Programmable Shower Water Mixing for Stable Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shower systems face challenges in maintaining consistent water temperature and flow rate, leading to inefficiencies and user discomfort due to manual control difficulties and sudden pressure drops, resulting in wasted water and energy.
Innovation Solution
A showering system with a controller that allows for manual and automated modes, using a microcomputer to blend hot and cold water to achieve user-set temperatures and flow rates through a programmable sequence, including sensors and valves for precise control and feedback adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual control valves are used to adjust water temperature and flow rate, then users can control the shower settings, but the temperature and flow rate become inconsistent and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical valve control with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors to detect water temperature and flow rate, then automatically adjusts electronic control valves to maintain consistent settings. This substitution eliminates the inconsistency inherent in manual operation while preserving user control through programmable sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors water temperature and flow rate using sensors and provides feedback to the control mechanism. When deviations from the desired settings are detected, the system automatically adjusts the control valves to correct the deviations, ensuring consistent temperature and flow rate throughout the shower sequence.
2Temperature
If hot water is purged to warm up the water line, then the water temperature at the shower head improves, but water and thermal energy are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary warming of the water line by circulating hot water through the pipes before the actual shower begins. This preliminary action ensures that when the shower starts, the water temperature is already at the desired level, eliminating the need for continuous purging and reducing energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous circulation of hot water through the water line during the shower sequence, preventing cooling of the water in the pipes. This continuous useful action ensures consistent temperature without the need for intermittent purging that wastes energy.
3Reliability
If automated control sequences are implemented, then water temperature and flow rate consistency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to perform multiple functions: temperature control, flow rate control, sequence timing, and sensor data processing. By consolidating these functions into a single microcontroller unit, the system achieves the required reliability and consistency while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
4Measurement precision
If small valve adjustments are made to achieve desired temperature settings, then temperature precision improves, but water and time are wasted during the adjustment process
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and pre-positions the control valves to the exact settings required for the desired temperature and flow rate based on stored shower sequences. This preliminary action eliminates the iterative adjustment process, achieving precise temperature settings immediately without wasting time or water.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature and flow rate sensors to provide continuous feedback, allowing for precise automatic adjustments without manual intervention. This feedback mechanism ensures the desired temperature is achieved accurately and maintained consistently, eliminating the time and water waste associated with manual trial-and-error adjustments.
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 system provides consistent and user-preferred water temperature and flow rate settings, reducing water and energy waste, enhancing user experience, and allowing for programmable and customizable shower sequences.
Implementation Method 1
The controller adjusts one or more in the plurality of additional automated valves to achieve a selected temperature for mixing of hot and cold water
Implementation Method 2
providing to the microcomputer sensor information indicative of temperatures in hot and cold feed lines to the shower head
Data Source
AI summary
A programmable system with user interface control for water flow rate or water temperature. Embodiments of the invention include a water temperature control system for a shower.