AU2020102377A4 - CNI-Water Management Technology: WATER COLLECTION AND NOTIFICATION INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY - Google Patents

Abstract

Our invention" CNI-Water Management Technology" is a provides a water collection, consumption and distribution control system based on loT Based Technology and also comprises an control, operation application layer a data gathering layer and an analysis control layer. The invented technology also provide operation application layer is used for a water collection, consumption and distribution device a sensor is arranged on the water collection, consumption and distribution device the sensor gathers corresponding parameters and the parameters are transmitted to the data gathering layer through the IoT. A water dispenser necessary for an ordinary family a hotel an office and other purpose, a water heater, a PC and an intelligent mobile phone as basic components, corresponding interactive terminals are matched respectively, intelligent control on daily water consumption is realized, and the purpose of energy-saving, health and convenient water consumption can be realized. The invented technology the systems and methods for monitoring and controlling water consumption in a water-based system using five sensors for generating signals indicative of the various operation. All five interface modules are provided as breaker circuits for receiving the generated signal. The invented technology a fluid control device is operable for limiting the water consumption and also a motherboard receives the interface modules and provides communication there between for information processing and also the sgnals from the various sensors are supplied to a controller which provides signals to status indicators, and also operates to provide alarm signals via network interfaces to remote locations. The invented technology a water monitoring system is designed to shut off the water supply to the water device and to shut off either the electrical supply or the gas supply to the heating unit of the water device in response to sensing a malfunction through one or more sensed parameters. 26 210 MD 240--P 250 DMIE230 I E VV IG.5 INTRA MOHROR CONNECTION

Description

210 MD 240--P 250

DMIE230 I E VV

IG.5 INTRA MOHROR CONNECTION

CNI-Water Management Technology: WATER COLLECTION AND NOTIFICATION INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention "CNI-Water Management Technology" Is related to WATER COLLECTION AND NOTIFICATION INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY and to automated controls and monitoring of fluid-based systems employing methods and systems for detecting, communicating, and preventing operational failures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various water-co Freshwater is vital to health and to the economy, and reliable access to it is becoming increasingly important as the human population on Earth increases. Yet its availability is limited. Conservation is an important issue and therefore, water management tools are important, especially those tools that provide average households with the means for managing their own water consumption.

Many devices exist for monitoring and controlling water usage, but they provide limited functionality. For example, water meters exist that allow consumers to measure their own water usage. These devices however have no time resolution or past history records. Users cannot tell exactly when water is being used and by whom. Water thermometers exist that allow consumers to measure the temperature of their hot water and indirectly the amount of energy they use for heating water. These thermometers, however, are not connected to a central control system that monitors energy usage. Water valves exist that allow users to shut off water flow but these devices are not connected to a central management system that can control their open or close status. Flood alarms exist but they are not integrated with a central water management system capable of shutting off water in case of a flood. Water pressure measurement systems exist but they are not integrated with a central management system capable of displaying pressure and of shutting off valves either in case of overpressure that could damage sprinklers or appliances, or in case of under pressure indicative of pipe breakage.

Weather monitoring systems exist but are not integrated with a central water management system capable, for example of regulating lawn irrigation. Billing systems exist but they are not integrated with a central water management system. Furthermore, these devices are limited in their capabilities to communicate with consumers. The Rain Bird Company is marketing a smart controller that can be used to control sprinkler time based on weather data from public weather server data. But this controller does not use water authority mandates that are put in place sometimes during droughts to change watering time into their schedules and is not integrated into a comprehensive water management system.

Current water monitoring systems only send the cumulative water flow measurement in the form of a count, every few hours. This relatively long time interval makes water consumption monitoring impossible to perform in real time.None of the water meters have an integrated shut off value that can be activated remotely. The decision is made at the water companies to shut off water distribution.None of the prior art offers the entertainment value of this invention. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will be more fully understood when considered with respect to the following detailed description claims and accompanying drawings.

nsuming fixtures, appliances, and systems in both residential and commercial installations. Typical water-based systems include sinks, toilets, dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters, lawn sprinklers, swimming pools and the like. For example, hot water tanks include a heating element located at the bottom of the tank, with a hot water outlet pipe and a make-up water inlet pipe connected through the top of the tank.

In water tanks a thermostat is generally included for setting the desired temperature of the hot water withdrawn from the tank, and typically a blow-out outlet is connected through a pressure relief valve to allow hot air, steam and hot water to be removed from the tank through the relief valve when the pressure exceeds the setting of the relief valve. The relief valve may be periodically operated for relatively short intervals during the normal operation of the hot water tank. This allows bubbling steam and water to pass through the relief valve for discharge. Once the pressure drops below the setting of the relief valve, it turns off and normal operation of the hot water tank resumes.

After a period of time, however, mineral deposit buildup and corrosion frequently take place in relief valves and the like, as a result of these periodic operations. In time, such corrosion or scale build up may impair operation. When this occurs, the possibility of a catastrophic failure exists. In addition to the possibility of high pressure explosions taking place in water tanks, other conditions can also lead to significant damage to the surrounding structure. As hot water tanks age, frequently they develop leaks, or leaks develop in the water inlet pipe or hot water outlet pipe to the tank. If such leaks go undetected, water damage from the leak to the surrounding building structure results.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,022 to Franklin discloses a sensor system, utilized in conjunction with hot water tanks designed to shut off the water supply in response to the detection of water leaks. In addition, the Franklin patent includes multiple parallel-operated sensors, operating through an electronic control system, to either turn off the main water supply or individual water supplies to different appliances, such as the hot water heater tank.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,154,248 to Fulton discloses a temperature control relief valve operating in conjunction with an overheating/pressure relief sensor to remove or disconnect the heat source from a hot water tank when excess temperature is sensed. The temperature sensor of U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,075 to Cargill et al. is designed to be either the primary control or a backup control with the pressure relief valve. Three other U.S. patents, to Lenoir, U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,302; Salvucci, U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,520; and Zeke, U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,309, all disclose safety systems for use in conjunction with a hot water tank. The systems of these patents all include sensors which operate in response to leaked water to close the water supply valve to the hot water tank. The systems disclosed in the Salvucci and Zeke patents also employ the sensing of leaked water to shut off either the gas supply or the electrical supply to the hot water tank, thereby removing the heat source as well as the supply water to the hot water tank. U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,156 to Patton utilizes sensing of the operation of the standard pressure relief valve of a hot water tank to also operate a micro switch to break the circuit to the heating element of the hot water tank.

While the various systems disclosed in the prior art patents discussed above function to sense potential malfunctioning of a hot water tank to either turn off the water supply, the energy supply, or both, to prevent further damage, none of the systems disclosed in these patents are directed to a safety system for monitoring potentially damaging pressure increases in the hot water tank in the event that the pressure relief valve malfunctions. This potential condition, however, is one which is capable of producing catastrophic damage to the structure in the vicinity of the hot water tank.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,347 to Barron shows a water monitoring system with minimal expansion and protection capabilities. The input and outputs (I/O) offered by the system limit the number of water appliances individually protected. The Barron device was designed such that a normal installation would use a single control unit. The number and types of inputs suggest it was designed primarily to protect a single water heater, and to act as an external control unit for an air conditioner. A number of auxiliary devices could be protected using an auxiliary water sensor input. Outputs provide for control of a hot water solenoid, a cold water solenoid, three alarm signals for external buzzers or bells and an optional external air conditioner control unit.

