Electronic and mechanical system for automated or discretionay dosage of potable water at the particular intake level of each user

• US 8,719,187 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medidores Delaunet, SAPI de CV
• Original Assignee: Fernando Milanes Garcia-Moreno
• Inventors: Milanes Garcia-Moreno, Fernando
• Primary Examiner(s): BORISSOV, IGOR N
• Application Number:
  US10/472,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,428 Days
• Field of Search: 705/400, 705/412, 705/413, 705 28- 30, 340/870.02, 340/870.05, 340/870.07, 251/129.14, 702/45, 702/46, 700/282, 731/98, 738/61, 222/14, 137/487.5
• US Class Current: 705/413
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/001 Means for regulating or setting the meter for a predetermined quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/002 for gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/003 using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/0755 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The invention refers to the technical field of the water supply measurement and control systems. The invention may be installed at the water connection of a user before or after a meter, and provides the necessary means and signals for the interconnection thereof. The system of the present invention comprises a Micro-controller device so the carried-out actions may be modified as per the water consumption market requirements, it further comprises a motorized valve which is connected at the user water connection. Each pulse transmitted from the meter is sensed by the System of the invention, updating a time window in a Real Time Clock, on which the updating of the volume permitted to a determined subscriber is registered. The volume consumed by the subscriber is compared with a stored reference at the memory of the invention. If the comparison is successful, the invention shall actuate the system to reduce the subscriber'"'"'s flux to a determined level or to completely interrupt the supply, reestablishing again the supply upon ending the dosage control time window, repeatedly and indefinitely until a new programming.

Claims

1. A mechanical and electronic water supply control assembly and system for automatically supplying water at a predetermined volume of water on a daily basis autonomously, supplying water at a predetermined flow rate at predetermined times and repeatedly until reprogramming and for monitoring water consumption during a predetermined time period, comprising:

a water meter connected to a water outlet;

a flow control valve connected to the water outlet;

said system being enclosed in a sealed housing and said system having an interface unit connected to said water meter;

a control unit connected to said water meter and flow control valve for controlling the flow rate of water through said water meter at predetermined times during a day;

a gain unit and an actuation and retro-fitting unit connected to said control unit for actuating said control unit, said actuation and retro-fitting unit connected to said meter for actuating said flow control valve to supply the predetermined volume of water at a predetermined flow rate for a predetermined time period during a day on a daily basis;

a communication unit connected to said control unit;

a power unit for supplying electrical power to said assembly; and

a protection and detection unit connected to said power unit to sense available power for said assembly and for preventing inversions of the polarity of said power unit;

said sealed housing enclosing said system and protecting said system from environmental humidity, water and unauthorized intrusion, said assembly further comprising a computer receiving input signals from said communication unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said control unit actuates said flow control valve to open and close said valve to deliver said predetermined volume of water for a predetermined period of time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said interface unit comprises a water flow detector, a water flow back detector, and an unauthorized intrusion detector, said interface meter being connected to said control unit by a wire and producing signals corresponding to water flow, water backflow, unauthorized intrusion and detection of a magnetic field, and filters to eliminate noise from said signals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises a micro-controller having a memory and a real time clock for maintaining a stable time base.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said gain unit comprises a transistor, resistors and protection members for protecting said gain unit power surges, said profit unit producing and sending signals to said actuation and retro-fitting unit to actuate a motor in said actuation unit to actuate said flow control valve in said water meter.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said control unit transmits a logic signal to said actuation unit, said actuation unit receiving and converting said logic signal to send electrical power to said flow control valve to adjust a water flow rate to a selected setting at predetermined times.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said flow control valve is a spherical valve coupled to said actuation unit, said actuation unit including a motor connected to said valve for actuating said valve, and where said gain unit produces a signal to actuate said motor to adjust the flow control valve to a selected setting.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein said actuating unit includes an optical sensor to detect a position of said valve and sends a signal corresponding to said valve position to said control unit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication unit transmits a signal to an external device by wires through a converter or by a wireless channel through a converter.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said protection and detection unit includes a diode and sends a voltage signal indicating an available voltage in said power unit to said control device, and where said protection and detection unit includes a voltage detector to produce low battery signal and to send said low battery signal to said control unit.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said control unit actuates said valve to dispense a predetermined volume of water through said valve for a predetermined period of time, and where said control unit monitors water consumption at said water outlet and calculates a value corresponding to said predetermined period.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said control unit calculates a cost of said volume of water flowing through said meter and calculates said predetermined volume based on said cost.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said control unit calculates a cost of water consumed at predetermined times.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said control unit is programmable by an electronic connection, physical connection or wireless connection to reprogram said control unit.

15. The system of claim 1, comprising means to limit access to said system to selected reading and program levels authorized by security keys.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is installed outdoors.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said control unit includes a microprocessor to selectively actuate said valve between an open and closed position, maintain said valve in a fixed position, continuously calculate a cost of consumed water, and determining a water supply end time.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a portable computer terminal connected to said control unit for transferring a status reading to a personal computer or network or by a network system.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said control unit is readable and programmable by said computer terminal.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the gain unit determines a prepaid credit value for water and adjusts the flow control valve according to a remaining credit value.

21. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said control unit actuates said flow control valve to supply a predetermined daily volume of water each day on a daily basis and closes said flow control valve when said predetermined daily volume is consumed.

22. A mechanical and electronic water supply assembly enclosed within a sealed housing for supplying water to a consumer, said assembly comprising:

a water meter connected to a water supply for supplying water to the consumer and measuring the volume of water supplied to the consumer on a daily basis;

a flow control valve connected to the water supply for controlling the flow rate of water to the consumer;

an interface unit and control unit connected to said water meter and flow control valve for controlling the volume and flow rate of water to the consumer;

a gain unit and an actuation and retrofitting unit connected to said water meter and flow control valve to control the supply of water to the consumer;

a communication unit connected to the control unit; and

a power unit for supplying power to said assembly and a protection and detection unit connected to the power unit to sense available power and prevent inversion of power;

wherein said assembly supplies a predetermined allocated daily volume of water to the consumer on a daily basis, and wherein said control unit actuates said flow control valve to supply the water at a selected flow rate throughout the day based on the allocated daily volume of water; and

wherein said control unit actuates said flow control valve to reduce the flow rate of the water when a selected portion of the daily allocated volume is supplied during a day and restores the flow rate on a subsequent day to supply the corresponding allocated daily volume of water.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said control unit actuates said flow control valve to reduce the flow rate of the water at a first selected time during the day and to restore the flow rate at a second selected time during the day.

24. The assembly of claim 22, wherein said control unit actuates said flow control valve to close said flow control valve when said predetermined allocated daily volume is supplied, and thereafter open said flow control valve to reestablish a flow rate when a subsequent allocated daily volume is authorized.

25. A mechanical and electronic water supply assembly for supplying water, said assembly comprising:

a water meter connected to a water supply for measuring a volume of water supplied to a consumer;

a flow control valve connected to said water supply for controlling the flow rate of water from said water supply;

an interface unit connected to said water meter;

a control unit connected to said water meter and flow control valve for controlling the volume and flow rate of water to said consumer at predetermined times during a day; and

a gain unit and an actuation and retrofitting unit connected to said water meter and flow control valve for actuating said flow control valve to supply water to the consumer at a predetermined volume for a day and supplying the water at a predetermined flow rate at predetermined times during the day in response to the predetermined volume.