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 control and automated mode, 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 the system is simple and easy to manufacture, but the temperature and flow rate consistency deteriorates leading to user discomfort
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, processes this information through a microcontroller, and automatically adjusts electronic control valves to maintain consistent settings. This substitution of mechanical manual control with an automated electromechanical system resolves the contradiction by achieving temperature and flow rate consistency through electronic regulation rather than manual adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor water temperature and flow rate, and this information is fed back to the microcontroller which adjusts the control valves accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures consistent temperature and flow rate settings by automatically correcting deviations from the desired parameters, resolving the contradiction between operational consistency and system complexity.
2Reliability
If automated control valves are used to maintain consistent temperature and flow rate, then temperature and flow rate consistency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a microcontroller that serves multiple functions: it processes sensor inputs from both hot and cold water lines, controls multiple valves for temperature and flow regulation, manages user interface inputs, and coordinates the overall system operation. By consolidating these diverse control functions into a single multi-functional controller, the system achieves reliable temperature consistency while minimizing the complexity increase that would result from multiple separate control devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the control of hot water valves, cold water valves, and flow rate regulation into a single integrated automated control system managed by one microcontroller. This merging of multiple control functions into a unified system achieves reliable temperature and flow consistency while avoiding the complexity of having separate independent control systems for each parameter.
3Temperature
If water is purged to warm up the hot water line, then the desired temperature is achieved, but water waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preliminary action by detecting when cold water is present in the hot water line through temperature sensing, and automatically opening the hot water valve to pre-warm the line before the user activates the shower. This preliminary warming action is triggered only when needed and is automatically stopped when the desired temperature is reached, thereby achieving accurate temperature delivery while minimizing water waste compared to continuous purging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses temperature sensors to provide feedback on the water temperature in the hot water line, and this feedback controls the hot water valve to stop the warming process automatically when the desired temperature is achieved. This feedback mechanism ensures that water is purged only until the necessary temperature is reached, preventing excessive water waste while still achieving accurate temperature delivery.
4Speed
If sudden pressure drops occur in the cold water supply line, then the system responds quickly, but temperature stability deteriorates causing scalding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs temperature sensors that continuously monitor the mixed water temperature and provide feedback to the microcontroller. When a sudden pressure drop occurs in the cold water supply line, the feedback mechanism detects the resulting temperature change and immediately adjusts the hot and cold water valves to restore the desired temperature, thereby maintaining temperature stability despite the rapid pressure change.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control by continuously adjusting the valve positions based on real-time temperature feedback rather than using fixed valve settings. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to respond quickly to pressure changes while maintaining temperature stability, as the valves are constantly modulated to compensate for fluctuations in water pressure and temperature.
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 enabling efficient operation through automated control and monitoring.
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
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.