This requires that the unit control be a single standard 24 vac water control valve for the main hot water in feed and the main cold water in feed line. Thus, it can cut off the power to the unit that tripped the alarm. No matter which sensor is triggered, it appears that the unit can only cut off the main water in feed line(s) to the home and can only remove power from the unit plugged into it. However, the unit does not have a one-to-one correspondence between a sensor and a control valve. The valve control outputs are wired such that if any one of the units sense a water leak, it could close the valves.

The following summary sets forth certain example embodiments of the invention described in greater detail below. It does not set forth all such embodiments and should in no way be construed as limiting of the invention.Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods of monitoring and controlling fluid-based (e.g., water-based) systems in the home or commercial business. These include, for example, water heater, sinks, toilets, dishwashers and clothes washer, swimming pool and lawn sprinklers.

The invention provides a monitoring and control system which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, which is capable of monitoring one or more parameters of fluid-based systems (e.g., water consumption parameters), which may be installed with an after-market add on, or which may be incorporated into original equipment, and which further includes the capability of remote monitoring of branches or areas of the fluid-based systems. Moreover, embodiments relate to an improved water sensor unit wherein a plurality of water-related appliances or equipment can be simultaneously monitored and, in the event of sensing water with respect to any one of the several items being monitored, appropriate action is taken, such as shutting off the power to the unit and simultaneously shutting off the water supply to that particular unit.

The invention includes a system in which one or more electrical circuit interface modules communicate with a motherboard. The motherboard and each interface module "protects" a branch or area of the home or business from water/liquid based overloads or malfunctions.

Systems and methods herein involve one or more sensors in a fluid-based system for generating signals indicative of the operation thereof. One or more interface modules are provided as breaker circuits for receiving the generated signals, and a fluid control device (e.g., a control valve) is operable for limiting or otherwise regulating the fluid consumption. A motherboard receives the interface modules and provides communication there between for information processing. Signals from the various sensors are supplied to a controller, which provides signals to status indicators, and also operates to provide alarm signals via network interfaces to remote locations and to operate an alarm. The controller provides control signals to the interface modules, which in turn provide signals to the fluid control devices.

Interface modules can operate with direct wire connection to one or more valves and sensors. Individual interface modules can also transmit or receive wireless data, between the valve and sensor directly to the interface module. Similarly, interface modules can communicate with the controller via wire connections or wirelessly. The interface modules can also be operated in a timed mode or sensor mode.The system can be connected to a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) such as the World Wide Web, which enables users to configure, monitor, or otherwise control the system and the fluid-based systems and devices interfaced therewith.The system can be configured to automatically cycle devices on a periodic or ad hoc basis. For instance, at a predetermined time, normally closed valves can be opened and then closed. In addition, the system can be configured to monitor and take action when sensed conditions indicate the possibility of multiple failure points in a fluid-based system.

The system interfaces with other systems or devices of a building, such as the heating and/or cooling system and/or hot water tank(s) of a building. Based on detected water flow in component(s) of the water-based system, the system controls those other systems or devices. For instance, if no or negligible water movement has been detected within a predetermined time period, the heat is turned off, thus conserving energy and reducing energy costs. The system is configured to individually monitor and control the water supply to multiple units in a structure, such as an apartment building. Accordingly, the water supply can be shut off when particular tenants vacate or are delinquent, and water leaks can be contained within particular unit(s) without disrupting service to other units.

Embodiments herein also provide a water monitoring system which turns off the water supply and the energy supply to a water appliance or system upon the sensing of one or more parameters of operation of the water appliance or system. Further; embodiments provide a monitoring system for sensing excess pressure in a water appliance or system to shut off the water supply to the appliance or system and to shut off the energy supply to it.Other embodiments provide a monitoring system including a pressure sensor located to sense the pressure variations of the water appliance or system without water flow through the pressure sensor to provide an output for shutting off the water supply and/or the energy supply to the heating unit of the water appliance or system when excess pressure is sensed.

A monitoring System is designed to shut off the water supply to a water appliance or system and to shut off either the electrical supply or the gas supply to the heating unit of the water appliance or system in response to sensing a malfunction of one or more of a number of different sensed parameters. These parameters can be sensed by devices including a water leak detector located beneath the water appliance, a water level float sensor, a temperature sensor to sense excess temperature; and a pressure sensor located in line.

The invention, a monitoring system having an input water supply, an output water line and a source of heat energy is provided. The system includes a pressure sensor connected to sense the pressure inside the appliance or system and provide an output signal when the sensed pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold. Additional sensors also may be provided to respond to one or more additional operating parameters of the appliance or system, including excess temperature, water level, and water leaks to provide additional output signals whenever a sensed parameter reaches a predetermined threshold. A valve is located in the input water supply. A control for disconnecting the source of heat energy from the water appliance or system is also provided. A controller is coupled to receive output signals from the pressure sensor and the additional parameter sensors, if any, and operates in response to an output signal from a sensor to close the valve in the water supply line, and to cause the source of heat energy to be disconnected from the water appliance or system.

Protection of water supplies from either inadvertent or deliberate contamination is an increasingly important concern. While there exist many different devices and methods to analyze water for contaminants, widespread deployment of such devices is expensive and difficult.Most water treatment and distribution systems rely on the introduction and maintenance of a disinfectant into the water system to protect against biological and to a big extent chemical contamination. Chlorine, in the form of gas or hypochlorite, is by far the most common material used for this purpose. However, substitutes such as chloramines, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, chlorine dioxide, and various mixed oxides also find service in this application. All of these materials have a more or less common mode of action. They rely on some sort of oxidation to effect the deactivation of biological organisms and the destruction of other organic compounds present in the water to be treated. The reaction rates of the various disinfection compounds are reasonably well known and well characterized.

Additionally, the presence or absence of turbidity in the water supply can greatly affect the amount of disinfectant required to achieve inactivation of biological organisms. The suspended particles producing turbidity are usually removed in the water treatment process before disinfection agents are applied. However, turbidity breakthroughs do occur and failure to quickly raise the disinfection dose level can lead to insufficient disinfection residuals reaching the distribution system. This can present a threat to public health, particularly if the drinking water supply is contaminated either deliberately or inadvertently.

To respond to the threats of terrorism in drinking water supplies, sensors have been and are being introduced into the distribution system to continuously monitor selected contaminants in the drinking water supply. For example, a system may monitor free chlorine residual at a location in the distribution system downstream of the main treatment plant. However, the concentration of free chlorine present at this point in the distribution system may lag the free chlorine analyzed at the exit of the water treatment plant by hours or even days in some cases. The lag will also vary by time of day, since water demand follows well known 24 hour cyclical periods.

