WIRELESS WATER CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20190323919A1
• Filed: 04/18/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kairos Water Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kairos Iot Water Controls, LLC
• Inventors: Fung-A Wing, Dean Ruiz, Taylor, Seth Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 10,732,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/07 Arrangement of devices, e.g. filters, flow controls, measuring devices, siphons or valves, in the pipe systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/072 Arrangement of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/078 Combined units with different devices; Arrangement of different devices with respect to each other
• 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: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/026 of moving liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/40 by using electric means, e.g. by observing electric discharges
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution

Abstract

A water control system which encompasses a leak sensor and a water control unit adapted for installation on a water supply line, both capable of wireless data communication with a gateway acting as an interface between the leak sensor and water control unit and a cloud server or a remote user application.

Claims

1. A water control system, comprising:

a leak sensor, comprising;

a membrane sensor comprising a nonconductive membrane having a plurality of perforations superimposed upon a gap between an anode and cathode array affixed to the underside of said membrane, said array defining an electrical circuit that is closed when a conductive fluid bridges said gap;

a first microcontroller adapted to detect and generate a first signal when said electrical circuit is closed; and

a first wireless transceiver coupled to said first microcontroller adapted to transmit said first signal;

and;

a water control unit, comprising

a piping segment adapted to be installed on a water supply pipe

a second microcontroller adapted to collect and encode sensor data into a format suitable for transmission;

a valve and actuator assembly;

a power supply comprising a rechargeable battery;

a microturbine adapted to recharge said power supply;

an ultrasonic flow sensor; and

a second wireless transceiver coupled to said second microcontroller;

a gateway comprising a network server and a third wireless transceiver, wherein said network server is adapted to electronically communicate with a remote user application;

wherein said third transceiver is adapted to communicate with said first wireless transceiver and said second wireless transceiver; and

(a) a remote user application in electronic communication with said gateway.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said third transceiver communicates with said first wireless transceiver and said second wireless transceiver using a low-power wireless communication protocol employing transmission payloads of no more than 11 bytes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said leak sensor and said water control unit are adapted to wirelessly communicate with each other via said gateway.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said leak sensor further comprises an audible alarm coupled to said first microcontroller, said audible alarm being adapted to activate upon receipt of said first signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said leak sensor incorporates a tilt switch coupled to said first microcontroller, and adapted to generate a tamper signal if said tilt switch detects movement exceeding predetermined displacement or acceleration criteria.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said gateway and network control assembly is adapted to generate a signal causing said valve and actuator assembly to stop flow of water through said water control unit upon receipt of said first signal indicating a leak condition from said first wireless transceiver.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said water control unit further comprises said gateway.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said water control unit further comprises a water filter.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said water control unit further comprises a water temperature sensor adapted to transmit temperature data to said second microcontroller.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said water control unit further comprises a water pressure sensor adapted to transmit pressure data to said second microcontroller.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cloud computing server configured to communicate electronically with said gateway and said remote user application.

12. A water control system, comprising:

a gateway comprising a network server and a first wireless transceiver;

a leak sensor, comprising;

a sensor, comprising;

a nonconductive membrane having a plurality of perforations;

a planar array comprising a laterally-separated anode and cathode defining a gap, said array affixed to the underside of said membrane such that said perforations are superimposed upon said gap and said array supports said membrane above an underlying surface, wherein said array is adapted to generate an electrical signal when said gap is bridged by a liquid;

a first microcontroller adapted to detect the electrical signal generated by the array;

a second wireless transceiver coupled to said first microcontroller, wherein the second wireless transceiver is adapted to encode sensor data in payloads of no greater than 11 bytes while in wireless communication with said first wireless transceiver, and;

a water control unit, comprising;

a piping segment adapted to be installed on a water supply pipe;

a second microcontroller adapted to receive and process sensor data collected by the water control unit;

a valve and actuator assembly adapted to receive signals from said second microcontroller, wherein said valve and actuator assembly is operable to control flow of water through said piping segment;

an ultrasonic flow sensor installed in the piping segment and in electronic communication with the second microcontroller;

a third wireless transceiver coupled to the second microcontroller, wherein the third wireless transceiver is in wireless communication with the first wireless transceiver, and adapted to encode sensor data from the second microcontroller in a payload no greater than 11 bytes;

a power supply comprising a rechargeable battery

a microturbine generator installed within said piping segment and adapted to recharge said power supply.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a cloud server and a remote user application, said cloud server being configured to communicate with said gateway and said remote user application.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said water control unit further comprises a filter.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said water control unit further comprises a water temperature sensor adapted to transmit temperature data to said second microcontroller.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said water control unit further comprises a water pressure sensor adapted to transmit temperature data to second microcontroller.