POWER SUPPLY FOR PLUMBING DEVICE

• US 20090197124A1
• Filed: 02/02/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masco Canada Limited (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation
• Inventors: Burke, David M., Schwingel, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,851,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/2
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An example arrangement for providing power includes a microbial fuel cell and a controller for supplying power to a plumbing component. The controller supplies power using power generated by the microbial fuel cell. An example method of powering a plumbing device includes providing wastewater to a microbial fuel cell and generating power with the microbial fuel cell. The method powers a plumbing device using the power generated by the microbial fuel cell.

Claims

1. An arrangement for providing power, comprising:

a microbial fuel cell; and

a controller for supplying electrical power to a plumbing component using electrical power generated by said microbial fuel cell.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said controller alters the electrical power generated by said microbial fuel cell for use by the plumbing component.

3. The plumbing device of claim 2, wherein said controller alters the current, the voltage, or both.

4. The plumbing device of claim 1, including a storage unit electrically connected with said microbial fuel cell and said controller, said storage unit for storing electrical power generated by said microbial fuel cell.

5. The plumbing device of claim 1, wherein the plumbing device comprises a leak detector.

6. The plumbing device of claim 1, wherein the plumbing device comprises a sensor.

7. The plumbing device of claim 1, wherein the plumbing device controls flow.

8. The plumbing device of claim 1, wherein the plumbing device comprises a solenoid valve.

9. The plumbing device of claim 1, wherein the microbial fuel cell receives wastewater from a plumbing conduit.

10. The plumbing device of claim 9, wherein the plumbing conduit is a sink drain pipe.

11. The plumbing device of claim 1, wherein the microbial fuel cell generates electrical power using wastewater within a sink drain pipe trap.

15. The plumbing arrangement of claim 11, wherein said plumbing device controls flow to said microbial fuel cell or from said microbial fuel cell.

16. The plumbing arrangement of claim 11, wherein said plumbing conduit is a sink drain.

12. A plumbing arrangement, comprising:

a microbial fuel cell for generating electrical power;

a plumbing conduit for providing wastewater to said microbial fuel cell;

a plumbing device; and

a controller for altering electrical power from said microbial fuel cell for use by said plumbing device

13. The plumbing arrangement of claim 12, including an energy storage unit for storing electrical power from said microbial fuel cell.

14. The plumbing arrangement of claim 13, wherein said energy storage unit electrically powers said plumbing device.

17. A method of powering a plumbing device, comprising:

(a) providing wastewater to a microbial fuel cell;

(b) generating electrical power with the microbial fuel cell using the wastewater; and

(c) powering a plumbing device using the electrical power.

18. The method of claim 17, including storing electrical power generated in said step (b).

19. The method of claim 18, including electrically powering the plumbing device with the stored electrical power.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein a sink drain provides wastewater in said step (a).