Abstract:
A fluid control apparatus includes a first sensor device for indicating a fluid flow within a first conduit that receives the fluid flow during a first condition and a second sensor device for indicating the fluid flow within a second conduit that receives the fluid flow during a second condition. In another example, the fluid control apparatus includes a member having a first surface and a second surface and an opening connecting the first surface and the second surface. The member moves between first and second positions during a first condition and the opening receives a fluid flow during a second condition. The first and second conditions correspond to a pressure differential.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to water flow control and, more particularly, to a device that detects low flow associated with a leak and normal flow associated with desired uses. 
         [0002]    Residential and commercial structures typically include water supply lines that receive water from a remote water supply source and transport the water to a desired end use. The end use may be a faucet, water heater, toilet, or other water use for example. Often, the residential or commercial structure may be left unattended or the water supply lines may not be closely monitored. If there is a leak during a time when the structure is unattended or not closely monitored, the leak may cause flooding and water damage to the structure and its contents. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, there is a need for a flow control device that utilizes a water usage pattern and detection of low flow rates associated with a leak condition to monitor the water supply lines for leaks. This invention addresses those needs and provides advanced capabilities while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The fluid control apparatus includes a first sensor device for indicating a water flow within a first conduit that receives the water flow during a first condition and a second sensor device for indicating the water flow within a second conduit that receives the water flow during a second condition. In one example, the first condition corresponds to a pressure differential that exceeds a pressure threshold and the second condition corresponds to a pressure differential that is below the pressure threshold. 
         [0005]    In another example, the fluid control apparatus includes a member having a first surface and a second surface and an opening connecting the first surface and the second surface. The member moves between first and second positions during the first condition and the opening receives a water flow during the second condition. The opening receives the water flow when a pressure differential is below a pressure threshold and the member moves between first and second positions when the pressure differential is above the pressure threshold. 
         [0006]    A method of fluid control includes determining a fluid usage pattern based upon water flow through a water supply line, monitoring the water supply line to detect a flow rate that corresponds to a leak condition, and controlling the water flow through the water supply line based upon the fluid usage pattern and the leak condition. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows selected portions of an example water system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows selected portions of an example fluid monitoring device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows selected portions of the example fluid monitoring device of  FIG. 2  with the valve member in an open position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows selected portions of the example fluid monitoring device of  FIG. 2  with water flowing through a secondary conduit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows selected portions of an example water system  10  that includes a water supply source  12  that supplies water to a water use  14  in a commercial, residential, or other structure for example. A first supply line  16  receives water from the water supply source  12  and transports the water to a fluid monitoring device  18 . The water leaves the fluid monitoring device  18  through a second supply line  20  and is received by the water use  14 , a faucet, water-heater, toilet, or other water use for example. The second supply line  20  includes a shut-off valve device  22  that is in communication with the fluid monitoring device  18  through a controller  24 . 
         [0013]      FIGS. 2-4  show selected portions of the example fluid monitoring device  18  during various operational states. The fluid monitoring device  18  includes an inlet portion  30  connected to the first supply line  16  and an outlet portion  32  connected to the second supply line  20 . A main conduit  34  connects to inlet portion  30  and includes a chamber  36  in which a first sensor device  38  operates. 
         [0014]    The first sensor device  38  includes a resilient valve member  40  having opposing surfaces  41   a  and  41   b . The resilient valve member  40  moves between a closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and an open position as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The resilient valve member  40  is coupled to a bias member  42 , such as a spring, that urges the resilient valve member  40  to the closed position. The bias member  42  is operatively connected to a first sensor  44  such that water pressure applied to the resilient valve member  40  moves the resilient valve member  40  against a bias member  42 , as will be described in more detail below. The movement of the resilient valve member  40  is detected by the first sensor  44 . 
         [0015]    In one example, the first sensor  44  includes a proximity sensor switch, reed switch sensor, or other type of sensor that indicates a first signal when the resilient valve member  40  is in the closed position and indicates a second signal when the resilient valve member  40  is in the open position. In another example, the first sensor  44  measures the magnitude of flow of water through the main conduit  34  and indicates a signal that corresponds to the magnitude. 
         [0016]    The resilient valve member  40  includes an opening  46  that connects the inlet portion  30  to a secondary conduit  48 . The secondary conduit  48  includes a second sensor device  50  such that water flow through the secondary conduit  48  moves a magnetic turbine  52  of the second sensor device  50 . Actuation of the magnetic turbine  52  is detected by a second sensor  54 . 
         [0017]    In one example, the second sensor  54  indicates a first signal when water flows in the secondary conduit  48  and indicates a second signal when there is no water flow in the secondary conduit  48 . In another example, the second sensor  54  measures the magnitude of flow of water through the secondary conduit  48  and indicates a signal that corresponds to the magnitude. 
