Power supply for plumbing device

• US 7,851,094 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2008
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Masco Canada Limited (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation
• Inventors: Schwingel, William, Burke, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohaddes; Ladan
• Application Number:
  US12/025,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20090197124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,046 Days
• Field of Search: 429/2, 429/401
• US Class Current: 429/401
• 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 configured to receive a flow of wastewater; and

a controller for supplying electrical power directly to a plumbing component using electrical power generated by said microbial fuel cell, wherein the plumbing component is configured to influence the flow of wastewater to the microbial fuel cell; and

wherein the arrangement further includes 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.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to increase the voltage of electrical power generated by said microbial fuel cell for use by the plumbing component.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plumbing component comprises a leak detector.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plumbing component comprises a sensor.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plumbing component controls flow.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plumbing component comprises a solenoid valve.

7. The plumbing device of claim 1, wherein the microbial fuel cell receives wastewater directly from a sink drain pipe.

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

9. 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 configured to affect flow of wastewater through the plumbing conduit; and

a controller for altering electrical power from said microbial fuel cell for use by said plumbing device, wherein the microbial fuel cell is positioned adjacent the plumbing device within a dwelling area; and

wherein the arrangement further includes an energy storage unit for storing electrical power from said microbial fuel cell.

10. The plumbing arrangement of claim 9, wherein said energy storage unit electrically powers said plumbing device.

11. The plumbing arrangement of claim 9, wherein said plumbing device controls flow to said microbial fuel cell or from said microbial fuel cell.

12. The plumbing arrangement of claim 9, wherein said plumbing conduit is a sink drain.

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

(a) providing wastewater directly to a microbial fuel cell;

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

(c) powering a plumbing device using the electrical power; and

(d) moving the wastewater to a septic system after the generating.

14. The method of claim 13, including electrically powering the plumbing device with the stored electrical power.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a sink drain provides wastewater in said step (a).

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the plumbing device is exclusively powered by the electrical power generated by the microbial fuel cell.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the microbial fuel cell is located at a dwelling elevation.