WO2011103863A2

WO2011103863A2 - Flow controller for fluids having an energy supply by means of the flow

Info

Publication number: WO2011103863A2
Application number: PCT/DE2011/000179
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cristobal Guzman
Original assignee: Cristobal Guzman
Priority date: 2010-02-25
Filing date: 2011-02-24
Publication date: 2011-09-01
Also published as: EP2539577A2; US20120318386A1; DE102010009215A1; DE112011100668A5; WO2011103863A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a flow controller for fluids, having an energy supply by means of the flow of said fluid. Said flow controller consists of a supply line for the fluid and a turbine wheel which is rotationally mounted and through which the fluid flows and which drives an electric generator which charges the energy accumulator and a consumption point for the fluid. The forwarding of the liquid can be blocked by a shut-off valve which can be electrically controlled by control electronics which use at least one sensor and which can be adapted to various types of sensors and to the characteristics of the various types of consumption points and the shut-off valve, the control electronics and the sensor can be supplied with electric energy by the energy accumulator.

Description

Flow regulator for liquids with power supply via the flow

The invention relates to a fluid flow regulator with power supply via the flow of this liquid, consisting of a supply line for the liquid and a turbine wheel which is rotatably mounted and which can be flowed through by the liquid and which drives an electric generator which charges an energy storage and a point of use for the liquid.

In the current state of the art, the consumption of liquids has become a daily occurrence for everyone. Probably the most common application example is the supply of water to sinks, toilets, showers, bathtubs, bidets and other elements in the sanitary area.

Another form of consumption of liquid is a radiator. Here, liquid is supplied, from which only the heat contained in it is "consumed." The liquid itself is led back to the heater after cooling, in everyday usage it is also referred to as a "consumption" when taken from a dispenser for beverage liquids and is drunk.

A consumption of water is also the watering of plants.

All these applications have in common that the supply of liquid to the point of consumption must be regulated. In the simplest case, it only has to be switched off and on. For this are on the current state of the art numerous variants of

CONFIRMATION COPY mechanical valves, which are manually operated with a handwheel or with a lever. Also known are electrically switchable valves that are not only used in large-scale systems, but also, for example, in public toilets for opening and closing the supply line of water for hand basins and urinals.

In particular, from these applications, it is known that mechanical shut-off valves may be contaminated, so that the user touched them only very reluctant. He can avoid this contact when a sensor is used e.g. the hands under the faucet of a hand basin or another sensor detects that a person approaches a urinal and then moves away from it.

These electrical circuits have the disadvantage that not only a water pipe must be routed to the tapping point, but also an electrical line. Since the electric wire can come into contact with liquid, it is to be carried out with increased moisture resistance. An expense is also laying and connecting the power line.

This effort is still manageable in a new building compared to the total cost. For retrofitting a tapping point with an electrically operated shut-off valve, however, a considerable construction effort is required.

On the current state of the art, the published patent application DE 101 44 602, Lorenz describes a water wheel which is flown by the liquid at the tapping point. On the shaft of this water wheel, an electric generator is arranged, which turns the water wheel generates electrical energy which is used here for illumination of the water jet.

However, this publication does not provide any indication as to how the liquid flow itself can be controlled.

Against this background, the invention has set itself the task of developing a means for removing liquids with a generator in the liquid stream, with which the energy generated from the electric generator can be used to control the liquid streams suitable for the particular application. In particular, a central functional unit is to be created that is universally applicable and adaptable for applications of the most diverse types and sizes.

As a solution, the invention teaches that the forwarding of the liquid can be blocked by a shut-off valve, which is electrically actuated by control electronics, which evaluates at least one sensor and which is adaptable to different types of sensors and the characteristics of different types of consumption points and the shut-off valve and the control electronics and the sensor of the energy storage are supplied with electrical energy.

The decisive feature of the invention is thus the connection of an electrically controllable shut-off valve with an adapted control electronics, which has a variability for the connection of different types of sensors. The control electronics monitor the power supply for at least one sensor. In addition, the ports for these sensors are available in hardware and additionally have a preprogrammed output. Select algorithms, one of which is used to adapt to the working characteristic of the sensor used.

