US 4,789,853 A · Detection device for electrically conductive fluids

Abstract

A device for detecting the presence of electrically conductive fluids, and upon such detection functioning to provide an audio alarm signal, and/or terminate electrical power to equipment that is causing fluid leakage. When used in conjunction with a washing machine, wherein the tube over-flows, or the pump or pump discharge hose leaks to cause water spillage, or where leakage occurs from the machine's cold or hot water supply hoses, the device will operate to deactivate the water pump and water supply solenoid valves, and provide an audio signal. Also, the device may be used to provide an audio alarm signal, and/or provide electrical power to a stand-by emergency pump to withdraw fluids, and prevent flooding. The device features a fluid sensing unit and a control unit operating on 90 to 125 volts AC low current. The fluid sensing unit has adjacently disposed large surface area neutral and hot contacts to allow sufficient current to flow between contacts and through the electrically conductive fluid, to improve circuit breaker response. When fluid accumulates between the neutral and hot contacts, a circuit is completed to instantaneously trip the circuit breaker to control electrical power to the outlet socket, and activate the audio alarm.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A fluid detection device, comprising:

(a) a fluid sensing unit having a body made of dielectric material;
enclosed within said body are fixedly mounted neutral and hot contacts having (substantially vertical adjacent surfaces whose) surface areas (are) substantially equidistantly disposed from each other, throughout;
said fluid sensing unit having means for admitting fluid to said neutral and hot contacts;
and
(b) a control unit operatively associated with said fluid sensing unit for monitoring fluid leakage;
said control unit including a manually resetable low current tripping (alternating current) circuit breaker having an "on position" and a maintained "off position";
said circuit breaker being further characterized as having a current limiting coil for limiting the magnitude of current flow between said neutral and hot contacts, circuit breaker contacts, and a lever switchable between an "on position" and an "off position";
said circuit breaker contacts being operatively interconnected to said lever such that when a conductive fluid bridges said neutral and hot contacts, said coil is energized such as to instantaneously switch said circuit breaker from said "on position" to said "off position".

5 more elements

A fluid detection device for use in conjunction with a washing machine having a water pump and water supply solenoid valves, comprising a fluid sensing unit having a circular body made from dielectric material and characterized by a top end and a bottom end;

mounted within the top end of said circular body are neutral and hot male tabs having encapsulated lower portions;
said circular body's bottom end having an outer bore, intermediate bore, and inner bore which are stepped progressively inward and concentric to each other;
said inner bore having a hot annular contact secured therein, and interconnected to said hot male tab by means of copper wire;
said intermediate bore having a neutral annular contact secured therein, and interconnected to said neutral male tab by means of copper wire;
said neutral annular contact having a plurality of radially disposed cut-outs at its bottom end;
and said circular body having a plurality of radially disposed cut-outs at its bottom which are intermediate its outside surface and its outer bore.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Detection device for electrically conductive fluids

Life of this patent

Detection device for electrically conductive fluids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17