Combination isolation valve and check valve with integral flow rate, pressure, and/or temperature measurement with wireless power

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191681-A1
Application number	US-201615262430-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 12, 2016
Priority date	Sep 11, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wirelessly powered system includes a wirelessly powered combination isolation valve and check valve for a hydronic system, having a positive shut-off isolation valve configured in the hydronic system to prevent fluid flow, including to allow for maintenance of the hydronic system, a check valve configured in the hydronic system to prevent backflow and gravity circulation which can harm the hydronic system, and a combination of one or more sensors configured to sense a corresponding combination of one or more pressure, temperature or flow measurements of the fluid flow in the hydronic system and provide sensor signaling containing information about the corresponding combination of the one or more pressure, temperature or flow measurements sensed of the fluid flow in the hydronic system; and an onboard wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power signaling, and provide power to energize the combination of the one or more sensors.

First claim

What we claim is:

1 . A wirelessly powered system, comprising
a wirelessly powered combination isolation valve and check valve for a hydronic system, having
a positive shut-off isolation valve configured in the hydronic system to prevent fluid flow, including to allow for maintenance of the hydronic system,
a check valve configured in the hydronic system to prevent backflow and gravity circulation which can harm the hydronic system, and
a combination of one or more sensors configured to sense a corresponding combination of one or more pressure, temperature or flow measurements of the fluid flow in the hydronic system and provide sensor signaling containing information about the corresponding combination of the one or more pressure, temperature or flow measurements sensed of the fluid flow in the hydronic system; and
an onboard wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power signaling, and provide power to energize the combination of the one or more sensors.

2 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 1 , wherein the onboard wireless power receiver is configured to receive the wireless power signaling in the form of radio frequency (RF) signaling and convert the RF signaling into direct current (DC) signaling for powering the combination of the one or more sensors.

3 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 2 , wherein the wirelessly powered system comprises a remote transmitter configured to provide the RF signaling using cordless energy transmission.

4 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 3 , wherein the remote transmitter is configured to provide the RF signaling either for continuously powering the combination of sensors, or for periodically powering the combination of sensors, or for powering the combination of sensors based upon the sensing and/or data transmission rate, or some combination thereof.

5 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 1 , wherein the combination of the one or more sensors is powered by discrete energy packets for data collection and transmission within the wirelessly powered combination isolation valve and check valve.

6 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 1 , wherein
the wirelessly powered system comprises a wireless data transmission arrangement configured to receive the sensor signaling, and provide wireless data transmission sensor signaling containing information about the combination of the one or more pressure, temperature or flow measurements sensed of the fluid flow in the hydronic system; and the onboard wireless power receiver is configured to provide power to energize the wireless data transmission arrangement and enable wireless data communication.

7 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 1 , wherein the onboard wireless power receiver comprises a wireless receiver configured to receive the wireless power signaling in the form of wireless RF power signaling.

8 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 7 , wherein the onboard wireless power receiver comprises a wireless to DC power converter to convert the wireless RF power signaling into DC power signaling to energize the combination of the one or more sensors.

8 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 8 , wherein the onboard wireless power receiver comprises a DC power provisioning module configured to provide the DC power to the combination of the one or more sensors.

10 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 1 , wherein the onboard wireless power receiver comprises a wireless to DC power converter to convert the wireless power signaling into DC power signaling to energize the combination of sensors.

11 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are DC sensors configured to receive DC signaling and sense the corresponding combination of the one or more pressure, temperature or flow measurements of the fluid flow in the hydronic system.

12 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are completely sealed and enclosed, including hermetically, without the need for a coupling or connection to electrical power wiring.

13 . A wirelessly powered system according to claim 1 , wherein the wirelessly powered system is, or forms part of, an HVAC hydronic system for use in residential, commercial or industrial applications.

Assignees

• Fluid Handling Llc

Inventors

• Rosca Florin
• Pezzuolo Andrea

Classifications

• H02J50/20

  using microwaves or radio frequency waves · CPC title

• G01K1/08

  Protective devices, e.g. casings · CPC title

• F16K15/18 Primary

  with actuating mechanism; Combined check valves and actuated valves · CPC title

• H02M7/02

  Conversion of AC power input into DC power output without possibility of reversal · CPC title

• G01F15/14

  Casings, e.g. of special material · CPC title