Applicant's invention registered as U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,110 teaches the use of a remote monitoring system to monitor the performance of an advanced separation process, particularly as related to water treatment. Many of the analytical devices used to continuously monitor water treatment operations are based on advanced separation processes employing selective ion membranes which concentrate the analyte for the detector apparatus. For example, detection of chlorine may be mediated via a membrane which readily and specifically passes free chlorine or hypochlorous acid (HOCI), thus separating the analyte from the bulk solution and concentrating it. The detector apparatus may incorporate multiple sensors and analyzers on a single unit. The multiple units are usually electronically controlled. The control system usually features output methods allowing the display and storage of collected data.

Deploying a range of sensor systems in the field provides a means to analyze for contaminants but does not provide for reporting and subsequent analysis of the data. Rapid reporting of the data to a facility readily accessible by the management or operators of the utility or distribution system and subsequent analysis of the data is very important to providing quick response in the event of a system contamination, either deliberate or otherwise.The instant invention provides a means of rapidly aggregating the information at a central location in a form readily accessible to authorized users such as Homeland Security. It further provides a means to employ sophisticated statistical and data analysis techniques to the collected data. Since the central data collection server is connected to the internet, dispersion of alarms and alerts is greatly facilitated.

This invention consists of a method for collecting analytical data from the electronic control system of a single analyzer unit or multiple analyte units, storing the raw data locally for a short period of time, and subsequently using any of a variety of transmission means to send this data to a remote internet server computer. At the remote internet server computer, the data is stored in a database and may also be displayed via a web server. Upon arrival, or upon scheduled intervals, or upon a user request, the data is analyzed, compared to historical records, and a performance analysis result is made. Based upon the raw data or upon the analysis result, reports can be issued to appropriate regulatory agencies, alerts or alarms can be raised, and notifications issued via email, pager, voice or text messaging, or other messaging medium which can be mediated by a computer program connected to a phone line or the internet.

The methods used for data analysis can be readily varied or modified by someone skilled in the art of computer programming since the raw data is easily available from the database for manipulation. For example, the analytical data, when combined with known system constants such as flow rates, residence times, and so on, can be used to continuously generate a calculated product of disinfectant concentration times contact time C*T. This simple factor alone is quite useful in predicting the amount of biological organism deactivation. More sophisticated analyses can also be utilized. The results can be conveniently stored in the database and displayed as virtual sensors.

This invention is particularly useful when the same remote server computer has access to data from both the treatment facility and to analytical data from within the distribution system. In this case, historical information can be used to predict the expected conditions within the distribution system based on the effluent conditions from the treatment plant. The expected conditions can then be compared to the actual conditions in the distribution system. For example, in the instant invention, assume that data is being collected at the water treatment plant from the electronic control system about water flow rates, chemical dosing rates, filtered water turbidity, and chlorine residual. Also assume that data is also being collected from sensors in the distribution system reporting chlorine residual among other data.

With current data and with historical data as a reference point, one can calculate a chlorine demand from the chemical dose rates, flows, and residual. Chlorine Demand is the actual amount of chlorine which is reacting, typically calculated as free chlorine dosed less the residual. Chlorine demand can be correlated with temperature, season, and filtered water turbidity. Additionally, residual chlorine leaving the plant can be correlated with residual chlorine within the distribution system. If the actual chlorine residual measured at the distribution system point of measurement varies from the historical values expected from the chlorine residual leaving the treatment facility by more than a set percentage or more than a set number of standard deviations, then an alarm or alert may be issued by the monitoring system of the instant invention.

As a further example, consider the potential deliberate injection of chemically or biologically active agents into the distribution system at a point downstream of the treatment facility. A sophisticated terrorist may first inject a chlorine scavenger such as sodium met bisulfite into the distribution system to eliminate the chlorine residual normally present. At some point downstream of the met bisulfite injection point, the chemical or biological agent can be injected into the water without destruction by any residual disinfectant. Without an analytical station and monitoring system in place within the distribution system this approach could go undetected for quite some time, allowing a thorough infiltration of a biological or chemical agent throughout the distribution system.

Assuming such an attack, the chlorine residual at the monitoring station would very quickly diminish to zero. A monitoring system with an active system in place to analyze the incoming data would quickly detect such an attack and sound the alarm. With historical data to compare to, the incidence of false terrorist attack alarms could be greatly diminished. For example, a chlorine dosing equipment failure would be noticed at the water treatment plant providing information that a subsequent fall of chlorine concentration in the distribution system was not a terrorist attack, but an equipment failure.

In the same example of a hypothetical terrorist attack, the terrorist might try to simply overwhelm the residual chlorine in the distribution system by injecting, for example, an amount of biological or chemical agent dispersed as a fine powder in water. In this case, chlorine would fall as well but depending on the location of the sensors in relation to the injection point, the concentration might not fall to zero. However, the turbidity might well be affected. Thus a turbidity sensor in the distribution system would be an advantage in assessing a potential threat. In all cases, the need to quickly transmit raw data from both the distribution system and treatment plant to a computer system where it can be manipulated and analyzed is very important for prompt action to occur in response to any threat to the water system.

PRIOR ART SEARCH

US392803A1888-11-13Automatic cut-off for water-pipes US2126564A*1935-02-041938-08-09Milwaukee Gas Specialty CoSafety pilot shut-off US2409947A*1942-10-291946-10-22Milwaukee Gas Specialty CoCombined thermoelectric safety shutoff device and cock

US2749043A *1953-08-031956-06-05Dole Valve CoThermostat and over temperature gas shut-off valve US3307613A1965-09-031967-03-07Honeywell Inc. Control apparatus US4180088A *1977-12-051979-12-25Mallett Raymond HWater shutoff system US4291388A1978-12-201981-09-22AIlen-Bradley CompanyProgrammable controller with data archive US4414994A1981-11-181983-11-15Hogan Roderick DEarthquake fire safety system US4480173A1980-06-231984-10-30Metal Spinners (Ireland) LimitedWater heater US4560323A1980-05-131985-12-24Orchard William R HA apparatus for controlling the flow of a fluid S5892690A *1997-03-101999-04-06Purechoice, Inc.Environment monitoring system US6021664A*1998-01-292000-02-08The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The InteriorAutomated groundwater monitoring system and method WO2000075898A1 *1999-06-082000-12-14Magee Scientific CompanyAutomatic wireless data reporting system and method WO2001094937A1 *2000-06-092001-12-13Watertrax Inc.Integrated water quality monitoring system S3922492A *1974-03-181975-11-25James Ray LumsdenRemote meter reading transponder US4035772A *1974-10-031977-07-12Ricoh Co., Ltd.Utility meter reading system US4394540A*1981-05-181983-07-19Timex CorporationRemote meter reader and method for reading meters over non-dedicated telephone lines US5153837A*1990-10-091992-10-06Sleuth Inc.Utility consumption monitoring and control system US5161182A *1989-04-041992-11-03Sparton CorporationRemote meter reading method and apparatus This invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Applications No. 61/346,267, titled "Intelligent data logging, analysis system and/or subscription service for single and multi-site synchronous data, not limited to wind, solar analysis and water conservation applications" filed on May 19, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Applications No. 61/253,199 titled "Intelligent data logging and analysis system for single and multi-site synchronous data, not limited to wind and solar analysis applications and subscription service" filed on Oct. 20, 2009. Both of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference. Applicant claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Par 119(e)(i). The present invention relates to the monitoring and control of water consumption.

