Temperature sensitive water supply shut-off system
AssigneeQP & H Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsJohn R. Hoch, Jr., Bruce A. Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic water supply shut-off system includes a shut-off valve movable between opened and closed positions in a line leading from the water supply. An electric motor actuates the shut-off valve and is electrically connected to a power source through an electric circuit so that when the circuit is closed the electric motor actuates the shut-off valve into the open position to allow water flow through the line. At least one temperature sensor feeds a signal to a logic circuit that controls a switch. The switch cuts off the supply of power to the electric motor when the sensor senses a temperature corresponding to a freeze condition.
Claims13
A water supply shut-off system comprising:
- a shut-off valve connectable to an indoor plumbing network and having an open position and a closed position;
- a power circuit connectable to a primary power supply and including electric motor means for actuating the shut-off valve from the closed position to the open position when the power circuit is in a closed circuit condition so that the electric motor means is supplied with electric energy, the valve returning to the closed position when the power circuit is in an open circuit condition so that the electric motor means is not supplied with electric energy, and first switch means for changing the condition of the power circuit;
- a control circuit including at least one sensor means, mountable indoors, for producing a signal indicative of ambient temperature and comparison means, for comparing the signal of the sensor means to a predetermined threshold temperature and outputting a control signal to cause the first switch means to change the condition of the power circuit to open when the ambient temperature is at or below the threshold value;
- and
- manual reset means for changing the condition of the power circuit back to closed when the ambient temperature exceeds the threshold temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.