Method and apparatus for selectively shutting off the flow of water to a building
OwnerJohn Fentoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein relates in part to selectively shutting off the flow of water through a water supply pipe to a building, such as in the event of a broken water pipe. The embodiments disclosed herein also optionally discontinue electrical power to a water heater to minimize the risk of water heater elements burning out in the event a water heater is at the risk of being drained of water, such as due to a broken water pipe.
Claims31
For use in a building having a water supply pipe through which water is supplied to this building, water flowing in a first forward direction through the water supply pipe when water is being used in the building, the direction opposite to the first forward direction being a second backflow direction, an apparatus for selectively interrupting the flow of water through the water supply pipe comprising:
- at least one flow sensor for detecting flow of water at least in the first of the first and second directions, the sensor providing a water flow output indicating signal corresponding to the direction of water flow;
- a flow monitoring circuit coupled to the at least one flow sensor so as to receive the water flow output indicating signal, the flow monitoring circuit being adapted to provide a valve close signal in the event water flow in at least the first direction exceeds a first forward flow threshold;
- and
- a valve coupled to the flow monitoring circuit and adapted to interrupt the flow of water through the water supply pipe in response to the valve close signal.
An apparatus for selectively interrupting the delivery of power from an electrical panel to an electric water heater and for controlling the flow of water through a building water supply pipe, the apparatus comprising:
- a flow direction detector adapted to determine the direction of flow of water in the water supply pipe in a first forward direction and in a second backflow direction;
- a flow direction determiner coupled to the flow direction detector and operable to provide at least one control signal in the event at least one of undesirable forward flow and undesirable back flow of water is determined;
- a controller coupled to the flow direction determiner for receiving at least one control signal, the controller being adapted to provide a valve close signal in response to the occurrence of the at least one control signal;
- a valve coupled to the controller and adapted to interrupt the flow of water through the water supply pipe in response to the valve close signal;
- and
- an electrical switch adapted to shut off the electrical power to the water heater in response to a power off signal, the controller being coupled to the electrical switch and being adapted to cause the delivery of the power off signal to the electrical switch in the event the flow of water through the water flow pipe has been interrupted in response to the valve close signal.
A method comprising:
- interrupting the flow of water to a building and turning off the electric power to an electric water heater upon detection of the forward flow of water through a building water supply pipe for at least a first continuous time period;
- and
- interrupting the flow of water to a building and turning off the electric power to an electric water heater upon the detection of the backward flow of water through a building water supply pipe for a second continuous time period.
An apparatus comprising:
- means for detecting the forward flow and backflow of water through a building water supply pipe;
- means for interrupting the flow of water through the building water supply pipe upon detection of the forward flow of water through the building water supply pipe for at least a first continuous time period and for interrupting the flow of water to the building through the building water supply pipe upon detection of the backward flow of water for at least a second continuous time period;
- and
- means for interrupting the power to a water heater for the building in the event the flow of water through the building water supply pipe is interrupted due to at least one of the forward flow of water through the building water supply pipe for at least a first continuous time period and the backflow of water through the building water supply pipe for at least a second continuous time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.