Self-Regulating Water Boiler

Abstract

A self-regulating water boiler comprises an input pipe fluidly connecting a water source to a boiler tank storing and heating water, a heating element inside the boiler tank, an output pipe leading to an external usage site, and a flow sensor measuring rate of water flow into the self-regulating boiler. When the flow rate is measured to be less than the threshold, the heating element at least partially deactivates, thereby conserving energy whilst demand for hot water is insufficient to necessitate maximum thermal output of the heating element. The deactivation of the heating element may occur in stages, in which specific time intervals must elapse before partial or full deactivation of the heating element. When the flow rate is measured to be greater than or equal to the threshold, the heating element is reactivated.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A self-regulating water boiler, comprising:
 a boiler water tank;   an input pipe fluidly connecting an exterior water source into said boiler water tank;   an output pipe fluidly connecting said boiler water tank to an external usage site;   a flow sensing mechanism having an input which detects rate of flow of water through said self-regulating water boiler;   a heating element within said boiler water tank, wherein in an active state, said heating element heats water within said boiler water tank; and   a contactor initiating activation and deactivation of said heating element;   
       wherein upon said flow sensing mechanism detecting a flow rate below a pre-defined threshold whilst said heating element is in an active state, said contactor at least partially deactivates said heating element. 
     
     
         2 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 1 , wherein upon said flow sensing mechanism detecting a flow rate above said pre-defined threshold whilst said heating element is at least partially deactivated, said contactor at least partially reactivates said heating element. 
     
     
         3 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 2 , further comprising a manual override mechanism, wherein:
 in a first configuration, activation and deactivation of said heating element are determined by said predefined threshold of said flow of water through said self-regulating boiler, as detected by said flow sensing mechanism;   in a second configuration, said manual override mechanism, via said contactor, activates said heating element, said activation being independent of a detection of said predefined threshold of said flow of water; and   in a third configuration, said manual override mechanism, via said contactor, inactivates said heating element, said inactivation being independent of said predefined threshold of said flow of water;   
       and wherein said manual override mechanism is repeatedly switchable between said first configuration, said second configuration, and said third configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 2 , wherein said flow sensing mechanism is fixedly connected to said input pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 2 , wherein said flow sensing mechanism is fixedly connected to said output pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 2 , wherein said flow sensing mechanism comprises:
 a paddle located within either said output pipe or said input pipe;   a spring fixedly connected to said paddle; and   a switch;   
       wherein upon a flow of water within said output pipe, said paddle is pushed by said flow of water from a first resting position to a second activated position, such that said spring compresses and activates said switch; 
       wherein said activation of said switch indicates presence of said water flow; and 
       wherein said paddle, upon a cessation of said water flow, resiliently reassumes said first resting position. 
     
     
         7 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 2 , wherein said flow sensing mechanism comprises a transmitter and a receiver, wherein:
 said transmitter sends ultrasonic waves into said output pipe;   and said receiver measures said ultrasonic waves; and   wherein said ultrasonic waves are modified by a presence of a flow of water, said modifications being detectable by said receiver and indicative of a quantifiable flow-rate of water.   
     
     
         8 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 7 , further comprising a display connected to said contactor, wherein said display displays the flow-rate of water through said self-regulating water boiler and said pre-defined flow rate threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 2 , wherein when said heating element is activated and said flow sensing mechanism detects a flow rate of water below said pre-defined threshold, a first pre-set time interval elapses, after which said contactor at least partially deactivates said heating element. 
     
     
         10 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 9 , wherein upon an elapsing of said first pre-set time interval, a second pre-set time interval elapses, after which said contactor fully deactivates said heating element. 
     
     
         11 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 10 , further comprising a manual input device, wherein said first pre-set time interval and said second pre-set time interval are programmable and modifiable by data inputted to said manual input device. 
     
     
         12 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 9 , further comprising a thermometer which measures water temperature within said boiler water tank, wherein:
 when said thermometer detects a water temperature lower than a first pre-set temperature, said contactor reactivates said heating element for a duration of time until said thermometer detects said water temperature has surpassed said first pre-set temperature.   
     
     
         13 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 12 , further comprising a manual input device, wherein said first pre-set time temperature is programmable and modifiable by data inputted to said manual input device. 
     
     
         14 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 2 , further comprising a thermometer which measures temperature within said boiler water tank, wherein:
 upon activation of said heating element, when said thermometer detects a water temperature above a second pre-set temperature, said contactor deactivates, at least partially, said heating element, such that said water temperature is maintained to be within five degrees Fahrenheit of said second pre-set temperature.   
     
     
         15 . The self-regulating water boiler of  claim 14 , further comprising a manual input device, wherein said second pre-set temperature is programmable and modifiable by data inputted to said manual input device. 
     
     
         16 . A method of enabling a water boiler to self-regulate, comprising steps of:
 connecting a boiler water tank to an exterior water source via an input pipe;   connecting said boiler water tank to an exterior usage site via an output pipe;   installing a heating element inside said boiler water tank;   interfacing said heating element with a contactor, said contactor selectably activating and deactivating said heating element;   affixing a flow sensing mechanism to a pipe of said water boiler, said flow sensing mechanism sending a first data signal to said contactor upon a detection of a flow of water; and   programming said contactor to receive said first data signal from said flow sensing mechanism and thereafter activate said heating element.   
     
     
         17 . The method of enabling a water boiler to self-regulate of  claim 16 , further comprising steps of:
 programming said flow sensing mechanism to send a second data signal to said contactor indicating the detection of an absence of a flow of water; and   programming said contactor to receive said second data signal from said flow sensing mechanism and thereafter to at least partially deactivate said heating element if said heating element is activated.   
     
     
         18 . The method of enabling a water boiler to self-regulate of  claim 17 , further comprising steps of:
 installing a thermometer inside said boiler water tank;   connecting said thermometer to said contactor, said temperature sensor sending temperature data to said contactor;   programming said contactor to activate said heating element when said contactor receives data from said temperature sensor, said data indicating a temperature of said water below a first pre-set temperature;   and installing an input device with which said first pre-set temperature is inputted and altered, whereupon said input device sends said inputs and alterations to said contactor.   
     
     
         19 . The method of enabling a water boiler to self-regulate of  claim 17 , further comprising steps of:
 programming said contactor to wait for a duration of a first pre-set interval of time before at least partially deactivating said heating element;   programming said contactor to wait a duration of a second pre-set interval of time before fully deactivating said heating element; and   installing an input device with which said first pre-set interval of time and said second pre-set interval of time are input and altered, whereupon said input device sends said inputs and alterations to said contactor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of enabling a water boiler to self-regulate of claim, further comprising a step of:
 installing a manual override mechanism, wherein:
 in a first configuration, activation and deactivation of said heating element are determined by data sent to said contactor from said flow sensing mechanism; 
 in a second configuration, said manual override mechanism indicates to said contactor to activate said heating element, said activation being independent of a presence of a detection of a flow of water by said flow sensing mechanism; and 
 in a third configuration, said manual override mechanism indicates to said contactor to inactivate said heating element, said inactivation being independent of a detection of a lack of a flow of water by said flow sensing mechanism; 
   and wherein said manual override mechanism is repeatedly switchable between said first configuration, said second configuration, and said third configuration.