TW202330107A - Systems and methods for conserving water and energy consumption - Google Patents

Abstract

Described herein are devices and methods for energy and water consumption reduction. A device may include a valve configured to adjust a flow of water through a water delivery device based on data received from a sensor; the sensor configured to detect a movement of a user over a period of time and output one or more signals to a controller; a transceiver configured to transmit data to a computing device; and a controller. The controller is configured to perform operations including receiving the one or more signals from the sensor; determining a movement pattern of the user based on the one or more signals; and adjusting a functionality of one or more of: the sensor, the valve, or the transceiver based on the determined movement pattern so that a desired power conservation and a desired water flow through the water delivery device are achieved.

Description

System and method for saving water and energy consumption

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of water and energy conservation, and more specifically, to the field of devices and methods for regulating water flow dependent on sensed signals.

People and businesses can buy conservation products in the market to incorporate into their lives in order to save water and energy usage. Businesses interested in saving water can use, for example, faucets and sensors that sense the presence of a hand to start the flow of water and the absence of a hand to stop the flow of water. Similarly, the showerhead may include a regulator, such as a button, valve or tab, to start and stop the flow of water, or alternatively, the showerhead may include internal components for lower flow water output. However, most of these products require manual adjustment, which increases the inconvenience of washing or showering, or the product stops the flow of water completely. Accordingly, there is a need for improved products and systems that automatically conserve water and energy.

There is a need for new and useful systems and methods for devices that reduce energy and water consumption. In particular, there is a need for systems, devices and methods that readily allow a user to install and program a water saving device that automatically adjusts water flow based on the user's proximity. In addition, energy savings are achieved by evaluating the system and optimizing the process. In some areas, the technology described herein relates to a system for energy and water consumption reduction that includes: a valve configured to adjust the flow of water through a water delivery device based on data received from a sensor Water flow, a sensor configured to detect movement over a period of time by a user operating the water delivery device and to output one or more signals indicative of the movement of the user during the period; a transceiver configured to transmitting data to a remote computing device; and a controller communicatively coupled to the valve, sensor, transceiver, and memory, wherein the memory includes computer-readable media included in the Computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a controller to perform operations comprising: receiving one or more signals from a sensor; determining a movement pattern of a user based on the one or more signals; and determining a movement pattern based on the determined movement pattern. The functionality of one or more of the sensors, valves or transceivers is adjusted such that a predefined power savings and predefined water flow through the water delivery device is achieved.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system configured for use during a shower event. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system in which a valve is configured to control the flow of water from a tube through a water delivery device. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system in which the water delivery device comprises a showerhead or faucet.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system wherein the operations further include receiving user input such that the movement pattern is further determined based on the user input. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system where the user input includes one or more of: water temperature preference, water flow preference, timer setting, or volume preference.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system in which adjusting the functionality of a sensor includes adjusting a sampling rate of the sensor. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system in which the functionality of the adjustment valve includes one or both of: adjustment of the cycle rate of the valve between a high flow state and a low flow state, Or adjust the valve between a high flow state and a low flow state.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system in which adjusting the functionality of a transceiver includes adjusting a data transmission frequency to a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the system. In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system where adjusting functionality includes adjusting functionality from baseline functionality to user-specific functionality.

In some areas, the techniques described herein relate to a system wherein determining a movement pattern further includes: predicting a user's future movement pattern; and generating a pattern for adjusting one of a sensor, valve, or transceiver A functional adjustment model of one or more including configuration for electricity demand and configuration for water demand based on predictions of future mobility patterns.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system wherein determining a movement pattern further includes using a pattern recognition algorithm to determine a movement pattern of a user based on one or more signals from a sensor. In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system in which the remote computing device includes a server or a mobile computing device. In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system where the data includes one or more statistics associated with a valve or sensor obtained over a predefined period of time, and wherein the one or more statistics Includes one or more of the following: water usage, water savings, average water temperature, total shower time, total time water was on but shower was empty, total time in low flow, time in high flow Total time, energy usage, energy savings, or one or more statistics compared to one or more other systems for energy and water consumption reduction.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system in which a valve includes a solenoid valve configured to move between a low-flow state and a high-flow state. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system in which, under low flow conditions, the spool of the valve remains in a closed position, allowing water to flow through the valve. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system in which, under high flow conditions, the spool of the valve moves to an open position, allowing water to flow through and around the valve.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system in which a transition from a low-flow state to a high-flow state occurs when a distance between a user and a sensor exceeds a threshold. In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system in which the sensors include ultrasonic sensors.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system further comprising a temperature sensor thermally coupled to a valve body comprising the valve. In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system where operation further includes transitioning from a high flow state to a low flow state when the temperature of the valve body approaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a system where operation further includes transitioning from a low-flow state to a high-flow state when a distance between a user and a sensor is below a threshold. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system wherein: the water delivery device includes a shower head or a faucet; and one or more signals are at least partially related to a detected amount of time under the water delivery device, washing The measured amount of time spent shampooing or the measured amount of time spent rinsing correlates.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system that further includes: a restrictor insert installed on the inlet of the valve and configured to block the flow of water to regulate the temperature of the flow of water, the regulation ensures that the temperature of the flow of water is maintained The preset temperature is in the range of about zero degrees to about 4 degrees higher or lower than the preset temperature. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a system where the inlet to the valve is a cold water inlet that can be coupled to the valve, and the restrictor insert is configured to reduce the amount of cold water reaching the valve.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method for energy and water consumption reduction performed by a hardware controller communicatively coupled to a water delivery device configured to Receiving water from a water source, the method comprising: receiving one or more signals from a sensor installed in the water delivery device, wherein the one or more signals are indicative of a time period associated with a water usage event by a user operating the water delivery device movement within; determining a user's movement pattern based on one or more signals; and adjusting the functionality of one or more of: a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to respond to the operating water The movement of the user of the delivery device during the time period during the water use event is sampled; the valve is configured to control the flow of water during the water use event; or the antenna is configured to transmit information about the Data on water usage events, enabling predefined power savings and predefined water flow through the water delivery device.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method in which a water delivery device is configured for use during a showering event.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method in which a valve is configured to control the flow of water from a tube through a water delivery device. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the water delivery device comprises a showerhead or faucet. In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein the method further includes receiving user input, such that the movement pattern is further determined based on the user input.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the user input includes one or more of: water temperature preference, water flow preference, timer setting, or volume preference. In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a method in which adjusting the functionality of a sensor includes adjusting a sampling rate of the sensor.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a method in which adjusting the functionality of a valve includes one or both of: adjusting the cycle rate of the valve between a high flow state and a low flow state, Or adjust the valve between a high flow state and a low flow state. In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein adjusting the functionality of an antenna includes adjusting a data transmission frequency to a remote computing device communicatively coupled to a water delivery device.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein adjusting functionality includes adjusting functionality from baseline functionality to user-specific functionality. In some areas, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein determining a movement pattern further includes: predicting a user's future movement pattern; and generating a motion pattern for adjusting one or more of a sensor or a valve The functional adjustment model, the adjustment model includes the configuration for electricity demand and the configuration for water demand based on the forecast of future mobility patterns.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a method wherein determining a movement pattern further includes using a pattern recognition algorithm to determine a movement pattern of a user based on one or more signals from a sensor.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method in which a hardware controller is configured to communicate with a remote computing device, including a server, via a transceiver associated with the water delivery device or mobile computing devices.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the data includes one or more statistics including one or more of: water usage, water savings, Average water temperature, total shower time, total time the water was on but the shower was empty, total time in low flow, total time in high flow, energy usage, energy savings, or one or more statistics with A comparison of one or more other systems for energy and water consumption reduction.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method in which a valve includes a solenoid valve configured to move between a low-flow state and a high-flow state. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method in which, under low flow conditions, the spool of the valve is held in a closed position, allowing water to flow through the valve. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method in which, under high flow conditions, the spool of the valve moves to an open position, allowing water to flow through and around the valve.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a method in which a transition from a low-flow state to a high-flow state occurs when a distance between a user and a sensor exceeds a threshold. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method further comprising a temperature sensor thermally coupled to a valve body comprising the valve. In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a method further comprising transitioning from a high flow state to a low flow state when the temperature of the valve body approaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature.

In some categories, the techniques described herein relate to a method further comprising transitioning from a low-flow state to a high-flow state when a distance between a user and a sensor is below a threshold. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein: the water delivery device comprises a shower head or a faucet; and one or more signals are at least partially related to a detected amount of time under the water delivery device, washing The measured amount of time spent shampooing or the measured amount of time spent rinsing correlates.

In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the water delivery device further comprises: a restrictor insert mounted on the inlet of the valve and configured to impede water flow to regulate the temperature of the water flow, the regulation ensures that the water flow The temperature is maintained at the preset temperature, within the range of about zero degrees to about 4 degrees higher or lower than the preset temperature. In some categories, the technology described herein relates to a method in which the inlet of the valve is a cold water inlet that can be coupled to the valve, and the restrictor insert is configured to reduce the amount of cold water reaching the valve.