The demand for purer water products is generally increasing. Government agencies need to produce higher quality water products, of the kind derived using chlorine in particular, in order to meet increasingly stringent safety and environmental standards, as well as to improve general operations. Additionally, due to the demand for purer tap water by its millions of household users worldwide, public health authorities are being increasingly compelled to monitor the various contaminants in the water stream during the various processes such as, for example, desalination, to ensure that the water meets the demand for purity and to be able to take rapid corrective measures to detect and/or reduce the contaminants when they do begin to appear. Particular contaminants, which may be present in the water and more particularly, in the chlorine content, are halocarbons, including methylene chloride, chloroform. (U.S. Patent No. ,654,201 discloses a representative chlorine quality monitoring system.) In order to monitor the water contaminants and have the ability to take corrective action, it is necessary that a suitable system and method be available which will accurately detect and measure such contaminants and which can also be used on-line at the household site, taking samples directly from its tap stream.

The primary causes of water pollution include household waste, industrial waste, farm pesticide(s) and the animal waste produced by hog and poultry farms which can result in the notorious E. coli strain of bacteria, responsible for a number of recent fatalities. As the pollution problems threatening the source of our drinking water such as the river become increasingly worrisome, people lose their confidence in the quality of the drinking water provided by the local water company and/or government ministries. In addition, people's anxiety about the quality of their drinking water is further aggravated by the fact that the conditions of the water supplying pipes and reservoirs are often found to be unsatisfactory.

Accordingly, a variety of water-treating devices such as water-filtering devices, water purifying devices, water softening devices, etc., have become ubiquitous in offices, homes, factories, schools, religious institutions and so on. The conventional systems for water purification have now become passe, creating the requirement for a new detection device and system, as opposed to a filter, that will serve this need to warn the average household user of a potential health hazard not only in the household, but quite possibly and much more probably, in the community at large.

Existing systems, such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,865,991, can be used to warn individual consumers but fail to integrate water quality information from a plurality of consumers; such integration not only helps to identify the overall scope of an existing water contamination problem but also enables consumers to be pre-warned of potential problems through notification of surrounding water quality readings. Even in the case of the average carbon or reverse-osmosis filters that are currently on the market, the purifying elements used there are generally replaced after a predetermined period of time of usage without knowing the actual condition of the elements themselves. For example, U.S. Patent No. 6,024,867 discloses a water filter that displays the state of the life span of a filter cartridge therein, based on the amount of water which has passed through the filter. This approach assumes a relatively constant contaminant level in the incoming water and does not account for actual contamination which may increase in response to environmental or other changes. Hence, in many cases, overused purifying elements are not replaced in a timely manner, thus resulting in the consumer unknowingly drinking the poor quality water produced by such an ineffective water purification system. This scenario actually provides an excellent environment for bacteria and fungi to grow. Such overused and clogged elements would contaminate the water passing through the systems instead of purifying it. This illustrates the need not only for a filtration element, but more importantly perhaps, an impurity and contaminant identifier.

Representatively, U.S. Patent No. 5,646,863 is directed to the detection of contaminants in water supplies of municipal utilities, industrial processes and surrounding water supply systems. Ground, surface or industrial water is pumped into a storage chamber and preconditioned for analysis. The water analysis structure is highly complex, including such elements as hydraulic module, fuzzy logic correlator and controller, neural network, etc., and does not represent a system that may be easily and effectively implemented within the household environment of a typical consumer for immediate tap water quality verification and which enables the consumer to receive feedback through a centralized monitoring station over a distributed computer network. U.S. Patent No. ,494,573 teaches a water purification monitoring system for a beverage processing system. Various system characteristics are monitored using sensors, with data being transmitted to a remotely located computer for diagnosis. The system is designed to operate at the municipal water supply level for monitoring a primary water source, and is not a practical solution for residential water quality monitoring requirements on an individualized basis.

Previously, a common practice in home water monitoring has been to send an individual sample of water to be tested by way of a water-sampling laboratory, litmus tests, etc. It has become important, however, for public health bacteriologists to have a faster, more accurate way of measuring certain selected characteristics possessed by a single simple sample of common tap water. In addition, it is important to note that a single sample is of limited value. The most a single sample can show is the water quality at the time and place of sampling. Therefore, a system is needed whereby repeat samplings may be performed, such as every few weeks.

Whether one sample or many, the whole process generally needs to be expedited from a customer's standpoint. Having an electronic file transfer of information pertaining to the above allows costs to be kept to a minimum. Although the traditional paper contract serves the purpose of security well, nowadays authentication systems have been developed specifically to ensure the enforceability of electronic contracts, as mentioned later in this document. One such method of authenticating electronic contracts in order to make them legally enforceable is disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,191,613, which utilizes digital signatures. There exists therefore, a significant need for further improvements: 1) in expediting the whole water monitoring process on an individual basis; 2) in water quality monitors for testing and indicating the relative quality of a tap water system, particularly a water quality monitor made responsive to the predetermined values of the unit so that accurate and reliable test readings will result in a more spontaneous fashion; 3) in regularly repeating the water sampling process in a convenient, cost-effective way; and 4) in integrating water quality data from a plurality of consumers through the means of today's available technology to transmit information across vast distances, if necessary, to a

Central Monitoring Station (CMS) through which customer feedback information is provided over a distributed computer network.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

1. The objective of the invention is to a provides a water collection, consumption and distribution control system based on loT-Based Technology and also comprises an control, operation application layer a data gathering layer and an analysis control layer. 2. The other objective of the invention is to the invented technology also provide operation application layer is used for a water collection, consumption and distribution device a sensor is arranged on the water collection, consumption and distribution device the sensor gathers corresponding parameters and the parameters are transmitted to the data gathering layer through the loT. 3. The other objective of the invention is to A water dispenser necessary for an ordinary family a hotel an office and other purpose, a water heater, a PC and an intelligent mobile phone as basic components, corresponding interactive terminals are matched respectively, intelligent control on daily water consumption is realized, and the purpose of energy saving, health and convenient water consumption can be realized. 4. The other objective of the invention is to the invented technology the systems and methods for monitoring and controlling water consumption in a water-based system using five sensors for generating signals indicative of the various operation. All five interface modules are provided as breaker circuits for receiving the generated signal. 5. The other objective of the invention is to the invented technology a fluid control device is operable for limiting the water consumption and also a motherboard receives the interface modules and provides communication there between for information processing and also the sgnals from the various sensors are supplied to a controller which provides signals to status indicators, and also operates to provide alarm signals via network interfaces to remote locations. 6. The other objective of the invention is to the invented technology a water monitoring system is designed to shut off the water supply to the water device and to shut off either the electrical supply or the gas supply to the heating unit of the water device in response to sensing a malfunction through one or more sensed parameters. 7. The other objective of the invention is to wherein the controller is configured to control a hot water heater and a climate control unit as the function of at least one of the first and second control signals. The invention is to wherein at least one of the first and second interface modules are further configured to interrupt (a) a flow of water and (b) a flow of energy to an appliance.

