Flow control system

• US 8,807,521 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kerry Dunki-Jacobs, Robert Dunki-Jacobs
• Original Assignee: Kerry Dunki-Jacobs, Robert Dunki-Jacobs
• Inventors: Dunki-Jacobs, Kerry, Dunki-Jacobs, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Colon Morales, David
• Application Number:
  US13/115,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20110289675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 462/3, 459/7, 460/7
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8376 Combined

Abstract

A fluid flow control system having a fluid inlet configured to be operatively coupled to a fluid source, a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet such that fluid may exit the system therethrough, a proximity sensor for detecting the position of an object within a region adjacent the sensor, and a flow control device configured to regulate fluid flow between the inlet and outlet in response to object detection by the sensor, wherein the flow control device varies the fluid flow proportional to the detected distance of an object from the sensor. A water flow control system for use in a shower environment is also provided, as well as a shower control system, methods for controlling water flow based on sensing of the presence and location of an object, and methods for reducing water consumption.

Claims

1. A self-contained fluid flow control system for installation between a water supply pipe and a shower head in a shower installation, comprising:

(a) a housing having a fluid inlet configured to be operatively coupled to a water supply pipe in a shower enclosure, and a fluid outlet configured for delivering water to a shower head, said fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet such that fluid entering the system from a water supply pipe coupled to the fluid inlet will flow through the housing and exit the system through said fluid outlet;

(b) a proximity sensor mounted on or in said housing for detecting the presence and position of a bather within a region adjacent the sensor when the system is installed in a shower enclosure;

(c) a flow control valve housed within said housing and configured to regulate fluid flow between the inlet and outlet in response to bather detection by the sensor, wherein the flow control valve proportionally varies the fluid flow based on the detected presence of a bather and the distance of a bather from the sensor by varying the control valve opening between a maximum and a minimum;

(d) a temperature sensor housed within said housing for detecting the temperature of water flowing through said housing; and

(e) a controller housed within said housing and configured for controlling the operation of the flow control device in response to the presence and position of a bather as well as in response to the temperature of water flowing through said housing;

wherein said controller is configured such that, following initiation of a shower cycle, when the temperature of the water flowing through said system stabilizes at or above a preset minimum bathing temperature and the presence of a bather is not detected, the controller causes water flow to be reduced to and maintained at a non-zero temperature maintenance flow by regulating said control valve.

2. The fluid flow control system of claim 1, further comprising a flow measurement device for measuring the flow rate of fluid through the outlet.

3. The fluid flow control system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to control the operation of the flow control device in response to the measured flow rate of fluid.

4. The fluid flow control system of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor which emits ultrasonic sound waves and receives ultrasonic sound waves reflected from an object located adjacent the sensor.

5. The fluid flow control system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional proximity sensor, wherein the at least one additional proximity sensor is remote from the housing.

6. A water flow control system for use in a shower environment, comprising:

(a) a water inlet configured to be operatively coupled to a water source;

(b) a water outlet in fluid communication with the water inlet such that water may exit the system therethrough;

(c) a proximity sensor for detecting the distance of a bather with respect to the sensor within an interrogation region of a shower environment;

(d) a flow control device configured to regulate the water flow rate through the water outlet, the flow control device configured to alter the water flow rate through the system in response to the distance of the bather with respect to the sensor, wherein the flow control device varies the fluid flow rate proportional to the detected distance of the bather from the proximity sensor;

(e) a controller in communication with said proximity sensor, said controller configured to control the operation of the flow control device based on the sensed distance of the bather from the proximity sensor within the interrogation region, wherein the controller determines, throughout a shower session, a full flow portion of the interrogation region and a minimum flow portion of the interrogation region based on a bather'"'"'s distance of closest approach to the sensor and distance of furthest approach to the sensor, respectively, such that the controller controls the flow control device to deliver a maximum flow when the sensed distance of the bather from the sensor is within the full flow portion of the interrogation region and a predetermined minimum flow rate when the sensed distance of the bather from the sensor is within the minimum flow portion of the interrogation region; and

(f) a temperature sensor for determining water temperature in the system, and wherein the controller is configured for further controlling the operation of the flow control device in response to water temperature;

wherein the controller is configured such that, following the initiation of a shower cycle, water flow is reduced when the water temperature is at or above a preset temperature and the presence of a bather is not detected by the sensor, while still allowing some water to flow through the water outlet.