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/254,494, filed October 11, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. incorporated by reference

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The foregoing is an overview, and therefore limitations have necessarily been limited in detail. The foregoing and other areas, features and advantages of the technology will now be described in conjunction with various embodiments. The following examples are included without intending to limit the present disclosure to these examples, but to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the contemplated implementations. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other modifications may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. As described and illustrated herein, the scope of the disclosure can be configured, combined, modified and designed in many different formulations, all of which are expressly contemplated and form part of this disclosure.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices, systems, and methods for regulating water flow and collecting data and data trends while also conserving energy. Broadly, water flow devices are used in conjunction with standard shower heads or other water output devices such as faucets, sprinklers, animal deterrent sprayers, and hoses (hereinafter referred to as "shower heads" or water delivery devices) to The presence of people, animals or other objects (hereinafter referred to as "users") is detected to adjust the water flow. In some embodiments, the water flow device may be triggered to conserve water upon detection of the presence of a user within a predetermined range for a predetermined period of time. That is, the water flow device may start in a non-water saving state (eg, a high flow state) until a predefined period of time has elapsed, at which point the water flow device may automatically switch to a water saving state (eg, a low flow state). Users can configure specific timing and state changes using the controller and software described herein.

In general, flow devices may be used in shower areas, bathtubs, kitchen or dishwashing areas, outdoor or indoor faucets, swimming pools, hot tubs, buildings, businesses or outdoor environments (hereinafter referred to as "shower areas"). In a non-limiting example, the water flow device includes a water flow regulator and sensor device, which can be configured as one integrated device or as separate communicatively coupled devices. The sensor device is configured to detect the presence of a user (or object or animal) in eg a shower area, and any change in position of the user within the area, and transmit a signal to the water flow device. For example, sensors associated with a water flow device may be configured to detect the movement of a user operating the water delivery/water flow device over a period of time. In response, the sensors may generate an output indicative of one or more signals indicative of the user's movement over a period of time, which may be used to adjust water flow based on the signals. This can be accomplished by a water flow regulator that receives signals (such as sensor data) indicative of the presence, absence or change in position of a user and/or object, and based on the sensor data controls one or more integrated The valve automatically and/or variably regulates water flow from a generally high flow state to a generally low flow state (ie, from approximately 100% to greater than 0% water flow). It should be appreciated that one or more valves may also be configured to completely stop water flow (ie, 0% water flow) for a short period of time to complete the shutdown of water flow.

In some embodiments, the system for regulating and measuring water and energy consumption includes a showerhead mountable water flow device (such as screwed onto the end of a water pipe behind the shower head) and a wall mountable water flow device ( For example reversibly attached to the wall between the shower head and the handle, in line with the shower head and handle). In some embodiments, the system for regulating and measuring water and energy consumption includes an integrated unit that can be positioned behind a showerhead (eg, coupled to the end of a water pipe behind the showerhead). In some embodiments, the integrated unit is welded or otherwise attached to the water pipe.

Furthermore, embodiments disclosed herein advantageously conserve energy usage in water flow devices, as well as in buildings such as houses, hotels, hospitals, businesses, gymnasiums, and the like. The systems and flow devices of the present disclosure are configured to continuously optimize the frequency of data transmission to network devices in the system depending on the power levels of internal power components such as lithium batteries, rechargeable batteries, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, data transmission frequency may be constantly and/or automatically adjusted based on user preferences specifying optimal power usage or the user's typical usage pattern. For example, frequent access to the flow device increases data transfer between the flow device and the computing device, while reduced or infrequent access to the flow device reduces data transfer between the flow device and the computing device. In addition to saving water flow device energy, energy consumed by other building installations such as water heaters, water treatment devices, and water pumps is also saved when water flow is variably adjusted and/or the water is heated to a user-specific target temperature. It will be appreciated that the water flow device and sensor device may additionally or alternatively be powered by electrical wiring and coupled to the building's main power supply. Additionally, energy can be saved by incorporating piezoelectric energy harvesters (not shown) and/or hydrodynamic turbines (not shown) that can replace and/or reduce electrical demand in the flow device.

Advantageously, the present disclosure is configured to dynamically conserve water and energy, while also providing water and energy usage statistics to the user. In addition, these statistical data and the provided saving suggestions or tips provide users with other ideas and methods for continuous improvement. Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure are described in further detail below.

FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of a block diagram of an overall system 100 of the present disclosure. System 100 includes: a water flow device 110 including a water flow regulator 115, such as one or more common or different valves; optionally one or more flow modifying components; optionally a visual and/or audible warning device 120, such as an LED lights; optionally a display; optionally a speaker; printed circuit board (PCB) controller 130; memory 135; antenna 140 (e.g., receiver and transmitter or transceiver); power supply 145; and one or more sensor 150, which may include temperature sensors and common or different sensors for detecting the presence or absence of a user (or object) and the temperature of the water flow.

The system further includes: a network-connected computing device 155, which can be a cloud or server device; and an optional remote computing device 160, such as a mobile phone, laptop, tablet, user computer, etc. Device 160 and/or device 155 may optionally execute one or more applications 162 for controlling device 110 . It should be appreciated that computing device 155 and/or mobile computing device 160 may operate in place of each other. System 100 is configured to provide wireless data communication among one or more of devices 110 , 155 , 160 via an antenna such as antenna 140 . Various wireless transmission protocols and encryptions can be used, such as Bluetooth (BT), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), Wi-Fi, Cellular Data, Internet Protocol, or a combination or equivalent thereof . While only one water flow device 110 and one mobile computing device 160 are shown, it should be appreciated that there may be multiple devices 110 , 160 in communication with one or more computing devices 155 in one building and/or around the world.

In some embodiments, water flow device 110 represents a system for energy and water consumption reduction. Such systems may include valves configured to adjust the flow of water through a water delivery device (eg, water flow device 110 ) based on data received from a sensor 150 configured to detect an operating water delivery device The movement of the user during a period of time and output one or more signals representing the movement of the user during the period of time. The system may also include a transceiver configured to transmit the received and/or detected data to the remote computing device 155 . The system may further include a controller 130 communicatively coupled to the valves, sensors, transceivers and memory. The memory may include a computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations including: receiving one or more signals from a sensor; signal to determine the movement pattern of the user; and based on the determined movement pattern, adjust the functionality of one or more of the sensors, valves, or transceivers so that predefined power savings and water delivery/flow are achieved Predefined water flow for device 110 .

In some embodiments, one or more sensor devices 150 may be configured to sense a specific detection zone. Detection zones may be defined to ensure detection of a user, etc., when the user (or pet or object, or the like) is within one or more predefined zones. The detection zone can be configured according to the size of the user, the materials surrounding the sensor, and/or for the defined use of the flow device 110 . In some embodiments, the detection area may be based on how the sensor 150 is configured. For example, the sensor 150 can be configured for use in a pet washing station, and thus, the sensor 150 can be configured to evaluate areas at or below a predefined threshold, such as near the floor surface or in the Within about 3 feet of the floor surface. In another example, the sensor 150 may be configured for use in a shower used by humans, and thus, the sensor 150 may be configured to evaluate an area at or above a predefined threshold, such as The area from about 3 feet above the floor surface to about 6 feet above the floor surface.

In some embodiments, the sensor 150 can be configured for narrowband detection or wideband detection. For example, if the surrounding surface of the shower is reflective (such as glass, ceramic, metal, etc.), the sensor 150 can be configured to detect the user in a narrow frequency band to avoid detecting the user's reflection and non-actual users. Similarly, if the surrounding surface of the shower is non-reflective (such as stone, brick, wood, etc.), the sensor 150 can be configured to detect the user in a wider frequency band, because the reflection may not cause sensitivity. test error. Configuring the sensors may be used to generate rules for the sensors 150 when attempting to detect users in the area. For example, rules may include modifying the flow state of water when no users are detected in the area, as described in detail herein. Sensitivity can also be configured for sensor 150 to ensure compliance with material, user needs, and/or system requirements.

In some embodiments, the application 162 may be used to configure and/or modify a particular configuration of the sensor 150 and/or device 110 . For example, to avoid switching device 110 from a high-flow state to a low-flow state, a user can access application 162 to change, reset, and/or reconfigure sensors 150 and/or previous configurations of device 110 state.

Device 110 may further include or be in fluid communication with one or more restrictor inserts 152 . A restrictor insert as described herein can be inserted into a cold water inlet to ensure that rapid or significant or substantial temperature changes do not occur during pressure changes, such as from low flow conditions to high flow conditions and/or from high flow conditions to low flow conditions fluctuation. In some embodiments, the restrictor insert 152 described herein can be inserted into the cold water inlet to ensure that the water temperature is maintained within about zero degrees to about 5 degrees of a preset temperature setting selected by the user. For example, restrictor insert 152 may be mounted on a valve as described herein configured to regulate the flow of water through a water delivery device such as water flow device 110 . The restrictor insert 152 can be configured to block or regulate the flow of water through the valve to regulate the temperature of the water flow. Such temperature adjustments can ensure that the temperature of the water stream is maintained at a preset temperature and within a range of about zero degrees to about 5 degrees above or below the preset temperature during use. In general, a restrictor insert 152 may be installed in the cold water inlet associated with the valve to reduce the amount of cold water reaching the valve. In some embodiments, a restrictor insert 152 may instead be installed in the hot water inlet associated with the valve.

