Fluid flow control system and device

• US 9,946,271 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stefan Tuineag, Steven William Walton
• Original Assignee: Stefan Tuineag, Steven William Walton
• Inventors: Tuineag, Stefan, Walton, Steven William
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US15/168,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20170344031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 251206-209
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2001/026 with flow restricting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/06 in the form of closure plates arranged between supply and discharge passages F16K3/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/041 for rotating valves F16K31/055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0025 Electrical or magnetic means F16K37/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0623 characterised by the set value given to the control element

Abstract

A device and system for regulating the flow of a fluid, comprising: a fluid flow controller; wherein the fluid flow controller comprises: a fluid flow control component and an electronic controller; wherein the fluid flow control component is configured to allow at least two different flow rates of a fluid to pass through the fluid flow controller; and wherein the electronic controller controls the fluid flow controller component, such that the fluid flow controller component operatively switches between the at least two different flow rates.

Claims

1. A fluid flow controller device, comprising:

a fluid flow controller;

wherein said fluid flow controller comprises;

a fluid flow control component and an electronic controller;

wherein said fluid flow control component is configured to allow a fluid to pass through said fluid flow controller in at least two different flow rates;

wherein said electronic controller controls said fluid flow controller component, such that said fluid flow controller component operatively switches between said at least two different flow rates;

wherein said electronic controller is configured to wirelessly connect to an external computing device;

wherein said electronic controller is configured to receive one or more signals from said external computing device related to selecting one of said at least two different flow rates;

wherein said fluid flow controller further comprises a powered drive unit;

wherein said powered drive unit is operatively coupled with said fluid flow control component and said electronic controller;

wherein said electronic controller sends a signal to said powered drive unit, which in turn actuates said fluid flow control component;

wherein said electronic controller is configured to receive one or more signals from said external computing unit related to selecting one of said at least two different flow rates;

said at least two different flow rates are three different flow rates;

wherein said fluid flow control component comprises;

a mechanical rheostat, a first control adapter, and a second control adapter;

wherein said mechanical rheostat is configured to operatively couple with a drive shaft of said powered drive unit; and

wherein said mechanical rheostat has three positions;

blocking said first control adapter;

blocking said second control adapter; and

not blocking either said first control adapter or said second control adapter.

2. The fluid flow controller device of claim 1, wherein, depending on which position said mechanical rheostat is in, said fluid flow controller is configured to allow said fluid to flow through said fluid flow controller in one of said three different flow rates.

3. The fluid flow controller device of claim 2, wherein said fluid flow controller further comprises one or more hall sensors;

wherein said one or more hall sensors are configured to determine a rotational position of said motor shaft.

4. The fluid flow controller device of claim 3, wherein said fluid flow controller further comprises at least one pressure switch;

and

wherein said at least one pressure switch is configured to determine whether said fluid is flowing through said fluid flow controller.

5. The fluid flow controller device of claim 4, wherein when said fluid is not flowing through said fluid flow controller, said electronic controller is not connected to a power supply.

6. The fluid flow controller device of claim 5, wherein a rotational position data from said one or more hall sensors and a flow data from said at least one pressure switch is communicated to said electronic controller.

7. The fluid flow controller device of claim 6, wherein said electronic controller communicates said rotational position data from said one or more hall sensors and said flow data from said at least one pressure switch to said external computing unit.

8. The fluid flow controller device of claim 7, wherein said three different flow rates are:

1.5 gallon per minute, 1 gallons per minute, and 2.5 gallons per minute.

9. A fluid flow control system, comprising:

a fluid flow controller; and

an external computing device

wherein said fluid flow controller comprises;

a fluid flow control component and an electronic controller;

wherein said fluid flow control component is configured to allow a fluid to pass through said fluid flow controller in at least two different flow rates;

wherein said electronic controller controls said fluid flow controller component, such that said fluid flow controller component operatively switches between said at least two different flow rates;

wherein said electronic controller is configured to wirelessly connect to said external computing unit;

wherein said electronic controller is configured to receive one or more signals from said external computing unit related to selecting one of said at least two different flow rates;

wherein said fluid flow controller further comprises a powered drive unit;

wherein said powered drive unit is operatively coupled with said fluid flow control component and said electronic controller;

wherein said electronic controller sends a signal to said powered drive unit, which in turn actuates said fluid flow control component;

wherein said electronic controller is configured to receive one or more signals from said external computing unit related to selecting one of said at least two different flow rates;

wherein said at least two different flow rates are three different flow rates;

wherein said fluid flow control component comprises;

a mechanical rheostat, a first control adapter, and a second control adapter;

wherein said mechanical rheostat is configured to operatively couple with a drive shaft of said powered drive unit;

wherein said mechanical rheostat has three positions;

blocking said first control adapter;

blocking said second control adapter; and

not blocking either said first control adapter or said second control adapter; and

wherein, depending on which position said mechanical rheostat is in, said fluid flow controller allows said fluid to flow through said fluid flow controller in one of said three different flow rates.

10. The fluid flow control device of claim 9, wherein said fluid flow controller further comprises one or more hall sensors and at least one pressure switch;

wherein said one or more hall sensors are configured to determine a rotational position of said motor shaft;

wherein said at least one pressure switch is configured to determine whether said fluid is flowing through said fluid flow controller;

wherein a rotational position data from said one or more hall sensors and a flow data from said at least one pressure switch is communicated to said electronic controller; and

wherein said electronic controller communicates said rotational position data from said one or more hall sensors and said flow data from said at least one pressure switch to said external computing unit.

11. The fluid flow control system of claim 10, wherein said three different flow rates are:

1.5 gallon per minute, 1 gallons per minute, and 2.5 gallons per minute.

12. The fluid flow control system of claim 10, wherein said computing device comprises an application;

wherein said application receives and records a use data from said fluid flow controller;

wherein said application uses said use data to prepare one or more fluid use profiles; and

wherein said application is configured to send commands to said fluid flow controller to adjust said flow of fluid through said fluid flow controller based on said one or more fluid use profiles.

13. The fluid flow control system of claim 10, wherein when said application determines that a set amount of said fluid has passed through said fluid flow controller, said application sends a signal to said fluid flow controller to lower the flow rate of said fluid passing through said fluid flow controller.

14. The fluid flow control system of claim 10, wherein when said application determines that said fluid has flowed through said fluid flow controller for a set amount of time, said application sends a signal to said fluid flow controller to lower the flow rate of said fluid passing through said fluid flow controller.