US 5,971,011 AGranted

Water shut-off valve and leak detection system

OwnerStephen Jeffrey Priceinventor

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Abstract

An apparatus to permit or stop the flow of water through a conduit is described as having a microprocessor which contains a real time clock, day of the week indication, and an elapsed time clock. Data relating to the quantity of water flowing at any given moment is supplied by a flowmeter to the microprocessor. Primary and subsetting information is supplied to the microprocessor to determine the maximum allowable quantity of water that may flow over a specified period of time. The subsetting parameters override the primary information if so enabled and supply replacement information for certain periods of time. The elapsed time clock is reset whenever the flow rate becomes zero (no water flowing) or when the predetermined period of time is exceeded prior to exceeding the predetermined quantity of water that is allowed to flow within that period of time. If the flow of the predetermined quantity of water is exceeded within the predetermined (allowable) time frame, a solenoid is energized. The solenoid moves a plunger which interrupts (stops) the flow of water through the valve. After detecting a fault condition (a leak), a latching mechanism is activated which secures the plunger in the "water off" position, until it is manually reset.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A water shut-off and leak detection system for use with a conduit, comprising:

(a) a microprocessor including a program memory and an alterable data memory;
(b) an elapsed time clock coupled to said microprocessor, said elapsed time clock adapted to be reset by said microprocessor;
(c) a primary setting consisting of a predetermined quantity of water and a predetermined period of elapsed time, said primary setting supplied to said microprocessor;
(d) a valve adapted to be disposed intermediate said conduit, said valve including a first position adapted to permit the flow of water therein to occur and a second position adapted to prevent the flow of water therein, and including means for electrically connecting said microprocessor to said valve, said means for electrically connecting including means for urging said valve from said first position to said second position in response to a control signal from said microprocessor;
and
(e) a flowmeter operably attached to said valve, said flowmeter adapted to provide a continuous indication of the rate of fluid flow to said microprocessor;
wherein said control signal is generated by said microprocessor in response to a continuous flow of water exceeding said predetermined quantity of water within said predetermined period of time,
and wherein said elapsed time clock is reset to zero to begin accumulating anew subsequent to accumulating a duration of time equal to said predetermined period of time during a continuous flow of water that has not exceeded said predetermined quantity of water within said predetermined period of time and correspondingly, said quantity of fluid flow is reset to zero to begin accumulating anew when said elapsed time clock is reset to zero.

5 more elements

A water shut-off and leak detection system for use with a conduit, comprising:

(a) a microprocessor including a program memory and an alterable data memory;
(b) a real time clock electronically coupled to said microprocessor and which is adapted to provide day of the week information to said microprocessor;
(c) an elapsed time clock coupled to said microprocessor, said elapsed time clock adapted to be reset by said microprocessor;
(d) a primary setting consisting of a first predetermined quantity of water and a first predetermined period of elapsed time, said primary setting supplied to said microprocessor;
(e) at least one subsetting consisting of a second predetermined quantity of water and a second predetermined period of time said at least one subsetting supplied to said microprocessor;
(f) a valve adapted to be disposed intermediate said conduit, said valve including a first position adapted to permit the flow of water therein to occur and a second position adapted to prevent the flow of water therein, and including means for electrically connecting said microprocessor to said valve, said means for electrically connecting including means for urging said valve from said first position to said second position in response to a control signal from said microprocessor;
(g) a flowmeter operably attached to said valve, said flowmeter adapted to provide a continuous indication of the rate of fluid flow to said microprocessor and wherein said microprocessor is adapted to accumulate a quantity of fluid flow within said first predetermined period of time and within said second predetermined period of time;
and
(h) means for latching said valve in said second position,
wherein said control signal is generated by said microprocessor in response to a continuous flow of water exceeding said first predetermined quantity of water within said first predetermined period of time
and wherein said elapsed time clock is reset to zero to begin accumulating anew subsequent to accumulating a duration of time equal to said second predetermined period of time during a continuous flow of water that has not exceeded said second predetermined quantity of water within said second predetermined period of time and correspondingly, said quantity of fluid flow is reset to zero to begin accumulating anew when said elapsed time clock is reset to zero.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/027,456Filed 21 Feb 1998
Granted: 26 Oct 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

E03B 7/071
Arrangement of devices, e.g. filters, flow controls, measuring devices, siphons or valves, in the pipe systems: arrangement of safety devices in…
F17D 5/02
Protection or supervision of installations: preventing, monitoring, or locating loss
G01M 3/2807
For pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves ; for welds: for pipes
Y02A 20/15
Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use: leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution