FLUID MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20140230925A1
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fortune Brands Water Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Flo Technologies, Inc. (Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.)
• Inventors: Halimi, Henry M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,857,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/487.5
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/20 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve

Abstract

A fluid monitoring and control system includes a central hub having a central processor, a user interface and an input/output port. A plurality of control devices communicate with the central hub. Each control device includes a fluid pipe section including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A fluid valve is coupled in series within the fluid pipe section and an electric motor is mechanically connected to the fluid valve. A temperature sensor, pressure sensor and flow rate sensor are coupled to the fluid pipe section monitoring a temperature, pressure and flow rate of the fluid flow within the fluid pipe section. A control device processor is controllably connected to the electric motor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor and flow sensor. A control device input/output port is coupled to the control device processor, the control device input/output port in communication with the input/output port of the central hub.

Claims

1. A fluid monitoring and control system, comprising:

a central hub including a central processor, a user interface electronically coupled to the central processor and an input/output port electronically coupled to the central processor; and

a plurality of control devices, each control device comprising;

a fluid pipe section including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet configured to be connectable in series to a fluid pipe;

a fluid valve coupled in series within the fluid pipe section, the fluid valve controlling a fluid flow through the fluid pipe section;

an electric motor mechanically connected to the fluid valve;

a temperature sensor coupled to the fluid pipe section monitoring a temperature of the fluid flow within the fluid pipe section;

a pressure sensor coupled to the fluid pipe section monitoring a pressure of the fluid flow within the fluid pipe section;

a flow rate sensor coupled to the fluid pipe section monitoring a flow rate of the fluid flow within the fluid pipe section;

a control device processor controllably connected to the electric motor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor and flow sensor; and

a control device input/output port coupled to the control device processor,

the control device input/output port in communication with the input/output port of the central hub.

2. The system of claim 1, including a housing enclosing at least the electric motor and control device processor.

3. The system of claim 1, including a control device wireless communication transmitter and receiver connectable to the control device input/output port.

4. The system of claim 1, including a proximity sensor in communication with the central hub.

5. The system of claim 1, including a moisture sensor in communication with the central hub.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the input/output port of the central hub comprises a central hub wireless communication transmitter and receiver in communication with the control device wireless communication transmitter and receiver.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow comprises a liquid flow, a gas flow, an air flow or a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a computer screen and a keyboard or a touch activated computer screen.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a website accessible from a remote computer, a fire alarm system, a burglar alarm system, a mobile computer or a portable electronic device.

10. The system of claim 1, including a communication wire connected physically between the input/output ports of the central hub and control device.

11. The system of claim 1, including a battery coupled to the control device processor.

12. The system of claim 1, including a power input electrically connected to the control device processor.

13. The system of claim 1, including a speaker electrically connected to the central hub processor for sounding a warning sound.

14. The system of claim 1, including a light electrically connected the central hub processor for illuminating a warning light.

17. The system of claim 1, including a proximity sensor or a moisture sensor in communication with the central hub.

15. A fluid monitoring and control system, comprising:

a central hub including a central processor, a user interface electronically coupled to the central processor and an input/output port electronically coupled to the central processor; and

at least one control device, the at least one control device comprising;

a fluid pipe section including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet configured to be connectable in series to a fluid pipe;

a fluid valve coupled in series within the fluid pipe section, the fluid valve controlling a fluid flow through the fluid pipe section, wherein the fluid flow comprises a liquid flow, a gas flow, an air flow or a combination thereof;

an electric motor mechanically connected to the fluid valve;

a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor and a flow rate sensor coupled to the fluid pipe section monitoring characteristics of the fluid flow within the fluid pipe section;

a control device processor controllably connected to the electric motor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor and flow sensor; and

a control device input/output port coupled to the control device processor,

the control device input/output port in communication with the input/output port of the central hub.

16. The system of claim 15, including a control device wireless communication transmitter and receiver connectable to the control device input/output port, and wherein the input/output port of the central hub comprises a central hub wireless communication transmitter and receiver in communication with the control device wireless communication transmitter and receiver.

18. A control device connectable to a fluid monitoring and control system, the control device comprising:

a fluid pipe section including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet configured to be connectable in series to a fluid pipe;

a fluid valve coupled in series within the fluid pipe section, the fluid valve controlling a fluid flow through the fluid pipe section;

an electric motor mechanically connected to the fluid valve;

a temperature sensor coupled to the fluid pipe section monitoring a temperature of the fluid flow within the fluid pipe section;

a pressure sensor coupled to the fluid pipe section monitoring a pressure of the fluid flow within the fluid pipe section;

a flow rate sensor coupled to the fluid pipe section monitoring a flow rate of the fluid flow within the fluid pipe section;

a control device processor controllably connected to the electric motor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor and flow sensor; and

a control device input/output port coupled to the control device processor, the control device input/output port connectable to the fluid monitoring and control system.

19. The control device of claim 18, including a control device wireless communication transmitter and receiver connectable to the control device input/output port.

20. The system of claim 18, including a battery or a power input coupled to the control device processor.