Recirculation system using wireless power

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for controlling a wirelessly powered water pump apparatus include a water recirculation pump apparatus including: a pump; a first inlet connected to a hot water supply line; a second inlet connected to a cold water supply line; a first outlet supplying hot water from the hot water supply line to a plumbing fixture; a second outlet supplying cold water from the cold water supply line to the plumbing fixture; and processing circuitry configured to activate and deactivate the pump, wherein the processing circuitry receives power from an electrical receptacle via a wireless power receiver.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A water recirculation pump apparatus comprising:
 a pump;   a first inlet connected to a hot water supply line;   a second inlet connected to a cold water supply line;   a first outlet supplying hot water from the hot water supply line to a plumbing fixture;   a second outlet supplying cold water from the cold water supply line to the plumbing fixture; and   processing circuitry configured to activate and deactivate the pump,   wherein the processing circuitry receives power from an electrical receptacle via a wireless power receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The water recirculation pump apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a battery is absent from the water recirculation pump apparatus, and wherein the water recirculation pump apparatus is not connected via wire to the electrical receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The water recirculation pump apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising communications circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with a water heater remote from the water recirculation pump apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The water recirculation pump apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the communications circuitry is further configured to receive water temperature data from a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The water recirculation pump apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 determine that the water temperature data are below a threshold temperature; and   cause the communications circuitry to send a signal to the water heater indicating that the pump is to activate and that heating elements of the water heater are to be inactive while the pump is active.   
     
     
         6 . The water recirculation pump apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 cause activation of the pump when there is no hot water demand at the plumbing fixture.   
     
     
         7 . The water recirculation pump apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 cause the communications circuitry to send a signal to the water heater indicating that heating elements of the water heater are to be active when there is no hot water demand at the plumbing fixture.   
     
     
         8 . A water recirculation pump system comprising:
 a pump;   a first inlet connected to a hot water supply line;   a second inlet connected to a cold water supply line;   a first outlet supplying hot water from the hot water supply line to a plumbing fixture;   a second outlet supplying cold water from the cold water supply line to the plumbing fixture;   processing circuitry configured to activate and deactivate the pump; and   a wireless power transmission system;   wherein the processing circuitry receives power from an electrical receptacle via the wireless power transmission system.   
     
     
         9 . The water recirculation pump system of  claim 8 , and wherein pump is not connected via wire to the electrical receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The water recirculation pump system of  claim 8 , further comprising communications circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with a water heater remote from the water recirculation pump system. 
     
     
         11 . The water recirculation pump system of  claim 10 , wherein the communications circuitry is further configured to receive water temperature data from a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The water recirculation pump system of  claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 determine that the water temperature data are below a threshold temperature; and   cause the communications circuitry to send a signal to the water heater indicating that the pump is to activate and that heating elements of the water heater are to be inactive while the pump is active.   
     
     
         13 . The water recirculation pump system of  claim 12 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 cause activation of the pump when there is no hot water demand at the plumbing fixture.   
     
     
         14 . The water recirculation pump system of  claim 10 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 cause the communications circuitry to send a signal to the water heater indicating that heating elements of the water heater are to be active when there is no hot water demand at the plumbing fixture.   
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling a water recirculation pump, the method comprising:
 receiving, by processing circuitry of a water recirculation pump apparatus connected to a plumbing fixture, power from an electrical receptacle via a wireless power receiver;   determining, by the processing circuitry, to activate a pump of the water recirculation pump apparatus;   causing activation, by the processing circuitry; of the pump using the power from the wireless power receiver; and   causing, by the processing circuitry, communications circuitry of the water recirculation pump apparatus to send a signal to a water heater remote from the water recirculation pump apparatus indicating that the pump is to be active.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving water temperature data from a temperature sensor,   wherein determining to activate the pump is based on the water temperature data.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the signal further indicates that a heating element of the water heater is to be inactive while the pump is active. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pump is activated when there is no hot water demand by the plumbing fixture. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 cause the communications circuitry to send a second signal to the water heater to indicate that a heating element of the water heater is to be active when there is no hot water demand by the plumbing fixture.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the water recirculation pump apparatus is not connected via wire to the electrical receptacle.