US 5,441,070 A · Fluid management system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing water consumption and preventing damage to a fluid supply system in a house or structure is disclosed. The water management system includes a water management device coupled between provided fluid flow, pressure, and temperature sensors, and a shut-off valve and a drain valve. The device includes flow control means for opening the shut-off valve when flow is detected at any flow sensor and closing the shut-off valve when flow is undetected. The device also includes flow timers which have a selected operational period for each flow sensor and which close the shut-off valve if the operational period of a flow sensor is exceeded. The device also includes temperature timers for closing the shut-off valve and opening the drain valve when a temperature at or below a minimum temperature is detected by the temperature sensor for a selected maximum temperature detection time period. The device also includes pressure timers for closing the shut-off valve when a pressure at or below a minimum pressure is detected by the pressure sensor for a maximum pressure detection time period, and for periodically opening the shut-off valve to replenish the system when a pressure above a minimum pressure is detected for a minimum pressure detection time period. The device also includes counters to count how many times each flow sensor has detected flow.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An apparatus for managing a fluid supply system, the fluid supply system having a main fluid supply line in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid, a plurality of fluid flow control valves, a plurality of branch fluid supply lines in fluid communication with the main supply line and the fluid flow control valves, a main shut off valve on the main supply line, a drain valve downstream of the main shut-off valve on the main or one of the branch fluid supply lines, a fluid flow sensor located at or upstream of each fluid flow control valve for generating an output signal when flow is detected, and at least one temperature/pressure sensor located at a point on the main or one of the branch fluid supply lines for generating an output signal when a pre-determined threshold temperature/pressure or temperature/pressure beyond the threshold is detected, said apparatus comprising:

flow control means responsive to a flow sensor output signal for opening the main shut off valve when flow is detected by the flow sensor and for closing said main shut-off valve when flow is undetected by the flow sensor;
flow timing means responsive to a flow sensor output signal for timing a period during which the flow sensor detects flow, said flow timing means also having a selectable flow sensor operational period, and closing the main shut-off valve when the timed period equals the flow sensor operational period;
and
first signal processing means for controlling the main shut-off valve in response to the generation or discontinuation of an output signal from a said temperature/pressure sensor.

1 more element

A fluid management system comprising:

a fluid supply system including
a main fluid supply line in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid,
a plurality of fluid flow control valves,
a plurality of branch fluid supply lines in fluid communication with said main supply line and said fluid flow control valves, and
a main shut-off valve located on said main supply line;
a fluid flow sensor for each said fluid flow control valve located at or upstream of said fluid control valve for generating or discontinuing the generation of an output signal when flow is sensed;
and
an apparatus for managing said fluid supply system coupled between said flow sensors and said main shut-off valve, said apparatus including
flow control means responsive to each said flow sensor for opening said main shut-off valve when flow is detected by a said flow sensor and for closing said main shut-off valve when flow is undetected by said flow sensor, and
flow timing means responsive to each said flow sensor output signal for timing the period during which the flow sensor senses flow, said flow timing means also having a selectable flow sensor operational period for each of said flow sensors, and closing said main shutoff valve when the timed period equals the flow sensor operational period for the flow sensor.

7 more elements

A method for managing a fluid supply comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid supply system including
a main fluid supply line in fluid communication with a pressurized source of fluid,
a plurality of fluid flow control valves,
a plurality of branch fluid supply lines in fluid communication with the main supply line and the fluid flow control valves,
a main shut-off valve located on the main supply line,
a drain valve located downstream of the main shut-off valve at a point on the main or one of the branch fluid supply lines, and
a fluid flow sensor, located at or upstream of each fluid control valve, for generating or discontinuing the generation of an output signal when flow is sensed;
opening the main shut-off valve when flow is detected by the flow sensor and closing the main shut-off valve when flow is undetected by the flow sensor;
selecting an operational period for each flow sensor;
timing a period a flow sensor senses flow;
and
closing the main shut-off valve when the timed period equals the selected operational period for the flow sensor.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluid management system

Life of this patent

Fluid management system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22