Automatic Fluid Flow Control System
First Claim
1. A fluid flow control system comprising;
- a fluid flow sensor for sensing current fluid flow rate;
a motor;
a shut off valve actuated by the motor;
a computer processor for determining an accurate current flow rate using at least one sensed current fluid flow rate;
data memory for storing a plurality of historical fluid flow rates measured by the flow sensor after being processed by the computer processor;
wherein the computer processor compares the determined accurate current flow rate to prior historical fluid flow rates stored in the data memory, and if the determined accurate current fluid flow rate exceeds a prior comparable historical flow rate by at least a preselected amount, then the processor transmits a signal to the motor to activate the shut off valve to stop fluid flow.
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Abstract
Fluid flow control systems and methods are disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, the control system comprises a motorized shutoff valve controlled by logic output from a computer processor, where the computer processor compares input from a sensor measuring the current fluid flow rate against a relevant historical average of the fluid flow rate. If the current flow rate exceeds the relevant historical average fluid flow rate by at least a preselected percentage, then the computer processor transmits a logic signal to the motorized shutoff valve to close the fluid flow intake. If the current flow rate does not exceed the relevant historical average flow rate by the preselected percentage, the relevant historical average flow rate is updated by the current sensed flow rate. In different preferred embodiments, the method and systems may be used to control the flow of water, natural gas, propane, or fuel oil among other fluids.
29 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A fluid flow control system comprising;
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a fluid flow sensor for sensing current fluid flow rate; a motor; a shut off valve actuated by the motor; a computer processor for determining an accurate current flow rate using at least one sensed current fluid flow rate; data memory for storing a plurality of historical fluid flow rates measured by the flow sensor after being processed by the computer processor; wherein the computer processor compares the determined accurate current flow rate to prior historical fluid flow rates stored in the data memory, and if the determined accurate current fluid flow rate exceeds a prior comparable historical flow rate by at least a preselected amount, then the processor transmits a signal to the motor to activate the shut off valve to stop fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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3. A fluid flow control system comprising:
- a flow sensor for sensing fluid flow in a fluid main, a shut off valve, and a processor and data memory, wherein the fluid flow is controlled by the shut off valve based upon a comparison of the current flow rate with previously sensed and stored fluid flow rates.
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12. A method for controlling the flow of a fluid through a fluid transmission infrastructure;
- said method comprising the steps of
sensing the current flow rate within the fluid transmission infrastructure; calculating an average flow rate from a plurality of the sensed current flow rates; comparing the average flow rate to a previously calculated average historical flow rate; actuating a flow control valve to shut down the fluid flow if the comparison of the current average flow rate with the previously calculated average historical flow rate shows that an abnormal flow condition exists; and updating said previously calculated average historical flow rate based upon the current calculated average flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- said method comprising the steps of
Specification