An additional feature of the control electronics are various software blocks for the evaluation of the sensors in adaptation to the particular application.

For a mechanical switch, it makes sense to "bounce" it in the control electronics When changing the switch position, each contact of a mechanical switch after the first impact on his contact surface jumps back a bit and then immediately after a second time on the contact surface followed by the next recoil, but with greatly decreasing amplitude, these vibrations must be suppressed by the control electronics and converted to a clear logic level, which clearly changes only once when the switch position is changed.

Another algorithm is a switching threshold for a proximity initiator with an analog output signal, e.g. depending on the approach of a body part to the initiator.

If the electric shut-off valve has only the two states "locked" and "open", so in the simplest case, the evaluation of the sensor only two stages.

A multi-level evaluation of the sensor is useful if the electric shut-off valve allows several switching states, such as "half closed". Another variant may be the timing of the shut-off valve, ie the rapid change between "open" and "closed". Here, however, a possibly increased energy requirement must be taken into account.

Another possible variant, which can be programmed into hardware and software of the control electronics, is an analog evaluation of a sensor and an analog control of the shut-off valve. Thus, e.g. at relatively large distance of the hands from the sensor on the tap of a hand basin, the shut-off valve are only partially opened to keep the water pressure within limits and therefore trigger only a subset of the maximum possible water flow. Only when the hand is close to the sensor and thus the desire for maximum water pressure is documented, the shut-off valve opens completely.

When used in the sanitary area, such. Hand basins, bidets and showers, where the pumped water has to immediately contact a part of a person, also immediately and immediately flow when activating a sensor. The end of the flow is marked by the removal of the human body or its parts close to the sensor.

Another variant that can be selected by software is operation as a toilet flush or as an irrigation unit. Here, the control electronics must pass on a pulse towards a certain amount of liquid, ie the shut-off valve is switched off automatically after a certain time or after a certain amount measured by the control electronics. Other variants are that two sensors act on a single shut-off valve or that the control electronics operates two shut-off valves, z. For hot and cold water.

Even in the simplest case of a control electronics according to the invention, the software and the hardware of the control electronics thus contain a plurality of subregions which can be variably adapted to different applications.

In addition, numerous other variants are interesting. It has already been mentioned that the electronic control system also has an input for at least one further sensor, whose signals as well as the signals of the first sensor can be evaluated by the control electronics and the adaptation to the respective

Allow consumption point. In the simplest case, both sensors act to control only one shut-off valve.

Another variant is that the second sensor primarily controls a second shut-off valve and the software ensures a connection of both shut-off valves care.

An inventive flow regulator is applicable wherever a liquid flows in a conduit which ends at a point at which the liquid is to develop a certain effect. Interesting applications are in the sanitary area of living and working spaces, such as sinks, bidets or showers or other points of withdrawal for water.

In the sanitary area taps for bathtubs are often open until a certain capacity is reached. Another desired parameter may be compliance with a specific be sertemperatur. Variants of this operating mode are the temperature as a primary setpoint, which is superimposed by a specific filling quantity. Another conceivable variant is the automatic control of the water temperature during its cooling during use of the bath by hot water is allowed to fall below a minimum temperature value.

Another characteristic requires the control of a radiator from a hot water heating system.

And again another characteristic is required for watering a plant or for a beverage donation.

Common to all applications is that a turbine wheel is arranged in the supply line. In an embodiment known for the turbine, the turbine wheel consists of an axle which is rotatably mounted and arranged on the radially outwardly facing guide vanes. Such a turbine is known on a very large scale as a Pelton turbine for hydroelectric power plants.

However, since the flow regulator according to the invention is usually used in fluid lines with much smaller diameters, it may be more advantageous that the bearing of the turbine wheel outside the supply line and the discharge line is arranged on a relatively large diameter through which the liquid flows.