8. The other objective of the invention is to wherein the climate control unit comprises a HVAC unit. The invention is to wherein the controller sends the control command to at least one of (a) the hot water heater and (b) the climate control unit via the first interface module, and wherein the first interface module is configured to shut off the climate control unit as the function of the control command. 9. The other objective of the invention is to wherein at least one of the first and second interface modules is configured to communicate wirelessly with the controller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The This invention is a water consumption monitoring and control system that allows a user to monitor and control water consumption. It is comprised of a base unit which itself comprises

• a) a display and a data entry device; • b) a microprocessor • c) a communication link connected to a water meter, through which water usage information is transmitted to the base unit. • d) a second communication link to the Internet through which a user can monitor and control his water usage. The water usage can be converted to a dollar amount for the benefit of the user.

The water consumption monitoring and control system is also connected to pressure sensors. The received pressure information is compared to pre-entered criteria. An alarm is generated if the pressure information does not conform to the pre-entered criteria. For example, a low pressure may indicate breakage or leak in a water pipe. This alarm is used to generate a message over the Internet in the form of email, tweet or text. Text messaging could use, for example, the Short Message Service (SMS) protocol.

The water consumption monitoring and control system is also connected to water shut-off valves. The received pressure information is compared with pre-entered criteria. A shut-off signal is generated if the pressure information does not conform to the pre-entered criteria. This shut-off signal is sent to the shut-off valves.

Communication is established over the Internet with the local water utility company. Water usage and pressure information is sent to the company which compares this data against pre-set usage and pressure criteria and sends shut off command signals to the base unit if the information does not conform to the pre-set usage and pressure criteria. This shut off signal is forwarded to the shut off valves. Possible reasons for shutting off the water supply is that the utility company may determine that the water is unsafe to drink or that customers have not paid their bills.

Communication is established over the Internet between the base unit and an Internet server. Water usage and pressure data are sent to the server which evaluates this information and returns usage control information to the base unit.Water schedule advisories are received over the Internet from the local government water department. This data is used by the Internet server to generate government advisory control information which is sent to the base unit.Weather information is received over the Internet from the weather office. This data is used by the Internet server to generate weather advisory control information which is sent to the base unit.

The base unit is also connected to, and can control the operation of, a sprinkler system.Water temperature information is also transmitted to the base unit and used to calculate the energy used in heating water.Floor moisture sensors that generate information regarding the absence or presence of a flood are also linked to the base unit. In the presence of a flood, an alarm is generated and an Internet message is sent to the user.The base unit is also connected to vibration sensors configured to detect the vibrations produced by flushing toilets. Malfunctioning toilets which may take too long to fill can thus be identified.

The base unit can also be connected to several water meters, each water meter located in a different housing or commercial unit, thereby allowing the user (for example the landlord) to monitor the tenant's usage. Similarly, the base unit can monitor water usage at different points within a single house.The microprocessor in the base unit can record water usage as well as pressure and temperature information over a period of time and use this historical information to detect water wastage and to detect leaks and pipe breakage.The base unit can also provide to the user the information regarding the water consumption of his neighbors (or user defined groups anywhere in the world like families, brother and sisters, college campus or special interest groups) and his rank in water usage, thereby stimulating water conservation through competitive thinking.

The invention is a method for continuously monitoring a water treatment system and related distribution network providing potable water to a municipality, city, housing development or other potable water consumer. The method includes the collection of data from the distribution system and in the preferred embodiment from the water treatment facility as well. The method also includes the collection of data from advanced separation processes which are integrated into analytical instruments. The data collected are stored in a remote database on a remote server computer or bank of computers.

The data are manipulated to generate preconfigured performance, maintenance, quality assurance, quality control, regulatory, performance graphing, historical trends, and regulatory reports. The data is collected from sensors located at an equipment site and transferred to a remotely located computer using transmission means by use of the Internet where all data received can be used for the generation of reports which are accessible by Internet connection. The reports, graphs and information can be viewed online or downloaded by use of a web browser. Regulatory reports can be forwarded automatically to the regulatory agency via electronic transmission means with the added benefit of receiving reports generated directly from the sensor input thereby eliminated the possibility of human error or tampering. The method allows a single location to monitor countless customers with each customer capable of reviewing information relevant to their equipment. All information is kept confidential by use of appropriate account names, protocols and passwords.

The invention of utmost importance for security concerns is to use the data manipulation steps to continuously compare the current water treatment facility data with current data obtained from the distribution system to each other and to historical records of performance already stored in the database. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art of data analysis, this can provide a powerful indicator of either normal response in the distribution system or out of bounds conditions that may require immediate notification of responsible parties preferably by direct contact with Homeland Security. The invention is to provide a means for analytical devices using advanced separation processes such as ion selective membranes or electro dialysis membranes to rapidly and securely transmit their data to a remote database server computer for data manipulation and display on the World Wide Web.

The invention is to provide a facile means to evaluate the conditions in the water treatment distribution systems as to health and safety concerns and allow this information to be shared by responsible parties via the World Wide Web. The invention is to provide a means of remote monitoring advanced separation processes, water, and wastewater treatment plants in a manner that prevents any possible hacker attack to the electronic control system of the plant or process being monitored. The use of a remote database and web server allows viewers near real time access to plant performance but only allows access to web pages, not the control system. In more conventional remote monitoring applications, users or viewers need to actually connect with the computer or electronic control system which is actually controlling the plant. Thus, compromised passwords could result in an unauthorized user seizing control of the control system. In the instant invention, the control system need not be configured for remote access at all. In the instant invention, a compromised password will merely allow a remote user to see data from the process but not control any part of process, nor actually make any connection to the electronic control system of the facility, or computer attached to the electronic control system.

light of the above, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and method for measuring chlorine and contaminants in tap water which allows for quickened response and recording for the user, measuring a plurality of different contaminants. The invention is to disclose a novel apparatus for automatically making intermittent qualitative measurements of the properties of a water sample, in order to determine if the water meets certain prescribed standards as programmed, and then advancing informational values to the Central Monitoring Station (CMS) when the output water quality is below that standard.

The invention to provide a water analyzing system of the aforementioned type which is particularly useful in determining if industrial water being drawn from a pipe is in a suitable unpolluted condition for an average household consumer.It is yet another object to disclose an apparatus that can sense and sequentially record (on a single screen) a heavy metal level or other component content of a flowing sample of tap water, for example, a chlorine content, such that the user can always be assured that he/she has a reliable computer-charted representation of his or her water stream available within moments over a distributed computer network.

