Patent classifications
E03B1/00
Methods and systems for supplying water to an aircraft
There are described methods and systems for supplying water to an aircraft. A water supply assembly is fluidly coupled to a water storage tank via a supply line. An overflow line is fluidly coupled to the water supply assembly. One or more sensors are configured to determine an amount of water in the water storage tank. One or more processors are communicative with the one or more sensors and configured to: determine a desired amount of water to be contained in the water storage tank; determine from the one or more sensors that an amount of water in the water storage tank corresponds to the desired amount of water; and, in response to determining that the amount of water in the water storage tank corresponds to the desired amount of water, transmit an instruction for causing water being supplied from the water supply assembly to the water storage tank to be diverted to the overflow line.
Methods and systems for supplying water to an aircraft
There are described methods and systems for supplying water to an aircraft. A water supply assembly is fluidly coupled to a water storage tank via a supply line. An overflow line is fluidly coupled to the water supply assembly. One or more sensors are configured to determine an amount of water in the water storage tank. One or more processors are communicative with the one or more sensors and configured to: determine a desired amount of water to be contained in the water storage tank; determine from the one or more sensors that an amount of water in the water storage tank corresponds to the desired amount of water; and, in response to determining that the amount of water in the water storage tank corresponds to the desired amount of water, transmit an instruction for causing water being supplied from the water supply assembly to the water storage tank to be diverted to the overflow line.
Metered dispense pot filler
A pot filler including a metered dispense input device for dispensing of predetermined volumes of water. The pot filler illustratively includes an electrically operable valve operably coupled to a metered dispense input unit, and a control module configured to control operation of the electrically operable valve.
FLOW SEPARATION DEVICE
The invention relates to a flow separation device (100), which may be provided in a beverage preparation device (1). The flow separation device (100) in particular effects an easier separation (redirection) of a flow. The flow separation device (100) comprises a first delivery line (30) to drain water from a buffer tank (2), a branching section (29) provided downstream the first delivery line (30), wherein the branching section (29) branches the first delivery line (30) into a second delivery line (28) and a third delivery line (23), each of the second and third delivery line (28, 23) leading to a respective discharge outlet (22; 24), and a flow rate control device (26) for delivering water through the flow separation device (100) and for adjusting the flow rate of the water. Each of the second delivery line (28) and third delivery line (23) comprises a respective section (281; 231), wherein said sections (281, 231) are arranged such that if water is delivered by the flow rate control device (26) at a flow rate below a defined threshold value the water is delivered beyond the section (281) of the second delivery line (28) but not beyond the section (231) of the third delivery line (23), thereby discharging the water via the discharge outlet (22) of the second delivery line (28), and if water is delivered by the flow rate control device (26) at a flow rate at or above the defined threshold value the water is at least partially delivered beyond the section (231) of the third delivery line (23), thereby discharging the water at least partially via the discharge outlet (24) of the third delivery line (23).
Appliance based tariff
An electronic sensing and allocation system is provided for a distributed water infrastructure containing a plurality of differing appliances. The system may receive, from at least one sensor upstream of the plurality of differing appliances, a plurality of signals indicative of water usage within the distributed water infrastructure. The system may output a first indication of a first volume of water together with an indicator attributing the first volume of water to a first rate schedule, and output a second indication of a second volume of water together with an indicator attributing the second volume of water to a second rate schedule. The system may enable billing of the first and second volumes of water to a consumer at differing rates based on differing uses.
