Water flow sensing device

• US 6,216,727 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flologic Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flologic Inc.
• Inventors: Giallo, Joseph, Genova, Perry A., Wakefield, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krishnamurthy, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US09/416,132
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 137/459, 137/460, 137/486, 137/487.5, 731/99, 738/617.1, 738/617.4, 738/615.8
• US Class Current: 137/487.5
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/02 Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7727 Excessive flow cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7759 Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve

Abstract

A water flow-sensing device includes an assembly with a stationary metering rod with a cylindrical portion and a conical portion and a relatively moveable element in the shape of a hollow cylindrical toroid. The relatively moveable element is biased by a spring to a rest position wherein the cylindrical portion of the stationary metering rod blocks flow through the relatively moveable element. During fluid flow, fluid pressure moves the relatively moveable element so that the conical portion of the stationary metering rod is within the hollow portion of the relatively moveable element thereby creating a flow area and allowing flow therethrough. A toroidal ferrite is biased against the relatively moveable element and moves in unison therewith. The position of the toroidal ferrite is electromagnetically determined thereby allowing for a calculation of the fluid flow therethrough. Low flowrates indicative of a trickle leak and large flowrates indicative of a large leak can be detected. After predetermined periods of time of the detection of unacceptable flowrates, a ball valve is activated to terminate flow.

Claims

1. A water valve assembly for controlling the flow of water through a water line, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a main shutoff valve positioned within said housing for selectively controlling a flow of water through the water line; and

c) a variable flow measuring assembly associated with said shutoff valve, and including

i) an axially movable sleeve contained within the housing and having an opening formed therein and movable from a closed position to an open position;

ii) a sleeve insert mounted in the housing and disposed relative to the sleeve such that at least a portion thereof projects into the opening of the sleeve such that in the closed position there is a generally no flow condition through the shutoff valve;

iii) wherein when the sleeve moves from the closed position towards the open position, water is permitted to flow around the sleeve insert and through the opening of the sleeve; and

iv) a transducer for converting the movement of the sleeve to a measurement of water flow through the shutoff valve.

2. The water valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said variable flow measuring assembly further includes a spring for biasing said movable sleeve to said closed position.

3. The water valve assembly of claim 2 wherein said spring is spaced from said sleeve insert and abuts said sleeve so as to urge said sleeve against said sleeve insert.

4. The water valve of claim 1 wherein the transducer includes:

a) an electrically conductive coil disposed around said housing for sensing the movement of the sleeve; and

b) a central processing unit operatively connected to the coil for calculating the flow of water through the valve during a selected period of time based on the magnitude of movement of the sleeve as determined by the coil.

5. The water valve assembly of claim 4 wherein said sleeve is formed, in part at least, from a ferromagnetic material.

6. The water valve assembly of claim 5 wherein said coil is approximately the same length as said sleeve.

7. The water valve assembly of claim 6 wherein said sleeve is positioned concentrically within said coil.

8. The water valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising a central processing unit operatively connected to the shutoff valve and to the flow measuring assembly and operative to close the shut off valve in response to the fluid measuring assembly detecting a leak.

9. The water valve assembly of claim 8 further comprising an actuator, said actuator converting the instructions of the central processing unit to physical movement to close the shutoff valve.

10. The water valve assembly of claim 9 wherein said actuator comprises a motor and a step-down cluster of gears.

11. The water valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising a central processing unit operatively connected to said transducer for determining whether a leakage exists within the water line based upon the position of the sleeve.

12. The water valve assembly of claim 11 wherein said central processing unit is programmable to set a series of thresholds flow limits and wherein the occurrence of one of the threshold flow limits is operative to cause the shut off valve to close.

13. The water valve assembly of claim 12 wherein said series of thresholds flow limits indicate a series of leaks of various magnitude ranging from a catastrophic leak to a trickle leak.

14. A water flow measuring device having a shutoff valve incorporated into a housing and including:

a) a movable sleeve contained within the housing such that water flow through the valve is constrained to flow through the sleeve;

b) a cooperating insert that projects into one end of the sleeve such that in a water flow condition a metering opening is defined between the sleeve and the sleeve insert such that water flows about the insert and through the sleeve opening;

c) wherein in a no flow condition, the metering opening between the sleeve insert and the sleeve is substantially closed while the metering opening progressively increases in size as the flow of water increases through the flow measuring device; and

d) a transducer for converting the movement of the sleeve to a measurement of water flow through the shutoff valve.