FIG. 1B illustrates one embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) initialization screen 165 configured to interact with a user to program user data, personal information, and/or preferences. In some embodiments, the GUI may be generated by the application 162 . A user may access initialization screen 165 at any time via computing device 155 and/or mobile computing device 160 . Advantageously, the system 100 can be configured for multiple users using the same or different shower areas in the same or different buildings by programming the system's initialization screen 165 . As a non-limiting example, initialization screen 165 is optionally configured with shower area descriptors, such as name, room and/or building name, and user name along with their profile and desired preferences. Desired preferences may include the user's height, desired water temperature (e.g., represented by a number indicating the desired water temperature or a hot-to-cold bar range with a slide button), and desired water flow state (e.g., represented by a number indicating the desired flow state or with a The high to low bar range of the slide button is indicated). In addition, initialization screen 165 can optionally be configured to receive additional user input, such as water consumption goals, alerts associated with goals, water temperature preferences, water flow preferences, timer settings, or volume preferences. For example, a user may wish to set a goal for one shower to use less than 14 gallons of water, and will want to receive an alert, such as from an alert device 120 (e.g., speaker, digital assistant, visual or auditory sound from smart speakers, etc.). As another example, alert device 120 may be configured to pulse the flow of water via regulator 115 . As shown in the example program of FIG. 1B , the user will receive an alert when approximately 80% of the water consumption has reached the first volume of 14 gallons, and the user will receive an alert when approximately 90% of the water consumption has reached the second volume of 14 gallons. , the user will receive a second alert, and when approximately 95% of the water consumption has reached a third volume of 14 gallons, the user will receive a third alert. In this example, the user could also set a goal of 5 minutes total flow time and program the timer to 4 minutes. When the water flow of 4 minutes is reached, the water flow device 110 provides a warning via the warning device 120 and automatically adjusts the regulator 115 to a low flow state. Alternatively, the program may shut off the water at 5 minutes by closing all valves associated with the regulator 115 and/or by transmitting a shutoff signal to the network connected sink, depending on user preference. It should be appreciated that any combination and number of targets, alerts and/or timers can be configured for each individual user or for each shower zone. Additionally, the flow device 110 may also include an input keypad for manually selecting programmed users. As another example, building owners can globally program any of the settings (such as temperature, flow status, targets, alarms, and timers) regardless of individual users and different shower zones without providing access to other uses. system access.

As another example, a gym owner may program the total water flow time to 5 minutes and set the timer to 4 minutes, and once the 4 minutes have elapsed, the water flow device 110 automatically alerts the user that the water flow will be flown during the last minute. The water flow is adjusted to a low flow state, and then the water is shut off. In another example, the gym owner can program the system 100 to alert the user that approximately 5 minutes have elapsed, and if the user continues to shower for more than 5 minutes of total flow time, the system 100 provides the building owner with excess water. time. Building owners can then use this information to calculate excess water bills for additional flow time.

Referring back to FIG. 1A , and in conjunction with FIG. 1B , the warning device 120 may optionally include a visual or audible device for communicating with the user. In some embodiments, several LEDs may be integrated into the exterior of the water flow device 110, which LEDs indicate the current status of the device 110 when illuminated or not illuminated. For example, one or more of the following states can be indicated by the LEDs: Standby mode: red flashes every 10 seconds; water on; series of red followed by series of green (indicating water is on and flow device and sensor device pairing); system active; error status; current traffic status (low traffic: green; high traffic: red); user proximity; etc. There may also be a reset switch or button that performs one or more of: switching the unit to a high flow state; resetting the controller; sending an alert to the user and/or computing device 155 and/or action Computing device 160; option to bypass controller 130 for the rest of the current shower; sensor to detect user's location; set corresponding flow rate; select programmed user; In some embodiments, a buzzer or speaker is integrated into the hydrofluidic device 115 for sounding an alert and/or speaking the current status (eg, flow status) and target. Additionally, a display and/or touch screen may be integrated with the flow device 110 or a separate device, as appropriate, for communicating with the user to convey information. It should be appreciated that the warning device 120 may also communicate with proprietary or open protocol networks and associated smart devices such as electronic assistants and/or smart speakers.

In some embodiments, application 162 may be installed on mobile device 160 (or alternatively on computing device 155). In some embodiments, the application program 162 can be a web interface or a web portal. In general, the application 162 can be used to control the flow of water provided through the device 110 and to interrupt or adjust the flow of water. For example, the app 162 can be used as a remote kill switch or dashboard to tune or otherwise change the water flow status of the device 110 . In particular, application 162 may be used to allow a user to remotely disable and/or enable device 110 for a selected amount of time. In some embodiments, the application 162 may be used to configure a timer to enable or disable water flow through the device 110 . In some embodiments, the application 162 can be used to configure the detection scheme to detect when water is flowing through the device 110, and when the water is flowing through the device 110 for a longer time than expected in a particular detection scheme configuration. Executes an automatic shutdown event at a defined time. This can provide the advantage of providing a safety or water saving shutdown for garden hoses, sink faucets, or other water-using fixtures that are detected to be operating for longer than a predefined period of time.

Figure 1C illustrates one embodiment of a GUI statistics and trends screen 170 configured to provide water and energy statistics and trends to a user. During water use, for each programmed user, the controller 130 of the water flow device 110 captures and stores in memory 135 data associated with the water flow whenever the water is used, such as the examples given above. At the optimized interval, or alternatively, at the optimized frequency, and as will be discussed in more detail below, the hydronic device 110 transmits the stored data via the antenna 140 to the computing device 155 for further processing and Analysis to compile water and energy usage and trends over multiple time periods. At any time, the user can retrieve statistics trends through the statistics and trends screen 170 on the mobile computing device 160 or a touch screen associated with the shower area. Data can be compiled and displayed on a daily, monthly and/or yearly basis. Statistics and trends displayed on screen 170 may be data representing, for example, water usage; estimated water savings; average temperature of water flow; total shower time; Periods of low flow; periods of high water flow; amount of energy used by the device; estimated amount of energy saved by the device; battery health; comparison of collected statistics to other users. It should be appreciated that comparisons can be made relative to other users in the same shower area, in the same building, in the community, or globally. Some of the information captured, stored, and transmitted to the computing device 155 by the flow device 110 includes one or more of the following: device name/number and location; battery health; time the shower started; shower length; water consumption , which can be calculated or estimated; water savings, which can be calculated or estimated; water and shower area temperature; sensor distance readings; system voltage to ensure proper operation; MPa; maximum water temperature, e.g. approximately 120°F or 50°C for 30 min; operating water pressure, e.g. from approximately 10 psi to 100 psi (e.g. approximately 68 kPa to 689 kPa); water flow device life cycle, e.g. approximately 100,000 cycles, The warranty period is 2 years etc. In some embodiments, piezoelectric energy harvesters combined with capacitors integrated into the water flow device 110 can be installed on water pipes to collect, store and transmit water data. More specifically, a piezoelectric energy harvester can detect the vibration of water flowing through a water pipe and convert the vibrational energy into an electrical voltage. The voltage can then be used to power the water flow device. Additionally, vibrations can be stored and converted to flow statistics, such as discussed above.

Additionally, computing device 155 compiles and analyzes user usage patterns over time. Based on the profile, the computing device 155 recognizes individual showering behaviors and can automatically optimize the configuration of the water flow device 110 accordingly. For example, a female user showers continuously for approximately 5 minutes six days a week, however, on one day a week, her shower time extends to 9 minutes. Based on this behavioral pattern, computing device 155 may transmit instructions to controller 130 to periodically restrict water flow using regulator 115 during longer shower days such that the average water usage during this particular shower is comparable to the average water usage on other days. The amount is equivalent. As another example, a pattern may recognize that a particular user leaves the showerhead after shampooing for an approximate amount of time, then returns to the showerhead while rinsing after a second approximate amount of time. The computing device 155 can use these identified patterns to further optimize the state changes of the water flow. Other patterns include periods of high demand; periods of low demand; longer shower durations for specific users; specific movement patterns of users in the shower area; Additionally, the computing device 155 may also provide suggestions or tips to the user based on these patterns in order for the user to adjust the system for further water and energy savings. For example, the computing device 155 may suggest to the user via the interactive GUI screen 165 the programmed water flow device 110 to reduce the water consumption target by 1 gallon, which could potentially save up to 360 gallons per year.

