Water temperature control system and water temperature control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10795387-B2
Application number	US-201916262956-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2019
Priority date	Feb 12, 2018
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A water temperature control system and a water temperature control method are provided. The water temperature control system includes a thermostatic spool, a temperature sensor, a controller, and a stepper motor. The thermostatic spool is configured to mix water at a first temperature and water at a second temperature to produce output water. The temperature sensor is configured to sense a current water temperature of the output water based on a sensing frequency to provide a current water temperature signal. The controller is configured to provide a step number control signal according to a target water temperature signal and a current water temperature signal. Based on a step frequency greater than the sensing frequency, the stepper motor is configured to provide a step number according to a step number control signal to adjust a flow rate of the water at the first temperature and a flow rate of the water at the second temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water temperature control system comprising:
a thermostatic spool having a first water inlet, a second water inlet, and a water outlet, receiving water at a first temperature through the first water inlet, receiving water at a second temperature through the second water inlet, mixing the water at the first temperature and the water at the second temperature to produce output water, and providing the output water through the water outlet;
a temperature sensor disposed at the thermostatic spool and sensing a water temperature of the output water based on a sensing frequency to provide a current water temperature signal;
a controller coupled to the temperature sensor, receiving a target water temperature signal and the current water temperature signal, and providing a step number control signal according to the target water temperature signal and the current water temperature signal; and
a stepper motor disposed at the thermostatic spool and coupled to the controller, providing a step number based on a step frequency and according to the step number control signal, so as to adjust a flow rate of the water at the first temperature and a flow rate of the water at the second temperature, wherein the step frequency is greater than the sensing frequency.

2. The water temperature control system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises:
a communication module receiving the target water temperature signal; and
a water temperature control unit coupled to the communication module and the temperature sensor and providing the step number control signal according to the target water temperature signal and the current water temperature signal.

3. The water temperature control system according to claim 2 , wherein the water temperature control unit further:
obtains a current step number of the stepper motor associated with the current water temperature signal,
obtains a target step number of the stepper motor according to the target water temperature signal, and
provides the step number control signal according to the target step number of the stepper motor and the current step number of the stepper motor.

4. The water temperature control system according to claim 2 , wherein the water temperature control unit further:
determines whether a difference between a target water temperature and a current water temperature is greater than a threshold value according to the target water temperature signal and the current water temperature signal,
provides the step number control signal when the difference is greater than the threshold value, and
provides no step number control signal when the difference is less than or equal to the threshold value.

5. The water temperature control system according to claim 2 , wherein the controller comprises:
a flow rate control unit coupled to the communication module, receiving a flow rate signal through the communication module, and providing a flow rate control signal according to the flow rate signal, wherein the water temperature control system adjusts a flow rate of the output water according to the flow rate control signal.

6. The water temperature control system according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a water valve coupled to the water outlet and the flow rate control unit, receiving the output water through the water outlet, and adjusting the flow rate of the output water according to the flow rate control signal provided by the flow rate control unit.

7. A water temperature control method adapted to a water temperature control system, the water temperature control system comprising a thermostatic spool and a stepper motor, wherein the stepper motor is disposed at the thermostatic spool, the water temperature control method comprising:
receiving water at a first temperature and water at a second temperature through the thermostatic spool and mixing the water at the first temperature and the water at the second temperature to produce output water;
sensing a water temperature of the output water based on a sensing frequency to provide a current water temperature signal;
receiving a target water temperature signal and receiving the current water temperature signal and providing a step number control signal according to the target water temperature signal and the current water temperature signal; and
providing a step number corresponding to the step number control signal by the stepper motor based on a step frequency and according to the step number control signal, so as to adjust a flow rate of the water at the first temperature and a flow rate of the water at the second temperature,
wherein the step frequency is greater than the sensing frequency.

8. The water temperature control method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of providing the step number control signal according to the target water temperature signal and the current water temperature signal comprises:
obtaining a current step number of the stepper motor associated with the current water temperature signal;
obtaining a target step number of the stepper motor according to the target water temperature signal; and
providing the step number control signal according to the target step number of the stepper motor and the current step number of the stepper motor.

9. The water temperature control method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
determining whether a difference between a target water temperature and a current water temperature is greater than a threshold value according to the target water temperature signal and the current water temperature signal;
providing the step number control signal when the difference is greater than the threshold value; and
providing no step number control signal when the difference is less than or equal to the threshold value.

10. The water temperature control method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving a flow rate signal and providing a flow rate control signal according to the flow rate signal; and
adjusting a flow rate of the output water according to the flow rate control signal.

Assignees

• Kuei Tso I
• Wang Li Chuan
• Compal Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kuei Tso-I
• Wang Li-Chuan

Classifications

• F28F27/02

  for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels ({static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026}; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12) · CPC title

• G05D7/0658 Primary

  the plurality of throttling means being arranged for the control of a single flow from a plurality of converging flows (G05D7/0652 takes precedence; ratio control G05D11/13) · CPC title

• G05D23/1353

  combined with flow controlling means · CPC title

• G05D23/1393 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• G05D23/134

  measuring the temperature of mixed fluid · CPC title