Battery-Free Flushometer and Power System Therefor

Abstract

A battery-free flushometer includes a combination of a power generation system, a power storage system, and/or a power management system to enable the flushometer to operate without the need for connection to an external power source, changing spent batteries, or recharging spent batteries using an external power source, as well as structures supporting this functionality. The flushometer may include a valve assembly. The power generation system may include a hydraulic turbine assembly positioned downstream of the valve assembly and configured to generate power using the water discharged through the outlet, and/or a photovoltaic cell configured to generate electrical power by converting light energy to the electrical power. The power storage system is electrically connected to the power generation system and includes a power storage device to receive and store electrical power generated by the power generation system. The stored electrical power can be used to actuate the valve assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flushometer comprising:
 a valve assembly comprising a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, and a valve mechanism configured to selectively permit passage of water from the inlet through the outlet of the valve body;   a power generation system comprising:
 a hydraulic turbine assembly positioned downstream of the outlet and configured to receive the water discharged through the outlet, the hydraulic turbine assembly comprising an impeller configured to rotate during passage of the water through the hydraulic turbine assembly to generate electrical power, wherein the hydraulic turbine assembly is further configured to be positioned upstream of a plumbing fixture receiving the water passing through the hydraulic turbine assembly; 
 a photovoltaic cell configured to generate electrical power by converting light energy to the electrical power; and 
   a power storage system electrically connected to the hydraulic turbine assembly and the photovoltaic cell and comprising a power storage device configured to receive and store at least a portion of the electrical power generated by the hydraulic turbine assembly and at least a portion of the electrical power generated by the photovoltaic cell, and wherein the power storage system is further configured to discharge stored electrical power to actuate the valve assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The flushometer of  claim 1 , wherein the flushometer is configured to operate without receiving power from an external power source and without requiring interchanging of batteries. 
     
     
         3 . The flushometer of  claim 1 , wherein the power storage device is a long term storage device configured for storing power for normal usage of the flushometer, and the power storage system further comprises a cold start storage device configured for storing sufficient power to activate at least one flush cycle of the flushometer, wherein both the long term storage device and the cold start storage device are configured for receiving the electrical power generated by the hydraulic turbine assembly and the electrical power generated by the photovoltaic cell. 
     
     
         4 . The flushometer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power management system comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the power management system is configured for controlling a flow of the electrical power into and out of the power storage system and for monitoring a level of power in the power storage system.   
     
     
         5 . The flushometer of  claim 4 , wherein the power management system is configured for determining when a power level of the power storage system is critically low and initiating, in response to determining that the power level of the power storage device is critically low, a sentinel flush by actuating the valve assembly in a manner configured to permit the water to flow through the outlet to the hydraulic turbine assembly, causing the hydraulic turbine assembly to generate additional electrical power. 
     
     
         6 . The flushometer of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic turbine assembly further comprises a stator assembly configured to support the impeller and to deliver the water to the impeller primarily in an axial direction relative to an axis of rotation of the impeller. 
     
     
         7 . The flushometer of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic turbine assembly further comprises a stator assembly configured to support the impeller and to deliver the water to the impeller primarily in a radial direction relative to an axis of rotation of the impeller. 
     
     
         8 . The flushometer of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic turbine assembly further comprises a stator assembly configured to engage a shaft on which the impeller is mounted to support the impeller for rotation, a magnet connected to the shaft and configured to rotate with the impeller, and a conductive coil positioned around the magnet, wherein rotation of the magnet is configured to cause an electrical current in the conductive coil to generate the electrical power. 
     
     
         9 . The flushometer of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuation system configured for actuating a flush cycle of the valve assembly, the actuation system comprising a solenoid electrically connected to the power storage system and configured for operation by receiving electrical power from the power storage system. 
     
     
         10 . The flushometer of  claim 9 , further comprising a sensor configured for detecting presence of a user, wherein the actuation system is in communication with the sensor and configured for actuating the flush cycle in response to the sensor detecting the presence of the user, and wherein the sensor is electrically connected to the power storage system and configured for operation by receiving electrical power from the power storage system. 
     