The invention is a technique for repeatedly testing water samples at a consumer's tap which allows for valid comparison of data collected in different places at various times and identification of trends in water quality. A further object of the invention is a method for using a computer system to facilitate a transaction between a customer and a company, comprising inputting into the computer a payment identification specifying a credit card account and simultaneously being automatically assigned a password unique to that customer, for sign-up to the water monitoring service and corresponding website of the present invention.

The invention is an integrated water monitoring and reporting system in which water quality data is collected from a plurality of consumers by a CMS and made available to the consumers on a web site accessible over a distributed computer network such as the Internet. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention may be achieved through the provision of a system and method of sensing the presence of various contaminants, chlorine, heavy metals, etc., in tap water, and providing a warning alert signal to the user in a more immediate and improved fashion. The present invention ensures that the tap water will maintain a quality of purity in conformity with the standard in public health for that region. The present invention is also adapted for notifying off-site maintenance personnel at a CMS of a hazardous public health situation, and recording the data for future reference. An added benefit to the user is the ability to sign up for the services immediately with the ability to choose the terms via live web interaction, and of viewing their water usage as well. This system and method may also be applied to business and industrial usage.

The method for monitoring the quality of drinking water according to the present invention comprises taking a sample in a stream of water, passing a portion of the sample to an analyzer, detecting the presence of chlorine, heavy metals, etc. in the sample stream, and passing that data (via EDI) regarding the presence of the detected material to a common data acquisition network, which could be wireless, for recording and data output at CMS, and then onwards to the website for customer queries.

The invention comprises a system and method for monitoring the quality of water and transmitting that information. A preferred embodiment includes a line for taking a sample stream of water, an analyzer, a microprocessor control box, and a common data acquisition network. Lines may be provided for taking a plurality of portions of the sample and passing portions to the analyzer. The analyzer may be a halocarbon in chlorine analyzer, a fiber-optic based residual chlorine monitor, and/or an ultra-violet lamp/reactor located beneath the faucet tap water unit or adjacent an incoming water line near the hot water heater or pump, depending on the embodiment. The control box converts the signals and transmits them onto the network. A central monitoring station is provided for receiving data from the network and integrating and outputting that data. Through the use of a suitable number of the aforementioned described instruments, it is possible to present concrete evidence on a charted record(s) or database, located at the CMS, showing the exact time at which a certain measured condition of the tap water indicated it to be contaminated and/or polluted. These values can be presented on a corresponding website within minutes of detection. The present invention provides rapid analysis and reliability. There is no required maintenance for photometric devices, and no chemicals are required. The system exhibits no drift in the response over time and, for spectrophotometric devices, is not affected by interferences. Furthermore, the overall system is relatively portable. These and other objects are attained by the present invention which may be better understood from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAM

FIG.O.5: INTERNAL MOTHERBOARD CONNECTION FIG. 1:IS A BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION. FIGS. 2 AND 3 COMPRISE A BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION. FIG. 4: IS A DETAIL OF A PORTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN IN FIG. 1. FIG.5: LED INDICATION. FIG.6: INTERFACING FIG.7: WATER CONTROLLING UNIT FIG.8: COMPLETE CONTROLLING UNIT. FIG.9: WATER SUPPLY PROCESS UNIT FIG.10: CIRCUIT WITH INDICATION. FIG.11: IC CONTROL THE WATER SUPPLY FIG. 12: IS THE WHOLE SYSTEM, SHOWING THE BASE UNIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH WATER SENSORS AND ACTUATORS, AND THROUGH THE INTERNET, WITH A SERVER, USER COMPUTERS, MOBILE DEVICES, WATER COMPANIES FIG.13: IS THE POWER UP SEQUENCE FOR THE BASE UNIT.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 200 for monitoring and controlling a fluid based system according to an embodiment of the invention. The architecture of the system 200 includes two basic circuit modules. The first module is an interface module 220 (breaker). The second module is a motherboard 210, which acts as a main controller.

Each interface module 220 is connected to a respective sensor and/or control valve of an object (e.g., an appliance, a pipe, etc.) in the fluid-based system. As such, each interface module 220 can receive, as an input, sensor information indicative of system conditions and/or send, as an output, control information to, for example, open or close a valve.In the system 200, multiple interface modules 220 are connected to the motherboard 210. In an embodiment, each interface module 220 plugs into the motherboard 210. The motherboard 210 receives sensor information provided by the interface modules 220. The motherboard 210 sends control information to an interface module 220.

The motherboard 210 and/or interface modules 220 are programmed to take appropriate actions in response to sensed conditions and user inputs. The motherboard 210 can communicate over one or more networks, such as a LAN, WAN, intranet, or internet. The dashed box in FIG. 1 signifies that the motherboard 210 and interface modules 220 can be, but are not necessarily, located in close proximity to one another, such as within a panel housing.

The system 200 can include one or more remote interface modules 250. Each remote interface module 250 is a stand-alone module connected to a respective sensor and/or control valve, and can receive sensor information and send control information as described above. Each remote interface module 250 wirelessly communicates with the motherboard 210, which includes a receiver/transmitter 230 and an antenna 240. As such, sensor information and/or control information can be exchanged between a remote interface module 250 and the motherboard 210.

The interface module 220 and a remote interface module 250 are interchangeable units that operate in dual modes (plug-in or stand-alone). In another embodiment, the interface module 220 and remote interface module 250 have some common circuitry, but are distinct units. Power for interface modules 220 can be provided by power supplies of the motherboard 210 or by another suitable power source. Power for remote interface modules 250 can be provided by a wall outlet, batteries, or another suitable power source.Examples of alarm conditions that can be detected in the system 200 include: an interface module sensor has been tripped (i.e., the sensor is active); an RF transmitter of an interface module has a low battery; a loss of communication with an RF transmitter has occurred; a loss of communication with a slave panel has occurred; a loss of communication with an interface module has occurred; the main supply valve is active; and a valve solenoid error has occurred.

FIG. 1A and FIGS.2 and 3 are block diagrams of water monitoring systems providing comprehensive monitoring of various alarm conditions representative of malfunctioning parameters in water-based systems and the like according to embodiments of the invention. In particular, the system of FIG. 1A operates in response to a water appliance or system malfunction to turn off the input water supply and to disconnect the energy source supplying heat to the water appliance or system when such a malfunction occurs.

A hot water tank 10, which may be of any conventional type, is illustrated. The hot water tank 10 may be heated either by a gas supply or an electric supply. The system operates in the same manner, irrespective of which type of heat source is employed for the hot water tank 10. Inlet or make-up water for the hot water tank 10 is supplied through an inlet supply pipe 12 through an electrically operated valve 14, from a water inlet pipe 16. The heating energy is supplied, either through a gas pipe or through electrical lines 18, through a gas shut-off valve 20 (or alternatively, an electric power switch 20), with gas/electric power input being supplied through a gas pipe 22 (or suitable electrical leads).

Hot water produced by the tank is supplied to a water output pipe 24 in a conventional manner. The final portions of the hot water tank system include a blow-out pipe or outlet 26, which is connected to a conventional pressure relief valve 28, designed to relieve pressure in the tank 10 when the internal tank pressure exceeds a predetermined amount. Such a blow-out outlet 26 and relief valve 28 are conventional.

