# US 2020/0286351 A1 · Utility safety monitoring system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0286351 A1 - Document ID: US20200286351A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/811,655 - Filed: 2020-03-06 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-08 - Inventors: BRIAN M. CORCORAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200286351A1 ## CPC - G08B 21/02: Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons - H04L 12/2823: {Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network (device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00)} - H04L 12/2825: {Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002)} - H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom - H04L 2012/2841: {Wireless} - H04L 2012/285: {Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators} - H04Q 2209/60: for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter - H04Q 2209/86: Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract A system for utility safety monitoring is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system includes a utility fluid meter coupled with a home or business structure, a local control unit, a home appliance with a failure sensor, a monitoring control center, and one or more shut-off valves. The failure sensor is coupled with an Internet of Things (IOT) platform such as a NodeMCU unit. The failure sensor detects a failure event of the home appliance and sends a notification to the local control unit. The local control unit then shuts down the one or more shut-off valves and sends notifications to a utility company and an owner of the home or business structure. The shut-off valve has a locking mechanism including a diaphragm, a locking component, a magnetic solenoid, and a locking shaft with a locking notch indicating a closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas safety management and monitoring emergency system, comprising: a gas meter; a local control unit; a home appliance with a failure sensor; a cloud data center; and a shut-off valve; wherein: the failure sensor is coupled with a NodeMCU unit; the gas meter is connected to a utility gas entry and the home appliance by gas lines; the failure sensor is activated to send a failure signal to the local control unit upon detecting a failure event of the home appliance; the local control unit shuts down the shut-off valve and sends a first notification signal to the cloud data center upon receiving the failure signal from the failure sensor; and the cloud data center sends a second notification signal to a remote utility company upon receiving the first notification signal sent from the local control unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system in claim 1, wherein the home appliance is selected from the group consisting of a stove, an oven, a boiler, and a hot water heater. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system in claim 1, wherein the shut-off valve utilizes a locking mechanism comprising a diaphragm, a locking component, a magnetic solenoid, and a locking shaft with a locking notch indicating a closed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system in claim 3, wherein the magnetic solenoid is actuated to extend the locking shaft and push the diaphragm to block passage of the utility gas when the shut-off valve is in the closed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system in claim 4, wherein the closed position is maintained by fixing the locking component to the locking notch of the locking shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system in claim 5, wherein the locking shaft in the closed position is reset to an open position only by a human mechanical action. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system in claim 1, wherein the failure sensor is selected from the group consisting of a carbon monoxide sensor, a heat sensor, a flood sensor, a gas sensor, and a seismic sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system in claim 1, wherein the NodeMCU unit is an ESP 8266 microchip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system in claim 1, wherein the failure signal, the first notification signal, and the second notification signal are sent via Ethernet, Internet, LAN/WLAN, ZigBee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular, or Satellite. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system in claim 9, wherein the failure signal, the first notification signal, and the second notification signal are encrypted. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system in claim 1, wherein the failure event of the home appliance is selected from the group consisting of an equipment failure, a utility gas leak, a temperature outside a normal range, a carbon monoxide leak, a flooding condition, and an earthquake. ### Claim 12 A utility safety monitoring system, comprising: a utility fluid meter coupled with a home or business structure; a local control unit; a home appliance with a failure sensor; a monitoring control center; and a shut-off valve; wherein: the failure sensor is coupled with a NodeMCU unit; the utility fluid meter is connected to a utility fluid entry and the home appliance by utility fluid lines; the failure sensor is activated to send a failure signal to the local control unit upon detecting a failure event of the home appliance; the local control unit shuts down the shut-off valve and sends a first notification signal to the monitoring control center upon receiving the failure signal from the failure sensor; and the monitoring control center sends a second notification signal to a remote utility company and a third notification signal to an owner of the home or business structure upon receiving the first notification signal sent from the local control unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system in claim 12, wherein the home appliance is selected from the group consisting of a stove, an oven, a boiler, and a hot water heater. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system in claim 12, wherein the shut-off valve utilizes a locking mechanism comprising a diaphragm, a locking component, a magnetic solenoid, and a locking shaft with a locking notch indicating a closed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system in claim 14, wherein: the magnetic solenoid is actuated to extend the locking shaft and push the diaphragm to block passage of the utility fluid when the shut-off valve is in the closed position; the closed position is maintained by fixing the locking component to the locking notch of the locking shaft; and the locking shaft in the closed position is reset to an open position only by a human mechanical action. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system in claim 12, wherein the failure sensor is selected from the group consisting of a carbon monoxide sensor, a heat sensor, a flood sensor, a gas sensor, and a seismic sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system in claim 12, wherein the NodeMCU unit is an ESP 8266 microchip. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system in claim 12, wherein the failure signal, the first notification signal, and the second notification signal are encrypted, sent, and received via Ethernet, Internet, LAN/WLAN, ZigBee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cellular, or Satellite. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The system in claim 12, wherein the failure event of the home appliance is selected from the group consisting of an equipment failure, a utility fluid leak, a temperature outside a normal range, a carbon monoxide leak, a flooding condition, and an earthquake. ### Claim 20 A utility safety monitoring system, comprising: a utility meter coupled with a home or business structure; a local control unit; a failure sensor; a monitoring control center; and a shut-off; wherein: the failure sensor is coupled with a NodeMCU unit; the utility meter is connected to a source by a supply line; the failure sensor is activated to send a failure signal to the local control unit upon detecting a failure event; the local control unit shuts down the shut-off and sends a first notification signal to the monitoring control center upon receiving the failure signal from the failure sensor; the monitoring control center sends a second notification signal to a remote utility company and a third notification signal to an owner of the home or business structure upon receiving the first notification signal sent from the local control unit; and the shut-off is reversible to an open position from a closed position only by a local action.