Integrated Water Meter Pressure Regulation With Remote Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Regulating house water pressure is a manual, resource-intensive process that requires frequent on-site visits by contractors, making it costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A water meter with an integrated pressure regulating system, including a pressure sensor, actuator, electronics module, and radio module, allowing remote adjustment of water pressure through a pressure control valve, enabling real-time pressure adjustments from a remote location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pressure regulation by contractors is used, then water pressure can be adjusted, but it requires frequent on-site visits and consumes a lot of resources and manpower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical adjustment system with an automated electronic control system. The pressure control valve is actuated by an actuator (motor or coil) controlled by an electronics module that receives pressure data from sensors and sends control signals remotely via radio communication, eliminating the need for manual mechanical adjustment by contractors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-regulating pressure control through automated feedback loops. Pressure sensors continuously monitor the actual pressure, the electronics module processes this data and compares it with target values, and the actuator automatically adjusts the pressure control valve to maintain desired pressure levels without human intervention.
2Reliability
If manual pressure regulation is used, then pressure adjustment is possible, but it is costly and inefficient requiring repeated contractor visits
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback control where pressure sensors monitor actual pressure levels, the electronics module processes this feedback data, and automatically adjusts the pressure control valve through the actuator to maintain target pressure levels. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable and consistent pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces inefficient manual mechanical adjustment with automated electronic control systems that can continuously monitor and adjust pressure without human intervention, dramatically improving regulation efficiency and reducing operational costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If integrated pressure control valve is added to water meter, then remote pressure adjustment is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pressure control valve, actuator, electronics module, and pressure sensors directly into the water meter housing, creating an integrated pressure control system. This merging of components into a single unified device enables remote pressure adjustment capability while containing the complexity within a standardized meter assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The water meter is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional water flow measurement plus integrated pressure control. The pressure control valve and actuator system allows the same device to both measure water consumption and actively regulate water pressure, providing universal functionality that adapts to different pressure requirements.
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
This solution simplifies pressure regulation, reduces costs by eliminating the need for repeated on-site visits, and enhances customer and utility provider satisfaction by providing precise and automated pressure control, including protection against over-pressure and remote shut-off capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor configured to sense pressure of water flowing through the meter
Implementation Method 2
an actuator in the meter housing... configured to receive instructions... to increase and/or decrease, water pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Meters including a pressure regulating systems are provided. The pressure regulating system includes a pressure sensor configured to sense pressure of water flowing through the meter; an actuator coupled to the pressure sensor; an electronics module configured to receive pressure information related sensed pressure from the actuator and process the received pressure information; and a radio module coupled to the meter and configured to receive the processed sensor information from the electronics module, communicate the processed sensor information to a remote location and receive pressure adjustment information from the remote location. The received pressure adjustment information is used to adjust water pressure in the meter from the remote location.