Patent Application
20080284175
The present invention relates to non-contact flow control systems and, in particular, it concerns a self-powered non-contact water outlet appliance having a flow control system that is powered by a power supply unit, and the flow control system and the power supply unit are mounted within at least one casing element that is deployable at a point of use as a unitary housing.
It is known to provide non-contact flow control systems, especially in public restrooms for hygienic reasons. Such systems usually include proximity sensors so as to control the flushing of a toilet or the flow of water through a faucet into a sink dependent on the presence of a user.
The systems of prior art are generally powered by electricity provided either by the regular electrical system or by batteries. Both of these systems suffer from a number of disadvantages.
Systems powered by the regular electrical system suffer from the extra costs of running the necessary wiring to the location at which the system will be installed. This is an even bigger problem with regard to retrofit systems since wires are generally routed away from areas that contain water pipes so as to avoid shorting problems. Therefore, installation of retrofit systems usually requires the expenses associated with opening walls, installing the required wiring and then closing and finishing the walls. This is over and above the installation of the flow control system itself.
Battery powered flow control systems suffer from the frequent need to change batteries. This, therefore, requires that the system be installed in such a manner as to allow easy access to the battery compartment. Such a requirement can complicate the installation of the system. Further, an accessible battery compartment may be undesirable in a public facility.
An attempt to provide a solution to the above-mentioned problems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,876,100 to Yumita. The Yumita device includes a water tap with a spout with a sensor for detecting a hand. The water tap is deployed above the counter top. Deployed below the counter top and connected water supply pipe extending from the wall is a solenoid valve for controlling water flow. A small generator that supplies power to the valve system and sensor is attached to the outlet of the valve assembly. A hose or pipe provides water flow from the valve assembly and generator to the water tap. A wire is used to connect the sensor to the valve controller. The Yumita device is complex and would seem to require professional installation.
There is therefore a need for a self-powered non-contact water outlet appliance having a flow control system that is powered by a power supply unit, and the flow control system and the power supply unit are mounted within at least one casing element that is deployable at a point of use as a unitary housing. It would be of benefit if the water outlet appliance did not require professional installation.
The present invention is a self-powered non-contact water outlet appliance having a flow control system that is powered by a power supply unit, and the flow control system and the power supply unit are mounted within at least one casing element that is deployable at a point of use as a unitary housing.
According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a self-powered non-contact fluid flow outlet appliance, comprising: a) an electronically actuated flow control system; and b) a power supply unit including: i) a pipeline-deployed electric generator deployed in a fluid flow passage configured in the outlet appliance, the pipeline-deployed electric generator operatively responsive to a flow of fluid through the fluid flow passage; and ii) a power storage device charged by the electric generator; wherein the flow control system is powered by the power supply unit, and the flow control system, and the power supply unit are mounted within at least one casing element that is deployable at a point of use as a unitary housing.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the flow control system includes an electronically actuated fluid flow control valve configured to control a flow of fluid through the outlet appliance.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the flow control system includes at least one sensor configured to sense a necessity to actuate the flow control valve.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the flow control system includes a management system configured to manage operation of the flow control valve conditional to output received from the at least one sensor.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the at least one sensor is configured to detect the presence and absence of a user.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the management system is configured to open the flow control valve when the sensor detects the presence of the user and to close the flow control valve when the sensor does not detect the presence of the user.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the sensor is a proximity sensor.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the unitary housing includes a faucet
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the power storage device is a rechargeable battery.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the electric generator includes: a) a rotor having rotor blades extending outwardly from a central axle, the rotor being deployed within the fluid flow passage so as to be in a fluid flow path of the fluid flow passage such that a flow of fluid through the fluid flow passage effects rotation of the rotor, and at least a portion of at least one rotor blade of the rotor is configured with magnetic properties; and b) an induction coil deployed so as to circumscribe an exterior of the fluid flow passage in proximity to the rotor such that a change in magnetic field caused by rotation of the rotor within the supply pipeline generates a flow of electric current in the induction coil.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, an inside diameter of the fluid flow passage is substantially unchanged throughout a length of the electric generator.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the at least one casing element is configured as two casing elements such that upon installation the two casing elements are interconnected so as to form the unitary housing.