         [0018]    In another example, the second sensor device detects flow in a first flow rate range and the first sensor  44  detects flow rates within a second flow rate range. The detectable flow rate range of the second sensor  54  includes flow rates that are not within the detectable flow rate range of the first sensor  44 . These features may provide the fluid monitoring device  18  with the benefit of sensing the fluid flow over a wider range of flow rates than previously known monitoring devices. 
         [0019]    The area of the opening  46  is sized to permit water to flow through the opening  46  and into the secondary conduit  48  when the pressure differential (e.g. an air pressure differential) between the inlet portion  30  and the outlet portion  32  is between a first pressure threshold and a second, lower pressure threshold. Below the second, lower pressure threshold no water flows through the opening  46 . 
         [0020]    The second pressure threshold corresponds to a leak condition in the water system  10 . That is, the leak condition produces a low pressure condition downstream of the fluid monitoring device in the second supply line  20  and at the outlet portion  32 . A non-equilibrium state is created wherein the pressure at the inlet portion  30  is higher than the pressure at the outlet portion  32 . When the difference between the pressures at the inlet portion  30  and outlet portion  32  exceeds the lower, second pressure threshold, water is forced through the opening  46 . In one example, when the pressure differential exceeds the first pressure threshold, the resilient valve member  40  moves against the bias force of the bias member  42 . Water may still flow through the opening  46  when the resilient valve member  40  moves, however, a most of the water will flow through a main conduit opening  56  to the outlet portion  32 . 
         [0021]    In one example, a slight leak condition, such as a leak on the order of under 100 cubic centimeters per minute, causes a pressure differential that is too small to move the resilient valve member  40  against the bias member  42  but large enough to urge water through the opening  46 . It is to be appreciated that the size of the opening  46  controls the size of leak that can be detected. 
         [0022]    The first sensor  44  and second sensor  54  communicate the respective signals to a controller  24 . In one example, the controller  24  commands the shut-off valve device  22  to close and prevent water flow through the second supply line  20  when the signal from the second sensor  54  indicates water flow through the secondary conduit  48 . This feature may provide the benefit of preventing water from continuing to flow through the second supply line  20  when there is a leak in the water system  10 . 
         [0023]    In another example, the controller  24  receives the signals from the first sensor  44  and determines a normal water use pattern based upon the signals. The terminology normal water use pattern as used in this description refers to desired uses of water (e.g. turning on of a faucet, flushing a toilet, etc.) and the times of day that the desired uses typically occur. In one illustrative example, the controller determines that a normal water use pattern includes a range of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and that any water use from 7:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. is outside of the normal water use pattern. 
         [0024]    The controller uses the normal water use pattern in combination with signals from the second sensor  54  to determine whether there is a leak in the water system  10 . When the controller  24  determines that there is water flow during a time outside of the normal water use pattern, the controller  24  commands the shut-off valve device  22  to close. When the controller  24  determines that there is water flow through the secondary conduit  48 , the controller  24  also commands the shut-off valve device  22  to close. This may provide the benefit of detecting various types of leak conditions, such as large leaks occurring during atypical use times, small leaks occurring during atypical use times, small leaks occurring during typical use times, etc. 
         [0025]    In another example, the controller additionally uses a duration of time that the water flow occurs to determine whether there is a leak. 
         [0026]    In one operational example having no leak condition and no water turned on (e.g. a faucet is closed/off), water is received by the inlet portion  30  and exerts a water pressure on the resilient valve member  40 . The pressure differential between the inlet portion  30  and outlet portion  32  (which corresponds to the water pressure on the resilient valve member  40 ) is not high enough to create a water pressure that moves the resilient valve member  40  against the bias member  42 . Thus, the water is stopped by the resilient valve member  40  and does not flow through to the outlet portion  32  and second supply line  20 . 
         [0027]    When the downstream water use  14  is turned on, the pressure differential between the inlet portion  30  and the outlet portion  32  exceeds the first pressure threshold and moves the resilient valve member  40  against the bias force of the bias member  42 . When the resilient valve member  40  moves upwards within the chamber  36 , the main conduit opening  56  provides a fluid connection between the inlet portion  30  and the outlet portion  32  such that the water flows through to the outlet portion  32  and second supply line  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0028]    In another operational example having a leak condition, the opening  46  is sized such that a small pressure differential created by the leak condition urges the water to flow through the opening  46  without moving the resilient valve member  40 , although it is to be appreciated that the pressure differential may also create a water pressure high enough to slightly move the resilient valve member  40 . The water that flows through the opening  46  flows through the chamber  36  and to the secondary conduit  48  and is detected by the second sensor device  50 . The water exits the secondary conduit  48  to the outlet portion  32  and into the second supply line  20 . 
         [0029]    It is to be appreciated that the configuration of the fluid monitoring device  18  may provide the benefit of allowing the first sensor device  38  to function without interference from the operation of the second sensor device  50  and the second sensor device  50  to function without interference from the operation of first sensor device  38 . This may provide the additional advantage of increased reliability from utilizing both a normal water usage pattern and detection of leak flow rates to monitor a water supply system. 
         [0030]    Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.