Backflow testing device

Abstract

A handheld-sized, single-hand-holdable, single-hand-operable battery-powered digital backflow prevention assembly testing gage capable of measuring a differential pressure between high and low side fluid sources, providing a capture value function for easily recording pressure values while continuing display of live pressure measurements, and providing a rate of change graph display for immediate visual indication of changes in the differential pressure being sensed. The design utilizes a true differential pressure sensor for more accurate measurements, provides for use as a 5-valve, 3-valve, or 2-valve tester conforming to standard industry field testing procedures, and permits wireless transmission of measurement and related data as well as remote wireless calibration of the testing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A digital backflow testing device comprising:
 a first fluid line connectable to a first source of fluid and a first fluid pressure therefor;   a second fluid line connectable to a second source of fluid and a second fluid pressure therefor;   a true differential pressure sensor in fluid communication with said first and said second fluid lines and configured to sense a pressure differential between said first and said second fluid lines; and   electrical circuitry configured to provide differential pressure measurements from said pressure differential sensed by said true differential pressure sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the true differential pressure sensor comprises a single true differential pressure sensor configured to sense the differential fluid pressure between said first and said second fluid lines and does not require electronic circuitry configured to calculate the differential fluid pressure between said first and said second fluid lines by using more than one pressure sensor to obtain pressure measurements for each of the first and second fluid lines and then calculating the differential fluid pressure as a calculated difference between pressure measurements of said first and said second fluid lines. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 electrical circuitry and an electronic display configured to display said differential pressure measurements. 
 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a battery power supply electrically interconnected with said true differential pressure sensor and an electronic display.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 electrical circuitry and an electronic display configured to display real time measurements of said differential pressure.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising electrical circuitry configured to perform an algorithm to generate and display on an electronic display a rate of change graph that provides a visual indication as to how fast said differential pressure measurements are changing, and whether a direction of change is increasing or decreasing, or neither. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a capture value button and electrical circuitry configured to capture a differential pressure measurement as a captured value when said capture value button is depressed without interrupting an electronic display of real time differential pressure measurements. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising electrical circuitry configured to display said captured value and continue said uninterrupted display of said real time differential pressure measurements. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising electrical circuitry configured to store in memory and display more than one captured value and continue said uninterrupted display of said real time differential pressure measurements. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one pressure sensor in fluid communication with one or both of said first and said second fluid lines and configured to measure fluid pressure in one or both of said first and said second fluid lines. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising electrical circuitry configured to permit wireless transmission and reception of data. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising electrical circuitry configured to permit wireless connection to a mobile device whereby calibration of said backflow testing device is controllable remotely using said mobile device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising electrical circuitry configured to permit saving in memory and wirelessly transmitting a captured value and a captured value identifier corresponding to said captured value. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising hydraulic circuitry to provide a 2-valve backflow testing device. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising hydraulic circuitry to provide a 3-valve backflow testing device. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising hydraulic circuitry to provide a 5-valve backflow testing device. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising hydraulic circuitry configurable to provide any one of a 2-valve backflow testing device, a 3-valve backflow testing device, or a 5-valve backflow testing device. 
     
     
         18 . A digital backflow testing device comprising:
 a first fluid line connectable to a first source of fluid and a first fluid pressure therefor;   a second fluid line connectable to a second source of fluid and a second fluid pressure therefor;   electrical circuitry configured to provide differential pressure measurements of a pressure differential between said first and said second fluid lines; and   a capture value button and electrical circuitry configured to capture a differential pressure measurement as a captured value when said capture value button is depressed without interrupting an electronic display of real time differential pressure measurements.   
     
     
         19 . A digital backflow testing device comprising:
 a first fluid line connectable to a first source of fluid and a first fluid pressure therefor;   a second fluid line connectable to a second source of fluid and a second fluid pressure therefor;   electrical circuitry configured to provide differential pressure measurements of a pressure differential between said first and said second fluid lines; and   electrical circuitry configured to perform an algorithm to generate and display on an electronic display a rate of change graph that provides a visual indication as to how fast said differential pressure measurements are changing, and whether a direction of change is increasing or decreasing, or neither.   
     
     
         20 . A digital backflow testing device comprising:
 a first fluid line connectable to a first source of fluid and a first fluid pressure therefor;   a second fluid line connectable to a second source of fluid and a second fluid pressure therefor;   electrical circuitry configured to provide differential pressure measurements of a pressure differential between said first and said second fluid lines; and   hydraulic circuitry to provide a 5-valve backflow testing device.