Abstract: An improved, wholly mechanical, valve unit is provided to automatically allow for flow between a high temperature liquid line and a cooler temperature liquid line in order to maintain the immediate availability of hot liquid immediately upstream of the valve, especially for hot water used in a building. The valve unit of the present invention includes a thermally-activated, bi-metal, or more broadly bi-flexive, valve disc, and a smaller diameter valve seat that concentrically contacts the valve disc intermediate the outer circumference and the center of the disc. The bi-flexive disc is provided two-sided, circumferential support, thus substantially equalizing the pressure against both sides of the disc, even when in the closed valve position between the higher temperature, higher pressure, hot water line and the lower pressure cold water line. The valve opens when the temperature differential across the valve disc decreases below a preset amount.

Abstract: A zone valve control system for a flow valve comprising a direct current rotary electric motor connected to a valve shaft, an electronic control system comprising a microprocessor, an electric measuring device for signaling the presence of a predetermined electrical stall current, a rectifier and a regulator to convert and regulate external AC voltage to a desired DC power output; and an electrical storage system having a total storage capacity sufficient to power the DC electric motor to move the valve between the closed and opened positions; an external sensor for signaling when a certain condition exists in an external zone; the microprocessor controlling the flow and polarity of DC current to the motor; whereby the electronic control system controls movement of a valve operably connected to the output shaft to open or close a valve to maintain a desired predetermined condition in the external zone.

Abstract: A hydraulic pumping system for pumping a flow of aqueous liquid, for HVAC and potable water systems, through a plurality of hydraulic pump assemblies and mating branching feeder pipes extending between a main inlet pipe and a main outlet pipe for outputting the total flow of water, each of said pump assemblies in operative association with a mating feeder pipe to control aqueous liquid flow through said associated feeder pipe, wherein each of the hydraulic pump assemblies comprises an electric motor, mechanically coupled to a centrifugal pump and a variable frequency drive (VFD) electrically coupled to the motor. A controller is electrically coupled via a communication channel to the VFD of each of the hydraulic pump assemblies, the controller comprising a programmable device programmed to control the speed of each of the motors via the connected VFD.

Abstract: This invention provides, in various embodiments, a variable frequency drive system for controlling a pump driven by a variable frequency electric motor, with the pump in fluid communication with a fluid system. The drive system of this invention improves the efficiency of the prior variable frequency drive systems by inserting into the memory of the variable frequency drive the maximum flow required for the particular flow system in which the pump is operating and adding an initial pump starting module that limits the initial starting flow rate from the pump to the desired maximum flow rate for the system, which is separately calculated.

Abstract: A hydraulic pumping system for pumping a flow of aqueous liquid, for HVAC and potable water systems, through a plurality of hydraulic pump assemblies and mating branching feeder pipes extending between a main inlet pipe and a main outlet pipe for outputting the total flow of water, each of said pump assemblies in operative association with a mating feeder pipe to control aqueous liquid flow through said associated feeder pipe, wherein each of the hydraulic pump assemblies comprises an electric motor, mechanically coupled to a centrifugal pump and a variable frequency drive (VFD) electrically coupled to the motor. A controller is electrically coupled via a communication channel to the VFD of each of the hydraulic pump assemblies, the controller comprising a programmable device programmed to control the speed of each of the motors via the connected VFD.

Abstract: A zone valve control system for a flow valve comprising a direct current rotary electric motor connected to a valve shaft, an electronic control system comprising a microprocessor, an electric measuring device for signaling the presence of a predetermined electrical stall current, a rectifier and a regulator to convert and regulate external AC voltage to a desired DC power output; and an electrical storage system having a total storage capacity sufficient to power the DC electric motor to move the valve between the closed and opened positions; an external sensor for signaling when a certain condition exists in an external zone; the microprocessor controlling the flow and polarity of DC current to the motor; whereby the electronic control system controls movement of a valve operably connected to the output shaft to open or close a valve to maintain a desired predetermined condition in the external zone.

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.

Abstract: The brushless DC motor of the present invention comprises a permanent magnet rotor rotating coaxially with and inside of the stator containing the electric windings, separated by a radial, axially extending gap. The rotor can be formed of four or more permanent, e.g., ferrite ceramic magnets, spaced substantially equidistantly circumferentially around the rotor and extending radially along the axial length of the rotor. The preferred ferrite magnets are substantially corrosion resistant, and thus durable in the wet rotor environment, in which it may be used, sufficient to withstand the effects of even hot salt water. Preferably, four of the permanent magnets are bar magnets, i.e., rectangular in cross-section, extending radially and perpendicularly to the adjacent magnets. Most preferably, the bar magnets are separated by generally wedge-shaped, or quadrant-shaped, sections of magnetic material.

Abstract: An improved, wholly mechanical, valve unit is provided to automatically allow for flow between a high temperature liquid line and a cooler temperature liquid line in order to maintain the immediate availability of hot liquid immediately upstream of the valve, especially for hot water used in a building. The valve unit of the present invention includes a thermally-activated, bi-metal, or more broadly bi-flexive, valve disc, and a smaller diameter valve seat that concentrically contacts the valve disc intermediate the outer circumference and the center of the disc. The bi-flexive disc is provided two-sided, circumferential support, thus substantially equalizing the pressure against both sides of the disc, even when in the closed valve position between the higher temperature, higher pressure, hot water line and the lower pressure cold water line. The valve opens when the temperature differential across the valve disc decreases below a preset amount.