     
         11 . A flushometer comprising:
 a valve assembly comprising a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, and a valve mechanism configured to selectively permit passage of water from the inlet through the outlet of the valve body;   a hydraulic turbine assembly positioned downstream of the outlet and configured to receive the water discharged through the outlet, the hydraulic turbine assembly comprising an impeller configured to rotate during passage of the water through the hydraulic turbine assembly to generate electrical power, wherein the hydraulic turbine assembly is further configured to be positioned upstream of a plumbing fixture receiving the water passing through the hydraulic turbine assembly;   a head connected to the valve assembly at a location spaced from the hydraulic turbine assembly, wherein the head contains components including an electrical device;   a conductor extending from the hydraulic turbine assembly to the electrical device within the head, wherein the conductor has an exposed portion extending along an outer surface of the valve body; and   a cover member engaged with the valve assembly and comprising a shroud engaged with the outer surface of the valve body and covering the exposed portion of the conductor.   
     
     
         12 . The flushometer of  claim 11 , wherein the cover member further comprises a collar extending at least partially around a portion of the valve body to engage the cover member with the valve body, wherein the shroud extends from the collar along the outer surface of the valve body. 
     
     
         13 . The flushometer of  claim 12 , wherein the collar extends completely around the portion of the valve body, and the collar has a split configuration to permit attachment and removal of the cover member without disconnecting the valve mechanism from attached plumbing. 
     
     
         14 . The flushometer of  claim 11 , wherein the shroud has a central channel receiving the conductor and a protective material on opposite sides of the central channel, the protective material configured to resist ingress of liquid. 
     
     
         15 . The flushometer of  claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic turbine assembly further comprises a stator assembly configured to engage a shaft on which the impeller is mounted to support the impeller for rotation, a magnet connected to the shaft and configured to rotate with the impeller, and a conductive coil positioned around the magnet, wherein rotation of the magnet is configured to cause an electrical current in the conductive coil to generate the electrical power. 
     
     
         16 . The flushometer of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical device comprises a power storage device configured to store at least a portion of the electrical power generated by the hydraulic turbine assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The flushometer of  claim 11 , wherein the valve body comprises threading configured for connection to an additional component, and wherein the valve body has a groove extending transversely through the threading to permit passage of the conductor through the groove. 
     
     
         18 . The flushometer of  claim 11 , wherein the valve assembly further comprises a valve cover connected to the valve body, and wherein the head further comprises a mounting plate connected to the valve cover and supporting the head and the components contained by the head, wherein the mounting plate is adjustably connected to the valve cover to permit the mounting plate and the head to be rotatable with respect to the valve cover to adjust a rotational orientation of the head. 
     
     
         19 . The flushometer of  claim 18 , wherein the mounting plate has a first arcuate slot and a second arcuate slot, and the mounting plate is adjustably connected to the valve cover by fasteners received through the first arcuate slot and the second arcuate slot, such that the first and second arcuate slots permit the mounting plate to be rotatable with respect to the valve cover. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 receiving and storing, in a power storage device, electrical power generated by a hydraulic turbine assembly in fluid communication with a flushometer comprising a valve assembly configured to selectively permit passage of water from an inlet through an outlet thereof, wherein the hydraulic turbine assembly is positioned downstream of the outlet and receives the water discharged through the outlet, the hydraulic turbine assembly comprising an impeller configured to rotate during passage of the water through the hydraulic turbine assembly to generate the electrical power;   monitoring a power level of the power storage device and determining when the power level is critically low;   initiating, in response to determining that the power level of the power storage device is critically low, a sentinel flush by actuating the valve assembly to cause the water to flow through the outlet to the hydraulic turbine assembly, causing the hydraulic turbine assembly to generate additional electrical power; and   storing at least a portion of the additional electrical power in the power storage device.