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A method of managing and conserving water at a point of use, by installing a control panel and at least one electrically operated valve in a plumbing line, which valve can monitor at least pressure and flow rate, and allow the calculation of the total volume of flow in a particular line. The valve b

A method of managing and conserving water at a point of use, by installing a control panel and at least one electrically operated valve in a plumbing line, which valve can monitor at least pressure and flow rate, and allow the calculation of the total volume of flow in a particular line. The valve being controlled by a controller programmed to prevent water loss by monitoring the pressure and flow rate in a particular line to detect and prevent water consumption outside controlled parameters by shutting off the valve if the system detects an uncontrolled flow, such as faucet being left on, or a leaky toilet cistern, or the water flow in a zone exceeding a predetermined quota.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A water management system adapted for use with a supply line from a water source to a point of use, the system comprising: at least one electrically operated valve located in the supply line, each said electrically operated valve having a water inlet and a water outlet to a zone controlled by the

1. A water management system adapted for use with a supply line from a water source to a point of use, the system comprising: at least one electrically operated valve located in the supply line, each said electrically operated valve having a water inlet and a water outlet to a zone controlled by the electrically operated valve, said zone having one or more points of use, each said electrically operated valve having a shut-off valve member and a metering valve member, the metering valve member having at least one bypass passageway in a form of tell-tale groove to enable a water flow through the metering valve member when the metering valve member is in a fully closed position, and each said valve is capable of allowing a number of different flow rates from a fully shut off position to fully open position including also a sensing position with a minimal flow rate;each electrically operated valve having a pressure sensor located in the electrically operated valve or downstream of the electrically operated valve outlet to detect pressure of the water in the zone supplied by the valve;each electrically operated valve having a flow sensor located in the electrically operated valve or downstream of the electrically operated valve outlet to measure a flow rate of water flowing in the zone supplied by the electrically operated valve;a controller interfaced to at least one of said pressure sensors, at least one of said flow sensors and at least one of said electrically operated valves, the controller being operative to terminate or change the flow of water to a zone or point of use in the event that(a) the flow rate exceeds a maximum allowed value, or(b) total flow exceeds a maximum allowed quota, or(c) a pressure change is detected in the supply line. 2. The water management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller has a display screen and user operated controls to enable the user to monitor water usage and/or to change usage parameters. 3. The water management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shut off valve member and the metering valve member are controlled by the rotational position of an electric motor. 4. The water management system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller is programmed to control the electrically operated valve to allow a soft start in which the electrically operated valve is opened to allow an initial water flow less than a demand flow at the point of use. 5. The water management system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller records water usage per zone and reports usage and any faults on its display screen. 6. The water management system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controller reports water usage and any faults to a remote site. 7. The plumbing installation as claimed in claim 6, wherein the controller has a number of preset programs capable of operating self tests on the plumbing installation, at least one of which programs can detect if a tap or faucet has been left in the open position and if so can close the adjustable valve to prevent wastage of water. 8. The plumbing installation as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of which programs can detect a leak at one or more points within the water feed pipe and/or branches thereof. 9. The water management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metering valve member has two tell tale grooves that are 180° apart. 10. The water management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically operated valve includes a valve body connected to an electric motor and a shaft encoder, such that the electric motor causes a crank pin to rotate, and the crank pin passes through a center of the valve body at right angles to a main rectangular axis of the valve body. 11. The water management system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at a bottom of the valve body there is an intake manifold with connectors configured to enable a number of valve bodies to be connected together to a common inlet pipe. 12. The water management system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electric motor is an electric stepper motor configured to cause a shaft of the electric motor to rotate on command. 13. The water management system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shaft of the electric motor is connected to a crank pin, and the crank pin is held within a hollow keeper which in turn is connected both to the shut-off valve member and also to the metering valve member. 14. The water management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metering valve member has a form of a conical body capable of moving into or out of engagement with a throat, and when fully lowered tapered sides of the metering valve member will mate against tapered sides of an upper portion of the throat to cause the metering valve member to close off water flow through the throat. 15. The water management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of tell-tale grooves. 16. A plumbing installation, comprising: a water inlet connected or connectable to a mains water supply,an adjustable valve connected between the water inlet, and a water feed pipe leading to different outlets selected from the group consisting of taps, showers, toilets and appliances, the water feed pipe being connected to a number of branches, servicing one or more of the outlets, whereineach said adjustable valve has a shut-off valve member and a metering valve member, the metering valve member having at least one bypass passageway in a form of a tell-tale groove to enable a water flow through the metering valve member when the metering valve member is in a fully closed position,a pressure sensor and a flow sensor are connected to the adjustable valve or to the water feed pipe or any branches thereof to sense the pressure and/or water flow and/or volume consumed within the water feed pipe, and wherein a controller having a display and input means, is operatively connected to the adjustable valve to control the operation of the adjustable valve in response to signals from the pressure sensor and/or the flow sensor, and in response to programs controlling the pressure or flow within the water feed pipe or branches thereof. 17. The plumbing installation as claimed in claim 16, wherein the metering valve member has two tell tale grooves that are 180° apart. 18. The plumbing installation as claimed in claim 16, wherein the adjustable valve is an electrically operated valve including a valve body connected to an electric motor and a shaft encoder, such that the electric motor causes a crank pin to rotate, and the crank pin passes through a center of the valve body at right angles to a main rectangular axis of the valve body. 19. The plumbing installation as claimed in claim 18, wherein at a bottom of the valve body there is an intake manifold with connectors configured to enable a number of valve bodies to be connected together to a common inlet pipe. 20. The plumbing installation as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electric motor is an electric stepper motor configured to cause a shaft of the electric motor to rotate on command.