FIG. 2 shows an image of one embodiment of a water flow device including a water flow regulator 115 and a separate sensor device 150 in a shower area. As previously mentioned above, the water flow device 110 including the regulator 115 and the sensor device 150 may be integrated into one device or may be a separate device. It should be appreciated that a temperature sensor (not shown) may also be configured into the water flow device 110 to sense the temperature of the water flowing through the regulator 115 or the temperature of the pipe through which the water flows as a measure of the actual water temperature. approximation. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2 , the water flow device 110 is mounted on the water pipe 205 between the shower head 210 and the shower wall 220 , and the mounting is discussed further below with reference to FIG. 10 . In some embodiments, the water flow device 110 can also be installed on the water pipe between the shower head and the shower ceiling. Furthermore, it is contemplated that two separate water flow devices 110 may be used for multi-shower head control while using a single sensor device 150 to communicate with both devices 110 .

Still referring to FIG. 2 , the sensor device 150 is easily attached to the shower wall 220 using, for example, an adhesive, or using any other convenient and equivalent means to attach the device 150 to the shower wall 220 . The sensor device 150 detects the absence, presence and/or change of position of a user within the shower area and transmits a high flow state or low flow state signal (e.g. using Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy) to the water flow device 110, which senses The sensor arrangement may include one or more sensors, such as proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, thermal sensors or ultrasonic sensors. Thermal sensors can sense the temperature in the shower area. In one configuration, a separate sensor assembly 150 mounted on the wall may include one or more proximity sensors, a power source such as a battery, and a printed circuit board controller to detect movement of a user relative to the sensor. Proximity distance of device 150 . In another configuration, integrated sensor device 150 may utilize power supply 145 and controller 130 in water flow device 110, the integrated sensor device including one or more various sensors, such as proximity sensors , photoelectric sensor, thermal sensor and/or ultrasonic sensor. Ultrasonic sensors can be used when water pipes and showerheads are mounted to the ceiling to detect when a user is directly under the showerhead. Advantageously, the system 100 can optimize or balance sensor cycle time and the number of readings sensing presence, absence and/or position changes in order to conserve energy and accurately change flow states. For either configuration (single or integrated device), components such as capacitors, insulators, etc. can be used for signal suppression, signal filtering, firmware optimization, sampling frequency, artifact detection, etc. These components can be configured and optimized in the sensor device 150 to suit the unique environment of the shower area (tiles, humidity, glass, etc.) and provide a quality sensor signal with very little noise. Additionally, a silicone shroud can be used to insulate the sensor from touching the sensor device and/or flow device housing or housing to improve the sensed signal. Figure 3 shows an image of another embodiment of a water flow device comprising a water flow regulator and a sensor device as an integrated unit in a shower area. As shown, the water flow device 110 including the sensor device 150 is mounted on a longer flexible water hose 310 and attached to a shower wall 315 . The movable shower head 320 is installed at the end of the water hose 310 behind the water flow device 110 . In this configuration, the integrated water flow device 110 readily allows continued use and flexibility of this type of mounted showerhead 320, while also detecting the proximity of the user.

Figure 4 shows an image of another embodiment of a water flow device comprising a water flow regulator and a sensor device as an integrated unit in a shower area. As shown, the integrated water flow device 110 is mounted on the water pipe 410 between the shower wall 415 and the shower head 420 . As in FIG. 3 , the sensor device 150 is included in the water flow device 110 . As previously described, the water flow device 110 can also be installed on the water pipe 410 downward from the ceiling of the shower area.

FIG. 5 shows an image of an embodiment of a water flow device for regulating water flow as in FIG. 2 , the water flow device includes a water flow regulator and a separate sensor device. The sensor device 150 is mounted on the shower wall 510 and the antenna of the sensor device 150 communicates (eg wirelessly) with the antenna 140 of the water flow device 110 mounted on the water pipe 520 . It should be appreciated that water pipe 520 may be wall mounted, as shown, or ceiling mounted. When the sensor device 150 detects the presence of the user 525 in the shower area, a signal is transmitted from the sensor device 150 to the antenna 140, thereby signaling the controller 130 to set the regulator to a high flow state. When the user changes position by greater than a threshold distance 530, for example greater than about 50 cm from the sensor device 150, the sensor device 150 transmits a signal to the antenna 140, thereby signaling the controller 130 to set the regulator 115 to a low flow state. It should be appreciated that the threshold distance 530 can be pre-programmed as a preset distance or threshold zone and that, depending on the application, the threshold distance 530 and zones (not shown) can be adjusted to different suitable threshold distances or district. In general, regulator 115 may include any number and type of valves, such as variable valves, solenoid valves, on/off valves, restrictor valves, rotary valves, or any equivalent regulating components, and may operate independently or in concert To adjust the water flow and/or water path through the integrated channel in the water flow device 110 . One or more valves can be partially opened and/or closed to restrict water flow; one or more valves can also be independently fully closed, thereby blocking water and directing water into a different smaller diameter channel that restricts water flow. For example, during low flow conditions (i.e., the user is greater than a predetermined distance from the unit), a regulator 115, which may include a valve body, may block flow from one path and direct that flow through another channel, which The channel may include a valve body having a fixed orifice coupled to a water outlet within the water flow device 110, which provides water during low flow conditions. In this way, water flow is restricted. In high flow conditions (i.e., the user is less than a predetermined distance from the unit), a regulator 115, which may include, for example, a magnetic locking solenoid valve, allows all water to flow from the first or closed position (i.e., the armature in the closed position through the valve body) to the second or open position (eg the armature is in the open position and allows all water flow through both the valve body fixing the smaller orifice and through the second passage, thereby allowing more water in high flow conditions pass). In some embodiments, a range of water flow states ranging from approximately 0% to 100% are envisioned using more valves and/or variable valves.

6 to 8 show various views of the water flow device of FIG. 2 . Like numbers are used to refer to like elements in FIGS. 6-8 . FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective side view of the water flow device of FIG. 2 . As shown in this example, the hydrofluidic device is powered by a power source 145a, 145b such as a lithium battery, rechargeable battery or the like. Regulator 115 includes one or more valves, such as magnetic lock solenoid valve 635 . Notably, the solenoid valve 635 includes an armature that is held in a fixed position (eg, in the range of low to high flow states) without the need for a constant power source. Advantageously, the water flow device 110 consumes no energy when the water is not flowing, nor does the system require user input (ie, no pressing of a button, no activation of the system other than to turn on the water) to begin regulating the water flow. In some embodiments, when water begins to flow through the water tube attached to the water inlet 605, the incoming water flow pressurizes the system 110, which deflects the silicone o-ring 610 or the silicone bond pad, causing the carbon The bolus 620 pushes against the controller 130 to complete the circuit and begin the procedure outlined above for water flow regulation. In some embodiments, the silicone o-ring may be a key pad type pressure switch that detects water flow in the tube. In another embodiment, a pressure transducer positioned between the flexible materials can sense the presence of water pressure and measure the water pressure. A dynamometer can be used instead of the silicone bond pad, where more force causes the signal to change. In this way, the dynamometer is positioned between the flexible materials such that the more it flexes, the greater the signal. For example, as the pressure increases from 10 psi to 20 psi to 30 psi (eg, about 68 kPa to about 137 kPa to about 206 Pa), the pressure causes more deflection, which puts more stress on the dynamometer, This is in contrast to current polysiloxane pads that are either on in the presence of water flow or off in the absence of water flow. Advantageously, the dynamometer can provide the pressure in the building from the running device. In this way, the water company can try to keep the water pressure at an optimal rate for everyone without overpressurizing the system. In any embodiment, water is passed through regulator 115 and exits at water outlet 630 . In the same way, in the absence of water, the circuit is open and power is no longer required, and there is no power leakage. Additionally, although not shown in FIG. 6 , it is worthwhile that the sensor device 150 consumes a small amount of power to periodically communicate with the water flow device 110 whether or not water is flowing through the water flow device 110 . Also shown is the front face 640, which is coupled to the outer housing 645 to completely enclose and seal the contents from water.

FIG. 7 is an exploded front view of the water flow device of FIG. 2 . As shown, at the water outlet 630 is a valve body 705 . Valve body 705 is operable as a low flow state channel. The valve body 705 may have a fixed smaller diameter passage 710; however, it is also contemplated that the valve body 705 has a variable diameter passage to variably control water flow ranging from high to low flow. It should also be understood that while one solenoid valve 635 is shown, there may be any number of solenoid valves that may be placed in series with and/or replace low flow valve body 705 .

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective side view of the water flow device of FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, the water flow device 110 is installed by removing the shower head from the water pipe, if present, and attaching the water inlet 605 with standard male pipe threads to standard female threads at the end of the water pipe . Similarly, the shower head screws into the standard internal thread at the water outlet 630 . It should be appreciated that various embodiments may be configured with different threads according to the plumbing codes of a particular district. Additionally, plumbing tape may be utilized around the threads to ensure a proper fit and seal against water leakage.

