Wireless system for detecting and stopping water leaks

A cordless leak detection transmitter comprising:

• a housing;
• a battery with first and second battery terminals within said housing;
• first and second electrodes extending from said housing, wherein said first battery terminal, wherein said first and second electrodes are adjacently disposed to provide electrical conductivity therebetween in the presence of a partially conductive fluid extending therebetween;
• and
• a radio-frequency transmitter within said housing, wherein said radio-frequency transmitter is caused to transmit an encoded signal through a surrounding atmospheric space in response to an electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal,
• and wherein electrical power for operation of said radio-frequency transmitter is derived solely from said battery,
• message storage means, within said housing, for storing an audio message recorded from an audible input as a first switch is operated;
• an audio output timer producing a train of intermediate signal pulses in response to said electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second batter terminal;
• message playback means, within said housing, for playing back said audio message in an audible manner, in response to each of said intermediate signal pulses, wherein said message playback means produces an end of message signal at the end of each said audio message;
• and
• audible alarm means, within said housing, for producing a non-verbal alarm signal in response to each said end of message signal.

A leak detection receiver comprising:

• receiving means for receiving a radio signal from a surrounding atmospheric space, wherein said receiving means provides an intermediate signal derived from said radio signal;
• decoding means for determining characteristics of said intermediate signal, wherein said decoding means produces a first decoded output when certain characteristics of said intermediate signal are met;
• a valve operating in response to said first decoded output to shut off water flow;
• temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature at said valve, wherein said temperature sensing means provides a temperature output signal as said temperature at said valve approaches a freezing condition;
• and
• heating means for heating said valve in response to said temperature output signal.

A leak detection system comprising:

• a plurality of cordless leak detection transmitters, wherein each said leak detection transmitter includes a battery, leak detection means for detecting a nearby water leak, with said detection means providing a first intermediate signal upon detection of said nearby water leak, message storage means for storing an individual audio message, message playback means for playing back said audio message in an audible manner in response to said first intermediate signal, and transmission means for transmitting a radio-frequency alarm signal through an ambient atmospheric space in response to said first intermediate signal, wherein electrical power for operation of said transmission means is derived solely from said battery;
• a leak detection receiver including receiving means for receiving said radio-frequency alarm signal through said ambient atmospheric space from each of said leak detection transmitters, with said receiving means providing a second intermediate signal upon reception of said radio-frequency alarm signal, and a valve operating in response to said second intermediate signal to shut off water flow;
• said leak detection receiver additionally includes decoding means, with a phase-locked loop providing an output signal in response to an input signal occurring at a predetermined tone frequency, for determining characteristics of said second intermediate signal, wherein said decoding means produces a first decoded output when predetermined characteristics of said intermediate signal are met, with said valve operating in response to said first decoded output to shut off said water flow.

A leak detection system comprising:

• a plurality of cordless leak detection transmitters, wherein each said leak detection transmitter includes a battery, leak detection means for detecting a nearby water leak, with said detection means providing a first intermediate signal upon detection of said nearby water leak, message storage means for storing an individual audio message, message playback means for playing back said audio message in an audible manner in response to said first intermediate signal, and transmission means for transmitting a radio-frequency alarm signal through an ambient atmospheric space an response to said first intermediate signal, wherein electrical power for operation of said transmission means is derived solely from said battery;
• a leak detection receiver including receiving means for receiving said radio-frequency alarm signal through said ambient atmospheric space from each of said leak detection transmitters, with said receiving means providing a second intermediate signal upon reception of said radio-frequency alarm signal, and a valve operating in response to said second intermediate signal to shut off water flow;
• means for digitally recording a message in electronic memory;
• said message playback means includes means for audibly reproducing said message stored in said electronic memory;
• and
• audible alarm means for producing a non-verbal alarm signal;
• and
• audio switching means for causing alternating operation of said message playback means and said audible alarm means.

A leak detection system comprising:

• a plurality of cordless leak detection transmitters, wherein each said leak detection transmitter includes a battery, leak detection means for detecting a nearby water leak, with said detection means providing a first intermediate signal upon detection of said nearby water leak, message storage means for storing an individual audio message, message playback means for playing back said audio message in an audible manner in response to said first intermediate signal, and transmission means for transmitting a radio-frequency alarm signal through an ambient atmospheric space in response to said first intermediate signal, wherein electrical power for operation of said transmission means is derived solely from said battery;
• a leak detection receiver including receiving means for receiving said radio-frequency alarm signal through said ambient atmospheric space from each of said leak detection transmitters, with said receiving means providing a second intermediate signal upon reception of said radio-frequency alarm signal, and a valve operating in response to said second intermediate signal to shut off water flow;
• a super-regenerative radio-frequency receiver and detector including:
• a receiving antenna;
• an input tank circuit coupled to said receiving antenna;
• a buffer stage having an input coupled to said input tank circuit;
• a first amplifier stage having an input coupled to an output of said buffer stage and to a negative feedback loop from an output of said first amplifier stage;
• and
• an output amplifier stage having an input of said first amplifier stage and to a positive feedback loop from an output of said output amplifier stage.