DETECTOR OF THE FLOWING OF A FLUID IN A PIPE AND ENERGY SAVING DEVICE FOR A HOT WATER SYSTEM USING THIS DETECTOR

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:A device for detecting the flowing of a fluid ina pipe, comprising a tubular element vertically mounted onthe pipe for serially interconnecting two portions of thispipe. One of these portions is connected to the upper endof the tubular element while the other portion is connectedto its lower end. A piston made of a magnetic material isslidably mounted within the tubular element and is there-fore free to move along it. A by pass conduit interconnectsa part of the tubular element adjacent to its lower endwith the portion of the pipe which is connected to the upperend of the tubular element to allow the fluid to flow fromthe portion of the pipe connected at the lower end of thetubular element to the portion of the pipe connected at itsupper end. In operation, the piston moves upwardly in thetubular element as soon as the fluid starts to flow to allowthis fluid to flow from the portion of the pipe connectedat the lower end of the tubular element to the one connectedat its upper end through the by-pass conduit. The pistonmoves downwardly by gravity to the lower end of the tubularelement as soon as the fluid stops flowing. A coil woundaround a portion of the tubular element produces an electricalsignal every time the piston moves in the tubular element.This detecting device can be mounted on a hot water supplypipe and used in combination with an electronic circuitfor saving energy in operating a hot water system comprisinga tank for stocking hot water, an apparatus for heating thewater within the tank, and a thermostat for controlling theoperation of the water heating apparatus in accordance withthe temperature of the water in the tank. In this case, theelectronic circuit allows or prevents the thermostat tocontrol the water heating apparatus.