WO2004072602A1

WO2004072602A1 - A valve arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2004072602A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/000393
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frederick Dennis Bowerman
Original assignee: Frederick Dennis Bowerman
Priority date: 2003-02-17
Filing date: 2004-02-17
Publication date: 2004-08-26

Abstract

This invention relates to a valve arrangement. The valve arrangement (10) includes a valve for installation in a water supply line (16), operating means for it, and an electronic control circuit. The circuit has means (20) permitting it to detect water flow through a line in which the valve is operatively installed and to determine the duration of uninterrupted flow. The arrangement will permit such flow for a predetermined permissible duration only and will then operate its valve to close. It will subsequently operate its valve to open only upon receiving a predetermined reset input via input means (32) thereof. As such, the valve arrangement operatively prevents wastage of water, due to a tap being left open or a water leak, by preventing unduly long uninterrupted flow of water through a water supply line.

Description

A VALVE ARRANGEMENT

THIS INVENTION relates to a valve arrangement.

According to the invention there is provided a valve arrangement including

a valve, operable between an open and a closed position, for installation in a water supply line;

valve operating means for operating the valve to open and close; and

an electronic control circuit for controlling the valve operating means, including

flow detection means for operatively detecting flow of water through a line in which the valve is installed; and

timing means for measuring the duration of uninterrupted flow detected via the flow detection means and for indicating when a permissible duration of uninterrupted flow has elapsed,

the control circuit being configured to control the valve operating means to close the valve upon the timing means indicating that the permissible duration of uninterrupted flow has elapsed and to subsequently control it to operate the valve to open only upon receiving, via input means thereof, a predetermined reset input.

As such, the valve arrangement may, e.g., operatively be installed in a water supply line which includes at least one stopcock. Should the stopcock inadvertently be left open for a period exceeding the permissible duration, the valve operating means will close the valve, thereby stopping the flow of water via the stopcock and preventing further loss of water. The same applies where a leak occurs in the water supply line downstream of the valve arrangement.

The permissible duration may be adjustable.

The flow detection means may be a flow sensor. It may, particularly, be a flow volume meter. Alternatively, the flow detection means may be input means of the control circuit permitting it to receive, as an input, an output from an external device indicative of water flow, e.g. an electric pulse output of a flow volume meter, a magnetic pulse output of a flow volume meter, and the like.

The control circuit may be configured to record therein the water flow volume through a water supply line in which the valve is operatively installed and to give an output of the recorded volume via output means thereof. Such an output may, e.g., be given at predetermined time intervals.

The control circuit may be configured to give, via output means thereof, an advance warning of impending closing of the valve.

The control circuit may be configured to give, via output means thereof, an indication when the valve has been closed. The output means, where provided, may include means for transmitting an output signal to a remote device such as a computer, a telephone, and the like. Such an output signal may, e.g., include a text message, such as a Short Message Service message, and the like, operatively communicated by the control circuit to a remote device.

The valve may default to open in the case of an interruption of electricity supply to the control circuit.

The control circuit may include connectors for connecting it to a power supply in the form of a battery. The valve arrangement may include a generator for recharging a rechargeable battery operatively connected thereto which, in the operative configuration of the valve arrangement installed in a water supply line, is driven via flow of water through the line, e.g. a generator including an impeller.

The control circuit may provide for an override input to be made via input means thereof during flow of water through a water supply line in which the valve is operatively installed to extend the permissible duration of uninterrupted flow.

The input means of the control circuit may include at least one switch. It may, alternatively or additionally, include means for receiving an input signal from a remote device such as a computer, a telephone, and the like. So, e.g., the control circuit may be configured for operatively receiving a reset input signal or an override input signal from such a device. Such an input signal may, e.g., include a text message, such as a Short Message Service message, and the like.

It is submitted that the valve arrangement of the invention provides a convenient means for preventing unduly long and, particularly, unintended flow of water through a water supply line. As such, the potential for water wastage is minimized. The invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic general view of an embodiment of a valve arrangement, in accordance with the invention, in an operative configuration with respect to a water supply line; and

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic general view of a part of the valve arrangement of Figure 1 , in an inoperative configuration.