In this case, the turbine wheel is a thin-walled hollow cylinder, which is rotatably mounted on its outer side and which is equipped on its inside with radially oriented guide vanes. These vanes can be in the middle in a streamlined Meeting central body, such as a teardrop-shaped body that urges the liquid in the outer region of the line cross-section, but unlike previously known turbines does not contain a rotary bearing.

In a further advantageous variant, permanent magnets are mounted on the outside of such a turbine wheel, which take over the function of the rotor from the electric generator. For this purpose, stationary, electric coils are arranged at a very short distance from the permanent magnets. As the turbine wheel rotates, the permanent magnets move past the coils at a very close distance, causing their magnetic field to pass through the coils. As a result, an electrical current is induced in the coils, which can be tapped at the terminals of the coil.

For example, in sanitary applications, the sensor may be an ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor or a photocell detecting the presence of a hand or other body region.

In sanitary applications, it is useful in another interesting embodiment that the control electronics changes the pressure of the outflowing liquid by means of a multi-stage or analog sensor as a function of the detected distance to a body part.

Another very interesting additional function in the sanitary area is the non-contact regulation of the water temperature

Consumption points, eg in public toilets. There it makes sense if the individual visitors do not have to touch the faucet directly and therefore do not contaminate it for their part. Even if they accidentally hit the faucet anyway, the next user is not forced to touch the faucet to trigger a jet of water or to adjust the water temperature.

There are non-contact trigger taps, but in which the adjustment of the water temperature is only possible by touching and pivoting a lever. This is inconsistent because this selector lever for the temperature can in turn be a source of infection.

Therefore, the invention proposes that in sanitary applications, the control electronics according to the invention for temperature control evaluates the signals of a second sensor, which detects a space located outside the point of consumption. At a certain location within this space, a body part or an object is introduced, whereupon the control electronics according to the invention changes the temperature setpoint. The introduction of the body part into a first edge area may be e.g. increase the temperature and lower the introduction of the body part in a second edge region, the temperature.

The operation of such a non-contact temperature controller is greatly facilitated if an optical or acoustic display acknowledges the set temperature setpoint in each case. A very simple indicator is a series of light emitting diodes distributed throughout the setting space. When the highest temperature is activated, eg a red LED lights up at a limit of the setting room. If, on the other hand, the lowest temperature is preselected, a blue LED lights up on the opposite edge of the setting room. The illumination of the LEDs may be the signal that the temperature adjustment has been activated. After a certain time, this display goes out automatically and thus indicates the readiness to perform a new temperature adjustment.

It conforms to the usual conventions when such a temperature adjustment is aligned parallel to the front of the person using the tap. Then it is advisable to arrange the activation of the highest temperature on the left and to enable the activation of the lowest temperature only on the right side.

In one alternative, only one switching function for "increase temperature" and another switching function for "decrease temperature" can be present.

It is also conceivable, however, that several switching functions are distributed over the "switching space" away, so that a certain temperature can be activated by introducing a body part or an object in this room as a setpoint.

The aforementioned temperature control will in most cases be done by mixing two liquids with mutually different temperatures. For this purpose, the flow control according to the invention requires a control for two separate shut-off valves.

It is a further interesting embodiment that the change of the setpoint for the temperature is possible even without a flow of the liquid. This variant corresponds to the extent well-known "single-lever mixers", as that the angular position of the controlling lever on a series of LEDs or a digital display of the temperature setpoint is transmitted.

A further enhancement of the comfort of such a flow control is the evaluation of a first temperature sensor, which detects the temperature of the hot liquid supplied and the evaluation of a second temperature sensor, which detects the temperature of the mixture. With this second sensor, the control electronics is able to automatically readjust the preselected temperature.

A further increase of the comfort as well as a considerable saving of water is achieved with the activation of a circulation line as required: If the supply line for the warm water is so long that it cools considerably between the heat source and the consumption source, then the flow control according to the invention can no longer achieve a desired temperature setpoint when the liquid directly behind the hot water shut-off valve has cooled below the desired set point.