9 to 10 show various views of the water flow device of FIG. 3 . Like numbers are used to refer to like elements in FIGS. 9-10 . FIG. 9 is a front internal view of the integrated water flow device and sensor device of FIG. 3 . In some embodiments of the present disclosure, housing 905 may include water flow regulator 115 and sensor assembly 150 as an integrated unit, which may include one or more sensors, such as proximity sensing sensor, photoelectric sensor, thermal sensor or ultrasonic sensor. An on/off switch 910 can optionally be incorporated on the water flow device 110 for further energy savings. As with previous water flow device configurations shown in FIGS. 6-8 , the water flow inlet 605 is mounted on a water pipe that may be mounted on a wall or ceiling, and the shower head is mounted to the water flow outlet 630 . The integrated sensor device 150 detects the presence, absence and/or change of position of a user during a shower event. Depending on the position of the user relative to the sensor, the sensor device 150 transmits a signal to the controller 130 indicative of a high flow state or a low flow state, as described in detail with respect to FIGS. 6-8 . As also mentioned herein, depending on user preferences and goals, controller 130 may control a variable valve, such as solenoid valve 635, to variably change the water flow state within a flow range approaching a high or low flow state.

As shown in FIG. 9 , a temperature sensor 915 may also be included which detects and records the approximate water temperature taken at the outer perimeter of the water outlet 630 . In some embodiments, a temperature probe can be incorporated into the valve body 705 that provides an approximate water temperature without contacting the water and potentially creating a leak area. Controller 130 can be configured to receive a sensed temperature from temperature sensor 915, and when the sensed temperature is below a desired programmed temperature, transmit a high flow state signal to regulator 115 to remove cold water from the water pipes . When the sensed temperature reaches the desired programmed temperature, the controller 130 can be configured to transmit a low flow state signal to the controller 130 until the presence of a user is detected, at which point the controller 130 transmits a high flow status signal. In this way, the high flow status signal dependent on the sensed temperature ensures that the heated water flushes out the cooler water quickly. It should be appreciated that although not shown, the temperature sensor 915 may also be integrated into any configuration of the water flow device 115, such as the water flow device shown in FIGS. 2-8.

FIG. 10 shows a side internal view of the integrated water flow device and sensor device of FIG. 3 . An on/off switch 910 can optionally be incorporated on the water flow device 110 for energy conservation. In addition, the housing 905 includes a power supply opening door 1020 for changing a power source such as a battery.

11 is a process flow diagram of an embodiment for regulating water flow using the water flow device and sensor device of FIGS. 2 and 3 . The programs shown in FIG. 11 may be executed by controller 130 using memory 135 and/or computing device 155 of device 110 . Initially, the water flow device 110 is in a preset or idle state S1110. In this state S1110, the water flow is shut off, the regulator 115 is set to a high flow state, and there is no power requirement for the system. When the water is turned on, the water flow device does one or more of the following: a timer is started, and power is checked. If the voltage is less than about, eg, 3.5 V, the water flow device 115 places the regulator in a high flow state and discontinues further processing. At voltages greater than about, eg, 3.5 V, controller 130 checks memory 135 and configuration settings, such as received and stored user preferences and goals. The bootloader code starts and is ready to process. Other configurations are possible and may be managed by the user access application 162 , eg, to modify the operation of the hydrofluidics device 110 and/or the operation of the sensors 150 .

At S1120, network connectivity components and protocols are established for communication between the hydronic device 110 and the computing device 155 by performing one or more of the following: powering on the antenna 140, and establishing Wi-Fi or another Internet Protocol access point; obtain new configuration settings if necessary; compile any unsent data stored in memory for transmission to computing device 155 over a secure data path; download any firmware or software updates; and/or any diagnostics that may be run on the device 110. Once the device completes any network connection activity, the antenna is turned off for power saving.

At S1130, the hydronic device then performs one or more of the following: initialize the programming and controller; receive and record the temperature obtained from the temperature sensor 915; if the sensed temperature has reached the desired user preference , the water flow device sets the regulator to the low flow state and maintains the low flow state until a high flow state signal is received from the sensor device 150 .

At S1140 , as also shown in FIG. 14 , the water flow device 110 prepares to adjust the water flow based on the data received from the sensor device 150 . At S1145, the water flow regulator 115 is positioned for the low flow state. At S1150 , the sensor device 150 periodically performs time-of-flight measurement for detecting the distance of the user from the sensor device. In the event that no user is detected or the user is at a distance greater than the predetermined distance away from the sensor device 150, no action is taken and the water flow device 110 remains in the low flow state. Additionally, the water flow device 110 can be configured to alert the user if the system remains in a low flow state for a predetermined period of time. For example, if after a low flow state of 30 seconds, an alert is given to urge the user to enter the shower area and start showering. The sensor device 150 continues to sample at the sampling rate, and when the time-of-flight measurement detects that the user has entered an area or is closer to the sensor device 150 than a predetermined distance, the sensor device 150 switches the high flow rate to S1160. The status signal is transmitted to the water flow device 110 to control and position the regulator 115 to enter the high flow state at S1165. In addition, the water flow device 110 records the time of each change (ie, from the low flow state to the high flow state) at S1170 . The sensor device 150 continues sampling S1150 at an optimized sampling rate based on battery health and/or user energy preference until the water is turned off.

Figure 12 is a flowchart of an embodiment for optimizing data transmission. The programs shown in FIG. 12 may be executed by controller 130 using memory 135 and/or computing device 155 of device 110 . As previously mentioned, system 100 transmits and receives data among hydronic device 110 , computing device 155 , and mobile computing device 160 . Advantageously, the system 100 optimizes data transmission to and from the water flow device 110 in order to conserve energy used by the device 110 . At S1210, when the water is shut off, the system performs one or more of the following: shut off the timer; reset the regulator 115 to a high flow state; the device 110 checks the integrity of the water usage data and battery health ; if the battery health is optimal, the device 110 is connected to the network via Wi-Fi or other internet protocol; once the network is established, the device 110 transmits the data packet and acknowledges the receipt of the data packet; if the data packet has Correctly received by computing device 155, device 110 receives confirmation and powers off device 110.

The system 100 provides a further energy saving and system for optimizing energy management in a water flow device. Referring back to FIG. 1 , in general, energy management can be controlled and/or adjusted by one or more of: over-the-air software updates, product design, circuit board design, component selection, connectivity (e.g., to one or more computing devices, servers, cloud servers, etc.), frequency and analysis of user movement, user understanding, and data collection, to name a few. More specifically, the water flow device 110 periodically determines the voltage level of the power source 145 and compares it with a predetermined threshold value (eg, a voltage such as about 3.5) stored in the internal memory 135 . If the battery health is above a threshold, the controller 130 may transmit a fast cycle signal to the sensor device 150 for sampling in a fast cycle, such as every 5 seconds. If the battery health is below a threshold, the controller 130 may transmit a slow cycle signal to the sensor device 150 for sampling at a slower rate, such as every 15 seconds. Advantageously, having an optimized balance between sensor cycle time and the number of readings sensing presence, absence and/or position changes provides energy savings while also saving water flow. Additionally, based on battery health, controller 130 may adjust data transmission to computing device 155, such as once a day when the battery is high, and once a week or once a month when the battery is low. Another embodiment contemplates that computing device 155 operates to optimize data transmission for energy conservation. Computing device 155 may adjust the transmission frequency of data received from flow device 110 based on the time period and/or the history of the stored data. For example, after the initial setup of the flow device 110, the computing device 155 may request more frequent transmissions of stored data from the flow device 110 in order to build up enough data to provide statistics to the user. However, after some time, user and/or shower area statistics and trends should stabilize, thereby requiring less transmission and saving energy. For example, initially, the water flow device 110 may transmit the stored data to the computing device 155 after each shower so that the user can quickly see the statistics. For example, after roughly a month, the water flow device 110 may be programmed to transmit the stored data at the end of each day or may even be once a month. It should be appreciated that computing device 155 and controller 130 may operate cooperatively to optimize transmission. Data transmission can be further optimized based on the user's usage of the data displayed on the mobile computing device. For example, a user's access to data may increase or decrease over time such that the frequency of data transfers will increase as users check more frequently and decrease as users check less frequently, so Power is saved. As another example for saving energy, a user may wish to save energy and manually program data transfers using initialization screen 165 for programming data transfer rates to, for example, once a day, once a month, or once a month . In some embodiments, data (eg, signal output) from sensor 150 may be used to obtain and/or determine one or more statistics associated with the valve or sensor and obtained over a predefined period of time. Such statistics may include one or more of the following: water usage, water savings, average water temperature, total shower time, total time the water was on but the shower was empty, total time in low flow, Total time in high flow state, energy usage, energy savings, and/or one or more statistics compared to one or more other systems for energy and water consumption reduction.

13 is a process flow diagram of an embodiment for operating a water flow device during bypass mode. The procedures shown in FIG. 13 may be executed by controller 130 using memory 135 and/or computing device 155 of device 110 . In some events, the device 110 and/or the user may decide to operate the water flow device 110 in a bypass mode. One embodiment of the bypass mode is shown at S1310 in FIG. 13, and the water flow device 110 performs one or more of the following: selected by the user and receiving a reset switch; setting the regulator 115 to a high flow state ;Resets the controller and the system remains in this state until the water is shut off. Another embodiment for operating in bypass mode is when the battery health is below a minimum value such as about 3.5 V at S1110.

