AU2001100309A4 - Services controller - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT SERVICES CONTROLLER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 The invention relates to a services controller that is effective to switch off a service, such as the flow of hot water to a shower, at, in the case of hot water, a preset time or volume, thereby limiting use of the service.

Hot water is supplied in bathrooms in homes, hotels, public buildings and the like. Both the volume of water, and the units of electricity used in heating it, are usually monitored and charged for. Their cost can be considerable when users are not inclined to exercise discipline and limit their access. A controller that cuts the service at a predetermined level of usage is desirable.

It is known to provide timers that regulate the flow of water. Timers are common in garden watering systems. What these have in common is provision of a time setting mechanism by which the user is free to set the time over which watering will take place. However a timer that is designed with a mechanism enabling a user to set when the timer will effect a cut in the flow does not provide the sort of control that is needed when the object is to impose a cutout that will not be circumvented.

It is an object of the invention to provide a controller that is initiated by a user wanting access to a service, that switches on access to the service but that cuts access at the discretion of the supplier of the service in a way that the user cannot over-ride.

The invention achieves its object in the provision of a controller including, an on/off actuator by which to selectively switch a service on and off, 3 a delay device effecting a predetermined time-out, and a user actionable initiator, user operation of the initiator initializing the delay device and switching on the actuator, the delay device switching off the actuator on reaching the predetermined time-out.

In a preferred form the controller may include several delays that are preferably adjustable timers and including fixed relays, which are initiated by a io single push button type switch, with neon indicators and which tell the operator that the device is working. In this preferred form a red indicator may show that a hot water valve is functioning and that hot water is available at the shower and the bath taps in the bathroom. A green indicator may show that power is available to an exhaust fan and a set of heat lamps, if required. An exhaust fan might be mounted in a ceiling, wall or window. By use of a single push button type switch as the initiator, the exhaust fan may be made to commence running at the same time that the hot water is available at the taps of bath and shower.

In the preferred embodiment above, where hot water and exhaust fan is to be controlled, there are two adjustable timers. A first adjustable timer affecting access to hot water might be set at a 4 or 5 minutes delay, as predetermined by the service provider who is putting the controller into use. The delay that is required is typically stipulated and set at the time of purchase. This first adjustable timer turns on the hot water making it available to bath and shower 4 and off after the preset 4 or 5 minutes. The second adjustable timer affects the run time of the exhaust fan may be preset at a 7 or 8 minutes delay, as required by the service provider. Again it is stipulated and set at time of purchase. Recommended settings are 4 minutes for hot water and 7 minutes for the exhaust fan or 5 minutes for hot water and 8 minutes for the exhaust fan. These times allow enough additional fan time to clear a bathroom of steam if the room is fogged, keeping the room drier to reduce mildew and moulds. The exhaust fan might also incorporate heat lamps as is quite common in this style of bathroom fitting.

In the above described preferred embodiment it is best arranged that once the hot water timer has operated, the pressing of the start button will not turn the hot water on again until the full cycle has been completed. That is the controller cannot be initiated a second time until the exhaust fan has turned off.

In a particular preferred form of the controller provision may be made such that additional fittings or devices could be added to the controller.

As heat lamps would not be required in a bathroom during the summer months, an additional heat lamp switch can be fitted to the controller plate. By this means the heat lamps might be turned off. They can be turned on then only as needed. The controller might still control power to the heat lamp to maintain economic usage at all times.

The invention will now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment as described in the accompanying drawings in which: FIG 1 is a schematic showing the basic components of an embodiment of the invention, FIG 2 is a further schematic showing a development of the embodiment of Fig 1 to control two services, and FIG 3 is a still further schematic showing a development of the embodiment of Fig 2 achieving control of still further services.

In Fig 1 the controller 10 is effective to deliver power to a service 13. The controller 10 incorporates the functions of an initiator or switch by which to initiate the service 13 and of a delay 12 that cuts power to the service after a set degree of use. In practice the delay may be a timer counting down a period of time in minutes. The service may be a hot water line to a bathroom, switched on and off by an actuator such as a solenoid operated valve under control of the delay. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that a flow meter or other sensor might monitor the quantity of hot water delivered. The initiating switch is mounted remote from shower and bath so that a user is denied an otherwise continuous flow of hot water. Ideally a second longer delay is incorporated (see below) such that the controller cannot be initiated again until the second longer delay cuts out. The longer delay inconveniences a user who might make repeated use of the service.

In Fig 2 the controller 10 additionally incorporates two delays 12,15 and delivers power to two services 13,16. The initiator or switch 11 initiates the delays 12,15. The delay intervals may be different and they ideally are as explained below. They preferably hold power to their respective services via a relay 14 with the device wired or organized in such manner that the relay is latched or held on by the delays, preferably by the delay effecting the longest delay. An advantage in this is that a new cycle in the operation of the device is not possible until the longest interval times out, before the controller can be lo initiated again. In a practical application the services might be the hot water to a shower and the power to an exhaust fan. The fan is best run for a longer period before it cuts out and the controller can be initiated once again.

Running the exhaust fan for some time after the shower clears steam from the bathroom, reducing mould growth. When hot water is not available till the longer timer cuts out, users are discouraged from waiting and returning to the shower.

