Water temperature and flow rate selection display and control system and method

Claim 1

A system for use with a water delivery channel forming a part of a plumbing system for a building or housing structure for delivering water at a selected temperature and flow rate with separate hot and cold water source means through the water delivery channel, the system comprising: mechanically independent valve means for controlling the flow of hot and cold water to said water delivery channel; temperature sensing means located in said delivery channel; command input means including means for turning said valves on, means for turning said valves off, and means for selecting output water temperatures ranging from a predetermined minimum to a predetermined maximum; data processing means having outputs connected to means for controlling said valve means and having inputs connected to said temperature sensing means, and to said common input means, said data processing means responding to said input means to: a. produce a predetermined output water volume at said delivery channel upon operation of said command input means; and b. bring the actual output water temperature to the selected output water temperature at said delivery channel while maintaining the output water flow rate at a preselected level.

Claim 2

A system for use with a water delivery channel forming a part of a plumbing system for a building or housing structure for delivering water at a selected temperature and flow rate with separate hot and cold water source means through the water delivery channel, the system comprising: mechanically independent valve means for controlling the flow of hot and cold water to said water delivery channel; temperature sensing means located in said delivery channel; command input means including means for turning said valves on, means for turning said valves off, and means for selecting output water temperatures ranging from a predetermined minimum to a predetermined maximum; data processing means having outputs connected to means for controlling said valve means and having inputs connected to said temperature sensing means, and to said common input means, said data processing means responding to said input means to: a. produce a predetermined output water volume at said delivery channel upon operation of said command input means; and b. bring the actual output water temperature to the selected output water temperature at said delivery channel while maintaining the output water flow rate at a preselected level.

Claim 7

A system for use with a water delivery device forming a part of a plumbing system for a building or housing structure having hot and cold water supplies, the system being operative for delivering water at a selected temperature and volume, the system comprising: a. means forming a water delivery channel; b. a pair of mechanically independent valve means for hot and cold water respectively, each of said valve means being operable to selectively restrict flow of water to said delivery channel; each of said valve means including motor means having a member movable in a path to control the delivery volume of the corresponding valve means in accordance with the position of the member in its path from ZERO to FULL volume; c. temperature sensing means located in said delivery channel; d. a control panel including a series of switches including an ON switch, an OFF switch, and a series of temperature switches arranged in order from COLD to HOT; e. a digital processor having outputs connected respectively to said motor means, and having inputs connected to said temperature sensing means and to said panel switches, said digital processor including: (1) means for actuating a preset volume upon operation of any of said temperature switches; (2) means for determining correspondence between the temperature switch setting and temperature at said delivery channel; (3) means for actuating a preset volume upon operation of said ON switch; (4) means for actuating a closed position of said valv means upon operation of said OFF switch; and (5) means for actuating fixed volume during temperature adjustments.

Claim 8

A system for use with a water delivery device forming a part of a plumbing system for a building or housing structure having hot and cold water supplies, the system being operative for delivering water at a selected temperature and volume, the system comprising: a. means forming a water delivery channel; b. a pair of mechanically independent valve means for hot and cold water respectively, each of said valve means being operable to selectively restrict flow of water to said delivery channel; each of said valve means including motor means having a member movable in a path to control the delivery volume of the corresponding valve means in accordance with the position of the member in its path from ZERO to FULL volume; c. temperature sensing means located in said delivery channel; d. a control panel including a series of switches including an ON switch, an OFF switch, and a series of temperature switches arranged in order from COLD to HOT; e. a digital processor having outputs connected respectively to said motor means, and having inputs connected to said temperature sensing means and to said panel switches, said digital processor including: (1) means for actuating a preset volume upon operation of any of said temperature switches; (2) means for determining correspondence between the temperature switch setting and temperature at said delivery channel; (3) means for actuating a preset volume upon operation of said ON switch; (4) means for actuating a closed position of said valv means upon operation of said OFF switch; and (5) means for actuating fixed volume during temperature adjustments.