Water use monitoring apparatus

• US 8,887,324 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Klicpera
• Original Assignee: Michael Klicpera
• Inventors: Klicpera, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): CRANE, LAUREN ASHLEY
• Application Number:
  US13/216,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20110303310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 34087011-87044, 340/606
• US Class Current: 4/643
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/008 integrated in or attached to a discharge apparatus, e.g. a spray gun
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/04 Domestic or like local pipe systems domestic plumbing E03C1/02
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0408 Water installations especially for showers E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/0418 having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/024 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/075 using electrically-operated integrating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/0755 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/026 of moving liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/00 Application of thermometers in household appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/00 Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

The present invention is a water use and/or a water energy use monitoring apparatus that is affixed to the hot and cold water supply piping for continuously (or on demand) monitoring displaying the water and water energy (hot vs. ambient) use within a residential or commercial building. A first wire or wireless means is incorporated to communicate with a remote display for viewing by the owner of a commercial building or occupier/resident of a home. A second optional wire or wireless means can be incorporated that can be monitored by civil, commercial, governmental or municipal operators or agencies, using a remote display and/or recorder means or by a secure wire or wireless communication network (e.g. cell phone technology communication means). A third wireless means communicates water parameter data utilizing typical cell tower technology and/or mesh network technology. The water use monitor apparatus includes a power generation, a microprocessor, temperature and water flow sensors, optional water quality sensors, timing circuits, wireless circuitry, and a display means. A first wired or wireless means is designed to electronically communicate water use and water energy use information to a remotely located display for convenient observation by a commercial operator or occupier, or resident. An optional second wireless means is designed to electronically communicate water and/or water energy use information to governmental or municipal operators or agencies.

Claims

1. A water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus comprising:

a base station apparatus designed to be connected to a water supply means, said base station including a housing;

said base station apparatus having a plurality of joint means for connecting to a hot water supply means and a cold or ambient water supply means;

said plurality of joint means including an input hot water joint means designed to be engaged to an output heated supply line near the water supply source;

an input cold or ambient joint means designed to be engaged to the output of a cold or ambient water near the water supply source;

said plurality of joint means further including an output hot water joint means designed to be engaged to an output hot water distribution line and an output cold or ambient joint means designed to be engaged to the output cold or ambient water distribution lines;

said apparatus having one or more display means, said display means programmed to visually display one or more water parameters;

electrical circuitry including a microprocessor with a power source contained within said apparatus;

a first temperature sensor means in close proximity to said hot water supply line, a second temperature sensor means in close proximity to said cold or ambient water supply line, said temperature sensor means in electrical communication with said electrical circuitry;

a first flow sensor means in close proximity to said hot water supply line, a second flow sensor means in close proximity to said cold or ambient water supply line, said flow sensor means in electrical communication with said electrical circuitry;

said first temperature sensor together with said first flow sensor means, and said second temperature sensor together with said second sensor means communicate with said electrical circuitry and with said microprocessor, said microprocessor having programming instructions to compute water energy calculations and provide water energy data in a tabular or graphic format;

one or more wired or wireless communication means, said communication means having the capability to transfer water parameter and water energy information and/or data to one or more display apparatuses;

said base station and/or said display apparatuses having the means to communicate with said microprocessor to allow the modification of certain software instructions, such as changing units, changing languages, display one or more visual means or characters, enter the current data and time, changing from metric to US standard, setting alarms, monitor continuous leakage, calibrating sensors, establish communication with wired or wireless sensors, or entering cell phone numbers and any combinations thereof;

said wireless or wired communication means utilizes technology to securely provide water use and water energy use information and/or data in a confidential format.

2. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more wireless or wired remote apparatuses, said wireless or wired remote apparatus having the capability to retrieve water use and/or water energy use information and/or data from said water and/or water energy parameter use and monitoring display apparatus and having programmed instructions to exhibit on one or more display means such water and/or water energy parameter use.

3. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring display apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a first remote apparatus designed to be situated in a location within a residential or commercial building for convenient viewing or observation.

4. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a second remote apparatus designed for municipal or governmental use and wherein said second remote apparatuses is located and utilized in an outdoor location for monitoring a plurality of residential homes or commercial buildings.

5. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless or wired communication means utilizes encrypted format technology to securely provide water use and water energy use information and/or data in a confidential format.

6. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 2, wherein said wireless or wired communication means utilizes authentication technology to ensure that transferred, uploaded, or downloaded information and/or data is communicated to an intended device or person.

7. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless or wired communication means utilizes integrity technology to ensures that a message, information or data does not alter in any way during transit.

8. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 2, wherein said wireless or wired communication means utilizes non-repudiation technology that prevents a sender from denying that a message, data or information was sent by said communication means.

9. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a microprocessor that has programming instructions to displaying two or more different background lights or parameter colors on said display means to provide a visual cue associated with the volume range of water use and/or water energy use that has been monitored.

10. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising two or more additional sensor means, said additional sensor means selected from a group consisting of a sensor means for monitoring one or more halogen elements or compounds, sensor means for monitoring total dissolve solids, sensor means for monitoring a metallic or iron element or compound, sensor means for monitoring water hardness, sensor means for monitoring biological or coliform contaminates, sensor means for monitoring pH, or any combinations thereof.

11. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more highly sensitive water flow sensors designed to detect water leaking conditions.

12. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a water shut off means, whereby said water shut off means is controlled by programming instructions from said microprocessor for turning on and off said shut off means.

13. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claims 1, wherein one of said one or more wired or wireless electrical communication means comprises an offsite central monitoring computer or cell, mobile or other telephone lines via satellite, microwave technology, the internet, cell tower, telephone lines, or any combinations thereof.

14. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication is in a IP or DHCP protocol and wherein said IP or DHCP protocol allows the said apparatus to access and communicate over the Internet.

15. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication has a frequency in the range of 6 MHz to 250 GHz.

16. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication is in a CAN or CAN-bus protocol.

17. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication is in a radio frequency format, ZigBee or Bluetooth format.

18. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication is in a cellular format technology.

19. The water and water energy parameter use and monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication is WiFi format.

20. The water and water energy parameter use and monitor apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication means utilizes short range capability, seldom utilized wireless frequencies, or switching frequency techniques to securely provide transfer of water use and water energy use information and/or data in a confidential format.