In Fig 3 is seen further additions to the controller 10 that selectively distributes power to service 13, ideally a solenoid operated valve fitted into a hot water line to switch the flow of water therein. Solenoid operated valves are known to those skilled in the art and their use and wiring is within the competence of electricians and are not further described herein. Power to the service 13 is controlled by the combined delay, ideally a timer 12 and relay 14. Timer 13 might be set to run for 4 minutes. The controller, at the same time, distributes power to another service, ideally an exhaust fan 16. Delay 16, ideally a timer 7 determines the time for which the second service 16 is on. Delay 15 might be set so the second service is on for seven minutes. A third service, such as heat lamps 18 might be provided and their power might be via a second relay 17. The delay 15 is wired with the relay to latch or hold relay 14 on, feeding power to the exhaust fan 16 and the second relay 17 via switch 11 on line 19.

The relays remain on till delay 15 times out.

The controller's operation can be as follows: press the start button, which will start the hot water to the shower and at the same time, the exhaust fan. A lo heat lamp may also start. The red and green lights on the control panel will light up. The hot water will then automatically switch off at the preset time and the red light will go off, while the exhaust fan and heat lamp will continue to run. The controller will then automatically switch of the exhaust fan and heat lamp at the preset time, at which time the green light will go off. The hot water cannot be reset until the controller cuts out the green light. In the case where a heat lamp is installed, the heat lamp will have a separate on/off switch so it can be switched off during the summer months.

A controller of the above-described kind can be used for controlling electrical equipment in a bathroom and the like with a range of advantages, effecting a number of savings as follows:- 1. Energy is saved due to reduced consumption of hot water. Whatever heating means is used, electricity, gas, or even wood, clearly less energy is consumed when the quantity of hot water to be delivered is reduced.

8 2. Water is saved. A test carried out indicated that a typical mix of hot and cold water is used at a rate of approximately 13 liters per minute (8 liters of hot water and 5 litres of cold water). Therefore a 4-minute shower uses approximately 52 litres of water. A 6-minute shower would use 78 liters of water. With a family of four, if they all stood under the shower for an extra five minutes each that would amount to an extra 180 litres of hot water and a extra 100 litres of cold water, an extra 260 litres a day. (These figures will vary in practice dependent on local factors such as water pressures and plumbing design.) 3. Time is saved. Using the above figures a family of 4 people would use 208 litres of water (128 litres of hot water and 80 litres of cold water).

Therefore a family of 4 would take approximately 16 minutes to shower at 13 liters per minute. The overall time for a family of four would be 28 minutes taking account of the longer delay when it is set at 7 minutes.

4. Mould growth is limited. Because steam is not allowed to condense on ceiling and walls, mould growth is inhibited on these surfaces.

Money is saved. With energy and water saved over a period of time, considerable savings of money can result.

Off the shelf, adjustable electrical timers are the preferred devices by which to effect a time out. Alternately the controller might be made to work using a flow meter, working with the quantity of water delivered. An advantage in this is that users might choose to run their allocation slowly giving themselves a longer shower. A flow meter can be combined with the solenoid operated valve and the two added into the hot water line together meaning there is no 9 substantial additional installation effort. However the output of the flow meter needs monitoring and the number of components in the controller is increased. Other approaches to effecting a delay are possible. Hot water flow heats the hot water line. A temperature sensor might be mounted on the line, separated from it by a predetermined thickness of thermal insulating material.

The controller might monitor the sensor and cut power to the solenoid when a particular temperature is reached at the sensor. A disadvantage is that like the flow meter there is an increase in the number of components needed. This version is less desirable because some time needs to elapse before temperatures at the sensor return to what they were at the start, or the next to shower has a shorter period in the shower. The cool down time might be used as the second delay that is to time out before the fan turns off and the controller can be reset. The electronic components and circuitry by which to do this will be known to those skilled in that art and they are not described herein.

Use of the controller of the invention answers the problem of getting children and teenagers out of the shower. Running out of hot water or having highenergy bills or an excess water rate bill can be avoided. Water and energy are fast becoming precious commodities. Saving water and energy helps in protecting the environment. Saving water is a particular issue for households operating on tank water, particularly in unexpected drought.

Claims (4)

1. A controller including, an onloff actuator by which to selectively switch a service on and off, a delay device effecting a predetermined time-out, and a user actionable initiator, user operation of the initiator initializing the delay device and switching on the actuator, the delay device switching off the actuator on reaching the predetermined time-out.

2. A controller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the delay device is a timer set to count down a predetermined time, the actuator is a solenoid operated valve in the hot water line and the initiator is a switch that on activation powers the solenoid operated valve to open the hot water line, flow being permitted until the timer finishes its count down.

3. A controller as claimed in claim 2 wherein there is a second timer set to count down a longer time and an outlet for power to a exhaust fan, activation of the switch also providing power at the exhaust fan outlet until the second timer finishes its count down. 11

4. A controller as claimed as claimed in claim 3 wherein there is an additional outlet for power to heat lamps, activation of the switch also providing power at the heat lamp outlet until the second timer finishes its count down. A controller as claimed in either one of claims 3 or 4 wherein a relay holds the controller on until the second timer times out.