Fluid handling – Systems – With pump
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-11
2003-05-27
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
With pump
C137S56100R, C417S044100, C417S326000, C047S079000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06568425
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water supply method, more particularly, to a method of controllably supplying water to an apparatus and withdrawing water from the apparatus, and a remote controlled water flow and drain system which implements the method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various water supply systems have been developed for different purposes. For example, water temperature and flow rate control is used in hot water supply systems, particularly to a bathtub such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,435, issued to Kidouchi et al. on May 20, 1990. Kidouchi et al. describe a hot water supply system having a remote water flow control. The hot water supply system includes a water hose, one end of which is connected to a device that can controllably mix hot and cold water to supply water at various temperatures and various rates through the hose, to a user at the other end of the water hose. The hot water supply system also has a draining function, and the water drainage is achieved through a drainage pipe of the bathtub under water gravity. A drainage cock confirmation switch is used in receiving a signal from the remote water flow control in order to open and close the drainage cock of the bathtub.
Another type of water supply and withdrawal system is well known in use with floor cleaning devices for recycling cleaning fluids. In such systems, known as continuous flow recycling, a liquid cleaning solution is sprayed toward the surface being cleaned and simultaneously a vacuum source creates a high velocity air stream that draws the atomized liquid toward the surface, along the surface, or into the material in the case of carpeting, and then upwardly away from the surface. This procedure extracts soil, debris and other foreign matter from the floor surface along with the cleaning solution. One example of such systems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,077, issued to Knight et al. on Apr. 11, 1978. Knight et al. describe a hand tool which is constructed for detachable connection to a fluid cleaning machine such as a steam cleaning unit. A hollow head of the hand tool has forward and rearward regions forming a suction chamber and a spray chamber respectively. A fluid solution line is surrounded and protected by a flexible suction hose that is releasably coupled to a neck of the hand tool. A flow control interconnects the fluid solution line and a spray nozzle. Knight et al.'s fluid cleaning machine also includes a dispensing tank which holds a special fluid solution for cleaning fabrics, carpets and the like and consists of water and various agents for cleaning, deodorizing, etc. A recovery tank eventually collects used fluid solution and entrained dirt, debris, etc. One side of the steam cleaning machine is equipped with a switch and a control panel that may be activated when an electrical cord is coupled to an electrical outlet. The flexible fluid solution line and the surrounded flexible vacuum hose connect the hand tool to the steam cleaning machine.
These water supplying systems of the prior art are generally designed for specific purposes and generally speaking, cannot be used in different applications. For example, the Kidouchi et al.'s water supplying system cannot withdraw used water from a tank which does not have its own drainage outlet and pipe. Knight et al.'s water supply and withdrawal system is not adapted to supply water in requested volume to fill a container and then withdraw water in a requested volume from the container, respectively. Therefore, there is a need for a system of supplying and withdrawing water in order to overcome the shortcomings of the water supplying systems of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a method and system of supplying and withdrawing water in a required amount.
In general, the present invention provides a method of supplying and withdrawing water comprising steps of supplying water to an apparatus and withdrawing water from the apparatus in required amounts through a single water pipe. The supplying of water and the withdrawing of water through the single water pipe is controlled in a required sequence.
It is preferably to switch water communication modes of the water pipe at a distal end thereof relative to the apparatus, between a first water communication mode in which the water pipe is in fluid communication with a water source, and a second water communication mode in which the water pipe is in fluid communication with a place for water drainage. The switching of water communication modes of the water pipe between the first and second water communication modes is preferably in response to signals sent from a controller positioned in the proximity of the apparatus, or from sensors associated with the apparatus.
It is also preferable to supply water or withdraw water by use of means positioned at the distal end of the water pipe for generating a fluid pressure differential within the water pipe between an end of the water pipe at the apparatus and the distal end of the water pipe. The generation of the fluid pressure differential in the water pipe is preferably alternated between a first fluid pressure mode for supplying water to the apparatus and a second fluid pressure mode for withdrawing water from the apparatus, in response to signals sent from a controller positioned in the proximity of the apparatus, or in response to signals sent from sensors associated with the apparatus.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a water flow and drain system is provided for supplying and withdrawing water. In the system a water passage is provided and a first end of the water passage is adapted for use with an apparatus which water is supplied to and withdrawn from. Means, such as a pump with a reversible electric motor coupled therewith, is connected with a second end of the water passage for generating a fluid pressure differential in the water passage between the first and second ends thereof. Also provided are means for establishing fluid communication of the water passage with a water source, or a place for water drainage in order to supply or withdraw water through the water passage, to or from the apparatus during different periods of time. The means of establishing water communications, preferably a valve and pipe sub-system, is connected with, for example, the pump with the reversible electric motor.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a main controller associated with, for example, the pump with the electric motor and the valve and pipe subsystem, in order to control the operation of the water supply and withdrawal. A remote controller, and sensors associated with the apparatus are provided so that the main controller controls the operation of the water supply and withdrawal in response to the signals from the remote controller and the sensors. The system includes at least one section of the water passage which is a flexible water pipe. A first end of the water pipe defines the first end of the water passage, being adapted for use with the apparatus.
The system according to another embodiment of the present invention further includes a plurality of water pipe sections connected together to form a water distribution net. The water distribution net includes one opening defining the second end of the water passage which is connected, for example, to the pump with the reversible electric motor, and a plurality of other openings to be selectively connected to the flexible water pipe so that a branch of the water distribution net between the one opening connected to the pump and the selected opening connected with the flexible pipe, together with the flexible pipe defines the water passage when the remaining openings of the water distribution net are closed. Therefore, water can be supplied to and withdrawn from one of a plurality of apparatus when these apparatus are selectively connected one at a time, to the respective openings of the distribution net. These apparatus can be posit
Chambers A. Michael
Renault Ogilvy
Van Wayne H.
LandOfFree
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