US 6,286,764 B1Granted

Fluid and gas supply system

OwnerEdward C. Garvey, Donald D. Onoratiinventors

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A fluid or gas delivery system is provided for controlling fluid or gas temperature, flow rate and volume at a system outlet. The system comprises single or double control valves for regulating flow of a first fluid or gas and a second fluid or gas from corresponding first and second fluid or gas sources into a mixing port, wherein the first fluid or gas has a different temperature from the second fluid or gas. A fluid or gas supply control valve actuator operatively connected to the first and second fluid or gas supply valves actuate opening and closure operations of the valves. A thermosensor thermally coupled with the mixing port senses an estimated present temperature of a mixed fluid or gas within the mixing port. A flow control valve regulates flow of a mixed fluid or gas at the system outlet. A flow control valve actuator operatively connected to the flow control valve actuates opening and closure thereof. A user interface including user input means for selecting a set temperature, flow rate and volume of fluid or gas at the system outlet is provided along with a user display for displaying one or more system functions or parameters. Control means are provided for receiving signals from the thermosensor and user interface and for processing the signals to generate appropriate control signals to control the fluid or gas supply control valve actuator and flow control valve actuator means to achieve programmed or user-selected set temperature, flow rate and volume at the system outlet.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A fluid delivery system for controlling fluid temperature, flow rate and volume at a system outlet comprising:

a fluid supply control valve for regulating flow of a first fluid and a second fluid from corresponding first and second fluid sources into a mixing port, wherein said first fluid has a different temperature from said second fluid;
a fluid supply control valve actuator operatively connected to said fluid supply valve for actuating opening and closure operations thereof;
a thermosensor thermally coupled with said mixing port to sense an estimated present temperature of a mixed fluid within said mixing port;
a fluid control valve for regulating flow of a mixed fluid flow at said system outlet;
a flow control valve actuator operatively connected to said flow control valve for actuating opening and closure operations thereof;
a user interface including user input means for selecting a set temperature, flow rate and volume of fluid at said system outlet and user display means for displaying one or more system functions or parameters;
system control means for receiving signals from said thermosensor and user interface and for processing said signals to generate appropriate control signals to control said fluid supply control valve actuator(s) and said flow control valve actuator means to achieve programmed or user-selected set temperature, flow rate and volume at said system outlet;
and
a remote system monitoring/control device operable for bidirectional data transmission and reception between said remote monitoring/control device and said system control means and/or system sensor(s) for remotely monitoring and controlling said one or more system functions or parameters, wherein said remote monitoring/control device operates to remotely generate signals to remotely select said one or more system functions or parameters, and wherein said remote monitoring/control device also operates to receive signals from said system control means and/or said one or more system sensor(s) to remotely monitor said one or more system functions or parameters.

6 more elements

A fluid delivery system for controlling fluid temperature, flow rate and volume at a system outlet comprising:

a fluid supply control valve for regulating flow of a first fluid and a second fluid from corresponding first and second fluid sources into a mixing port, wherein said first fluid has a different temperature from said second fluid;
a fluid supply control valve actuator operatively connected to said fluid supply valve for actuating opening and closure operations thereof;
a thermosensor thermally coupled with said mixing port to sense an estimated present temperature of a mixed fluid within said mixing port;
a fluid control valve for regulating flow of a mixed fluid flow at said system outlet;
a flow control valve actuator operatively connected to said flow control valve for actuating opening and closure operations thereof;
a user interface including user input means for selecting a set temperature, flow rate and volume of fluid at said system outlet and user display means for displaying one or more system functions or parameters;
system control means for receiving signals from said thermosensor and user interface and for processing said signals to generate appropriate control signals to control said fluid supply control valve actuator(s) and said flow control valve actuator means to achieve programmed or user-selected set temperature, flow rate and volume at said system outlet;
and
external data storage and input means for storing and transferring data to said system control means to control one or more system function(s) or parameter(s).

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.