| US 7,508,318 B2 | ||
| Apparatus, system and method for monitoring, recording and billing for individual fixture and unit water usage in a multi-unit structure | ||
| Michael H. Casella, Baldwin, Md. (US); Keith W. Lipford, Severna Park, Md. (US); and Brian L. Lipford, Bel Aire, Md. (US) | ||
| Assigned to H20Flo, LLC, Towson, Md. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 07, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/399,395. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/771111, filed on Feb. 08, 2006. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/669383, filed on Apr. 08, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0245467 A1, Nov. 02, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G08B 23/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 340—870.02 [705/412; 73/861.77; 73/861.79] | 38 Claims |
| 1. An apparatus comprising:
an inlet portion defining an inlet opening and adapted to be connected to and in fluid communication with a fluid inlet line;
a first flow conditioner in fluid communication with and adapted to receive and condition a fluid flowing through the inlet
opening;
a flow measuring device in fluid communication with the first flow conditioner and adapted to measure the conditioned fluid
as the conditioned fluid flows past the flow measuring device and to generate a signal representing an amount of the conditioned
fluid flowing past the flow measuring device;
a power generator in fluid communication with the fluid inlet opening and to receive at least part of the fluid flowing through
the inlet opening and to generate and supply power using the received at least part of the fluid flowing through the inlet
opening;
a pressure relief valve located upstream from the flow measuring device to receive at least another part of the fluid flowing
through the inlet opening, the pressure relief valve to allow the at least another part of the fluid flowing through the inlet
opening to bypass the power generator, if the pressure exerted by another part of the fluid flowing through the inlet opening
exceeds a predetermined threshold at the pressure relief valve;
an electronic component adapted to receive and store the generated power from the power generator and to store the signal
representing the measured amount of the conditioned fluid received from the flow measuring device using the power from the
power generator and, when sufficient power is available, to transmit the stored signal representing the measured volume of
the displaced conditioned fluid to a monitoring system; and
an outlet portion defining an outlet opening in fluid communication with the flow measuring device and the outlet opening
adapted to be connected to an outlet line and to allow the conditioned fluid that flows past the flow measuring device to
exit the apparatus;
the apparatus being sized to completely fit and operate from inside one of a plurality of plumbing fixtures.
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