15. A method of communicating to a central security station information as to the existence of a leak in a water pipe of a building, comprising:

a) detecting a leak in the water pipe;

b) sending an alert signal to a security controller within the building;

c) directing a second alert signal containing information relative to the existence of a leak from the security controller to a central security station removed from the building;

d) sending the alert signal from an automatic shutoff valve in the water pipe to an intermediate controller prior to sending the alert signal to the security controller in the building.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein detecting the leak comprises the step of detecting the leak with an automatic shutoff valve.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of selecting between a home mode or an away mode on the security controller.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the security controller includes both a home mode and an away mode, and wherein the security controller is programmable for various threshold flow limits, with each flow limit representing the occurrence of a leak.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of programming the security controller via a computer.

20. A system for detecting a leakage in a water pipe network, comprising:

a) an automatic shutoff valve, connected in at least one line of the water pipe network, for detecting a water leakage somewhere in the water pipe network;

b) a security controller operatively connected to the automatic shutoff valve for receiving a signal from the valve that indicates a leakage in the water pipe network;

c) wherein the security controller is operatively connected to a remote station and is operative to direct signals to the remote station indicating the presence of a water leakage in the water pipe network;

d) an intermediate controller operatively positioned between the automatic shutoff valve and the security controller for controlling the automatic shutoff valve.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the security controller includes a home mode and an away mode wherein the home mode is programmable for various leakage thresholds.

22. The system of claim 20 further including a computer for programming the security controller.

23. A fluid flow sensor comprising:

a) a fluid communication path;

b) an assembly within said fluid communication path comprising a moveable sleeve portion moveable in responsive to fluid pressure and a stationary insert portion;

c) a spring for biasing said moveable sleeve portion to a no-flow position with respect to said stationary insert portion;

d) wherein in response to fluid pressure, said moveable sleeve portion moves from said no-flow position to a flow position;

e) wherein when the sleeve assumes the flow position, water flows about the stationary insert and through the moveable sleeve;

f) a transducer for sensing the movement of the sleeve; and

g) a processor for determining the flow rate of water through the fluid communication path based on the sensed movement of the sleeve by the transducer.

24. The flow sensor of claim 23 further including a shutoff valve moveable between open and closed positions and wherein the processor is preprogrammed to actuate and close the shutoff valve in response to a predetermined flow of water over a given time period flowing through the flow sensor.

25. The flow sensor of claim 23 wherein said stationary insert portion includes a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion, and wherein the sleeve includes an inside diameter that is generally equal to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the stationary insert, and wherein in a no flow condition, the sleeve extends around the central portion of the stationary insert, and wherein in a flow position the sleeve moves away from the cylindrical portion of the stationary insert in response to fluid pressure, permitting the water to flow around the cylindrical portion of the stationary insert and between the inside diameter of the sleeve and the tapered portion of the insert.

26. The fluid flow sensor of claim 25 further including an electromagnetic element which moves in response to movement of said relatively moveable sleeve portion.

27. The fluid flow sensor of claim 26 wherein said electromagnetic element has high magnetic permeability.

28. The fluid flow sensor of claim 27 wherein said electromagnetic element is a ferrite element.

29. The fluid flow sensor of claim 28 wherein said ferrite element is hollow and fluid flow passes therethrough.

30. The fluid flow sensor of claim 29 wherein said transducer includes at least one coil wound about an exterior of said fluid communication path, and said processor includes electronic computational circuitry responsive to changes in the current in said coil for calculating the flow of water through the fluid communication path.

31. The fluid flow sensor of claim 30 wherein said at least one coil is an oscillating coil.

32. The fluid flow sensor of claim 30 wherein said at least one coil is a linear variable differential transformer configuration.

33. The fluid flow sensor of claim 30 wherein said shutoff valve is a ball valve responsive to a motor responsive to said electronic computational circuitry.

34. The fluid flow sensor of claim 33 wherein said ball valve is responsive to said motor via a step down cluster gear assembly.

35. A method of measuring the flow of water through an automatic shut off valve comprising:

a) directing water into and through the automatic shut off valve;

b) in response to the water pressure within the valve moving a moveable flow measuring element relative to a stationary element and directing the flow of water around the stationary element and through an opening formed completely through the moveable flow measuring element;

c) determining the flow rate of water through the automatic shut off valve based on the magnitude of the movement of the moveable flow measuring element; and

d) if the measured flow rate of water passing through the automatic shut off valve equals or exceeds a predetermined flow condition, then actuating a valve that shuts off the flow of water through the automatic shut off valve.

