Garden Watering Flow Meter With Sensor-Controlled Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing garden watering flow meters only provide information on instantaneous and accumulated water flow, lacking the capability to influence water usage effectively, thus limiting their ability to save water.
Innovation Solution
A garden watering flow meter with a control arrangement that includes a valve, drive arrangement, and control unit, which uses a flow sensor to control water delivery based on user-defined volumes and flow rates, allowing for precise control and optimization of water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a flow sensor and control arrangement are added to provide water delivery control, then water-saving capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flow sensor, control arrangement, and valve into a single integrated flow meter device. The flow sensor detects water flow and the control arrangement processes this information to自动控制 the valve, merging multiple functions (measurement, control, and actuation) into one unified device that installs in-line in the water supply hose.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow meter system operates autonomously by using the flow sensor to detect actual water flow and automatically controlling the valve through the control arrangement. The system self-regulates water delivery based on detected flow conditions without requiring constant manual intervention, achieving self-service water management.
2Productivity
If automated control based on flow detection is implemented, then water usage efficiency is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by using the flow sensor to continuously monitor water flow and feeding this information back to the control arrangement. The control arrangement adjusts the valve position based on this feedback to maintain optimal water delivery, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically optimizes water usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with automated electronic control. Instead of manually operating a valve, the system uses an electronically controlled valve actuated by the control arrangement based on flow sensor data, substituting mechanical manual control with an automated electromechanical system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables users to control water delivery accurately, providing enhanced water-saving options and improving the efficiency of water usage by allowing for delayed or staggered watering based on available flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
a flow sensor for sensing flow into, in, or out of, the flow communication path
Data Source
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AI summary
A garden watering flow meter 2 comprising an inlet 21a for accepting water, an outlet 21b for outputting water, a flow communication path 22 between the inlet and the outlet, and a flow sensor 26 for sensing flow into, in, or out of, the flow communication path 22. The flow meter 2 further comprises a control arrangement 23, 24, 25 for controlling the flow between the inlet 21a and the outlet 21b. The control arrangement comprises a valve 23 moveable between an open state which allows flow in the a flow communication path 22 between the inlet 21a and the outlet 22a and a closed state which obstructs flow between the inlet 21a and the outlet 22a, a drive arrangement 24 for driving the valve 23 between the open and closed states, and a control unit 25 for controlling operation of the drive arrangement in dependence on an output from the flow sensor 26.