Flush Valve Hydrogenerator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power generating device for use with a flush valve, the power generating device comprising:
- a volute configured to receive water from a water supply pipe;
a stator having a plurality of blades positioned around a circumference thereof positioned within the volute;
a rotor positioned within the stator; and
a generator coupled to the rotor,wherein the volute directs substantially all of the water received from the water supply pipe in a circumferential direction through the plurality of blades of the stator to the rotor, thereby causing the rotor to rotate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power generating device for use with a plumbing fixture includes: a volute configured to receive water from a water supply pipe; a stator having a plurality of blades positioned around a circumference thereof positioned within the volute; a rotor positioned within the stator; and a generator coupled to the rotor. The volute directs substantially all of the water received from the water supply pipe in a circumferential direction through the plurality of blades of the stator to the rotor, thereby causing the rotor to rotate.
114 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A power generating device for use with a flush valve, the power generating device comprising:
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a volute configured to receive water from a water supply pipe; a stator having a plurality of blades positioned around a circumference thereof positioned within the volute; a rotor positioned within the stator; and a generator coupled to the rotor, wherein the volute directs substantially all of the water received from the water supply pipe in a circumferential direction through the plurality of blades of the stator to the rotor, thereby causing the rotor to rotate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A hydrogenerator flush valve comprising:
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a housing; a solenoid valve disposed in the housing and configured to allow water to flow into the housing from a water supply pipe when in a first position and prevent water from flowing into the housing from the water supply pipe when in a second position; and a hydrogenerator disposed in the housing, the hydrogenerator comprising; a volute configured to receive water from a water supply pipe; a stator having a plurality of blades positioned around a circumference thereof, the stator positioned within the volute; a rotor positioned within the stator; and a generator coupled to the rotor, wherein water received from the water supply pipe when the solenoid valve is in a first position takes an approximately 90°
turn within the housing and substantially all of the water is directed to the volute, such that the water is directed in a circumferential direction by the volute through the plurality of blades of the stator to the rotor, thereby causing the rotor to rotate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A control apparatus for a hydrogenerator flush valve, comprising:
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an electric power generation device provided in a fluid path of the hydrogenerator flush valve; a load switch coupled between the electric power generation device and at least one supercapacitor; and a solenoid valve operationally coupled to the at least one supercapacitor and configured to allow water to flow into the hydrogenerator flush valve from a water supply pipe when in a first position and prevent water from flowing into the hydrogenerator flush valve from the water supply pipe when in a second position, wherein the at least one supercapacitor is charged by the electric power generation device and power requirements of the solenoid valve are satisfied by the at least one supercapacitor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for detecting a user of a plumbing installation having a sensor array comprising a first infrared emitter, a second infrared emitter, an infrared detector, and an ambient light detector, the method comprising:
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determining a change in an ambient light level using the ambient light detector at a default sampling rate; comparing the changes in the ambient light level to a threshold level; and if the changes in the ambient light level exceed the threshold level, emitting a signal from the first infrared emitter and the second infrared emitter to determine if a user is present using the infrared detector. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification