US 6,895,990 B1Granted

Water heater fail safe apparatus

OwnerJames H. Carrollinventor

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Abstract

Apparatus for automatically shutting off the water supply to a leaking water heater includes a water collecting tray positionable beneath the heater, a valve mechanism attachable to the tray, a float mechanism, and an action arm interactive between the float mechanism and valve mechanism. When water collects in the tray, the float mechanism rises, causing the action arm to trigger the release of a spring-urged component of the valve mechanism to discontinue flow of water to the heater.

Claims9

Dependent claims

Apparatus for automatically shutting off a water supply to a leaking water heater, said apparatus comprising:

a) a water-collecting tray having a perimeter sidewall bounded by interior and exterior surfaces, and configured to be positioned beneath said water heater,
b) a float adapted to rest upon water that may accumulate within said tray,
c) guide means that permits vertical movement of said float while preventing substantial lateral movement thereof,
d) a valve housing attachable to the interior surface of said sidewall and comprised of wall structure vertically elongated between upper and lower extremities and having:
1) a drive rod slideably centered within said valve housing by way of a water tight seal,
2) a first valve member attached to the bottom extremity of said drive rod,
3) a stationary second valve member incorporated into said wall structure,
4) upper and lower portals located respectively above and below said second valve member, one of said portals permitting entrance of water into said housing, and the other portal permitting egress and routing of said water to said water heater, and
5) a coil spring interactive between said lower extremity and said first valve member, and serving to force said first valve member upwardly, and
e) an action arm comprised of a cam portion and an elongated lever portion interactive with said float, said action arm being pivotably joined to said housing adjacent said upper extremity in a manner to permit movement of said action arm in a vertical plane while positioning said cam portion to exert downward force upon the top extremity of said drive rod, whereby,
f) when water accumulates within said tray as a result of leakage from said water heater, said float rises, causing said lever portion to rise, thereby causing said cam portion to release downward force from said drive rod, allowing said spring to drive said first valve member into sealing relationship with said second valve member, thereby discontinuing flow of water to the water heater.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

Apparatus for automatically shutting off a water supply to a leaking water heater, said apparatus comprising:

a) a water-collecting tray having a perimeter sidewall bounded by interior and exterior surfaces, and configured to be positioned beneath said water heater,
b) a float adapted to rest upon water that may accumulate within said tray,
c) guide means that permits vertical movement of said float while preventing substantial lateral movement thereof,
d) a valve housing attachable to the interior surface of said sidewall and comprised of wall structure vertically elongated between upper and lower extremities and having:
1) a drive rod slideably centered within said valve housing by way of a water tight seal,
2) a first valve member attached to the bottom extremity of said drive rod,
3) a stationary second valve member incorporated into said wall structure,
4) upper and lower portals located respectively above and below said second valve member, one of said portals permitting entrance of water into said housing, and the other portal permitting egress and routing of said water to said water heater, and
5) a coil spring interactive between said lower extremity and said first valve member, and serving to force said first valve member upwardly, and
e) an action arm comprised of a cam portion and an elongated lever portion interactive with said float, said action arm being pivotably joined to said housing adjacent said upper extremity in a manner to permit movement of said action arm in a vertical plane while positioning said cam portion to exert downward force upon the top extremity of said drive rod, whereby,
f) when water accumulates within said tray as a result of leakage from said water heater, said float rises, causing said lever portion to rise, thereby causing said cam portion to release downward force from said drive rod, allowing said spring to drive said first valve member into sealing relationship with said second valve member, thereby discontinuing flow of water to the water heater.

8 more elements