Automatic flow control system and flood protector
First Claim
1. A fluid-flow control system for shutting off the flow in a conduit under selected conditions comprising:
- a flow monitor operatively connected to such a conduit for producing a first signal containing information about the volume of fluid flow in the conduit,a signal-controlled valve operatively connected to the conduit,a signal detector operatively connected to said flow monitor for analyzing said first signal and for distinguishing periods of substantial fluid flow from periods of no-flow through the flow monitor, anda flow quantity measuring device operatively connected to said flow monitor, said signal detector and said valve for measuring the approximate quantity of fluid passing through the flow monitor during each period of substantial fluid flow and for outputting a valve closure signal to said valve to close the valve when a predetermined flow quantity has passed through said flow monitor during a period of uninterrupted fluid flow.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic fluid-flow control system is provided for controlling the quantity of fluid allowed to flow uninterrupted through a conduit. It is particularly useful in controlling potentially damaging floods caused by breakage in a branch plumbing line used to supply water to beverage dispensing appliances, ice-making machines and similar devices which repeatedly consume limited quantities of water in relatively short flow cycles. The fluid-flow control system includes a flow meter which emits a signal containing information about the flow of fluid and also indicating when fluid is flowing and when it is not. The preferred metering device emits pulses at a rate proportional to the flow rate. A counter accumulates a pulse count during each period of fluid flow. A separate pulse sensing network senses the beginning and end of each period of fluid flow and disables and initializes the counter whenever fluid is not flowing. The accumulated pulse count in the counter is proportional to the quantity of fluid passing through the meter. The counter is set to close a solenoid valve whenever a predetermined maximum pulse count is exceeded. A back-up protective circuit is also provided, employing a timer to measure the time interval of each fluid-flow cycle. When the time interval is exceeded, the timer closes the solenoid valve. In addition to the flood protector mode of operation, a configuration employing the same circuit as a dispenser control device is also disclosed.
77 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A fluid-flow control system for shutting off the flow in a conduit under selected conditions comprising:
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a flow monitor operatively connected to such a conduit for producing a first signal containing information about the volume of fluid flow in the conduit, a signal-controlled valve operatively connected to the conduit, a signal detector operatively connected to said flow monitor for analyzing said first signal and for distinguishing periods of substantial fluid flow from periods of no-flow through the flow monitor, and a flow quantity measuring device operatively connected to said flow monitor, said signal detector and said valve for measuring the approximate quantity of fluid passing through the flow monitor during each period of substantial fluid flow and for outputting a valve closure signal to said valve to close the valve when a predetermined flow quantity has passed through said flow monitor during a period of uninterrupted fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A fluid-flow control system for shutting off the flow in a conduit under selected conditions by means of a signal-controlled valve, the system, in operative condition, comprising:
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a flow monitor operatively connected to such a conduit for producing a first signal containing information about the volume of fluid flow in the conduit, signal analyzing circuitry operatively connected to said flow monitor and the valve for analyzing said first signal to distinguish periods of substantial fluid flow from periods of no-flow in the conduit, to measure the approximate quantity of fluid passing through the conduit during each period of substantial fluid flow, and to close the valve when a predetermined quantity is exceeded, and a timer operatively connected to said signal analyzing circuitry and the valve for timing each period of substantial fluid flow and for closing the valve when a predetermined interval of uninterrupted fluid flow is exceeded.
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7. A fluid-flow control system for shutting off the flow in a conduit under selected conditions by means of a signal-controlled valve, the system, in operative condition, comprising:
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a flow monitor operatively connected to such a conduit for producing a pulse train containing information about the fluid flow in the conduit, a counter operatively connected to the flow monitor and the valve for counting the pulses in said pulse train and for producing a valve-closure signal to close the valve when a predetermined pulse count is reached, and a signal detector operatively connected to said flow monitor for monitoring said pulse train to distinguish periods of substantial fluid flow from periods of no-flow, including a pulse sensing circuit for detecting pulses from said flow monitor and for initializing said counter when the pulse train indicates that the flow of fluid has stopped, whereby the counter accumulates the pulse count only during periods of uninterrupted fluid flow through the conduit and is reset during each period of no-flow in the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A fluid-flow control system for shutting off the flow in a conduit under selected conditions by means of a signal-controlled valve, the system, in operative condition, comprising:
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a flow monitor operatively connected to such a conduit for producing a flow quantity signal containing information about the fluid flow in the conduit, a flow detector circuit operatively connected to said flow monitor for determining from said flow quantity signal when fluid flow in the conduit starts and stops, and for outputting a reset signal which is in a first state when said flow quantity signal indicates fluid is flowing in the conduit and in a second state when said flow quantity signal indicates that the flow of fluid has stopped, a primary shut-off circuit operatively connected to said flow monitor, said flow detector circuit and the valve for analyzing said flow quantity signal during intervals when said reset signal is in said first state and for closing the valve when a predetermined flow quantity value is exceeded, and a secondary shut-off circuit operatively connected to said flow detector circuit and the valve for measuring each time interval when said reset signal is in said first state and for closing the valve when said time interval exceeds a predetermined time interval. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A fluid-flow control system for shutting off the flow in a conduit under selected conditions by means of a signal-controlled valve, the system, in operative condition, comprising:
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a flow monitor operatively connected to such a conduit for producing a pulse train containing information about the fluid flow in the conduit, a counter operatively connected to the flow monitor and the valve for counting the pulses in said pulse train and for producing a valve-closure signal to close the valve when a predetermined pulse count is reached, a pulse sensing circuit connected to said flow monitor and said counter for detecting the pulses from said flow monitor and for initializing said counter when an absence of pulses indicates that the flow of fluid has stopped, whereby the counter accumulates the pulse count only during periods of uninterrupted fluid flow through the conduit, and a timer operatively connected to said pulse sensing circuit and the valve for producing a signal to close the valve a predetermined time interval after said pulse sensing circuit detects an absence of pulses, whereby the valve is closed when the fluid flow is uninterrupted for longer than said predetermined time interval.
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18. A fluid-flow control system for shutting off the flow in a conduit under selected conditions by means of a signal-controlled valve, the system, in operative condition, comprising:
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a flow monitor operatively connected to such a conduit for producing a pulse train containing information about the fluid flow in the conduit, a counter operatively connected to the flow monitor and the valve for counting the pulses in said pulse train and for producing a valve-closure signal to close the valve when a predetermined pulse count is reached, a pulse sensing circuit connected to said flow monitor and said counter, said pulse sensing circuit including a chargeable element with a predetermined voltage decay rate which is charged to a selected voltage by each pulse from said flow monitor, a comparator for comparing the voltage on said chargeable element against a predetermined reference voltage, and a signal output device which produces an initialization signal for initializing said counter when the voltage on said chargeable element falls below said reference voltage indicating an absence of pulses and a lack of fluid flow in the conduit, whereby the counter accumulates the pulse count only during periods of uninterrupted fluid flow through the conduit.
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Specification