Figure 14 is a process flow diagram of one embodiment for conserving system energy based on usage patterns. The program shown in FIG. 14 may be executed by computing device 155 . In some embodiments, the process shown in FIG. 14 may instead be executed by controller 130 using memory 135 of device 110 . In short, the process of Figure 14 can be a method for energy and water consumption reduction. The program may be executed by hardware controller 130 communicatively coupled to water delivery device 110 configured to receive water from a water source. The process may include: receiving one or more signals from a sensor installed in the water delivery device, wherein the one or more signals are indicative of movement of a user operating the water delivery device during a time period associated with the water usage event; based on One or more signals to determine the movement pattern of the user; and adjust the functionality of one or more of the following: a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to respond to the user operating the water delivery device Movement during a time period during a water use event is sampled; a valve configured to control water flow during a water use event; or an antenna configured to transmit data about a water use event based on a determined movement pattern , such that a predefined power saving and a predefined water flow through the water delivery device are achieved.

At S1405 , the computing device 155 receives data from the water flow device 110 . The data may include one or more shower events for one or more users detected by the water flow device 110 . Computing device 155 is configured to sort, identify and store shower area names and/or building names and users along with additional shower event data. Referring back to FIG. 1C, the computing device 155 analyzes sorted shower event data, such as one or more of: water usage, estimated and/or calculated water savings, average water temperature, total shower time; Time in flow while occupied; time in low flow state; and time in high flow state. In addition, the water flow device 110 can also transmit sensor data related to the movement of the user in the shower area. The sensor data may be analyzed using a pattern matching algorithm or the like to determine the user's movement pattern.

User movement patterns can be optimized over time based on user movement during each shower event, such that the sampling rate of one or more sensors, valve cycling, or latency can be optimized for each user , and/or the frequency at which shower data is transmitted. For example, if the user has a long, slow hair rinse cycle, the sampling rate of the sensor during this period may be reduced, for example because the system knows that the user will not move much in the next period. As another example, if the user is moving very quickly during her shower and between zones indicating low and high flow states, the valve's latency can be reduced so that the valve can be in the high flow state Toggle more quickly between low-flow and low-traffic states.

Also, for example, movement behavior such as the following can be identified during the duration of one or more shower events to provide user movement patterns: periods of time the user is close to the sensor device; periods of time the user is away from the sensor device The time period of the device; the time the user is directly under the shower head; and the time the user moves away from the shower head. In this way, at S1410, the computing device 155 identifies a movement pattern and correlates the movement pattern with the aforementioned user profile for each user of each shower event. Based on the identified movement patterns, at S1415 the computing device 155 is configured to compute optimized instructions for each identified user and associated hydrofluidic device 110 . Optimization commands may also take into account user preferences and goals, as described in detail with respect to FIG. 1B . At S1420, the computing device 155 transmits the optimization command to the water flow device 110 for storage in the internal memory 135 and to recall the next shower event for the identified user. At S1425, the water flow device receives and stores the optimization instruction. At the next shower event, the water flow device 110 receives a user indication, such as logging in as a user on the GUI screen 165 (FIG. Programmable button on the face of either or both that represents the user's name, and based on the user's instructions, re-invokes the optimization command for the identified user to optimize the water and electricity of the shower event state. Advantageously, desired power savings and desired water flow through the water flow device are achieved by optimization instructions such as adjusting one or more of the sensor device, valve and/or antenna based on each user's determined movement pattern The functionality of those.

In some embodiments, the water current device 110 can determine the movement pattern by further predicting the user's future movement pattern. For example, based on previously detected movement patterns, device 110 may use device 110 to predict the user's future needs. In some embodiments, predictions may be used to generate tuning models for tuning the functionality of one or more of sensors 150 , valves (eg, valve 635 ), or transceivers (eg, antenna 140 ). The tuning model may be further modified according to additional detected uses of the device 110 . The adjustment model may include configurations for power demands, such as upcoming power demands based on previously used power levels. Adjustment models may also include configurations for predictions of water demand (eg, upcoming water demand based on previously used water levels or pressures) and according to future movement patterns.

FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of a high flow state 1500 of a water flow device described herein. Water spout 1502 is shown connected to valve 1504 (eg, mixing valve). Spout 1502 may represent, for example, one or more faucet spouts, one or more bathtub spouts, one or more hose faucets, one or more hand-held shower wands, one or more shower heads, or the like. Valve 1504 can receive water supplied from hot water inlet 1506 and cold water inlet 1508, shown by arrows 1510 and 1512, respectively.

For example, in the high flow state 1500, the user may be determined to be less than a predefined distance from the spout, or less than a predefined distance from a sensor (not shown) associated with the spout 1502 . In such a state 1500, a regulator (such as regulator 115) including, for example, a magnetic lock solenoid valve can move from a first or closed position (ie, the armature in the closed position allows all water to flow through the valve body) to a second position. Two or open position (eg the armature is in the open position and allows all water to flow through both the valve body fixed smaller orifice and through the second channel, thereby allowing more water to pass in the high flow state 1500). In some embodiments, a range of water flow states ranging from approximately 0% to 100% are envisioned using more valves and/or variable valves.

In the depicted example, hot water inlet 1506 can provide water to spout 1502 via valve 1504 at a pressure of about 276 kPa (about 40 psi) at a temperature of about 15.5 degrees Celsius (about 60 degrees Fahrenheit), while cold water inlet 1508 Water may be provided to spout 1502 via valve 1504 at a pressure of about 345 KPa (about 50 psi) and a temperature of about 10 degrees Celsius to achieve a spout temperature of about 31 degrees Celsius. The spout temperature may be maintained within about zero degrees Celsius to about 5 degrees Celsius of a selected temperature (eg, 31 degrees Celsius) to reduce the pressure in the cold water inlet 1508 using the restrictor insert 152 described herein. Other ranges of pressure and temperature are of course possible.

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of a low flow state 1600 of a water flow device described herein. Water spout 1602 is shown connected to valve 1604 (eg, mixing valve). Spout 1602 may represent, for example, one or more faucet spouts, one or more bathtub spouts, one or more hose faucets, one or more hand-held shower wands, one or more shower heads, or the like. Valve 1604 may receive water supplied from hot water inlet 1606 and cold water inlet 1608, shown by arrows 1610 and 1612, respectively.

For example, in a low flow state, the user may be determined to be greater than a predefined distance from the spout, or greater than a predefined distance from a sensor (not shown) associated with the spout 1602 . In such a state 1600, a regulator 115 (not shown) may block water flow from one path and direct the water flow through another channel, which may include a small valve with a water outlet coupled to the water flow device 110. A fixed orifice valve body that provides water in a low flow state 1600. In this way, water flow is restricted.

In the depicted example, hot water inlet 1606 can provide water to spout 1602 via valve 1604 at a pressure of about 276 kPa (about 40 psi) at a temperature of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit (about 15.5 degrees Celsius), while cold water inlet 1608 Water may be provided to spout 1602 via valve 1604 at a pressure of about 345 KPa (about 50 psi) and a temperature of about 10 degrees Celsius to achieve a spout temperature of about 26 degrees Celsius. In the low flow state 1600, back pressure on valve 1604 may increase, which may cause the pressure differential to drop, and the balance between hot and cold water may inadvertently be modified to trigger a temperature decrease (or increase). By employing the restrictor insert 152 in the cold water inlet 1608, the spout temperature can be maintained within about zero degrees Celsius to about 5 degrees Celsius of a selected temperature (eg, 26 degrees Celsius) due to the pressure reduction in the cold water inlet 1608. Other ranges of pressure and temperature are of course possible.

In some embodiments, a restrictor insert as described herein may be inserted into cold water inlet 1508 to ensure that the flow rate is maintained during pressure changes, such as from low flow state 1600 to high flow state 1500 and/or from high flow state 1500 to low flow state 1600 , no rapid temperature fluctuations occur. In some embodiments, the restrictor insert 152 described herein can be inserted into the cold water inlet 1508 to ensure that the water temperature is maintained within about zero degrees Celsius to about 5 degrees Celsius of a preset temperature setting selected by the user. In some embodiments, the restrictor insert 152 may maintain a preset temperature within a range of about zero degrees Celsius to about 4 degrees Celsius upon detection of a change in flow pressure. In some embodiments, the restrictor insert 152 may maintain a preset temperature within about 1 degree Celsius to about 4 degrees Celsius upon detection of a change in flow pressure. In some embodiments, the restrictor insert 152 may maintain a preset temperature within about two degrees Celsius to about 4 degrees Celsius upon detection of a change in flow pressure. In some embodiments, the restrictor insert 152 can maintain the preset temperature within about two degrees Celsius to about 3 degrees Celsius when a change in flow pressure is detected.