7. The water flow control system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to reduce water flow upon the occurrence of at least one of:

a predetermined amount of time elapsing since the start of a shower cycle; and

a predetermined amount of water having flowed through the water outlet.

8. The water flow control system of claim 7, wherein the system is configured to alert a bather prior to reducing water flow.

9. The water flow control system of claim 8, wherein the controller is operable to alert a bather prior to reducing water flow by at least one of pulsing the flow of water through the water outlet, and providing an audible signal to the bather.

10. The water flow control system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to not reduce water flow based upon bather action after the bather has been alerted.

11. The water flow control system of claim 6, further comprising a flow measurement device for measuring the flow rate of water through the outlet.

12. The water flow control system of claim 11, wherein the system is further configured to generate power from water flowing therethrough.

13. The water flow control system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to control the temperature of water flowing from the water outlet.

14. The water flow control system of claim 6, wherein the flow control device comprises a control valve assembly having a valve and a motor for driving the opening and closing of the valve.

15. The flow control system of claim 13, comprising a pair of water inlets configured to be operatively coupled to hot and cold water sources, and further wherein the flow control device comprises a pair of control valve assemblies, one for controlling the flow of hot water through the system and the other for controlling the flow of cold water through the system.

16. The water flow control system of claim 6, further comprising a housing, and the fluid inlet, fluid outlet, proximity sensor and flow control device are located in or on the housing, and further wherein the fluid outlet is threaded to accept a shower head.

17. The flow control system of claim 12, wherein the flow measurement device comprises a turbine configured to generate alternating current from water flowing through the turbine.

18. A shower control system for controlling the use of water by a bather, comprising

(a) a housing having a fluid passageway therein, a water inlet configured to be operatively coupled to a water source, a water outlet in fluid communication with the water inlet via said fluid passageway and configured for supplying water to a shower head, a flow control device configured to regulate water flow from the water inlet to the water outlet, a controller configured for controlling the operation of the flow control device, and a sensor arm extending away from the portion of the housing containing the fluid passageway, the sensor arm having a distal portion spaced away from the housing;

(b) a proximity sensor for detecting the presence and position of a bather within an interrogation region of a shower environment in which the system is installed, the proximity sensor provided on the distal portion of the sensor arm; and

(c) a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of water flowing through the water outlet, and wherein the controller is configured for further controlling the operation of the flow control device in response to water temperature

wherein the controller is configured to receive signals indicative of the presence and position of a bather from the proximity sensor, and control the flow of water through the housing based on the signals received from the proximity sensor as well as water temperature, and further wherein the controller is configured to enter a temperature maintenance mode when the temperature of the water is at or above a predetermined temperature and the presence of a bather is not detected by the sensor, with the controller reducing water flow through the outlet when in the temperature maintenance mode while still allowing some water to flow through the water outlet.

19. The shower control system of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to exit the temperature maintenance mode and increase water flow from the outlet to a maximum flow rate when the sensor detects a bather in the interrogation region.

20. The shower control system of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to enter said temperature maintenance mode when the temperature of the water has stabilized at or above said predetermined temperature and the presence of a bather is not detected by the sensor.

21. The shower control system of claim 20, wherein the controller is further configured to increase water flow if, after the system has entered said temperature maintenance mode, the sensed temperature of the water drops by more than a predetermined amount below the temperature at which the water stabilized upon entering said temperature maintenance mode.

22. The shower control system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to exit the temperature maintenance mode and increase water flow from the outlet when the sensor detects a bather in the interrogation region, with water flow being increased at a first rate when the temperature at which the water stabilized upon entering said temperature maintenance mode is below a preset safety limit, and water flow being increased at a second, reduced rate when the temperature at which the water stabilized upon entering said temperature maintenance mode is above said preset safety limit.