There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance comprising: a) an electronically actuated flow control system; and b) a power supply unit including: i) a pipeline-deployed electric generator deployed in a fluid flow passage configured in the outlet appliance, the pipeline-deployed electric generator operatively responsive to a flow of fluid through the fluid flow passage; and ii) a power storage device charged by the electric generator; wherein the flow control system is powered by the power supply unit, and the flow control system and the power supply unit are pre-assembled within at least one casing element that is deployable at a point of use as a unitary housing, and a sole connection action by which the unitary housing is connected to a fluid supply renders the pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance ready for use.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the flow control system includes an electronically actuated fluid flow control valve configured to control a flow of fluid through the outlet appliance.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the flow control system includes at least one sensor configured to sense a necessity to actuate the flow control valve.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the unitary housing includes a faucet
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the at least one casing element is configured as two casing elements such that upon installation the two casing elements are interconnected so as to form the unitary housing.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the unitary housing provides access to an inlet port of the fluid flow passage and the sole connection action is the interconnection of the inlet port to a fluid supply outlet.
There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a method for providing non-contact control of a flow of fluid from a fluid flow outlet appliance, comprising: a) providing pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance having: i) an electronically actuated flow control system; b) providing a power supply unit including: i) a pipeline-deployed electric generator deployed in a fluid flow passage configured in the outlet appliance, the pipeline-deployed electric generator operatively responsive to a flow of fluid through the fluid flow passage; and ii) a power storage device charged by the electric generator; wherein the flow control system is powered by the power supply unit, and the flow control system and the power supply unit are mounted within at least one casing element that is deployable at a point of use as a unitary housing; c) deploying the at least one casing element at the point of use as the unitary housing; d) performing a sole connection action by which the pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance is connected to a fluid supply and rendered ready for use; and e) operating the pre-assembled fluid flow outlet appliance.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the flow control system is implemented with an electronically actuated fluid flow control valve configured to control a flow of fluid through the outlet appliance.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the flow control system is implemented with at least one sensor configured to sense a necessity to actuate the flow control valve.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the flow control system is implemented with a management system deployed in the casing and configured to manage operation of the flow control valve conditional to output received from the at least one sensor.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the at least one sensor is configured to detect the presence and absence of a user.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the management system is implemented so as to open the flow control valve when the sensor detects the presence of the user and to close the flow control valve when the sensor does not detect the presence of the user.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the sensor is implemented as a proximity sensor.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the unitary housing is implemented so as to include a faucet.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the power storage device is implemented as a rechargeable battery.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the electric generator is implemented so as to have: a) a rotor having rotor blades extending outwardly from a central axle, the rotor being deployed within the fluid flow passage so as to be in a fluid flow path of the fluid flow passage such that a flow of fluid through the fluid flow passage effects rotation of the rotor, and at least a portion of at least one rotor blade of the rotor is configured with magnetic properties; and b) an induction coil deployed so as to circumscribe an exterior of the fluid flow passage in proximity to the rotor such that a change in magnetic field caused by rotation of the rotor within the supply pipeline generates a flow of electric current in the induction coil.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the electric generator is implemented such that an inside diameter of the fluid flow passage is substantially unchanged throughout a length of the electric generator.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the at least one casing element is configured as two casing elements such that upon installation the two casing elements are interconnected so as to form the unitary housing.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the sole connection action is performed as the interconnecting of an inlet port of the fluid flow passage to a fluid supply outlet.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention is a self-powered non-contact water outlet appliance having a flow control system that is powered by a power supply unit, and the flow control system and the power supply unit are mounted within at least one casing element that is deployable at a point of use as a unitary housing.
The principles and operation of a self-powered non-contact water outlet appliance according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
By way of introduction, for the purpose of example only, the water outlet appliance described herein is a water faucet configured for deployment at a point of use such as, by non-limiting example, a sink. However, the principles of the present invention may be applied with equal benefit to numerous water outlet appliances such as, but not limited to, drinking fountains, showers, toilets and urinals configured for connection to an existing water supply pipe and an appropriate point of use. Further, it will be appreciated that the principles of the present invention may be applied with equal benefit to outlet appliances associated with flow systems other than water such as, but not limited to compressed air systems, vacuum systems and fluid flow systems carrying fluids other than water. Therefore, for ease of understanding the principles of the present invention in relation to the drawings, the phrase “water outlet appliance” is used herein to relate to a larger generic phrase of “fluid flow outlet appliances,” and the term “water” is used in lieu of the more generic term “fluid.”
