Water level detection via pressure sensing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11169548-B2
Application number	US-201916507324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2019
Priority date	Jul 25, 2018
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

A water level detection system includes a water containing vessel, an airtight tube fluidly coupled to the water containing vessel, a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the airtight tube, and a water level control unit communicably coupled to the pressure sensor. The water level control unit is configured to control at least one of a height of water within the water containing vessel or a temperature of the water based on pressure data from the pressure sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water level detection system, comprising:
a water containing vessel configured to receive a volume of water, the water containing vessel comprising a drain;
an airtight tube fluidly coupled to the water containing vessel downstream from the drain, the airtight tube extending upwardly from the drain along a side of the water containing vessel;
a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the airtight tube; and
a water level control unit communicably coupled to the pressure sensor, the water level control unit configured to control at least one of a height of the water within the water containing vessel or a temperature of the water based on pressure data from the pressure sensor.

2. The water level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the water level control unit is configured to determine the height of the water based on predetermined values of at least one of a volume of an interior of the water containing vessel, dimensions of the water containing vessel, or a weight of water corresponding to different water levels within the water containing vessel.

3. The water level detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a drain valve operably coupled to the water level control unit and configured to drain the water from the water containing vessel, wherein the water level control unit is configured to control the drain valve to maintain the height of the water within the water containing vessel to be approximately equal to a predetermined water level threshold.

4. The water level detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a faucet operably coupled to the water level control unit and configured to provide water to the water containing vessel, wherein the water level control unit is configured to control the faucet to maintain the height of the water within the water containing vessel to be approximately equal to a predetermined water level threshold.

5. The water level detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a faucet and a temperature sensor, wherein the faucet and the temperature sensor are operably coupled to the water level control unit, wherein the faucet is configured to provide water to the water containing vessel, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to determine the temperature of the water, and wherein the water level control unit is configured to control the faucet to maintain the temperature of the water within the water containing vessel to be approximately equal to a predefined water temperature.

6. The water level detection system of claim 1 , further comprising an orifice plate disposed along the airtight tube.

7. The water level detection system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drain conduit fluidly coupled to the drain of the water containing vessel; and
a connector fluidly coupling the airtight tube to the drain conduit downstream of the drain.

8. The water level detection system of claim 7 , wherein the connector is disposed between the drain and a drain valve for the water containing vessel.

9. The water level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the water containing vessel further comprises a second opening, and wherein the airtight tube is fluidly coupled to the second opening.

10. The water level detection system of claim 9 , further comprising a jet disposed within the second opening.

11. The water level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the water containing vessel is a bathtub comprising a lower wall, a forward wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls, wherein each of the forward wall, the rear wall, and the side walls extend upwardly from the lower wall, and wherein together, the forward wall, the rear wall, and the side walls define an interior volume.

12. The water level detection system of claim 11 , wherein the airtight tube extends in an upright direction along an outer surface of the forward wall.

13. The water level detection system of claim 11 , wherein the pressure sensor is coupled to an outer surface of the forward wall.

14. The water level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the water level control unit is further configured to:
receive a first pressure of air from the pressure sensor;
receive a second pressure of air from the pressure sensor; and
control the height of the water in the water containing vessel based on the first pressure of air and the second pressure of air.

15. The water level detection system of claim 14 , wherein controlling the height of the water comprises comparing the second pressure of air with the first pressure of air.

16. The water level detection system of claim 14 , further comprising controlling, by the controller, a faucet based on the second pressure of air to maintain the height of the water in the water containing vessel to be approximately equal to a predetermined water level threshold.

17. The water level detection system of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving, by the controller, a third pressure of air from the pressure sensor; and
determining a second height of the water based on the third pressure of air and at least one of the first pressure of air or the second pressure of air.

18. The water level detection system of claim 17 , further comprising a drain valve operably coupled to the water level control unit and configured to drain water from the water containing vessel, wherein the water level control unit is further configured to control the drain valve based on at least one of the second pressure of air or the third pressure of air to maintain the height of the water in the water containing vessel to be approximately equal to a predetermined water level threshold.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Shaaban Nameer
• Kwacz Jason M

Classifications

• G01K13/026

  of moving liquids · CPC title

• G01K13/02 Primary

  for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow · CPC title

• G05D23/19

  characterised by the use of electric means {(G05D23/1393 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G05D9/12 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• G01F23/14 Primary

  by measurement of pressure · CPC title