Distributed control system for a vacuum sewer system
A distributed control system for a vacuum sewer system comprising a suction pipe which is communicated with a vacuum source via a transport conduit (520) by opening a vacuum valve (530) using a solenoid valve is disclosed. The transport conduit is connected between the vacuum valve and a collection tank, with the collection tank having a vacuum source relative to atmospheric pressure applied thereto. The suction pipe is connected between the vacuum valve and a sewage sump, with the sewage sump have a source of sewage maintained at atmospheric pressure. Sewage (551) in the sump is sucked through the suction pipe and sent to the collection tank via the transport conduit by opening the vacuum valve. A transport conduit section is laid out in a sawtooth fashion, having in series transport conduit portions comprising a low-point conduit portion (522), a riser conduit portion (521), and a down-slope conduit portion (523). A valve pit apparatus (500) for control and monitoring the valve pit operations is provided with a battery powered electronic computer, a plurality of sensors, and a solenoid valve. A transport conduit apparatus for monitoring the transport conduit conditions is provided with a riser conduit sensor (550) capable of detecting sewage conditions within the riser and communicating the conditions to a computer (551) for processing. When the vacuum valve (530) is intermittently opened by control of the valve pit apparatus (500), sewage (551) in the sump is intermittently injected under the influence of atmospheric pressure into the transport conduit (520) for transportation to the collection tank, which passes through the transport conduit riser (521) and detected by the transport conduit apparatus for processing. The results of the valve pit apparatus and the transport conduit apparatus processing are stored in computer memory as operating parameters and then wirelessly communicated to devices external of the valve pit apparatus and transport conduit apparatus. The distributed control system provides an apparatus and method for control and monitoring of the vacuum sewer system, which is complex in sensor placement operating parameters processing but simple in structure, easy to maintain and capable of stable operation.
Gas cylinder valve
A valve for connection to a pressurized gas cylinder includes a housing including a gas cylinder aperture which is connectable to a gas cylinder, and a housing conduit which extends through the housing from the gas cylinder aperture to one or more inlet/outlet apertures so that the valve is capable of providing fluid communication between the gas cylinder through the housing conduit and the one or more inlet/outlet apertures. A flow control ball within the housing conduit is movable between open and closed positions. Ball seals have sealing surfaces corresponding to a shape of the flow control ball for substantially sealing the flow control ball in the housing conduit. Other features include components for mounting the ball seals though one of the inlet/outlet apertures; components for mounting a stem to the flow control ball including bearings; live ports; a tube which can be removably connectable from the rest of the housing; provision for receiving an EFV and/or a PRD in the valve housing; and at least one of the ball seals and stem bearings comprising polyetherimide or polyaryletherketone.
Apparatus for filtering and/or conditioning and/or purifying a fluid such as water
An apparatus for filtering water has an interface and a filtration/purification canister removably mountable thereon. Connecting the canister to the interface automatically opens a check valve in the interface to permit water to flow from the interface into and through the canister, and then back to and through the interface to an outlet port. Disconnecting the canister from the interface automatically closes the check valve, stopping the flow of water. An end cap may be substituted for the canister to permit fluid to flow through the interface when the canister is not mounted on the interface. The outlet port may be directly connected to an appliance that uses water, to eliminate possible contamination that may occur when water is brought indirectly form the outlet port to the appliance instead. A flapper valve is provided in the canister to prevent back flow of fluid from the inlet port of the canister when the canister is not mounted on the interface. The flapper valve also is provided with an actuating means to automatically open the flapper valve when the canister is mounted on the interface, which permits fluid to be drained from the canister when the fluid distribution system is being drained without disconnecting the canister from the interface.
Valve box with electrovalves for remotely controlled irrigation systems
A valve box for irrigation systems is described, comprising a box-shaped body closed by a lid, and a plurality of electrovalves contained in an inner compartment of said box-shaped body and adapted to allow a fluid from a supply conduit to flow towards a plurality of outlet conduits, each being controlled by an electrovalve. The valve box comprises a single programmable drive and control module of said electrovalves which is contained in a containment box releasably secured above said compartment.
Remote valve reopening
An abnormal consumption detection system is provided with remote valve control for a distributed water infrastructure. The system may comprise an electronically controllable valve, a remote communication transmitter, a remote communication receiver, at least one sensor for measuring water flow information associated with the distributed water infrastructure, and at least one processor. The system may determine from the water flow information obtained from the at least one sensor a potential abnormal consumption associated with the distributed water infrastructure. The system may automatically close a valve, without human intervention, when the potential abnormal consumption is determined. The system may transmit, via the remote communication transmitter to a remote administrator, alert information about the potential abnormal consumption to enable an administrator to decide based on the transmitted information whether to reopen the valve. The system may receive from the administrator via the remote communication receiver a control signal to reopen the valve, despite the information about the potential abnormal consumption, and reopen the valve.