US 2006/0124171 A1 · Secure wireless leak detection system

Abstract

A method utilizing a wireless leak detection and prevention system, used for preventing property damage and personal injury caused by liquid or gas leak. The system comprised of a wireless, battery operated apparatus having sensor(s) incorporated with an RF transmitter, used for detecting liquid or gas leaks, and transmits signal(s) to a wireless valve shutoff control unit. The valve shutoff control unit containing an RF transceiver and a processor designed to receive the detected signals and activate a supervised solenoid or motorized valve shut-off mechanism to stop the detected leak. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wireless valve control unit is connected to a motor, which is mounted on manual shutoff valve. Wherein the valve control unit activates the motor to produce torque to turn the valve towards a close position in response to a received detected leak signal from a sensor. An electronic or electromechanical circuitry is provided, to detect motor or gear turn cycles. The motor rotation is being controlled by the valve control unit processor, which stops motor rotation in response to a detected preset number of motor turn cycles. A digital, voice, SMS text message phone dialer is add to dispatch the detected leak signals, and notify monitoring personnel of the supervised system operation status. And provide user access to turn on or off a valve(s) from a remote location.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method utilizing a supervised leak detection and prevention system, comprised of a battery operated supervised wireless leak detection unit, which contains;

a leak detection sensor connected to the transceiver, which is capable of transmitting a unique coded signal in response to a detected leak.
An A/C or battery operated supervised wireless valve control transceiver unit comprised of
a receiver capable of receiving said unique coded transmitted signal, and send corresponding signal to a processor.
a motorized shutoff valve having a motor which contains rotation pulse or gear turn counter, used for providing a supervised valve closure. Said motorized valve is installed within a pipe.
The motor being connected to the valve control receiving unit, wherein the valve control unit contains a processor which is used in a setup process to memorize (learn) said motor pulse or gear turn count required to close the valve that the motor and gear is connected to.
Said valve control unit processor upon receipt of said leak detection signal, turns on the motor to generate torque to close the valve, the motor being controlled to stop turning the valve in response to processor receiving prescribed number of motor rotation pulse, or gear counter signal and transmit a coded signal indicating successful or failed valve closure.

3 more elements

A method utilizing a supervised leak detection and prevention system, wherein an A/C or battery operated wireless valve control unit housing, mounted on an adjustable bracket, used to mount the valve control unit securely on a pipe or manual valve, and the control unit motor is attached to the manual valve by use of valve system handle adaptor or valve shaft adaptor.

A motor is incorporated to open and close the manual valve. Said motor, gear and or shaft contains an optical, magnetic, or an electromechanical circuit to detect motor or gear turn cycles to provide supervisory valve closure operation.
A processor is used, in a setup process to memorize (learn) said motor or gear turn cycle pulse count required to close the valve that the motor and gear is attached to. And a transceiver is incorporated to receive signals from a leak detection unit.
When the valve control unit transceiver receives a leak detection transmitted signal from a leak detection sensor, the transceiver sends corresponding signal to the valve control unit processor. The processor upon receipt of said signal, turns on the motor to generate torque to close the valve, the motor being controlled to stop turning the valve in response to processor received number of motor rotation pulse, gear counter signal and transmit a coded signal indicating successful or failed valve closure.

A method utilizing a supervised leak detection and prevention system, wherein a fully supervised wireless valve control unit, is connected to a supervised solenoid shutoff valve assembly installed within a pipe. The valve control unit generates needed energy to close said supervised solenoid valve, in response to received leak detection signal from a leak detection sensor. The supervised solenoid valve contains a valve closure detection sensor, which is used to detect successful solenoid valve closures, and transmit the detected valve closure signal, to the valve control unit processor, to indicate successful or failed solenoid valve closure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Secure wireless leak detection system

Life of this patent

Secure wireless leak detection system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12