The water outlet appliance of the present invention includes a hydroelectric generator that is deployed as part of the fluid flow passage of the water outlet appliance through which the water flows. The hydroelectric generator has the feature of being minimally invasive to the flow of fluid through the fluid flow passage. It should be noted that the term “hydroelectric” as used herein is not intended to limit the present invention to the generation of electricity by the flow of water only. It is used herein loosely to refer to the generation of electricity by the flow of substantially any fluid, and especially the flow of fluid through a pipeline. Herein, the terms “hydroelectric generator” and “generator” may be used interchangeably.
The hydroelectric generator of the present invention provides a pre-sealed, watertight device in which the rotor that includes the induction magnets is deployed within the main flow passage of the water outlet appliance and thereby sealed within the flow passage, and the induction coils are deployed outside of the flow passage such that the water is sealed within the flow passage away from the induction coils.
The hydroelectric generator of the present invention has low flow resistance and low pressure-drop between the upstream and downstream ports. The flow of the water through the flow passage causes rotation of the rotor, which is deployed within the flow passage so as to be in the flow path of the water. The rotor has an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the central axis of the generator housing and therefore, to the water flow vector and the central axis of the flow passage, at that point. It should be noted that the term “flow passage” as used herein refers to the conduit configured in the water outlet appliance from the point of connection to the water supply system through the appliance to the water outlet opening of the appliance. The rotor blades are configured with a low angle of attack. That is, the angle of the rotor blades to the vector of water flow is relatively low in keeping with the feature of providing low flow impedance and a low pressure-drop across the flow region of the generator.
The rotor, which is deployed within the water flow passage of the generator housing in the flow path of the water flowing through the pipeline, may be configured from magnetic material, or the rotor may be configured to carry magnets. The induction coils of the generator are deployed on the outside of the flow passage. The change in magnetic field caused by the rotation of the rotor within the generator housing generates the flow of electric current in the induction coils.
The self-powered non-contact water outlet appliance of the present invention is configured so as to be deployed at a point of use as a unitary housing that encases a power supply unit and a flow control system. The power supply unit includes a pipeline-deployed electric generator deployed in a fluid flow passage configured in the outlet appliance, the pipeline-deployed electric generator operatively responsive to a flow of fluid through the fluid flow passage; and a power storage device that is charged by the electric generator. The flow control system includes an electronically actuated fluid flow control valve configured to control a flow of fluid through the outlet appliance, at least one sensor configured to sense a necessity to actuate the flow control valve, and a management system configured to manage operation of the flow control valve conditional to output received from the at least one sensor.
Therefore, the water outlet appliance of the present invention may be connected to substantially any suitable water system supply pipeline at the point of use by performing a single connection action. As used herein, the phrase “single connection action” refers to the act necessary to connect the water outlet appliance of the present invention to the water supply system. That action may be, but is not limited to, rotating the water outlet appliance so as to thread it on to a pipe extending from a wall or countertop for example, connecting a pipe fitting configured on the end of a supply hose to a corresponding fitting configured on the water outlet appliance, and tightening a hose clamp so as to secure a supply hose to a corresponding connection configured on the water outlet appliance.
The water outlet appliance of the present invention is, therefore, particularly well suited for “do-it-yourself” installations and easy retrofit installations of such water outlet appliances as, but not limited to, faucets, drinking fountains, showers, toilets and urinals, as mentioned above.