A water-saving additional function is a so-called "circulation line", which is activated only when the initially sufficiently heated water has cooled down behind the shut-off valve the temperature of the water currently present at the shut-off valve, then the control electronics according to the invention initially does not switch the supply line to the tapping point. Upon actuation of the faucet according to the invention in this embodiment, therefore, no water flows out at the first moment. Instead, the supply line is connected by an electrically switchable changeover valve with a laxative circulation line. This circulation line brings the once hot, but now cooled water back to the heater until water arrives again with sufficiently high temperature in the supply line. Only then is switched by the control electronics, the changeover valve for the circulation line and released the shut-off valve for the outlet. Only now does water flow

Place of consumption, but with exactly the desired temperature.

Various types are conceivable for the shut-off valves of a flow regulator according to the invention. In the simplest embodiment, the shut-off valve has only the two positions "open" and "closed". As soon as electrical energy is supplied, the shut-off valve opens. When no electrical voltage is applied, it is closed again by the force of a spring. This ensures that it will not accidentally open even if the energy fails. The disadvantage, however, is that energy is consumed continuously for the retention of the valve.

Therefore, the invention proposes alternatively shut-off valves that require only a current pulse to be adjusted in a certain position. Without energy supply, they remain in this position. An undesirable, too long opening of the valve in case of failure of the electrical energy supply can be avoided by the state of charge of the energy storage is monitored and when falling below a minimum level the shut-off valves are still closed with the "last remainder" of the energy. Most types of turbine wheels are optimized for a given water pressure at a given flow rate. If this operating point is significantly undercut, for example by halving the flow rate, then the amount of energy generated by the turbine wheel is not only halved, but decreases to a much greater extent. This can lead to the extent that when removing small amounts of water at a slow speed, the turbine wheel can no longer generate sufficient amount of energy to maintain the functionality of the flow regulator according to the invention.

For these cases, the invention proposes, as a variant, that there is an intermediate container in which the liquid always flows in at nominal pressure and rated speed. For this, the access to the intermediate container must be controlled via a shut-off valve that only has the positions "open" and "closed". From the intermediate container, the liquid can be let out through a second shut-off valve with different positions even in its much lower flow rate. This ensures that the turbine wheel always operates in its nominal range and therefore achieves optimum efficiency. When the intermediate container is filled, the first shut-off valve must close and only reopen when the intermediate container is almost empty.

Since, in principle, the flow regulator according to the invention only draws its entire energy supply from the flowing liquid, it can happen during the repeated removal of very small amounts of liquid that the energy content of the energy store falls below a critical minimum limit. Therefore, the invention proposes as an advantageous variant that the voltage of the energy storage is continuously monitored by the control electronics. When the voltage of the energy store drops below a certain minimum value, the control electronics automatically open the shut-off valve and keep it open until the electric generator has increased the voltage of the energy store to a certain minimum value or by a certain amount.

Of course, this functionality requires that the removal of a liquid quantity without risk and at relatively low cost is possible. In a hand basin that would be conceivable in principle. However, it is reasonable that the control electronics should be controlled by a signal, e.g. to alert you to a light-emitting diode or acoustic message that you will soon open the tap.

As mentioned, a flow control according to the invention can also be used for the flushing of a toilet. Then the first sensor of the control electronics is a contact on the cover of a toilet. The turbine wheel is installed in the liquid supply of the cistern. The shut-off valve is arranged in the outlet line of the liquid from the cistern. If, in the use of the toilet, the lid is opened and then closed again, the closing of the cover for the shut-off valve is the command to open for a certain time or until a certain amount of liquid flows through it. The duration or amount should therefore be programmable. Further refinement of this application automatically adjusts the amount of water used for flushing to the disposal task. This could be served by another sensor that detects the weight of the mass in the toilet bowl. As a sensor, a flexible plastic balloon could be used in the trough of the toilet, which controls a sensor via a weight on it via a pneumatic line. With increasing control of this sensor and thus increasing weight of the mass and the amount of leached out of the cistern for flushing liquid is increased.

