs the first interface module to shut off the climate control unit as the function of at least one of the first and second control signals

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second interface modules is configured to communicate wirelessly with the controller.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second interface modules are configured to communicate a first and second status information, and the first and second status information is readable by a user via a web interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate a third control signal, and the first fluid control device is configured to receive the third control signal.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a web interface configured to allow a user to direct the controller to communicate the third control signal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second interface modules are further configured to cycle the first and second fluid control devices, respectively, after a defined period of time.

12. A method of monitoring and controlling water consumption, the method comprising:

detecting a water flow in a component of a water-based system of a structure;

sending a status information to a controller, where the information is indicative of the detected water flow; and

controlling a climate control unit of the structure based at least in part on the water flow.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the climate control unit comprises a HVAC unit.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the climate control unit comprises a hot water heater.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining if the water flow exceeds a predetermined threshold within a predetermined time period.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the controlling the climate control unit comprises turning off the climate control unit.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising communicating a notification to a user if a water flow is less than a predetermined threshold for a defined interval.