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US 6,275,160 B1Granted
Multi-mode waterflow detector with electronic timer
AssigneePittway Corporation
InventorSimon Ha
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow detector includes solid state delay circuitry coupled to a flow indicating device. In response to flow being indicated, the delay circuitry is enabled. After a preset delay interval, if flow is still being indicated, an output signal can be generated. The flow indicating device can be a two-state mechanical switch. A mode setting element can be used to configure the detector for different types of installations.
Claims56
A multi-mode flow detection system comprising:
- first and second power supplying terminals;
- a first switching element with first and second states responsive to fluid flow to go from the first, no flow state, to the second, flow state;
- a second, manually settable, switching element having third and forth sates connected in series with at least a portion of the first switching element;
- a third switching element having fifth and sixth states, wherein a portion of the third element is coupled to one side of the second switching element wherein the first switching element is coupled to the other side thereof;
- a control element coupled to the first and third switching elements whereby in response to the first switching element going from the first to the second state and remaining there for a pre-determined interval the third switching element goes from the fifth to the sixth state, whereupon a short circuit connects the two terminals, until flow ceases provided that the second switching element exhibits the third state.
2 more elements
A detector comprising:
- a sensor of fluid flow;
- a first switch having first and second states, coupled to the sensor;
- a digital time delay establishing element, coupled to the first switch, wherein the element is activated each time the first switch goes from the first state to the second state in response to flow having been detected by the sensor and wherein the element generates an output after a selected delay, in response thereto;
- a second switch having third and fourth states wherein the second switch goes from the third state to the fourth state in response to the output provided that the first switch is still in the second state;
- and
- a mode setting switch element coupled in series with the second switch.
3 more elements
A flow detector comprising:
- a first switch element wherein the element exhibits at least an open circuit and a closed circuit state;
- a multi-state latching switch element coupled in series with a portion of the first switch element;
- a second element in series with the latching switch wherein the second element has an open circuit state and a closed circuit state;
- a digital element for establishing a delay interval and with an output coupled to the latching element wherein in response to the first element changing state the digital element initiates the delay interval and in response to detecting an interval end, causes the latching element to enter a selected output state, provided, that the latching element will not enter the selected output state if during the delay interval the first element changes state again.
1 more element
A flow detector comprising:
- a first switch element wherein the element exhibits at least first state and a second state;
- a multi-state latching switch element coupled in series with a portion of the switch element;
- a second element in series with the latching switch wherein the second element has a third state and a fourth state;
- a digital timing element for establishing a delay interval and with an output coupled to the latching element wherein in response to the first element going from one state to another state the digital element initiates the delay interval and in response to detecting an interval end, causes the latching element to enter a selected state, provided, that the latching element will not enter the selected state, if during the delay interval, the first element again changes state.
1 more element
A detector comprising:
- a sensor of fluid flow;
- a first switch having first and second states, coupled to the sensor, wherein when in the second state, the first switch exhibits a low electrical impedance;
- an electronic time interval establishing circuit coupled to the first switch, wherein the circuit is activated to establish a predetermined delay interval each time the first switch goes from the first sate to the second state in response to flow having been detected by the sensor;
- a second switch having third and fourth states, wherein when in the fourth state, the second switch exhibits a low electrical impedance, and wherein the second switch goes from the third state to the fourth state in response to an end of the delay interval provided that the first switch is still in the second state;
- and
- wherein the second switch is in parallel with at least a portion of the first switch.
3 more elements
A detector comprising:
- a sensor of fluid flow;
- a first electrical switch having first and second states, coupled to the sensor, wherein when in the second state, a current can flow through at least part of the first switch;
- an electronic timer circuit coupled to the first switch, wherein the timer circuit is activated each time the first switch goes from the first state to the second state in response to flow having been detected by the sensor and wherein the timer circuit generates a selected delay, in response thereto;
- and
- a second electrical switch having third and fourth states, wherein when in the fourth state, a different current can flow through the second switch, and wherein the second switch goes from the third state to the fourth state, provided that the first switch is still in the second state after the selected delay.
2 more elements
A system comprising at least one flow detector having
- a sensor of fluid flow;
- a first electrical switch having first and second states, coupled to the sensor, wherein when in the second state, a current can flow through at least part of the first switch;
- an electronic timer circuit coupled to the first switch, wherein the timer circuit is activated each time the first switch goes for the first state to the second state in response to flow having been detected by the sensor and wherein the timer circuit generates a selected delay, in response thereto;
- a second electrical switch having third and fourth states, wherein when in the fourth state, a current can flow through the second switch, and wherein the second switch goes from the third state to the fourth state, provided that the first switch is still in the second state afier the selected delay;
- and
- a third, manually settable mode switch.
3 more elements
A system as in clam 43 wherein a part of the first switch is series coupled to a part of the second switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.