17 illustrates a perspective view of an example restrictor insert 152 for use with the water flow devices described herein. Restrictor insert 152 can be used to restrict the tube diameter, thereby increasing the pressure in the tube and reducing the flow rate. Such inserts can be used to minimize temperature differences that can occur when water pressure changes occur in the pipe. For example, the example restrictor insert 152 may represent a pipe restrictor that is inserted in a cold water pipe to restrict pipe diameter, increase pipe/water pressure, and decrease flow rate, which may cause the temperature difference between pressure changes minimize.

In operation, the restrictor insert 152 may be helpful in countries that do not have plumbing installation codes that include thermostatic valves (or similar pressure balancing diaphragms/valves). For example, in Singapore, which does not have plumbing installation codes that include temperature-controlled valve requirements, the water flow device 110 can be configured to incorporate pressure or temperature fluctuation devices so that when a user is showering, another person in the building When the fixing device utilizes the water flow, the user will not be scalded by the hot water. More specifically, a restrictor insert such as restrictor insert 152 may be used with the cold water line to equalize the pressure at the point of use where the pressure in the hot water line is different than the cold water line. At equal pressure, there may be no sudden change in water temperature at the point of use. This provides the user with the advantage of increased safety by reducing the risk of burns

As shown in FIG. 17, an example restrictor insert 152 may have a shape that generally matches the shape of the target tube. For example, restrictor insert 152 may be generally cylindrical in configuration with a tapered sidewall 1702 and upper and lower flanges 1704 , 1706 extending radially from sidewall 1702 . Sidewall 1702 terminates at straight wall section 1708 and straight wall section 1710 , leaving wedge-shaped cutout 1712 . Cutout 1712 may be configured to allow extrusion of insert 152, thereby allowing insert 152 to fit into a portion of the cold water inlet of a water supply. Upper flange 1704 includes an annular ring 1714 that runs from upper flange 1704 and through both sidewall 1702 and lower flange 1706 . The upper flange 1704 also includes an annular notch 1716a indicating a specific fit with the diameter of the pipe piped from the cold water source to the cold water inlet. Additional and optional annular notches 1716b, 1716c, 1716d, 1716e, and/or 1716f may be included on insert 152 for other implementations of notches and for different sized tube diameters and/or chassis.

Lower flange 1706 is a semicircular wall portion that extends across a portion of the bottom surface of sidewall 1702 and extends down straight wall section 1718 . The lower flange 1706 includes a lip 1720 extending outwardly from the side wall 1702 around the semicircular wall portion, the lip terminating at the straight wall section 1718 .

In general, insert 152 may be made of polycarbonate, rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or other material or materials that provide a certain amount of flex to fit into the cold water inlet pipe Portfolio formed.

FIG. 18 is an exploded view of an example valve assembly 1800 and restrictor insert 152 . The exploded view includes valve body 1802 with cold water inlet 1804 and hot water inlet 1806 . Restrictor insert 152 is configured to be inserted into cold water inlet 1804 . Valve cartridge 1808 is configured to fit into main water outlet 1810 . The valve stem 1812, bonnet 1814, temperature stop 1816, and O-ring 1818 can be assembled together.

The systems and methods described herein can be embodied and/or implemented at least in part as a machine configured to receive a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions. Instructions are executed by computer executable components integrated with the system and one or more portions of the controller on the flow device, computing device and/or mobile computing device. The computer readable medium may be stored on any suitable computer readable medium, such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, optical device (eg, CD or DVD), hard drive, floppy drive, or any suitable device. The computer-executable components are general-purpose or application-specific processors, but any suitable special-purpose hardware or hardware/firmware combination may alternatively or additionally execute the instructions.

As used in this specification and claims, the singular forms "a" and "the" include both singular and plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term "sensor device" may include, and be considered to include, a plurality of sensors. Occasionally, claims and this disclosure may include terms such as "a plurality," "one or more," or "at least one"; however, the absence of such terms is not intended to imply and should not be construed Translated to mean that the plural is not conceived.

The term "about" or "approximately" when used in front of a numerical designation or range (eg, to define a length or pressure) indicates an approximation that may vary (+) or (-) 5%, 1%, or 0.1%. All numerical ranges provided herein include the stated beginning and ending numbers. The term "substantially" indicates predominantly (ie, greater than 50%) or substantially all of the means, substance or combination.

As used herein, the term "comprising" or "comprises" is intended to mean that the devices, systems and methods include the listed elements, and may additionally include any other elements. For the purposes stated, "consisting essentially of" shall mean that the devices, systems, and methods include the recited elements and exclude other elements of significance to the combination. Accordingly, a system or method consisting essentially of elements as defined herein will not exclude other materials, features or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed disclosure. "Consisting of" shall mean that the devices, systems and methods include the recited elements and exclude anything but insignificant or inconsequential elements or steps. Embodiments defined by each of these transitional terms are within the scope of the present disclosure.

The examples and descriptions included herein show specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced by way of illustration and not limitation. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived herein, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, although specific embodiments have been shown and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

100: Overall system/system 110: Water Flow Device/Water Delivery Device 115: Regulator/water flow regulator 120: Visual and/or auditory warning devices/warning devices 130: Controller 135: memory 140: Antenna 145: power supply 145a: power supply 145b: power supply 150: Sensor/Sensor Device/Integrated Sensor Device 152:Limiter plugin 155: Computing device 160:Remote Computing Device/Mobile Computing Device 162: Application 165:GUI initialization screen/initialization screen 170: GUI Statistics and Trends Screen/Screen 205: water pipe 210: shower head 220: shower wall 310: Longer Flexible Water Hose/Water Hose 315: shower wall 320: Movable shower head/shower head 410: water pipe 415: shower wall 420: shower head 510: shower wall 520: water pipe 525: user 530:Threshold distance 605: water inlet/water flow inlet 610: Polysiloxane o-ring 620: carbon pellets 630: water outlet/water outlet 635:Magnetic lock solenoid valve/solenoid valve/valve 640: front 645: Outer shell 705: Body/Low Flow Body 710: Smaller diameter channel 905: shell 910: ON/OFF switch 915: temperature sensor 1020: power open door S1110: Default or idle state S1120: Steps S1130: Steps S1140: Steps S1210: Steps S1310: Steps S1405: Steps S1410: Steps S1415: Steps S1420: Steps S1425: Step 1500: High flow state 1502: Spout/spout 1504: valve 1506: hot water inlet 1508: cold water inlet 1510: Arrow 1512:Arrow 1600: Low flow state 1602: Spout/spout 1604: valve 1606: hot water inlet 1608: cold water inlet 1610: Arrow 1612: Arrow 1702: wedge-shaped side wall / side wall 1704: Upper flange 1706: Lower flange 1708: Straight Wall Section 1710: Straight Wall Section 1712: wedge cut/cut 1714: Ring ring 1716a: Annular notch 1716b: Annular notch 1716c: Annular notch 1716d: Annular notch 1716e: Annular notch 1716f: Annular notch 1718: Straight Wall Section 1720: lip 1800: Example valve assembly 1802: valve body 1804: Cold water inlet 1806: Hot water inlet 1808: valve barrel 1810: Main outlet 1812: Stem 1814: Bonnet 1816: Temperature stop 1818: O-rings

The foregoing is an overview, and therefore limitations have necessarily been limited in detail. The above-mentioned scope and other scopes, features and advantages of the present technology are described below in conjunction with various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[FIG. 1A] depicts one embodiment of a block diagram illustrating the overall system of the present disclosure.

[FIG. 1B] Illustrates one embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) initialization screen configured to interact with a user to set user profile, personal information, and/or preferences.

[FIG. 1C] Depicts one embodiment of a GUI statistics and trends screen configured to provide water and energy statistics and trends to a user.

[ FIG. 2 ] An image showing one embodiment of a water flow device including a water flow regulator and a separate sensor device in a shower area.

[ FIG. 3 ] An image showing another embodiment of a water flow device including a water flow regulator and a sensor device as an integrated unit in a shower area.

[ FIG. 4 ] An image showing another embodiment of a water flow device including a water flow regulator and a sensor device as an integrated unit in a shower area.

[ FIG. 5 ] shows an image of an embodiment of a water flow device for adjusting water flow as shown in FIG. 2 . The water flow device includes a water flow regulator and a separate sensor device.

[FIG. 6] An exploded perspective side view of the water flow device shown in FIG. 2. [FIG.

[FIG. 7] An exploded front view of the water flow device shown in FIG. 2. [FIG.

[FIG. 8] An exploded perspective side view of the water flow device shown in FIG. 2. [FIG.

[FIG. 9] It shows the front view of the integrated water flow device and sensor device in FIG. 3.

[FIG. 10] A side view of the integrated water flow device and sensor device shown in FIG. 3. [FIG.

[ FIG. 11 ] is a flow chart of an embodiment for regulating water flow using the water flow device and sensor device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 .

