US 12,454,821 B2
Systems and methods for backflow management
Andrew Mulvaney, Ridgefield, CT (US); and Joseph Mulvaney, Ridgefield, CT (US)
Assigned to 900 Ethan Allen Hwy LLC, Ridgefield, CT (US)
Filed by 900 Ethan Allen Hwy LLC, Ridgefield, CT (US)
Filed on Jul. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/362,090.
Application 18/362,090 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/014457, filed on Jan. 29, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/143,153, filed on Jan. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0374768 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16K 37/00 (2006.01); E03C 1/122 (2006.01); E03F 5/10 (2006.01); E03F 5/18 (2006.01); E03F 7/04 (2006.01)
CPC E03F 7/04 (2013.01) [E03C 1/1222 (2013.01); E03F 5/107 (2013.01); E03F 5/18 (2013.01); F16K 37/005 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatic backflow management system, comprising:
a backflow management device comprising:
a housing comprising threads and defining an interior volume, the threads being engaged with corresponding threads of a non-pressurized fluid conduit;
a cover coupled to seal the interior volume, the cover comprising a bore; and
an electronic processing device disposed within the interior volume;
a fluid sensor disposed within the interior volume, in communication with the electronic processing device, and oriented to detect fluid properties through the bore;
a wireless communication device disposed within the interior volume and in communication with the electronic processing device; and
a memory device storing instructions that when executed by the electronic processing device result in:
receiving data descriptive of a fluid property of a fluid in the non-pressurized fluid conduit;
identifying, by the electronic processing device and by a comparison of the data to stored rules, an occurrence of a backflow event; and
automatically transmitting, by the wireless communication device, an alert descriptive of the identified backflow event occurrence.