Controller for a manifold assembly in a water filter system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11745127-B2
Application number	US-202217587674-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2022
Priority date	Feb 11, 2019
Publication date	Sep 5, 2023
Grant date	Sep 5, 2023

Abstract

A control system for a water filter assembly comprising a filter having an RFID tag and an RFID sensor to generate a RFID signal containing data related to the filter. A valve assembly moves between a shut off position, an operational position directing the flowpath of the water supply through the filter, and a bypass position. A controller communicate with a lawn irrigation system to determine if the irrigation system is operative. When operative, the controller has the valve assembly switch to the bypass position. The controller also receives the RFID signal to verify if the filter is proper. The controller also receives a leak signal from a leak sensor and has the valve assembly automatically switch to the shut off position if a leak occurs. The controller can name the leak sensor with a location and indicate battery life of the leak sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for a point-of-entry ttea filter assembly, the control system comprising:
a controller including memory for storing an instruction set and a processor for running the instruction set, wherein the controller is operative to:
communicate with a lawn irrigation system to determine if the irrigation system is operative; and
if the lawn irrigation system is operative, the controller communicates with a manifold of the point-of-entry water filter assembly to bypass filtering for conserving filter life.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes the lawn irrigation system so that the controller is operative to control and coordinate the manifold and irrigation components.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to, after completion of an irrigation cycle, communicate with the manifold to switch to a normal position for filtering incoming water.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises a display for user interaction to selectively manually bypass filtering.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises a time clock synchronized to the lawn irrigation system; and wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize with the lawn irrigation system to switch to a bypass position during watering times based upon accessing stored watering time data.

6. The control system of claim 5 , wherein the stored watering time data is accessible via menu of a touch screen display of the controller or via a software application on a smart device linked to the controller.

7. A control system for a point-of-entry water filter assembly, the control system comprising:
a filter having an RFID tag containing data related to the filter;
an RFID sensor configured to read the data of the RFID tag to generate a RFID signal containing the data related to the filter;
a manifold valve assembly configured for movement between: a shut off position closing the flowpath of the water supply; an operational position directing the flowpath of the water supply through the filter; and a bypass position directing the flowpath of the water supply around the filter for conserving filter life;
a first leak sensor positioned where water leakage may occur for generating a first leak signal indicating a presence of water;
a second leak sensor positioned where water leakage may occur for generating a second leak signal indicating a presence of water; and
a controller including memory for storing an instruction set and a processor for running the instruction set, wherein the controller is configured to:
communicate with a lawn irrigation system to determine if the irrigation system is operative;
if the lawn irrigation system is operative, the controller communicates with. the manifold valve assembly to switch to the bypass position;
receive the RFID signal from the RFID sensor;
verify if the filter is proper for use in the water filter system;
generate an error signal if the filter is not proper;
receive the first leak signal from the first leak sensor;
receive the second leak signal from the second leak sensor;
control the valve assembly to automatically switch to the shut off position based upon the first and second leak signals;
name the first and second leak sensors for providing an indication of location; and
depict the first and second leak sensors on a splay with a respective battery life indication.

Assignees

• Watts Regulator Co

Inventors

• Schmitt Craig
• Preston Monica

Classifications

• G01M3/16

  using electric detection means ({G01M3/045,} G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/007

  Leak detector calibration, standard leaks (G01M3/207 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/184

  for valves · CPC title

• B01D35/147 Primary

  Bypass or safety valves · CPC title

• B01D35/143

  Filter condition indicators · CPC title