A completely different application of a flow regulator according to the invention is a radiator. This is in principle a mostly metallic hollow body, which is flowed through by heated liquid. In this case, the amount of liquid flowing through the heat stored in it through the walls of the radiator through to the room to be heated.

In this case, an inventive flow controller is applicable as a temperature controller. A temperature sensor must detect the temperature of the room to be heated. Below an adjustable minimum temperature on the control electronics, the electric shut-off valve is opened, so that heated liquid flows through the radiator and heats the environment. As soon as the temperature sensor detects that the room temperature has risen to a second maximum value that can be set on the control electronics, the control electronics close the shut-off valve again.

It makes sense to set the externally adjustable temperature setpoint between these two extremes. The switching interval determined by the distance between the minimum and maximum As a rule, hub should only be selected when commissioning the flow controller, but not during operation. Another useful additional function of a heating control is the

Possibility of a flat reduction of the temperature setpoint for certain times of the day, e.g. the so-called night reduction - or for certain days of the week, ie for predictable days off in offices. If the opening of windows or doors e.g. can be detected by a contact, which evaluates the control electronics of the flow controller according to the invention continuously, so heat loss during ventilation by switching off the heater can be reduced.

Another very interesting area of application of a flow regulator according to the invention is the control of the irrigation of at least one plant in the soil or in another substrate. For this purpose, the first sensor of the flow regulator must be a moisture sensor and the liquid be suitable for watering the plant, so may be provided with the appropriate nutrients and fertilizers.

The moisture sensor continuously measures the moisture in the soil or in the substrate. When falling below a preselected minimum value, the flow regulator opens the shut-off valve. If the moisture sensor responds quickly enough, it can stop hydration when it reaches its maximum humidity level.

However, if the time delay between the application of the liquid to the soil and the detection by the liquid sensor is very large, the control electronics should eject a certain pre-selected during commissioning amount of liquid.

Thereafter, a break should be inserted for the evaluation of the liquid sensor in the cycle, which corresponds at least to the mean penetration time of the liquid to the liquid sensor.

Another, very interesting application of a flow regulator according to the invention is the automatic filling of any vessel that is to be filled with a liquid. For this embodiment, the invention proposes that at the end of the supply line a U-shaped end piece is arranged, which can be placed on the edge of the vessel. The first sensor is arranged on this U-shaped end piece so that it is activated by placing the end piece on the edge of the vessel. Then the control electronics opens the shut-off valve, so that the supply of liquid begins.

For a timely closing of the shut-off valve, a second sensor must be attached to the abovementioned end piece, which detects that the level of the liquid has reached a certain distance from the edge of the vessel. When the second sensor passes this message on to the control electronics, it switches the shut-off valve back on.

This second sensor may be, for example, an ultrasonic sensor. Another, quite simple embodiment are two electrodes that detect the conductivity of the liquid. Another variant is a fork light barrier. Even with clear liquids, whirlpools form and air bubbles on the surface, which can be detected by this fork light barrier.

As an alternative embodiment, further electrical consumers can be connected to the energy store or to the control electronics, such as e.g. Lighting fixtures and / or heaters and / or other electrical appliances. It goes without saying that the dimensioning of the electric generator and the liquid pressure required for its operation and the required amount of liquid must be adapted to the consumers.

In a further, very advantageous application of a flow controller according to the invention, the turbine wheel and the shut-off valve in the outflow line of a central water reservoir of an irrigation system are arranged. The turbine wheel and the electric generator are dimensioned so large that in addition to the shut-off valve still further electrical consumers can be operated, such. Lighting fixtures or heaters for plants to be watered.

If the central water tank is emptied during the day, so it can be replenished at night with inexpensive downstream. Since the water reservoir is geometrically located higher than the areas to be irrigated, stored energy is available therein, which has been generated with relatively inexpensive night-time current. This energy can be accessed at any time of the day, even during the daytime hours during which the electrical energy from the grid is otherwise considerably more expensive.

Whenever watering is done, it also activates the electric generator and generates electrical energy. This energy can eg for the heating and lighting of plants in greenhouses can be used. And also on days in spring or autumn, when the weather is still very cloudy and / or the outside temperature is still quite low.

