Flow control device and flow control method

• US 9,081,389 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Premier-Fosters (Australia) Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Premier-Fosters (Australia) Pty Limited
• Inventors: Foster, Geoffrey Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US12/936,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20110146805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,295 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.11, 137/624.12, 137/624.18, 137/625.4, 137/599.01, 137/595.05, 137/595.07, 137/595.09, 239/69, 239/70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0652 the plurality of throttling means being arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7838 Plural

Abstract

A water flow control device (27) that may, for example, deliver water to a domestic dwelling (10). The device (27) includes a plurality of valves, which may include three valves (12, 13, 14). The valves (12, 13) are connected to an outlet conduit (16) by means of a flow restriction device (15). The valves (12, 13, 14) are electronically operated and are controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) (17).

Claims

1. A water flow control device including:

a conduit for connection to a water supply;

a plurality of valves arranged in parallel and connected to the conduit to receive water therefrom;

a programmable controller operatively associated with the valves to cause operation thereof between a closed and an open configuration;

a water outlet conduit connected to each of the valves so that said conduit receives water from each of the valves when the valves are in the open configuration; and

,

a pressure sensor downstream of the valves and operatively associated with the controller to provide a signal thereto indicative of water pressure downstream of the valves.

2. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a control program recorded within the controller and executable by the controller to cause the device to detect a demand for water at the outlet supply and to selectively open at least one of the valves for a first predetermined period of time, and subject to detection of a continued demand for water after expiration of the first predetermined period of time, to selectively open at least another of the valves for a second predetermined period of time.

3. A device according to claim 1 further including a modem device operatively associated with the controller to provide signals thereto to operate the controller.

4. A device according to claim 2 further including a modem device operatively associated with the controller to provide signals thereto to operate the controller, wherein the signals comprise command to modify the predetermined periods of time and to open and close the valves.

5. A device according to claim 1 further comprising an interface operatively associated with the controller via which an operator can change operating parameters of the controller.

8. A device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one flow restriction operatively associated with a corresponding one of the valves and arranged between the water supply and the outlet conduit.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein at least one other of the valves couples the water supply to the outlet conduit via an unrestricted coupling.

6. A water flow control device including:

a conduit for connection to a water supply;

a plurality of valves arranged in parallel and connected to the conduit to receive water therefrom;

a programmable controller operatively associated with the valves to cause operation thereof between a closed and an open configuration;

a water outlet conduit connected to each of the valves so that said conduit receives water from each of the valves when the valves are in the open configuration;

at least one flow restriction operatively associated with a corresponding one of the valves and arranged between the water supply and the outlet conduit; and

wherein at least one other of the valves couples the water supply to the outlet conduit via an unrestricted coupling.

7. A device according to claim 6, further comprising a flow meter downstream of the valves and to provide a signal to the controller indicative of flow through the valves.

10. A device according to claim 6, further comprising a control program recorded within the controller and executable by the controller to cause the device to detect a demand for water at the outlet supply and to selectively open at least one of the valves for a first predetermined period of time, and subject to detection of a continued demand for water after expiration of the first predetermined period of time, to selectively open at least another of the valves for a second predetermined period of time.

11. A device according to claim 6, further including a modem device operatively associated with the controller to provide signals thereto to operate the controller.

12. A device according to claim 11, further comprising a control program recorded within the controller and executable by the controller to cause the device to detect a demand for water at the outlet supply and to selectively open at least one of the valves for a first predetermined period of time, and subject to detection of a continued demand for water after expiration of the first predetermined period of time, to selectively open at least another of the valves for a second predetermined period of time and wherein the signals comprise command to modify the predetermined periods of time and to open and close the valves.

13. A device according to claim 6, further comprising an interface operatively associated with the controller via which an operator can change operating parameters of the controller.

14. A water flow control device including:

a conduit for connection to a water supply;

a plurality of valves arranged in parallel and connected to the conduit to receive water therefrom;

a programmable controller operatively associated with the valves to cause operation thereof between a closed and an open configuration;

a water outlet conduit connected to each of the valves so that said conduit receives water from each of the valves when the valves are in the open configuration

a pressure sensor downstream of the valves and operatively associated with the controller to provide a signal thereto indicative of water pressure downstream of the valves;

a flow meter downstream of the valves and to provide a signal to the controller indicative of flow through the valves;

a control program recorded within the controller and executable by the controller to cause the device to detect a demand for water at the outlet supply and to selectively open at least one of the valves for a first predetermined period of time, and subject to detection of a continued demand for water after expiration of the first predetermined period of time, to selectively open at least another of the valves for a second predetermined period of time;

an interface operatively associated with the controller via which an operator can change operating parameters of the controller; and

,

a modem device operatively associated with the controller to provide signals thereto to operate the controller wherein the signals comprise command to modify the predetermined periods of time and to open and close the valves.