Abstract:
A mechanism for minimizing shock in a fluid has a housing, a valve disposed in the housing for regulating a flow of the fluid, a spring that urges the valve to oppose the fluid flow, and, a reservoir disposed in the housing downstream of the valve. The valve meters the flow of fluid from the reservoir if the valve moves in reaction to the flow of the fluid.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    As plumbing fixtures add features, such as electronic controls, sensors and the like, the question of how those features are to be powered has arisen. Line power may not be preferred in many areas because of a concern that higher electrical power and water may create a hazard. Some applications use smaller, lower-power hydro-generators to provide the necessary electrical power. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    According to an example, a mechanism for minimizing shock in a fluid has a housing, a valve disposed in the housing for regulating a flow of the fluid, a spring disposed in the housing that urges the valve to oppose the fluid flow, and, a reservoir disposed in the housing downstream of the valve. The valve meters the flow of fluid from the reservoir if the valve moves in reaction to the flow of the fluid. 
         [0003]    According to a further example, a method for damping flow to a fixture includes exposing a valve to a flow of fluid, opposing the flow of fluid with a spring that urges the valve against the fluid flow, opposing the flow of fluid by metering a flow of fluid from a reservoir toward the fixture as the valve moves from a first position in response to the flow of fluid, and metering the flow of fluid as the valve moves. 
         [0004]    These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic partially broken away depiction of a Prior Art hydro-generator. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a soft start mechanism shown in section in a closed position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of partially in section of the soft start mechanism of  FIG. 2  in the open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0008]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an example of a prior art embodiment of a typical hydro-generator  10  is shown. The hydro-generator  10  has an inlet section  15 , a sealed rotation chamber  20 , a rotor  25  holding a plurality of blades  30  and an outlet  35 . Water flows through the inlet  15  into the rotation chamber  20 , uses its motive force to rotate the blades  30 , and exits through the outlet  35 . 
         [0009]    Each blade  30  has a magnet  40  imbedded in an outboard and lower portion  45  thereof. The rotor  25  is mounted to a hub  50  maintained within the sealed chamber. The rotation chamber has a bottom wall  55 , which does not diminish magnetic fields, to separate it from a generator portion  60 . 
         [0010]    The generator portion  60  houses a plurality of vanes  65  that are designed to be in register with the blades  30  within the rotation chamber  20 . The vanes  65  within the generator portion are mounted on a shaft  70  that connects to a generator  75  as is known in the art. The vanes  65  each have a magnet  80  that is located at an outboard and upper portion  85  thereof also to be in register with magnets  40  of opposite polarity in the rotation chamber. Electricity created by the generator  75  passes through the wires to be used or stored by a battery or a plumbing fixture  95  or the like. 
         [0011]    The generator  75  creates electrical power because water that flows into the rotation chamber  20 , rotates the blades  30  which in turn through operation of a magnetic field  100  between the magnets  40  in the blades  30  and the magnets  80  in the vanes  65 . The vanes  65  rotate the shaft  70  that rotates a rotor (not shown) within the generator  75  to generate electric current as is well known in the art. 
         [0012]    However, if the water flowing through the inlet section  15  into the rotation chamber  20  comes through too quickly, there is a possibility that the force of that water will overcome the attraction of the magnetic field  100  between the magnets  40 ,  80  and cause the blades  30  in the rotation chamber to get out of register with the vanes  65  in the generator portion and the vanes  65  will not rotate. Because the blades  30  usually rotate for a short amount of time while the water is being used, the vanes  65  in the generator section  60  may never catch up to the blades  30  in the rotation chamber so that very little, if any, electricity is generated by the generator  75 . 
         [0013]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a soft start mechanism  200  for use with a hydro-generator  10  is shown upstream of the hydro-generator  10 . This soft start mechanism  200  has a housing  205  having a diameter D 1  that is less than the inner diameter D 2  of the inlet section  15 . The cylindrical housing has a major bore  210  for holding a valve  215 , a plug  220  sealing the housing  205 , a pair of axially disposed outlet holes  220 ,  225  directing water into the inlet section  15 , a pair of radial grooves  230 , each radial bore housing an o-ring  235 , and an axial bore  240  for housing a first end  245  of a spring  250 . The first outlet hole  220  is of smaller diameter and is closer to the water source and the second outlet hole  225  is a greater diameter than the first hole and is farther away from the water source than the first outlet hole. The plug  220  has a minor bore  255  extending through a center portion thereof and a major bore  260  for housing a second end  265  of the spring  250 . The valve  215  has a face  270  for mating with a land  275  in the housing. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows the soft start mechanism  200  in a closed position with the face  270  of the valve  215  mated with the land  275  of the housing  205 . In this position there is no flow through the soft start mechanism. There is a reservoir  280  of water in the major bore behind the valve. 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the soft start mechanism  200  in an open position. The valve  215  is forced by water entering the soft start mechanism back against the plug  220  after water is turned on, the spring  250  is compressed and the reservoir  280  of water in the major bore has been forced out of the major bore into the inlet section. The system is open to allow water through both the first and second outlet holes  220 ,  225 . 
         [0016]    The soft start module is reset to its initial starting condition as shown in  FIG. 2  after the water is turned off, because the spring  250  pushes the valve  215  towards the land and causes water left in the inlet section  15  to be drawn within the replenishing reservoir  280  within the major bore  260  and through the minor bore  255  in the plug  220 . When reset, the spring  250  pushes the valve  215  back against the land  275 , to shut off the flow from the main water flow source. Flow through first and second outlet holes  220 ,  225  is also ended. 
         [0017]    As a remote valve (not shown) starts water flow, a shock wave of the water flow reacts against the face  270  of the valve  250  causing it to start to move open subject to the limiting force of water escaping through the minor bore  255  in the plug  220  and the resistive force of the spring  250 . As the force of the spring  250  is overcome and water escapes from the reservoir  280 , the valve move to open flow through the smaller, first outlet hole  220  until the valve passes by the larger, second outlet hole  225 , bottoms against the plug and is fully open. 
         [0018]    Gradually increasing water flow passing through and from the soft start module passes  200  into and through the inlet section  15  into the hydro-generator  10 . As the lower beginning flows pass the blades  30 , the blades slowly start turning and stay in registry with the vanes  65  in the generator section  60  causing the vanes to rotate thereby generating electricity by means of generator  75 . As the water exits the first outlet hole and then the second outlet hole as a the valve  215  moves, a gradual acceleration of flow allow the magnetic coupling to remain unbroken as the turbine and generator accelerate to maximum speed. 
         [0019]    Typical soft start devices  200  usually rely on spring pressure alone to restrict the water movement within a pipe. However, much of the energy in the water flow is wasted overcoming this spring resistance and not driving the hydro-generator. This improved start module shown herein uses a relatively weaker spring  250  for resisting flow, resetting the valve and filling the reservoir and relies on discharging the reservoir through the minor bore to provide the required resistance to initial flow. Once the initial delay is accomplished, the soft start module provides reduced restriction to flow due to its weaker spring  250 . 
         [0020]    Although a combination of features is shown in the illustrated examples, not all of them need to be combined to realize the benefits of various embodiments of this disclosure. In other words, a system designed according to an embodiment of this disclosure will not necessarily include all of the features shown in any one of the Figures or all of the portions schematically shown in the Figures. Moreover, selected features of one example embodiment may be combined with selected features of other example embodiments. 
         [0021]    The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims. For instance, though a first outlet hole and a second larger outlet hole are shown, mechanisms for allowing graduated flow as the valve moves, such as more or less radially holes or different sized grooves etc. are contemplated.