IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0530840
(2006-09-11)
|
등록번호 |
US-7346434
(2008-03-18)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
11 |
초록
▼
A flow control apparatus and method for operating the apparatus are disclosed. The flow control apparatus comprises a main supply line, a first valve, a first pressure transducer, a rotary meter, a control line, an intermediate valve, a second pressure transducer, a second valve, and a digital contr
A flow control apparatus and method for operating the apparatus are disclosed. The flow control apparatus comprises a main supply line, a first valve, a first pressure transducer, a rotary meter, a control line, an intermediate valve, a second pressure transducer, a second valve, and a digital controller. The digital controller executes the program for operating the flow control apparatus. The program permits monitoring and regulating the amount of fluid passing through the flow control apparatus. Additionally, leaks in the flow control apparatus can be detected by the program, prompting automatic shut down of the apparatus if desired. Further, the apparatus may terminate flow through predetermined set points, such as volume and time maximums.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A flow control device for terminating fluid flow after a predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered through the device, which comprises: a primary line for conveying fluid through the device from an inlet to an outlet; a flow meter attached to the primary line for mea
What is claimed is: 1. A flow control device for terminating fluid flow after a predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered through the device, which comprises: a primary line for conveying fluid through the device from an inlet to an outlet; a flow meter attached to the primary line for measuring flow quantities through the device; an intermediate valve in the primary line for controlling flow therethrough; a control line attached to the primary line for permitting a quantity of fluid to selectively bypass the intermediate valve; a shutdown valve in the control line for controlling flow therethrough; an apparatus associated with the device for measuring a fluid pressure differential in the device, a controller responsive to the flow meter for closing the intermediate valve when the predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered, and the controller including at least one timer, the controller responsive to the timer for closing the intermediate valve and the shutdown valve when the fluid pressure differential has remained greater than a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time. 2. The flow control device of claim 1, further including a solenoid attached to the intermediate valve for opening or closing the intermediate valve. 3. The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the apparatus for measuring a fluid pressure differential in the device comprises first and second pressure transducers attached to the primary line and connected to the controller. 4. The flow control device of claim 3, wherein the first pressure transducer is attached to the primary line proximate the device inlet, and the second pressure transducer is attached to the primary line proximate the device outlet. 5. The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the controller is responsive to the apparatus for measuring a fluid pressure differential for closing the shutdown valve when the fluid pressure differential is less than a predetermined value. 6. The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the controller includes first and second timers, the first timer being activated when a building associated with the device is not occupied, and the second timer being activated when the building is occupied. 7. The flow control device of claim 1, further including apparatus for manually resetting the controller for permitting fluid flow to continue after the predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered. 8. The flow control device of claim 7, wherein the apparatus for manually resetting the controller comprises a reset button on the controller. 9. The flow control device of claim 1, further including at least one relay electrically connected to the device for terminating power to a water consuming appliance when fluid flow through the fluid control device is terminated. 10. The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the flow meter is a rotary flow meter, and further including a pulse transducer associated with the flow meter for converting meter rotations into a digital signal. 11. A method for limiting fluid flow through a flow control device having a primary line for conveying fluid through the device from an inlet to an outlet, a flow meter attached to the primary line for measuring flow quantities through the device, an intermediate valve in the primary line for controlling flow therethrough, a control line attached to the primary line for permitting a quantity of fluid to selectively bypass the intermediate valve, a shutdown valve in the control line for controlling flow therethrough; and a controller responsive to the flow meter for closing the intermediate valve when the predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered, the method comprising: determining whether the predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered; if the predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered, determining whether a reset button has been reset; if the reset button has not been reset, determining whether a fire alarm has been activated; if the fire alarm has not been activated, closing the intermediate valve for substantially terminating the fluid flow through the device; determining whether there is any fluid flow through the primary line; and if it is determined that there is fluid flow through the primary line, activating a counter and a timer to record the amount of fluid that has passed through the device. 12. The method of claim 11, further including the step, if the fire alarm has not been activated, of deactivating at least one relay connected to the controller for terminating power to an associated water consuming appliance. 13. The method of claim 12, further including the steps, if the reset button has been reset, of: opening the intermediate valve; and resetting a fluid quantity counter to zero. 14. The method of claim 12, further including the steps, if the fire alarm has been activated, of: opening the intermediate valve; and resetting a fluid quantity counter to zero. 15. The method of claim 11, further including the steps of: determining whether a building associated with the device is occupied; if it is determined that the building is occupied, setting a first maximum fluid flow setpoint representing the maximum amount of fluid that may be used when the building is occupied before the fluid control device will terminate fluid flow; and if it is determined that the building is not occupied, setting a second maximum fluid flow setpoint representing the maximum amount of fluid that may be used when the building is not occupied before the fluid control device will terminate fluid flow. 16. A method for limiting fluid flow through a flow control device having a primary line for conveying fluid through the device from an inlet to an outlet, a flow meter attached to the primary line for measuring flow quantities through the device, an intermediate valve in the primary line for controlling flow therethrough, a control line attached to the primary line for permitting a quantity of fluid to selectively bypass the intermediate valve, a shutdown valve in the control line for controlling flow therethrough; and a controller responsive to the flow meter for closing the intermediate valve when the predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered, the method comprising: determining whether the predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered; if the predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered, determining whether a reset button has been reset; if the reset button has not been reset, determining whether a fire alarm has been activated; if the fire alarm has not been activated, closing the intermediate valve for substantially terminating the fluid flow through the device; determining whether there is any fluid flow through the primary line; if it is determined that there is no fluid flow through the primary line, determining whether the pressure differential across the primary line is greater than a predetermined value; if it is determined that the pressure differential is greater than the predetermined value, determining whether a building associated with the device is occupied; if it is determined that the building is occupied, activating a first timer; and if the pressure differential continues until the first timer time elapses, closing the intermediate and the shutdown solenoid valves. 17. The method of claim 16, further including the steps, if it is determined that the building is not occupied, of: activating a second timer; and if the pressure differential continues until the second timer time elapses, closing the intermediate and the shutdown solenoid valves.
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