Overflow protection shut-off apparatus for use with a water heater

An overflow protection shut-off device for use with a water heater for shutting off a supply of water to the water heater when a leaking condition occurs comprising:

• valve means coupleable to an input water line of a water heater and having an opened orientation for allowing flow of water within the input line and a closed orientation for preventing such flow, wherein the valve means includes a fitting securable to an input water line of a water heater;
• an axially rotatable stem engaged within the tubular fitting and being rotatable to an open position for allowing water flow within the input line and further being rotatable to a closed position for preventing such flow;
• a cam secured to the stem;
• a coil spring coupled to the stem and having a biased orientation for placing the stem in an open position and an unbiased orientation for placing the stem in the closed position;
• and a hand-turnable knob coupled to the stem for allowing the coil spring to be placed in the biased orientation upon discretion of a user;
• a electronic battery-operated horn means for providing an audible indication of the leaking condition when the coil spring is in the unbiased orientation;
• water sensing means positionable at a location proximal to the water heater for providing a signal when it is placed in contact with water when the water heater experiences the leaking condition;
• and
• switching means coupled to the valve means and the water sensing means and being responsive to receipt of the signal from the water sensing means for placing the valve means in the closed orientation.

An overflow protection shut-off device for use with a water heater for shutting off a supply of water to the water heater when a leaking condition occurs comprising:

• valve means coupleable to an input water line of a water heater and having an opened orientation for allowing flow of water within the input line and a closed orientation for preventing such flow;
• water sensing means positionable at a location proximal to the water heater for providing a signal when it is placed in contact with water when the water heater experiences the leaking condition;
• switching means coupled to the valve means and the water sensing means and being responsive to receipt of the signal from the water sensing means for placing the valve means in the closed orientation, wherein the switching means comprises a hollow housing with a plurality of apertures formed thereon for receiving a flow of water from the water heater when the leaking condition occurs;
• a rigid and L-shaped lever having a short arm, a long arm with an outboard end, and a location therebetween that is pivotally coupled to the housing;
• a spring coupled between the long arm of the lever and the housing;
• and a cable having a first end engaged with the valve means and a second end coupled to the short arm of the lever;
• wherein the water sensing means comprises a strip of water-soluble material having one end coupled to the housing and another end coupled to the outboard end of the long arm of the lever to thereby place the spring of the switching means in a biased position, and with the strip dissolvable when placed in contact with water entering the housing to release the lever and allow closure of the valve means.