Remote-operated flushing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022018101-A1
Application number	US-202016930962-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 16, 2020
Priority date	Jul 16, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Example aspects of a remote-operated flushing system and a method of operating a flushing system are disclosed. The remote-operated flushing system can comprise a fluid routing assembly comprising a valve, the valve configurable in an open configuration, wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the fluid routing assembly, and a closed configuration, wherein the fluid is prohibited from flowing through the fluid routing assembly; a control device configured to actuate the valve between the open configuration and closed configuration; a remote operation device wirelessly connected to the control device and configured to remotely operate the control device to control the actuation of the valve between the open configuration and closed configuration; and a sensor configured to detect a fluid property of the fluid within the fluid routing assembly, wherein the control device is configured to wirelessly send a signal representative of the fluid property detected by the sensor.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . A remote-operated flushing system comprising:
a fluid routing assembly comprising a valve, the valve configurable in an open configuration, wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the fluid routing assembly, and a closed configuration, wherein the fluid is prohibited from flowing through the fluid routing assembly; a control device configured to actuate the valve between the open configuration and closed configuration; a remote operation device wirelessly connected to the control device and configured to remotely operate the control device to control the actuation of the valve between the open configuration and closed configuration; and a sensor configured to detect a fluid property of the fluid within the fluid routing assembly, wherein the control device is configured to wirelessly send a signal representative of the fluid property detected by the sensor.

2 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of the fluid in the fluid routing assembly, and wherein the control device is configured to send a pressure signal representative of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

3 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 2 , further comprising a pressure monitoring unit wired to the pressure sensor, the pressure monitoring unit comprising a processing unit and an antenna, the processing unit configured to process pressure data from the pressure sensor and to relay the pressure data to the antenna, the antenna configured to send the pressure signal.

4 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the fluid in the fluid routing assembly, and wherein the control device is configured to send a temperature signal representative of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

5 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing defining an interior cavity, wherein the valve, sensor, and control device are oriented within the housing, and wherein the remote operation device is oriented outside of the housing.

6 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 5 , wherein:
the housing comprising a sidewall enclosure, a base, and a lid: the sidewall enclosure defines an access opening allowing access to the interior cavity; and the lid is configurable in a closed configuration, wherein the lid covers the access opening, and an open configuration, wherein the lid is removed from the housing and the access opening is uncovered to permit access to the interior cavity.

7 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid routing assembly further comprises a backflow preventer configured to allow the fluid to flow in a first direction through the fluid routing assembly and to prevent the fluid from flowing in an opposite second direction through the fluid routing assembly.

8 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid routing assembly further comprises a sampling port, the sampling port comprising a sampling conduit configured to dispense a sample of the fluid in the fluid routing assembly.

9 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluid routing assembly further comprises and inlet pathway configured to route the fluid from a fluid system into the fluid routing assembly and an outlet pathway configured to route the fluid out of the fluid routing assembly; the remote-operated flushing system further comprises a housing defining an interior cavity, the housing comprising a base; the inlet pathway comprises an inlet conduit extending into the interior cavity through an inlet opening in the base; and the outlet pathway comprises an outlet conduit extending into the interior cavity through an outlet opening in the base.

10 . A remote-operated flushing system comprising:
a fluid routing assembly comprising a valve, the valve configurable in an open configuration, wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the fluid routing assembly, and a closed configuration, wherein the fluid is prohibited from flowing through the fluid routing assembly; and a pressure monitoring system, the pressure monitoring system comprising:
a pressure sensor mounted to the fluid routing assembly and configured to detect a pressure of the fluid within the fluid routing assembly; and
a pressure monitoring unit configured to wirelessly send a pressure signal representative of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor, the pressure monitoring unit further configured to wirelessly receive a control signal from a remote operation device and to actuate the valve between the open configuration and closed configuration in response to the control signal.

11 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 10 , wherein the pressure monitoring unit comprises a processing unit and an antenna, the processing unit configured to process pressure data received from the pressure sensor and to relay the pressure data to the antenna, the antenna configured to send the pressure signal and to receive the control signal from the remote operation device.

12 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 10 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the fluid in the fluid routing assembly, and wherein the pressure monitoring unit is configured to send a temperature signal representative of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

13 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 10 , further comprising a housing defining an interior cavity, the housing comprising a sidewall enclosure, a base, and a lid, wherein the valve and the pressure monitoring system are oriented within the housing.

14 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 13 , wherein the pressure monitoring unit is mounted to the housing by a pressure monitor bracket, the pressure monitor bracket comprising a bracket wall, a fastener hole formed through the bracket wall, a fastener configured to extend through the fastener hole and to engage the housing to mount the pressure monitoring unit to the housing.

15 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 10 , wherein the fluid routing assembly further comprises a backflow preventer configured to allow the fluid to flow in a first direction through the fluid routing assembly and to prevent the fluid from flowing in an opposite second direction through the fluid routing assembly.

16 . The remote-operated flushing system of claim 10 , wherein the fluid routing assembly further comprises a sampling port, the sampling port comprising a sampling conduit configured to dispense a sample of the fluid in the fluid routing assembly.

17 . A method of operating a flushing system comprising:
providing a flushing system comprising a fluid routing assembly and a control device, the fluid routing assembly comprising a valve configurable in an open configuration, wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the fluid routing assembly, and a closed configuration, wherein the fluid is prohibited from flowing through the fluid routing assembly; remotely sending a control signal to a control device; actuating the valve between the open configuration and closed configuration with the control device in response to the control signal; detecting a pressure of the fluid with a pressure sensor; and sending a signal with the control device, the signal representative of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

18 . The method of claim 17 ,

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Bowman Clay Evan
• Mosley Harold Thomas
• Ervin Timothy Bain

Classifications

• E03B7/077

  Arrangement of backflow preventing devices · CPC title

• E03B7/08

  Arrangement of draining devices, {e.g. manual shut-off valves}(draining devices in general F16K, F16L) · CPC title

• E03B7/006 Primary

  Arrangements or methods for cleaning or refurbishing water conduits · CPC title

• B08B9/0325

  Control mechanisms therefor · CPC title

• G01L19/086

  for remote indication · CPC title