Abstract: The brushless DC motor of the present invention comprises a permanent magnet rotor rotating coaxially with and inside of the stator containing the electric windings, separated by a radial, axially extending gap. The rotor can be formed of four or more permanent, e.g., ferrite ceramic magnets, spaced substantially equidistantly circumferentially around the rotor and extending radially along the axial length of the rotor. The preferred ferrite magnets are substantially corrosion resistant, and thus durable in the wet rotor environment, in which it may be used, sufficient to withstand the effects of even hot salt water. Preferably, four of the permanent magnets are bar magnets, i.e., rectangular in cross-section, extending radially and perpendicularly to the adjacent magnets. Most preferably, the bar magnets are separated by generally wedge-shaped, or quadrant-shaped, sections of magnetic material.

Abstract: The brushless DC motor of the present invention comprises a permanent magnet rotor rotating coaxially with and inside of the stator containing the electric windings, separated by a radial, axially extending gap. The rotor can be formed of four or more permanent, e.g., ferrite ceramic magnets, spaced substantially equidistantly circumferentially around the rotor and extending radially along the axial length of the rotor. The preferred ferrite magnets are substantially corrosion resistant, and thus durable in the wet rotor environment, in which it may be used, sufficient to withstand the effects of even hot salt water. Preferably, four of the permanent magnets are bar magnets, i.e., rectangular in cross-section, extending radially and perpendicularly to the adjacent magnets. Most preferably, the bar magnets are separated by generally wedge-shaped, or quadrant-shaped, sections of magnetic material.

Abstract: A water pump controlled by a microcontroller and operated to pump hot water for specific recirculation periods during a multi-day cycle. The recirculation periods are determined from hot water usage data logged by the microcontroller during a logging period occurring in the previous multi-day cycle. A preferred cycle is during a seven-day, or one-week, period.

Abstract: A water pump controlled by a microcontroller and operated to pump hot water for specific recirculation periods during a multi-day cycle. The recirculation periods are determined from hot water usage data logged by the microcontroller during a logging period occurring in the previous multi-day cycle. A preferred cycle is during a seven-day, or one-week, period.

Abstract: Solar heating systems are provided which utilize an integrated fixture for transferring heat from a solar collector to a lower-temperature loop, e.g. a domestic hot water system or radiant heating system. The fixture provides a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the solar collector to the lower temperature loop. The fixture may also include a casting, in which are formed solar collector supply and return ports, lower temperature supply and return ports, a solar collector pump volute, and a lower temperature pump volute. The systems also include two pumps, and a temperature optimization control that varies the speed of at least one of the pumps depending on the temperature of the liquid in the solar collector.

Abstract: According to the invention, a system for collecting debris is disclosed. The system may include a flexible sheet, two lengthwise members, a handle, and two hooks. The flexible sheet may have a trapezoidal shape having a short edge, a long edge, and side edges. The flexible sheet may also have apertures substantially near the middle of each side edge. Each aperture may be sized to permit the insertion of a hand. The lengthwise members may be encased by the flexible sheet between the apertures and the side edges. The handle may be coupled with one side of the flexible sheet and located between the long edge and a point substantially centered between the two apertures. The first hook may be coupled between the handle and the short edge on that same side. The second hook may be between the first aperture and the short edge on that same side.

Abstract: A water feed controller which can provide for the addition of a preset fixed amount of water to be added after a low water condition is removed. This system provides for a preset fixed amount of water to be added to a boiler above the amount which triggers the low water condition. This generally inhibits excess cycling from the boiler operating at its minimum safe water level as well as inhibiting overfilling of the boiler. Further, there is discussed a water feed controller which can measure the amount of water added over a prior predetermined period (such as 30 days) which serves as a floating window of time so that a leak or other condition resulting in overly frequent filling can be detected quickly.

Abstract: Solar heating systems are provided which utilize an integrated fixture for transferring heat from a solar collector to a lower-temperature loop, e.g. a domestic hot water system or radiant heating system. The fixture provides a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the solar collector to the lower temperature loop. The fixture may also include a casting, in which are formed solar collector supply and return ports, lower temperature supply and return ports, a solar collector pump volute, and a lower temperature pump volute. The systems also include two pumps, and a temperature optimization control that varies the speed of at least one of the pumps depending on the temperature of the liquid in the solar collector.

Abstract: Solar heating systems are provided which utilize an integrated fixture for transferring heat from a solar collector to a lower-temperature loop, e.g. a domestic hot water system or radiant heating system. The fixture provides a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the solar collector to the lower temperature loop. The fixture may also include a casting, in which are formed solar collector supply and return ports, lower temperature supply and return ports, a solar collector pump volute, and a lower temperature pump volute. The systems also include two pumps, and a temperature optimization control that varies the speed of at least one of the pumps depending on the temperature of the liquid in the solar collector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating probe signal level readings in a manner that allows a low water detector to distinguish between a probe that is under a fluid level, or is above the fluid level and either being splashed or is within a foam. Low water detectors which utilize these systems and methods are also provided. The detectors generally utilize a representative probe reading, and a dynamic indicator between probe readings, for a set of probe readings taken in a time period to detect low water levels, foam, or surge.