In the drawings, a valve arrangement, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.

In Figure 1 , the valve arrangement 10 is shown connected in line with a mains water supply line 16 of a house (not shown) via upstream and downstream connectors 12 and 14, respectively, thereof. The line 1 6 includes a pipe 17 (of which the downstream end only is shown), connected to a street mains, and a pipe 18 (of which the upstream end only is shown) forming part of the water distribution system of the house. It includes also a water flow volume meter 20 upstream of the valve arrangement 10 and a connector piece 22 between the latter two components. The components of the line 16 particularly are connected together via four hexagonal connectors 23.

The valve arrangement 10 includes a housing 24, which has a face panel 26 carrying output means in the form of an LCD display 28 and two lights 30, and input means in the form of a keypad 32. The panel 26 is removably mounted on the remainder of the housing 24 via four clips 34.

In Figure 2, the valve arrangement 10 is shown without its face panel 26 to reveal some of its internal components. The valve arrangement 10 includes a valve 36 and valve operating means for it, which includes an electronic control circuit 38 and a solenoid 40. The control circuit 38 controls the solenoid 40 to operate the valve 36 to open and close. The valve 36 defaults to open, i.e. when power supply thereto by the control circuit 38 is interrupted, it opens.

The control circuit 38 has connectors 42 via which it is connected to a power supply in the form of a rechargeable battery 44. In an alternative embodiment not shown, the control circuit may be powered from a mains power supply. The valve arrangement 10 includes also a generator 46, including an impeller 48 that is driven via flow of water through the line 1 6. The generator 46 serves to charge the battery 44. The control circuit 38 has also connectors 50 which, with the panel 26 (see Figure 1 ) mounted on the remainder of the housing 24, cooperates with matching connectors (not shown) on the panel to connect the display 28, the lights 30, and the keypad 32 to the control circuit 38 and to make them part of it.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 generally, the flow volume meter 20 (see Figure 1 ) has an output cable 52 via which, during flow of water through the meter, it gives electric pulse outputs indicative of the flow volume of water through it. The cable 52 is connected to the control circuit 38 (see Figure 2) via input means thereof including two connecting screws 53. This input means thus serves as flow detection means of the control circuit. As such, the control circuit 38 can determine whether there is flow of water through the line 16 and can determine the flow volume also. The control circuit 38 records therein the cumulative flow volume of such water for the month to date and displays it on the display 28 (see Figure 1 ). An alternative embodiment of the valve arrangement of the invention (not shown) may include its own flow sensor or flow volume meter.

With reference particularly to Figure 2, the control circuit 38 includes a socket 54 via which it is connected in communication with a fixed line telecommunications network via a cable 55. As such, the control circuit 38 is associated with a contact number on the network and can receive an input signal including a Short Message Service message from the network. The socket 54 thus serves as input means of the control circuit 38 and, as will become apparent from the remainder of this description, as output means for it also.

Via the keypad 32 (see Figure 1 ), two contact numbers have been stored in the control circuit 38: that of a remote device in the form of a computer (not shown) of a water supplier that owns the street mains referred to and that of a mobile telephone (not shown) of the owner of the house. The numbers may be displayed on the display 28 (see Figure 1 ) via predetermined keystrokes via the keypad 32.

With reference again to Figures 1 and 2 generally, via the keypad 32, two time periods of, say, 60min and 1 5min, respectively, have been stored in the control circuit 38. These periods are the permissible duration of uninterrupted flow and the advance warning period, respectively, and their significance will become apparent from the remainder of this description.

The control circuit 38 includes electronic timing means which measures the duration of uninterrupted flow of water detected via electric pulse inputs from the meter 20. It gives the control circuit 38 an indication if and when the permissible duration of uninterrupted flow has elapsed.

The operation of the valve arrangement 10 will now be described and further features thereof will thus become apparent.