[ FIG. 12 ] is a flowchart of an embodiment for optimizing data transmission.

[ FIG. 13 ] is a flow chart of an embodiment for operating a water flow device during bypass mode.

[ FIG. 14 ] A flow chart of a procedure for preparing a water flow device to regulate water flow and using a sensor device.

[ Fig. 15 ] is a schematic diagram of the high flow state of the water flow device described herein.

[ Fig. 16 ] is a schematic diagram of the low flow state of the water flow device described herein.

[ FIG. 17 ] Illustrates a perspective view of an example restrictor insert for use with the water flow devices described herein.

[Fig. 18] is an exploded view of an example valve assembly and restrictor insert.

The depicted embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the disclosure. The diagrams are drawn to illustrate features and concepts and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

100: Overall system/system

110: Water Flow Device/Water Delivery Device

115: Regulator/water flow regulator

120: Visual and/or auditory warning devices/warning devices

130: Controller

135: memory

140: Antenna

145: power supply

150: Sensor/Sensor Device/Integrated Sensor Device

152:Limiter plugin

155: Computing device

160:Remote Computing Device/Mobile Computing Device

162: Application

Claims (50)

A system for energy and water consumption reduction comprising: A valve configured to regulate the flow of water through a water delivery device based on data received from a sensor configured to detect a period of time when a user operating the water delivery device and outputting one or more signals indicative of the user's movement during that time period; a transceiver configured to transmit the data to a remote computing device; and a controller communicatively coupled to the valve, the sensor, the transceiver, and memory, wherein the memory includes a computer readable medium contained when executed by the controller Computer-readable instructions that cause the controller to perform operations, including: receiving the one or more signals from the sensor; determining a movement pattern of the user based on the one or more signals; and Adjusting the functionality of one or more of the sensor, the valve, or the transceiver based on the determined movement pattern such that a predefined power saving and a predefined water flow through the water delivery device are achieved . The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured for use during a shower event. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to control the flow of water from a tube through the water delivery device. The system of claim 3, wherein the water delivery device comprises a shower head or a faucet. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a user input, so that the movement type is further determined based on the user input. The system according to claim 5, wherein the user input includes one or more of the following: a water temperature preference, a water flow preference, a timer setting, or a volume preference. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting the functionality of the sensor comprises adjusting a sampling rate of the sensor. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting the functionality of the valve includes one or both of: adjusting a cycle rate of the valve between a high flow state and a low flow state, or between the The valve is adjusted between a high flow state and the low flow state. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting the functionality of the transceiver includes adjusting a data transmission frequency for the remote computing device communicatively coupled to the system. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting the functionality comprises adjusting the functionality from a baseline functionality to a user-specific functionality. The system according to claim 1, wherein determining the movement type further includes: predict the future mobility pattern of one of the users; and generating an adjustment model for adjusting the functionality of one or more of the sensor, the valve, or the transceiver, the adjustment model including for a power demand according to the forecast of the future mobility pattern One configuration and one configuration for one water demand. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the movement pattern further comprises using a pattern recognition algorithm to determine the movement pattern of the user based on the one or more signals from the sensor. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote computing device includes a server or a mobile computing device. The system of claim 1, wherein the data includes one or more statistical data associated with the valve or the sensor and obtained within a predefined period of time, and wherein the one or more statistical data includes each of the following One or more of: -water usage, -water saving, -average water temperature, -total shower time, total time water is on but shower is empty, total time in a low flow state, total time in a high A total time of flow state, an energy usage, an energy savings, or the one or more statistics are compared to one or more other systems for energy and water consumption reduction. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a solenoid valve configured to move between a low flow state and a high flow state. The system of claim 15, wherein, in the low flow state, a spool of the valve remains in a closed position such that water flows through the valve. The system of claim 15, wherein, in the high flow state, a spool of the valve moves to an open position, allowing water to flow through and around the valve. The system of claim 15, wherein the transition from the low flow state to the high flow state occurs when a distance between the user and the sensor exceeds a threshold. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor. The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor thermally coupled to a valve body comprising the valve. The system of claim 20, wherein the operations further comprise transitioning from a high flow state to a low flow state when the temperature of the valve body approaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature. The system of claim 21, wherein the operations further comprise transitioning from the low flow state to the high flow state when a distance between the user and the sensor is below a threshold. The system of claim 1, wherein: the water delivery device comprises a shower head or a faucet; and The one or more signals are at least partially related to a detected amount of time under the water delivery device, a detected amount of time spent shampooing, or a detected amount of time spent rinsing. As the system of claim 1, it further comprises: a restrictor insert mounted on an inlet of the valve and configured to block the flow of water to regulate a temperature of the flow of water, the regulation ensuring that the temperature of the flow of water is maintained at a predetermined temperature, above or below The preset temperature is within a range from about zero degrees Celsius to about 4 degrees Celsius. The system of claim 24, wherein the inlet of the valve is a cold water inlet coupleable to the valve, and the restrictor insert is configured to reduce the amount of cold water reaching the valve. A method for energy and water consumption reduction performed by a hardware controller communicatively coupled to a water delivery device configured to receive water from a water source, the method comprising: receiving one or more signals from a sensor installed in the water delivery device, wherein the one or more signals are indicative of a user operating the water delivery device within a time period associated with a water use event a move; determining a movement pattern of the user based on the one or more signals; and Adjust the functionality of one or more of the following: the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to sample the movement of the user operating the water delivery device during the time period during the water usage event, a valve configured to control a flow of water during the water use event, or An antenna configured to transmit data regarding the water usage event based on the determined movement pattern such that a predefined power saving and a predefined water flow through the water delivery device are achieved. The method of claim 26, wherein the water delivery device is configured for use during a shower event. The method of claim 26, wherein the valve is configured to control water flow from a tube through the water delivery device. The method of claim 28, wherein the water delivery device comprises a shower head or a faucet. The method of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises receiving a user input, such that the movement type is further determined based on the user input. The method of claim 30, wherein the user input includes one or more of the following: a water temperature preference, a water flow preference, a timer setting, or a volume preference. The method of claim 26, wherein adjusting the functionality of the sensor comprises adjusting a sampling rate of the sensor. The method of claim 26, wherein adjusting the functionality of the valve includes one or both of: adjusting a cycle rate of the valve between a high flow state and a low flow state, or between the The valve is adjusted between a high flow state and the low flow state. The method of claim 26, wherein adjusting the functionality of the antenna comprises adjusting a data transmission frequency to a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the water delivery device. The method of claim 26, wherein adjusting the functionality comprises adjusting the functionality from a baseline functionality to a user-specific functionality. The method according to claim 26, wherein determining the movement type further comprises: predict the future mobility pattern of one of the users; and generating a tuning model for tuning the functionality of one or more of the sensor or the valve, the tuning model including a configuration for a power demand based on the prediction of the future mobility profile And one configuration for one water requirement. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the movement pattern further comprises using a pattern recognition algorithm to determine the movement pattern of the user based on the one or more signals from the sensor. The method of claim 26, wherein the hardware controller is configured to communicate with a remote computing device via a transceiver associated with the water delivery device, the remote computing device comprising a server or a mobile computing device. The method of claim 26, wherein the data includes one or more statistical data, and the one or more statistical data include one or more of the following: a water consumption, a water saving, an average water temperature, a Total shower time, total time the water is on but the shower is empty, the total time in a low flow state, the total time in a high flow state, an energy usage, an energy savings, or one or more The statistics are compared to one or more of the other systems for energy and water consumption reduction. The method of claim 26, wherein the valve comprises a solenoid valve configured to move between a low flow state and a high flow state. The method of claim 40, wherein, in the low flow state, a spool of the valve remains in a closed position such that water flows through the valve. The method of claim 40, wherein, in the high flow state, a spool of the valve is moved to an open position such that water flows through and around the valve. The method of claim 40, wherein the transition from the low flow state to the high flow state occurs when a distance between the user and the sensor exceeds a threshold. The method of claim 26, wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor. The method of claim 26, further comprising a temperature sensor thermally coupled to a valve body comprising the valve. The method according to claim 45, further comprising changing from a high flow state to a low flow state when the temperature of the valve body approaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature. The method of claim 46, further comprising transitioning from the low flow state to the high flow state when a distance between the user and the sensor is below a threshold. The method of claim 26, wherein: the water delivery device comprises a shower head or a faucet; and The one or more signals are at least partially related to a detected amount of time under the water delivery device, a detected amount of time spent shampooing, or a detected amount of time spent rinsing. The method of claim 26, wherein the water delivery device further comprises: a restrictor insert mounted on an inlet of the valve and configured to block the flow of water to regulate a temperature of the flow of water, the regulation ensuring that the temperature of the flow of water is maintained at a predetermined temperature, above or below The preset temperature is within a range from about zero degrees Celsius to about 4 degrees Celsius. The method of claim 49, wherein the inlet of the valve is a cold water inlet coupleable to the valve, and the restrictor insert is configured to reduce the amount of cold water reaching the valve.

Images