In the remainder of the system shown in FIG. 1A, various parameter sensors are connected to a central controller 30 for providing indicia representative of the operating condition of the water tank, and for sensing different parameters of the operation of the water tank 10. If the parameters either exceed some pre established threshold or indicate a condition which is indicative of a failure of the hot water tank 10, a signal is sent to the controller 30, which then operates to provide outputs indicative of the status of the water tank operation, and, in addition, operates to turn off the water supply to the tank and turn off the source of heat energy to the tank 10.

As indicated in FIG. 1A, one of the parameter sensors is a water leak detector 32. This is indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 1, with a pair of contacts shown located beneath the water tank 10. A suitable container (not shown) to catch water leaks from the water tank 10 and the pipes 12 and 24 may be provided. When the water level becomes sufficient to bridge the contacts which are shown extending from the leak sensor 32, it provides a signal to the controller 30 indicative that a leak, either from the water tank 10 itself or from the supply pipe 12 or the water outlet pipe 24, in the vicinity of the hot water tank 10, has occurred. The signal sent to the controller 30 then is processed to place the system in its alarm and safety shut down mode. Also shown in FIG. 1A is a float sensor 34 to provide an indication that the water level within the tank 10 has dropped below a safe level. The output from the float sensor 34 is supplied to the controller 30 to cause it to operate in a manner similar to the response to the leak sensor32.

In addition to the generally conventional leak sensor 32 and float sensor 34, the hot water tank system shown in FIG. 1A has been modified in the region of the connection to the hot water tank at 26 for the pressure relief valve 28 to employ two additional branches to sense parameters at the blow-out outlet 26. One of these is to sense temperature through a branch or leg 40 coupled with the pipe 28. A temperature sensor 36 is provided in the branch 40. A pressure sensor 38 is coupled through a branch or leg 42 to the blow-out relief valve line 26. The outputs of the temperature sensor 36 and the pressure sensor 38 also are supplied to the controller 30, as indicative of a temperature exceeding a safe operating temperature (as determined by the manufacturer of the hot water tank 10) and by sensing through the pressure sensor 38 a pressure in excess of a safe threshold (again, determined by the manufacturer of the hot water tank 10) to supply signals to the controller 30. Thus, the sensors 32, 34, 36 and 38 all supply 8 independent malfunction signals, depending upon the parameter being sensed, to the controller 30 to cause it to operate whenever one of the hot water tank malfunctions occurs.

Ideally, the pressure sensor 38 is selected to provide a signal to the controller 30 at a pressure slightly above the pressure which normally would operate the relief valve 28 for the hot water tank 10. Thus, the safety system operates prior to a condition which causes the relief valve 28 to operate.The controller 30 is supplied with operating power from a suitable power supply 52, supplied with input from an alternating current input 50. The power supply 52 is shown in FIG. 1A as supplying positive and negative DC power over lines 54 and 56, respectively. It should be noted, however, that DC power levels at other voltage levels also may be obtained from the power supply 52 for operating various electronic circuits and sub-circuits through the controller 30. Operating power also is supplied, as indicated in FIG. 1A, over the positive DC power lead 54 to an LED status indicator 60. The LED status indicator 60 has at least two output status lights in the form of LED lamps 62 and 64 located in a convenient location for a home owner or maintenance person to obtain a quick visual check of the status of the hot water heater 10. Under normal conditions, with no outputs from any of the sensors 32, 34, 36 and 38, the controller 30 sends a signal to the LED status indicator 60 to illuminate a green LED light 62. In the event that anyone or more of the sensors should supply an alarm signal to the controller 30, a signal is sent from the controller 30 to the LED status indicator 60 to turn off the green LED 62 and to illuminate a red LED 64. This indicates to a person checking on the water heater 10, either at the location of the water heater 10 or at a remote location where the LED status indicator 60 may be located, the operating condition of the water heater 10.

If an alarm condition occurs, the controller 30 also sends signals to the electric shut-off valve 14 to turn off the water supply through the inlet pipe 16, and a signal to the gas/electric shut-off valve switch 20 to turn off the supply of gas or electricity to the heating element of the water heater 10. Consequently, no water is supplied to the water tank 10 and the source of heat is removed, thereby establishing as safe as possible a condition for the environment around the hot water heater 10 whenever an alarm condition exists.At the same time, the controller 30 also may operate one or more alarms 66, which may be local or remote audible or visual alarms, and in addition, may provide, by way of a modem 68 to phone jacks 70, an automatically dialed alarm signal to a pre established connection. In this manner, it is possible for a person at a remote location to have a call forwarded from the controller 30 indicative of the presence of shut down of the hot water tank 10 coupled with a message indicative of either an alarm condition in general, or a specific message tailored to the particular alarm condition which was sensed by the controller 30 in response to the one or more of the sensors 32, 34, 36 and 38 which created the alarm in the first place.

FIG. 4 is directed to a diagrammatic indication of a modification of the connections to a standard hot water heater, which are employed for providing inputs to the temperature sensor 36 and the pressure sensor 38 in a manner which are not subject to the corrosive effects of water flow in the blow-out pipe 36. As mentioned previously, the pressure relief valve 28 of hottest water tanks undergoes periodic operation during the course of the operation of the hot water tanks 10. This particularly may occur when the hot water tank 10 becomes aged. In any event, when repeated discharge occurs of bubbling water and steam of sufficient pressure to open the pressure relief valve 28, the hard water, scale and other corrosive effects of the water flow through the pressure relief valve 28 over a period of time may cause the relief valve 28 to become sufficiently corroded or clogged, as described previously, so that it may not work; or it may require pressure in excess of the designed pressure to operate it. To safely and repeatedly, if necessary, sense excess pressure without subjecting the pressure sensor to the corrosive effects of escaping water or steam, the pipe 26 supplying a connection to the relief valve 28 is fabricated with a generally "X" shaped coupler, as shown in FIG. 4. The coupler includes the portion 26 which is connected to the blow-out outlet of the hot water heater. The blow-out relief valve 28 is screwed into the opposite end in a normal manner.

On opposite sides of the pipe 26 and extending outwardly at a 90. degree. angle to the central axis between the outlet 26 and the blow-out relief valve 28, are a pair of outlets 40 and 42. The outlet 40 has a temperature sensor element 36A threaded onto it which includes a bimetallic operator. This bimetallic operator normally is not in contact with the electrical inlet leads of the sensor 36A. When temperature in excess of what is considered to be a safe amount by the manufacturer of the hot water tank 10 is reached, the bimetallic element in the temperature sensor 36A pops or is moved to the left, as viewed in FIG. 4, to bridge the electrical contacts and to provide an output warning signal of excess temperature to the controller 30 for operating the system as described previously. It should be noted that once the temperature sensor 36A has been operated by an excess temperature, it typically must be replaced with a new sensor, since the bimetallic element has been moved from the position shown in FIG. 4 to an operating position, described previously. Generally, such sensors are not re settable.

