Gas shutoff system
OwnerPavan Vipul THAKKAR, Brook EPHREMinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A natural gas automatic shutoff system can analyze the flow rate of natural gas through a pipe. When an anomaly is detected, the device can prevent further flow of natural gas through the pipe and can automatically notify the homeowner or authorized monitor, such as through a cell phone application or other device. Additionally, the homeowner or authorized monitor can manually control and/or monitor the flow of gas through the pipe in real-time, such as through a cell phone application or other device. At least one exemplary embodiment uses a motorized ball valve to control the flow of gas, a flow meter to measure the rate of natural gas flow through the pipe, and a microcomputer to analyze the flow and send notifications to the homeowner or authorized monitor.
Claims20
A gas shutoff system comprising:
- a flow meter;
- a valve;
- a processor;
- wherein the flow meter is operable to analyze a flow rate of gas through the system;
- wherein the system enables a user to monitor the flow rate of gas with a smartphone or computer application;
- wherein, when an anomaly is detected, either:
- if the anomaly is a leak or abnormal smell of gas detected by the user, the user uses the smartphone or computer application to close the valve to stop the flow rate of gas;
- or
- if the anomaly is the system detecting a change in the flow rate of gas, the system closes the valve to stop the flow rate of gas and the system automatically sends a notification of the anomaly to the user via the smartphone or computer application.
A gas shutoff system comprising:
- a flow meter;
- a valve;
- a processor;
- wherein the flow meter is operable to analyze a flow rate of gas through the system;
- wherein the system enables a user to monitor the flow rate of gas with a smartphone or computer application;
- wherein, when an anomaly is detected in the flow rate of gas, the system automatically sends a notification of the anomaly to the user via the smartphone or computer application;
- wherein the user uses the smartphone or computer application to close the valve to stop the flow rate of gas either prior to detection of the anomaly by the system or after receiving the notification of the anomaly.
A method of using a gas shutoff system comprising:
- providing a flow meter, a valve, and a processor;
- analyzing a flow rate of gas through the system with the flow meter;
- wherein the system enables a user to monitor the flow rate of gas with a smartphone or computer application;
- wherein, when an anomaly is detected, either:
- (1) if the anomaly is a leak or abnormal smell of gas detected by the user, the user uses the smartphone or computer application to close the valve to stop the flow rate of gas;
- or
- (2) if the anomaly is the system detecting a change in the flow rate of gas, the system closes the valve to stop the flow rate of gas and sends a notification of the anomaly to the user via the smartphone or computer application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.