System and Method for Preventing Water From Freezing in a Conduit

• US 20100132803A1
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Giovanni Fima
• Original Assignee: Giovanni Fima
• Inventors: Fima, Giovanni
• Application Number:
  US12/687,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20100132803A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/79
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/03 Pressure
• 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 15/136 Defrosting or de-icing; Preventing freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/175 where the difference between the measured temperature and a set temperature is kept under a predetermined value
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/20 characterised by control inputs
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/212 Temperature of the water
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/242 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/246 Water level
• 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 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/421 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/457 using telephone networks or Internet communication
• 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: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 : Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 : Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1963 : Temperature

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling water consumption in a water-supply system are disclosed using one or more sensors for generating signals indicative of the operation thereof. In one embodiment, a method of preventing freezing of a water conduit in a water-supply system comprises sensing, with a temperature sensor, a temperature at a location; and, if the sensed temperature falls below a predetermined threshold, sending, to at least one fluid control device interfaced with the conduit, at least one control signal to impede a flow of water through the conduit and to drain water from the conduit.

Claims

1. A system to prevent freezing of water in a water conduit, the system comprising:

first and second valves operated by first and second actuator circuits, respectively;

first and second temperature sensors that produce respective first and second sensor signals;

a controller;

a panel;

a first interface module sized and dimensioned to be user-pluggable into the panel, and communicatively interfaced with the first actuator circuit, the first temperature sensor, and the controller; and

a second interface module sized and dimensioned to be user-pluggable into the panel, and communicatively interfaced with the second actuator circuit, the second temperature sensor, and the controller.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third valve operated by a third actuator circuit;

a third temperature sensor; and

a third interface module sized and dimensioned to be user-pluggable into the panel, and communicatively interfaced with the third actuator circuit, the third temperature sensor, and the controller.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first temperature sensor is wirelessly connected to the first interface module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is housed within the panel.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller comprises a motherboard that is configured to receive the interface modules.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first valve is a ball valve.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a third valve that is unidirectional, and wherein the third valve is fluidly coupled to the first valve.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and third valves are disposed within a housing.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first temperature sensor is disposed within the housing.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second temperature sensors are disposed locally to the first and second valves, respectively.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first interface module is configured to send a first control signal to the first valve actuator circuit as a function of the first temperature sensor, and wherein the controller is configured to send a second control signal to at least one of the first and second valve actuator circuits as a second function of at least one of the first and second sensor signals.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to send a third control signal to the first and second valve actuator circuits as a third function of at least one of the first and second sensor signals.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first interface module further comprises a manual reset switch disposed on the first interface module, and configured to send a reset signal to the first valve actuator circuit.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first interface module further comprises a manual valve actuator that controls the first valve.