On the right-hand side of the fitting shown in FIG. 4 is a pressure sensor 38. The pressure sensor element 38A is threaded onto or otherwise secured to the arm 42 of the fitting shown in FIG. 4. The sensor 38A includes a pressure activated plunger which is indicated as spring-loaded toward the left of the sensor 38A shown in FIG. 4. When pressure in excess of the designed 12 parameters of the pressure sensor 38A is reached, the pressure within the pipe 26/42 forces the sealed diaphragm of the sensor element 38A toward the right to bridge the electrical contact shown to then provide an output signal to the controller 30. When the excess pressure condition terminates, the element 38A returns to the position shown in FIG. 4, and the alarm indication is removed.

Fig.5 to 11 eight additional slave microcontrollers or module slaves 149 are found on the motherboard. Each is a Cygnal Integrated Products C8051F310, the same device used on the stand-alone interface module. Each interface module slave monitors two plug-in interface modules 150 in real-time. Each interface module slave communicates with the master via the SMBus. When an alarm condition on any one plug-in interface module is detected, the status is reported to the master. It should be noted that, in the depicted embodiment, the circuitry is the same for all eight interface module slaves 154, 160.

The system block diagram of the invention is shown in FIG. 12. It comprises the following components:

• a) A display/control panel called the base unit.1 • b) A series of sensors including water temperature sensors 3, water pressure sensors 8, floor moisture sensors 7, vibration flush sensors 5, water meters 2, 4, rain sensors/gauge 16. • c) A series of actuators, such as shut off valves 13. • d) Communication links to several entities located on the Web in particular a server 9, a utility company 14 (water company), a weather information service 15 and user mobile communication devices (e.g., cell phones) • e) An internet server 9 • f) Desk top or lap top computers 10 • g) User mobile communication devices 11

The base unit 1 is configured to monitor and control water consumption. The block diagram of the base unit is shown in FIG. 2. It comprises a microcontroller 21, a display 21, a data entry device 22 and at least one communication link 23.

The communication links 23 can include communication from the sensors to the actuators. This communication can be implemented by means of a wire or wirelessly for example, by means of ISM band transceivers, Zigbee or WiFi. The communication also includes access to the Internet, either wirelessly, or by means of a wired ethernet.

FIG. 13. It includes the following:

• a) powering up 40 the base unit 1, • b) verifying 41 that the connection to the water conservation server on the Internet is working, • c) verifying 42 that the wired or wireless connections to the sensors and actuators are operational, • d) displaying 43 the status of the system, • e) sending an alarm 44 in case of system failure, • f) starting the Control Logic (1) software 45 which inputs sensor data and monitors sensor operation.

Claims (5)

WE CLAIM

1) Our invention" CNI-Water Management Technology" is a provides a water collection, consumption and distribution control system based on loT-Based Technology and also comprises an control, operation application layer a data gathering layer and an analysis control layer. The invented technology also provide operation application layer is used for a water collection, consumption and distribution device a sensor is arranged on the water collection, consumption and distribution device the sensor gathers corresponding parameters and the parameters are transmitted to the data gathering layer through the IoT. A water dispenser necessary for an ordinary family a hotel an office and other purpose, a water heater, a PC and an intelligent mobile phone as basic components, corresponding interactive terminals are matched respectively, intelligent control on daily water consumption is realized, and the purpose of energy-saving, health and convenient water consumption can be realized. The invented technology the systems and methods for monitoring and controlling water consumption in a water-based system using five sensors for generating signals indicative of the various operation. All five interface modules are provided as breaker circuits for receiving the generated signal. The invented technology a fluid control device is operable for limiting the water consumption and also a motherboard receives the interface modules and provides communication there between for information processing and also the sgnals from the various sensors are supplied to a controller which provides signals to status indicators, and also operates to provide alarm signals via network interfaces to remote locations. The invented technology a water monitoring system is designed to shut off the water supply to the water device and to shut off either the electrical supply or the gas supply to the heating unit of the water device in response to sensing a malfunction through one or more sensed parameters.

2) According to claims# The invention is to a provides a water collection, consumption and distribution control system based on loT Based Technology and also comprises an control, operation application layer a data gathering layer and an analysis control layer.

3) According to claiml,2# The invention is to the invented technology also provide operation application layer is used for a water collection, consumption and distribution device a sensor is arranged on the water collection, consumption and distribution device the sensor gathers corresponding parameters and the parameters are transmitted to the data gathering layer through the IoT.

4) According to claiml,2,3# The invention is to A water dispenser necessary for an ordinary family a hotel an office and other purpose, a water heater, a PC and an intelligent mobile phone as basic components, corresponding interactive terminals are matched respectively, intelligent control on daily water consumption is realized, and the purpose of energy saving, health and convenient water consumption can be realized.

5) According to claim1,2,4# The invention is to the invented technology the systems and methods for monitoring and controlling water consumption in a water-based system using five sensors for generating signals indicative of the various operation. All five interface modules are provided as breaker circuits for receiving the generated signal. The invention is to the invented technology a fluid control device is operable for limiting the water consumption and also a motherboard receives the interface modules and provides communication there between for information processing and also the sgnals from the various sensors are supplied to a controller which provides signals to status indicators, and also operates to provide alarm signals via network interfaces to remote locations. The invention is to the invented technology a water monitoring system is designed to shut off the water supply to the water device and to shut off either the electrical supply or the gas supply to the heating unit of the water device in response to sensing a malfunction through one or more sensed parameters. The invention is to wherein the controller is configured to control a hot water heater and a climate control unit as the function of at least one of the first and second control signals. The invention is to wherein at least one of the first and second interface modules are further configured to interrupt (a) a flow of water and (b) a flow of energy to an appliance. The invention is to wherein the climate control unit comprises a HVAC unit. The invention is to wherein the controller sends the control command to at least one of (a) the hot water heater and (b) the climate control unit via the first interface module, and wherein the first interface module is configured to shut off the climate control unit as the function of the control command. The invention is to wherein at least one of the first and second interface modules is configured to communicate wirelessly with the controller.

FIG.0.5: INTERNAL MOTHERBOARD CONNECTION

FIG. 1:IS A BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION.

FIG. 2: IS A BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION.

FIG.3: IS A BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION.

FIG. 4: IS A DETAIL OF A PORTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN IN FIG. 1.

FIG.5: LED INDICATION.

FIG.6: INTERFACING

FIG.7: WATER CONTROLLING UNIT

FIG.8: COMPLETE CONTROLLING UNIT.

FIG.9: WATER SUPPLY PROCESS UNIT

FIG.10: CIRCUIT WITH INDICATION.

FIG.11: IC CONTROL THE WATER SUPPLY

FIG. 12:IS THE WHOLE SYSTEM, SHOWING THE BASE UNIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH WATER SENSORS AND ACTUATORS, AND THROUGH THE INTERNET, WITH A SERVER, USER COMPUTERS, MOBILE DEVICES, WATER COMPANIES.

FIG.13: IS THE POWER UP SEQUENCE FOR THE BASE UNIT.