This configuration is particularly advantageous if, in addition to the flow regulator according to the invention, the irrigation is also switched from a distribution of the water by spraying or spraying at high pressure to a dropwise supply of the water with direct lines to the plants.

The decisive advantage of the flow regulator according to the invention is that in that case the proportion of mechanical energy stored in the central water storage, which has previously been "wasted" on spraying the water, can instead be converted into otherwise usable electric energy Illumination or heating of the plants possible, which caused in comparison to the previous configuration, no significant overhead in operating costs.

In the following, further details and features of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an example. However, this is not intended to limit the invention, but only to explain. It shows in a schematic representation:

Figure 1 shows a cross section through a flow regulator in one

Faucet on a sink A "faucet" on the edge of a wash basin is shown in cross-section in Figure 1. The right part shows the columnar housing of the faucet in which the supply line 1 is integrated 1 shows very clearly how the liquid 2 ascends to the shut-off valve 6 in the supply line 1. In the embodiment shown here, it is a sealing disk which is pressed by a hard plate onto an opening in the water tap. For the electrical actuation of the shut-off valve 6 serves a control 61, which is not shown in detail in FIG.

It can be clearly seen in FIG. 1 that the sealing plate of the shut-off valve 6 has to be lifted upwards in order to release the passage for the liquid 2. From there, it then flows on through the approximately horizontal boom to the outlet of the illustrated faucet.

In the illustrated embodiment, an electric generator 4 is constructed there on the turbine wheel 3, the essential components of which are the permanent magnets 41 on the rotating part of the electric generator 4 and the coils 42 in the stationary part of the electric generator 4. In the sectional view of Figure 1 is easy to see that the permanent magnets 41 are mounted on a sleeve which houses the turbine wheel 3 in its interior. Since the front part of the cylindrical sleeve is removed by drawing, behind the connecting surfaces of the four forward to be pointed to the viewer show fine 31 of the turbine wheel are clearly visible. These blades 31 tra- gene a streamlined displacement body in the center of the turbine wheel.

This streamlined body serves only to drive the flow of liquid to the outer portion of the vanes where the lever arm is sufficiently long with respect to the axis of rotation to generate torque. Deviating from conventional water turbines, however, the bearings of this turbine wheel are arranged outside on the sleeve, which contains the turbine wheel. The invention proposes plain bearings for this application because they are surrounded by the liquid flow.

In the illustrated embodiment, two annular plain bearings are provided, which are recognizable in the sectional view of Figure 1 as a crosshatched rectangles. These plain bearings are both the bearing for the electric generator 4 on the outside and for the turbine wheel 3 on the inside of the two plain bearings.

FIG. 1 clearly shows how the connecting cable 43 of the coil 42 is guided in a cavity through the approximately horizontal part of the housing

Faucet is guided in the tower-like, vertical part.

There, the control electronics 7 is installed in a cavity, which is recognizable in Figure 1 as an electronic board, which is diagrammatically cross-cut. With this electronic board 7 and the two sensors 81 are wired. In the illustrated embodiment, the first sensor 81 consists of two parts, namely a transmitter and a receiver: When the pulses or beams emitted by the transmitter are reflected by a body below the outlet of the liquid 2, this signal can be received by the second part of the first sensor 81 whereupon the control 7, the control 61 of the shut-off valve 6 releases. In Figure 1, the cable 62 is clearly visible for electrical connection with the control 61 on top of the faucet.

In Figure 1, the energy storage 9 is installed in the cavity of the vertical part of the faucet, the two poles are connected to the control electronics 7, so that from there the charge and the discharge of the energy storage device 9 can be monitored.

