External control for hot water recirculation pump
US11073291B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jul 27, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF24D2220/0207
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An external control unit to be connected between a power source and an electrically driven pump to act as a smart switch to convert a “dumb” pump into a smart pump. The control system of this invention comprises a microcontroller-operated switch, located between the power source and the pump, or other fluid flow control device to be operated by electricity, and which can be programmed to record usage data of, e.g., hot water, by the household; it sets up the operating times in accordance with such usage. A temperature sensor is connected to the microcontroller to sense a temperature change, in a hot water system is turned on, by measuring an increase in temperature to indicate flow through the hot water pipe, and to record such data. This will determine, in the context of a hot water system, when the pump should be activated to bring up hot water.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.