Flow control system
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A self-contained fluid flow control system for installation between a water supply pipe and a shower head in a shower installation, comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A water flow control system for use in a shower environment, comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification