FLUID FLOW MEASURING AND CONTROL DEVICES AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing channeling fluid, the device comprising:
- a main flow channeling system having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the plumbing;
a bypass channeling system in parallel from the main flow channeling system, starting from a first location on the main flow channeling system and ending at a second location on the main flow channeling system downstream of the first location; and
a flowmeter provided in the bypass channeling system for measuring the fluid flow in the bypass channeling system and thereby estimating the fluid flow at the inlet or at the outlet of the main flow channeling system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing. The device comprises a main flow channeling system having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the plumbing, and a bypass channeling system in parallel from the main flow channeling system. A flowmeter is provided in the bypass channeling system for measuring the fluid flow in the bypass channeling system and thereby estimating the fluid flow at the inlet or at the outlet of the main flow channeling system. The flowmeter may comprise a wheel and a pair of movement sensors. A valve such as a solenoid valve can be provided as an on/off control for the plumbing. Using a microcontroller, the device can identify which appliance is used and determine consumption, or detect abnormal use or leaks and close the valve and/or notify a user mobile device.
64 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing channeling fluid, the device comprising:
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a main flow channeling system having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the plumbing; a bypass channeling system in parallel from the main flow channeling system, starting from a first location on the main flow channeling system and ending at a second location on the main flow channeling system downstream of the first location; and a flowmeter provided in the bypass channeling system for measuring the fluid flow in the bypass channeling system and thereby estimating the fluid flow at the inlet or at the outlet of the main flow channeling system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system comprising:
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a fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing that channels a fluid, the device comprising a flowmeter for assessing the fluid flow in the device; a transceiver operatively connected to the flowmeter for collecting data therefrom and send the data to a computer; and the computer comprising a memory for storing pre-recorded fluid usage signatures of specific appliances and for storing instructions and a processor operatively connected to the memory for executing the instructions to compare the data to the pre-recorded fluid usage signatures for identifying in the data from the flowmeter that a specific appliance was used. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of pattern recognition for fluid use in a plumbing installation to which fluid consuming appliances are fluidly connected, the method comprising:
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installing a fluid flow measuring and control device at a single location in the plumbing installation which is fluidly common to all of the fluid consuming appliances; capturing and storing data relative to a flow rate of each one of the fluid consuming appliances in the plumbing installation through the fluid flow measuring and control device; analysing and recording the data to determine a fluid usage signature for each of the fluid consuming appliances, thereby resulting in pre-recorded fluid usage signatures for each of the fluid consuming appliances. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification