# US 11,118,953 B2 · Fluid flow measuring and control devices and method

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- Number: US 11,118,953 B2
- Document ID: US11118953B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/870,663
- Filed: 2020-05-08
- Published: 2020-08-27
- Granted: 2021-09-14
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-22
- Assignees: Benoit & Côté
- Applicants: Benoit & Cote Inc.
- Inventors: Steve Croteau
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11118953B2

## CPC

- G01F 5/00: Measuring a proportion of the volume flow
- F16K 17/36: actuated in consequence of extraneous circumstances, e.g. shock, change of position
- F16K 31/402: {acting on a diaphragm}
- F16K 37/005: {for measuring fluid parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)}
- G01F 1/06: using rotating vanes with tangential admission
- G01F 1/065: {with radiation as transfer means to the indicating device, e.g. light transmission}
- G01F 1/075: with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device
- G01F 25/10: of flowmeters
- G01M 3/26: by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
- G01M 3/2815: {using pressure measurements}
- F16K 31/06: using a magnet {, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid}
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

There is described a fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing. The device comprises a main flow channelling system having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the plumbing, and a bypass channelling system in parallel from the main flow channelling system. A flowmeter is provided in the bypass channelling system for measuring the fluid flow in the bypass channelling system and thereby estimating the fluid flow at the inlet or at the outlet of the main flow channelling system. The flowmeter may comprise a wheel and a pair of movement sensors. A valve such as a solenoid valve can be provided as an on/off control for the plumbing. Using a microcontroller, the device can identify which appliance is used and determine consumption, or detect abnormal use or leaks and close the valve and/or notify a user mobile device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing channeling fluid, the device comprising:
a main flow channelling system having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the plumbing;
a bypass channelling system in parallel from the main flow channelling system, starting from a first location on the main flow channelling system and ending at a second location on the main flow channelling system downstream of the first location;
a flowmeter provided in the bypass channelling system for measuring the fluid flow in the bypass channelling system and thereby estimating the fluid flow at the inlet or at the outlet of the main flow channelling system;
a valve for stopping the fluid flow in the main flow channelling system, hence blocking fluid flow in the fluid flow measuring device and in the plumbing; and
a first pressure sensor upstream of the valve and a second pressure sensor downstream of the valve to determine if there is a pressure drop when the valve is closed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fluid flow measuring and control device of claim 1, wherein the flowmeter comprises:
a flowmeter chamber;
a flowmeter wheel installed in the flowmeter chamber, the flowmeter wheel comprising rotating blades; and
a pair of movement sensors installed in the flowmeter chamber, each one of the movement sensors monitoring the rotating blades alternately moving in opposite directions and identifying a direction of a rotation movement to assess a net flow through the flowmeter chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fluid flow measuring and control device of claim 1, wherein the valve is a solenoid valve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fluid flow measuring and control device of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver operatively connected to the flowmeter for collecting data therefrom and send the data to a computer, wherein the computer stores pre-recorded fluid usage signatures of specific appliances and compares the data to the pre-recorded fluid usage signatures for identifying in the data from the flowmeter that a specific appliance was used.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fluid flow measuring and control device of claim 4, wherein the computer is further adapted to instruct the transceiver to send a notification to a remote server to inform a user mobile device in communication with the remote server.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The fluid flow measuring and control device of claim 4, wherein the computer is further adapted to at least one of:
identify an abnormal fluid usage by comparing the data from the flowmeter from previously acquired data from the flowmeter; and
identify an identity of the specific appliances which consume fluid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fluid flow measuring and control device of claim 6, wherein the computer is operably connected to the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor and the valve, to determine from the data from the flowmeter that no appliance is being used and instruct the valve to close to collect pressures from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The fluid flow measuring and control device of claim 7, wherein the computer is further adapted to:
detect that there is a pressure drop and determine from a low to medium pressure drop that it is a leak, and to maintain the valve closed, and
detect that there is no pressure drop or a high pressure drop indicative of normal use, and reopen the valve.