Referring now to the drawings,
The upstream axle support 30 is configured to slide into the upstream port 60 of the generator 2 until it abuts shoulder 36, and to engage ribs 18 that correspond to grooves 18a so as to restrict rotational movement of the upstream axle support 30. The upstream axle support 30 may be held in place by, but not limited to, friction fit, a snap lock configuration, a snap ring, ultrasonic welding, the pressure of the water flow against it, and in the case of a generator housing 10 with female threads, the abutment of the adjacent length of pipe. It should be noted that the inside diameter of the upstream axle support 30 is substantially the same as the inside diameter of the rest of the flow passage of the generator 2, which is substantially the same as the inside diameter of the pipeline. Therefore, the cross-sectional flow area of the generator flow passage, at substantially any point along the length of the generator, is substantially the same as the cross-sectional flow area of the pipeline. This is in keeping with the feature of being minimally invasive to the flow of water through the pipeline. The support fins 32 converge at the axle support bearing 34. The support fins 32 may be configured to direct water flow and/or reduce water turbulence within the generator 2.
The upstream 60 and downstream 62 ports of the generator housing 10 are configured with attachment pipe threads 64 as mentioned above.
The rotor 20 may be configured from material with magnetic properties, therefore, the entire rotor 20 may be magnetized as illustrated herein. The rotor may be configured from, but not limited to, metallic substances, ceramic substances or substantially any other suitable substance. Ceramic powder compression technology may be well suited for manufacturing the rotor 20 when a rotor with magnetic-ceramic properties is desired. Alternatively, rotor 20 may be configured to carry magnets or each individual rotor blade 22 may be configured as a separate magnet. In a further alternative embodiment, the rotor may include a circumferentially encasing cylinder that may include magnets, or the cylinder itself may be magnetized.
It will be understood that the inlet port 106 may be configured for connection to substantially any fluid supply pipeline known in the art. As illustrated here, the inlet port 106 is configured with inside threads for connection to pipe 108, which has exterior threads. Therefore, the faucet of embodiment 100 is supplied to the end user ready for installation as a unitary faucet. In this embodiment, the single connection action required to attach the faucet to the water supply system is to rotate the faucet housing 102 so as to engage the threads on pipe 108 and continue rotating the faucet housing 102 until it is securely attached and a watertight connection is made.
Both the generator 2 and the flow control system 120 which includes a flow control valve (not shown) are deployed within the faucet housing 102 such that the fluid flow passage 104 passes through the generator 2 and the flow control system 120. The flow of water through the generator 2, therefore, provides the electricity necessary to power the flow control system 120. At least one power storage device (not shown), such as but not limited to, a rechargeable battery or other electronic component, may be associated with the generator, thereby providing a power supply unit. The power storage device is capable of providing initial power to open the flow control valve so as initiate the flow of water through the generator 2.
The flow control system 120 receives input from, and is responsive to, at least one sensor 122, which may be, but should not be limited to, a proximity sensor for example, configured to sense the necessity to open or close the flow control valve. The sensor may be remotely near the faucet outlet 110 as is illustrated by sensor 122a. Alternatively, the sensor may be integral to the flow control system circuitry which in turn abuts the faucet housing 102 in which is provided a sensor opening as is illustrated by sensor 122b.
As a non-limiting example of an installation procedure the embodiment illustrated here is configured such that the portion of the fluid flow passage 204 configured in the faucet housing 202a is configured with pipe threads that correspond to pipe threads configured in the flow control valve (not shown) that is included in the flow control system 220. Once installed, the fluid flow passage 204 passes from the inlet port 206 through generator 2 and flow control system 220 to the outlet port 210. As described above, the flow of water through the generator 2, therefore, provides the electricity necessary to power the flow control system 220. Here too, the generator may be associated with at least one power storage device such that the generator and power storage device provide a power supply unit.
The flow control system 220 receives input from, and is responsive to, at least one sensor 222, which may be a proximity sensor for example, configured to sense the necessity to open or close the flow control valve. As illustrated here, the sensor may be remotely near the faucet outlet 210. In this embodiment, wire 222a that provides communication between sensor 222 and the flow control system 220 is connected as part of the installation process.
Alternately, although not illustrated herein, the flow control system 220 may be mounted in the faucet housing 202a and the sensor may be configured integrally to the flow control system circuitry which in turn abuts the faucet housing 202a in which would be provided a sensor opening as similar to that illustrated by sensor 122b of
It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IL06/01146 | 10/3/2006 | WO | 00 | 11/9/2006 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60721985 | Sep 2005 | US |