In Figure 1, an integrated assembly can be seen, consisting of the turbine wheel 3 in the sleeve with the outside mounted slide bearings and also outside on the outside of the sleeve placed around the turbine permanent magnet 41 and the coil 42 as a stationary part of the electric generator. 4

In Figure 1 can be clearly seen how the outer housing of the head of the faucet, which is also the holder of the coil 42 is screwed with a screw thread in the horizontal arm of the faucet. The stepwise sequence of assembly is well understood in Figure 1: It starts with the outer housing, then follows the upper sliding bearing of the coils, then the sleeve together with the inner turbine wheel, the outside fixed permanent magnet and the coils resting thereon and then the lower Plain bearing and finally the lower end ring, which fixes the bobbins in the outer housing and is also the support for the lower plain bearing.

Together with the surrounding housing, this creates an assembly that can also be used in completely different applications. Even the electronic board is applicable to other assemblies. Only the input for the sensors used is on to fine-tune the specifics of each application, for which retrievable software and selectable hardware are available on the electronic board.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 supply line for the liquid 2

2 liquid, drives on the way to the point of consumption 5

the turbine wheel 3

3 turbine wheel, driven by liquid 2, drives electric generator 4

31 blades of the turbine wheel 3

32 bearings of the turbine wheel 3

4 electric generator, energy storage 9 loads

41 permanent magnets, on the rotating part of the electric generator. 4

42 coils, in the stationary part of the electric generator. 4

43 connecting cable of the coils 42

5 point of use 5 for the liquid 2

6 shut-off valve, regulates the flow of liquid 2

61 Control of the shut-off valve 6

62 cable for control 61

7 control electronics, controls shut-off valve 6

81 first sensor, evaluated by control electronics 7

82 second sensor, evaluated by control electronics 7

9 energy storage, rechargeable by electric generator 4

Claims

claims

Flow regulator for liquids 2 with power supply via the flow of this liquid 2, consisting of

- A supply line 1 for the liquid 2 and

a turbine wheel 3,

- Is rotatably mounted and

- Can be flowed through by the liquid 2 and

- Which drives an electric generator 4, which charges an energy storage 9 and

a consumption point 5 for the liquid 2,

characterized in that

a forwarding of the liquid 2 from a shut-off valve 6 can be blocked,

- Which is electrically controlled by a control electronics 7,

- Evaluates the at least one sensor 81, and

- which is adaptable to different types of sensors and the characteristics of different types of consumption points 5, and

- Shut-off valve 6 and control electronics 7 and sensor 81 are supplied by the energy storage 9 with electrical energy.

Flow regulator according to claim 1, characterized in that the control electronics 7 has at least one input for a second sensor 82 whose signals

- Evaluated by the control electronics 7 and

- In adaptation to the respective consumption point 5 in the control of the shut-off valve 6 are considered. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the consumption point 5

- a sink or

- a toilet flush

- a shower or

- a bathtub or

- are another sanitary object or

- a radiator or

- a heat sink or

- Another temperature control device or

- a beverage dispenser or

- another liquid dispenser is or

- a plant to be watered or

- is another agricultural or forestry facility.

Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the turbine wheel 3 is a thin-walled hollow cylinder,

- Is rotatably mounted on its outer side and

- Is equipped on its inside with radially oriented vanes 31.

5. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that on the outside of the turbine wheel 3 permanent magnets 41 are attached,

- Which are arranged at a very small distance from stationary electric coil 42 and

- Give off an electric current upon rotation of the turbine wheel 3. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in sanitary applications

an ultrasonic sensor or

an infrared sensor or

- a photocell

the presence of a hand or other body area detected.

Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in sanitary applications, the control electronics 7 by means of a multi-stage or analog sensor 8 depending on the distance to the next perceived body part changes the pressure of the outflowing liquid 2.

8. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that in sanitary applications, the control electronics 7 detects the signals of a second sensor 82 for Tempe- ratursteuerung, wherein

- The second sensor 82 detects a location outside of the consumption point 5 space and

- The penetration of a body part and / or an object in a first edge region of the room increases the temperature and - the introduction into a second edge region of the room

Temperature lowers.

9. flow regulator according to claim 8, characterized in that the temperature is changed by mixing two liquids 2, each with different temperatures.

10. Flow regulator according to claim 8, characterized in that the change of the setpoint for the temperature is possible even without a flow of the liquid 2.

11. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the setpoint and / or the actual value for the temperature are indicated by a display, e.g. can be displayed in steps or as a numerical value.

12. Flow controller according to at least one of the preceding

Claims 8-11, characterized in that the control electronics 7 evaluates a second sensor 82 as a temperature sensor and controls the temperature as a function of this measurement and the set temperature setpoint. 3. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

- The supply line 1 for the warm liquid 2 of the

Control electronics 7 can be switched to a laxative circulation line and

- When the start command for an inlet of liquid 2 to the consumption point 5, a second sensor 82 detects the temperature in the supply line and

- The control electronics 7 only on reaching the temperature setpoint, the inlet to the point of consumption 5 releases and shuts off the circulation line.

14. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shut-off valve 6 is adjustable by a respective current pulse in a certain position and remains without energy supply in this position.

15. Flow regulator according to claim 14, characterized in that the shut-off valve 6 only has the two positions "open" and "closed".

16. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid 2 flows through a first shut-off valve 6, which is arranged in the vicinity of the turbine wheel 3 and which has only the positions "open" and "closed" and the liquid. 2 from there flows into an intermediate container whose outlet can be closed by a second shut-off valve with several positions.

17. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the voltage of the energy storage device 9 is monitored by the control electronics 7 and at a drop in the voltage of the energy storage device 2 below a certain minimum value, the control electronics 7 opens the shut-off valve 6 and holds open until the electric generator 4 has increased the voltage of the energy storage device 2 by a certain amount.

18. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor 81 is a contact on the cover of a toilet, which is detectable by the control electronics 7 and the turbine wheel 3 is installed in a supply line 1 of the cistern and the shut-off valve 6 in the Outlet line of the liquid 2 is arranged from the cistern and after closing the cover of the toilet, the shut-off valve 6 is opened for a certain time or until the passage of a certain amount of liquid.

19. Flow regulator according to claim 18, characterized in that the weight of a mass lying in the toilet bowl can be detected by a further sensor 82, which can be evaluated by the control electronics 7 and with increasing mass also the amount of discharged from the cistern for flushing Amount of liquid 2 is increased.

20. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that at a point of consumption 5 as a liquid 2 to be heated or to be cooled radiator, the sensor 81 is a temperature sensor and

- Below an adjustable minimum temperature, the shut-off valve 6 is obviously and

- remains open until an adjustable maximum temperature is reached and

- A temperature setpoint, which is located approximately in the middle between these two extremes, from the outside into the control electronics 7 can be entered.

21. Flow regulator according to claim 10, characterized in that the control electronics 7 changes the temperature setpoint as a function of the time of day and / or the day of the week and / or the opening of windows and / or doors.

22. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

- the point of consumption 5 is at least one plant in the ground or in another substrate, and

- The sensor 81 is a moisture sensor and the liquid 2 is used to water the plant.

23. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

- The point of consumption 5 is a vessel which can be filled with the liquid 2 and

- The supply line 1 has a U-shaped end piece which is placed on the edge of the vessel and

- The first sensor 81 is disposed on the U-shaped end piece and

- When placing the tail on the edge of the vessel by the control electronics 7, the shut-off valve 6 is obviously and

- The second sensor 82 is also located on the tail and

- detects that the level of the liquid 2 has reached a certain distance to the edge of the vessel and

- In this state, the shut-off valve 6 is closed by the control electronics 7.

24. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control electronics 7 is arranged on a circuit board which is deformable to form a hollow cylinder segment or a polygonal hollow column.

25. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

to the energy storage 9 or to the control electronics 7 further electrical consumers can be connected and supplied, such.

- Lighting fixtures and / or

- Heaters and / or

other electrical appliances.

26. Flow regulator according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the turbine wheel 3 and the shut-off valve 6 are arranged in the outflow line of a central water storage of an irrigation system and the turbine wheel 3 and the electric generator 4 are dimensioned so large that in addition to the shut-off valve 6 also further electrical consumers are operable, such. Lighting fixtures or heaters for plants to be watered.