Water Use Monitoring Apparatus

• US 20160076909A1
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rein Tech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Michael Edward Klicpera
• Inventors: Klicpera, Michael Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,749,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/05 specially adapted for operating hand-operated valves or for combined motor and hand operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/10 using rotating vanes with axial admission
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/3209 using Karman vortices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/58 by electromagnetic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/68 by using thermal effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/84 Coriolis or gyroscopic mass flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/066 involving magnetic transmission devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/0755 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/00 Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/152 Water filtration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

The present invention is a water use and/or a water energy use monitoring apparatus that is affixed to the hot and cold water supply piping for continuously (or on demand) monitoring displaying the water and water energy (hot vs. ambient) use within a residential or commercial building. A first wire or wireless means is incorporated to communicate with a remote display for viewing by the owner of a commercial building or occupier/resident of a home. A second optional wire or wireless means can be incorporated that can be monitored by civil, commercial, governmental or municipal operators or agencies, using a remote display and/or recorder means or by a secure wire or wireless communication network (e.g. cell phone, smart phone or other similar technology communication means). A third wireless means communicates water parameter data utilizing typical cell tower technology and/or mesh network technology. The water use monitor apparatus includes a power generation, a microprocessor, temperature and water flow sensors, optional water quality sensors, timing circuits, wireless circuitry, and a display means. A wired or wireless means is designed to electronically communicate water use, water energy use and/or water quality information to a remotely located display apparatus or typical cell phone, smart phones, or similar apparatus for convenient observation by a commercial, operator or occupier, resident, municipal or government agency.

Claims

1. A water parameter use and monitoring apparatus comprising:

A base station apparatus designed to be connected to a main water supply means;

said base station apparatus having a plurality of joint means for connecting cold/ambient, or both the cold and hot water supply means;

said plurality of joint means including an input cold or ambient joint means designed to be engaged to the output of a cold/ambient or cold and hot water near or at the water supply source;

said apparatus designed to be installed prior to any distribution lines within a residence or commercial building;

electrical circuitry including a microprocessor with a power source contained with said base station apparatus;

one or more flow sensors means in electrical communication with said electrical circuitry;

one or more wired or wireless electrical communication means, said electrical communication means having the capability to transfer water parameter, water energy and/or water quality information and/or data to one or more remote apparatuses, said wired or wireless communication means utilizes protection technology to securely provide water use, water energy and/or water quality information and/or data in a confidential format;

one or more wired or wireless remote apparatuses, said wired or wireless remote apparatus having the capability to receive water use, water energy and/or water quality information and/or data from said water and/or water energy parameter use and monitoring display apparatus, said one or more wireless or wired remote apparatuses having programmed instructions to exhibit on one or more display means said water use, water energy use and/or water quality information; and

said base station optionally functions as a mesh-enabled device such it can communicate with other base stations which in combination function as signal repeaters for relaying water parameter data to an a particular access point using encryption and identification technology.

2. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless or wired communication means utilizes encrypted, authentication, integrity and/or non-repudiation format technology to securely provide water use and water energy use information and/or data in a confidential format.

3. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more wireless or wired remote apparatuses comprises a typical cell phone, smart phones, or similar apparatus includes all remote cellular phones using channel access methods defined above (with cellular equipment, public switched telephone network lines, satellite, tower and mesh technology), mobile phones, PDAs, tablets (e.g. refers to all current and future variants, revisions and generations of the Apple IPAD, Samsung Galaxy, H P, Acer, Microsoft, Nook, Google Nexus, Sony, Kindle and all future tablets manufactured by these and other manufactures), Apple IPOD Touch, a smart or internet capable television, wireless timepiece or wireless watch and other similar apparatus with WIFI and wireless capability, and remote computers and controllers having internet, wireless cell format technology connectivity.

4. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more highly sensitive water flow sensor including a wireless transceiver that designed to detect water leaking, said water leaking can communicate with said one or more wireless or wired remote apparatuses or a typical cell phone, smart phone or similar apparatus.

5. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 4, wherein said base station automatically turns off the main water supply when a leak is detected.

6. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more water flow rate sensors includes independent flow sensors for the main water supply, the irrigation water supply, the hot water heater, the washing machine water supply, the dishwasher water supply, the kitchen faucet water supply, the bathroom faucet water supply, the toilet(s)s water supply, refrigerator water supply, the Jacuzzi water supply, the pool water supply, and/or the fountain water supply, or any combinations thereof.

7. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more water flow rate sensors are highly sensitive water sensors that can function as leak detectors.

8. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 6, further comprising said one or more water flow rate sensors with wireless capability to communicate with said base station.

9. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a multiple flow sensor learning mode.

10. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a individual flow sensor automatic sensor learning mode.

11. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more wireless or wired remote apparatuses comprises a typical cell phone, smart phones, or similar apparatus that utilizes geo-fencing technology to turn on and off the main water supply.

12. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a water shut off means or a variable water flow means, whereby said water shut off means is controlled by programming instructions from said microprocessor for turning on and off said shut off means or setting a variable water flow means, said water shut on and off means or variable water flow means can be activated by said one or more wireless or wired remote apparatuses or said one or more wireless or wired remote apparatuses comprises a typical cell phone, smart phones, or similar apparatus, or by a remote apparatus or computer.

13. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more wired or wireless electrical communication means comprises an offsite central monitoring computer or cell, mobile or other telephone lines via satellite, microwave technology, the internet, cell tower, telephone lines, and the like.

14. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 6, wherein said typical cell phone, smart phones, or similar apparatus includes an application for a consumer/resident, corporate entity, or municipality that transmits an alert for water leak conditions and can transmit a signal to turn off the main water supply line.

15. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, whereby piggy back on smart electric and/or gas meters it is anticipated that the third wireless means can “

piggy back”

or be designed to be incorporated into and/or cooperation with electric and gas smart meters communication/transmission mesh technology.

16. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 6, wherein said typical cell phone, smart phones, or similar apparatus with wireless communication can automatically convert back and forth from radio frequency format, ZigBee or Bluetooth format to a cellular format technology to accommodate range requirements.

17. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, whereby the water parameter use display and monitoring device can be incorporated into or serve as the pressure reduction valve or primary water meter at a residential home or commercial facility.

18. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 7, wherein said one or more highly sensitive water flow sensor can send an alarm signal to the said one or more wireless or wired remote apparatuses comprises a typical cell phone, smart phones, or similar apparatus.

19. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a water shut off means or a variable water flow means, whereby said water shut off means is controlled by programming instructions from said microprocessor for turning on and off said shut off means or setting a variable water flow means, said water shut on and off means or variable water flow means can be activated by said one or more wireless or wired means controlled by a municipality or governmental agency.

20. The water parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1 comprising a water flow generation apparatus that can be utilized with rechargeable batteries for powering the base unit.