Via pulse outputs from the meter 20, the control circuit 38 continuously detects whether there is flow of water through the line 16. Upon commencement of such flow, it initiates timing by means of its timing means. If the timing means indicates that uninterrupted flow has occurred for a period of 60min, i.e. the permissible duration, the control circuit 38 energizes the solenoid 40 to close the valve 36. The timing means also gives an indication 15min, i.e. the advance warning period, in advance of the closing of the valve, i.e. after 45min of uninterrupted flow. In response to such indication, the control circuit 38 gives an advance warning of the impending closing of the valve 36 in the form of a Short Message Service message containing the text "valve to close 1 5min" to the contact number of the mobile phone stored therein.

If no response is received, the valve 36 will be closed after 15min and the control circuit 38 will send another Short Message Service message containing the text "valve closed" to the mobile phone number. If any response is received before the expiry of the 15min period, e.g. a blank Short Message Service message, the control system 38 will reset its timing means and thus permit an additional 60min of flow. Such a response is an example of an override input into the control circuit 38. An override input may alternatively be made via the keypad 32.

An advance warning of impending closing of the valve 36 is also given via a buzzer (not shown) of the control circuit and via energization of the light 30.1 . The display 28 then displays a countdown of the minutes remaining till closure of the valve. Once the valve 36 has been closed, the light 30.1 is de-energized and the light 30.2 energized.

After the valve 36 has been closed, the control circuit 38 may be reset by a reset input via the keypad 32, upon which it will control the solenoid 40 to open the valve. Such a reset input may also be made by sending a Short Message Service message to the contact number of the control circuit, e.g. one containing the text "reset".

The control circuit 38 may be programmed via the keypad 32 to respond to various commands communicated to it via a Short Message Service message, e.g. to close the valve 36 immediately upon receiving a message including the text "close".

At the end of each calendar month, the control circuit 38 transmits an output signal in the form of a Short Message Service message to the number of the water supplier referred to including text indicating the total water flow volume for the month as recorded therein, e.g. "3000litres", and an identity number associated with the valve arrangement. The supplier uses this information for billing purposes.

In an alternative embodiment of the valve arrangement of the invention not shown, its control circuit may include input and output means in the form of a transceiver providing for communication via a wireless communications network, such as a cellular communications network, a satellite communications network, and the like.

Clearly, the configuration of the valve arrangement of the invention is highly variable and the invention extends to all valve arrangements including the essential features of a valve arrangement, as defined herein.

Claims

1 . A valve arrangement including

valve operating means for operating the valve to open and close; and

2. A valve arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the permissible duration is adjustable.

3. A valve arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2, in which the flow detection means is a flow sensor.

4. A valve arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2, in which the flow detection means is a flow volume meter.

5. A valve arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2, in which the flow detection means is input means of the control circuit permitting it to receive, as an input, an output from an external device indicative of water flow.

6. A valve arrangement as claimed in Claim 5, in which the flow detection means is input means of the control circuit permitting it to receive, as an input, an output which is one of an electric pulse output of a flow volume meter and a magnetic pulse output of a flow volume meter.

7. A valve arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, in which the control circuit is configured to record therein the water flow volume through a water supply line in which the valve is operatively installed and to give an output of the recorded volume via output means thereof.

8. A valve arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control circuit is configured to give, via output means thereof, an advance warning of impending closing of the valve.

9. A valve arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control circuit is configured to give, via output means thereof, an indication when the valve has been closed.

10. A valve arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9, in which the output means includes means for transmitting an output signal to a remote device.

1 1 . A valve arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the valve defaults to open in the case of an interruption of electricity supply to the control circuit.

12. A valve arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control circuit includes connectors for connecting it to a power supply in the form of a battery.

13. A valve arrangement as claimed in Claim 12, which includes a generator for recharging a rechargeable battery operatively connected thereto which, in the operative configuration of the valve arrangement installed in a water supply line, is driven via flow of water through the line.

14. A valve arrangement as claimed in Claim 13, in which the generator includes an impeller.

15. A valve arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the control circuit provides for an override input to be made via input means thereof during flow of water through a water supply line in which the valve is operatively installed to extend the permissible duration of uninterrupted flow.

16. A valve arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the input means of the control circuit includes at least one switch.

17. A valve arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the input means includes means for receiving an input signal from a remote device.

18. A valve arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.