36. The method of claim 35 further including biasing the moveable flow measuring element to a no-flow position where it mates with the stationary element.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the moveable flow measuring element includes a sleeve having a water flow through opening formed therein and wherein the sleeve moves axially back and forth as the water flow rate through the automatic shut off valve varies.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein determining the flow rate of water through the automatic shut off valve includes the step of electromagnetically detecting and measuring the movement of the moveable flow measuring element and converting the movement of the flow measuring element to a water flow rate.

39. The method of claim 38 including the step of winding an electrical coil around the automatic shut off valve exteriorly of the moveable flow measuring element and incorporating an electromagnetic material with the moveable flow measuring element thereby permitting the magnitude of the movement of the flow measuring element to be determined based on the electrical state of the coil.

40. A fluid flow sensor comprising:

a fluid communication path;

an assembly within said fluid communication path comprising a relatively movable portion responsive to fluid pressure and a relatively stationary portion, wherein said relatively stationary portion includes a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion, said relatively moveable portion includes a toroidal portion with a passageway therethrough, a diameter of said cylindrical portion being substantially equal to a diameter of said passageway, wherein in a rest position said cylindrical portion blocks fluid flow through said passageway, and wherein in response to fluid pressure, said relatively moveable portion moves so that said tapered portion is in said passageway thereby allowing fluid flow therethrough;

means for biasing said relatively movable portion to a rest position with respect to said relatively stationary position wherein said assembly has substantially no flow area;

wherein, in response to fluid pressure, said relatively movable portion moves from said rest position to a position wherein said assembly has flow area;

means for determining a position of said relatively movable portion; and

means for determining a flowrate through said fluid communication path responsive to said means for determining a position of said relatively movable portion.

41. The fluid flow sensor of claim 40 including an electromagnetic element which moves in response to movement of said relatively moveable portion.

42. The fluid flow sensor of claim 41 wherein said electromagnetic element has high magnetic permeability.

43. The fluid flow sensor of claim 42 wherein said electromagnetic element is a ferrite element.

44. The fluid flow sensor of claim 43 wherein said means for biasing is a spring which biases said ferrite element against said relatively moveable portion.

45. The fluid flow sensor of claim 44 wherein said ferrite element is hollow and fluid flow passes therethrough.

46. The fluid flow sensor of claim 45 wherein said means for determining a position includes at least one coil wound about an exterior of said fluid communication path, and said means for determining a flowrate includes electronic computational means responsive to said coil.

47. The fluid flow sensor of claim 46 wherein said electronic computational means includes means for calculating a time period during which an unacceptable flowrate has been detected and comparing said time period to a time threshold, and activating said means for terminating flow upon said time period exceeding said time threshold.

48. The fluid flow sensor of claim 47 wherein said time threshold is dependent upon flowrate.

49. The fluid flow sensor of claim 46 wherein said at least one coil is an oscillating coil.

50. The fluid flow sensor of claim 46 wherein said at least one coil is a linear variable differential transformer configuration.

51. The fluid flow sensor of claim 46 wherein said means for terminating flow is a ball valve responsive to a motor responsive to said electronic computational means.

52. The fluid flow sensor of claim 51 wherein said ball valve is responsive to said motor via a step down cluster gear assembly.

53. A method for sensing fluid flow comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid communication path;

providing an assembly within said fluid communication path comprising a relatively movable portion including a toroidal portion with a passageway therethrough responsive to fluid pressure, a relatively stationary portion including a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion, a diameter of said cylindrical portion being substantially equal to a diameter of said passageway, and a means for determining a position of said relatively movable portion;

biasing said relatively movable portion to a rest position with respect to said relatively stationary portion wherein said assembly has substantially no flow area, wherein in said rest position said cylindrical portion blocks fluid flow through said passageway;

moving, in response to fluid pressure, said relatively movable portion from said rest position to a position wherein said assembly has flow area, wherein in response to fluid pressure, said relatively moveable portion moves so that said tapered portion is in said passageway thereby allowing fluid flow therethrough;

determining a position of said relatively movable portion;

determining a flowrate through said fluid communication path responsive to said means for determining a position of said relatively movable portion; and

terminating flow through the fluid communication path responsive to said step of determining a flowrate through said fluid communication path.

54. The method of sensing fluid flow of claim 53 wherein said step of moving said relatively moveable portion further includes the step of moving an electromagnetic element.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein said step of moving an electromagnetic element further includes the step of providing an electromagnetic element with high magnetic permeability.