Water heater leak detection system

• US 10,049,555 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Hazzard, Frederick, Khosla, Ravindra, Heil, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako
• Application Number:
  US15/617,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20170301212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 340522, 340604
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/16 using electric detection means G01M3/045, G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/223 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

The disclosure reveals a system for detecting moisture or water in a particular location. The system may incorporate a moisture detector having a control module connected to an appliance, a moisture detection circuit connected to the control module, and a voltage source connected to the moisture detection circuit and to the control module. The voltage source and the moisture detection circuit may provide voltage levels to the control module when the moisture detection circuit detects dry or wet conditions, or conditions between those conditions. A voltage level to the control module may indicate whether the appliance, such as a water heater, a washing machine, or a dish washer, has a leak. If the leak is deemed by a voltage level from the circuit to be worthy of concern, then a display, an alarm, message, or other notice mechanism may indicate an issue or what action needs to be taken.

Claims

1. A moisture detector comprising:

a water heater control module; and

a moisture detection circuit connected to the water heater control module; and

wherein;

the moisture detection circuit is configured to receive an electrical parameter having a first level and provide a second level of the electrical parameter to the water heater control module;

when the water heater control module determines the second level of the electrical parameter is beyond a first threshold level, the second level of the electrical parameter is indicative of the moisture detection circuit detecting a dry condition;

when the water heater control module determines the second level of the electrical parameter is beyond a second threshold level, the second level of the electrical parameter is indicative of the moisture detection circuit detecting a wet condition; and

when the water heater control module determines the second level of the electrical parameter is between the first threshold level and the second threshold level, the second level of the electrical parameter is indicative of the moisture detection circuit detecting a condition between the dry condition and the wet condition.

2. The detector of claim 1, wherein when the second level of the electrical parameter goes beyond the second threshold level, the water heater control module is configured to go to a pilot light only mode for the water heater.

3. The detector of claim 1, wherein when the second level of the electrical parameter goes beyond the second threshold level, the water heater control module is configured to shut down the water heater.

4. The detector of claim 1, wherein when the second level of the electrical parameter goes beyond the second threshold level, the water heater control module is configured to shut down the water heater and flash an error message.

5. The detector of claim 1, wherein when the second level of the electrical parameter goes beyond the second threshold level, the water heater control module is configured to do one or more of flash an error message, sound an audible alarm, and send an electronic message indicating that action is needed to prevent water damage.

6. The detector of claim 5, wherein the one or more of flashing an error message, sounding an audible alarm, and sending an electronic message is powered by a battery.

7. The detector of claim 5, wherein the one or more of flashing an error message, sounding an audible alarm, and sending an electronic message is powered by a super capacitor.

8. The detector of claim 1, wherein:

when the water heater control module determines the second level of the electrical parameter is beyond the second threshold level, action is needed relative to the water heater having a leak; and

when the water heater control module determines the second level of the electrical parameter is not beyond the second threshold level, no action is needed relative to the water heater having a leak.

9. A method for detection of a moisture leak comprising:

connecting a moisture detector to a water heater control module in communication with a water heater;

receiving a first level of an electrical parameter at the moisture detector;

indicating a dry condition has been detected by the moisture detector by providing a second level of the electrical parameter that is beyond a first threshold level of the electrical parameter to the control module from the moisture detector;

indicating a moisture leak has been detected by the moisture detector by providing a second level of the electrical parameter that is beyond a second threshold level of the electrical parameter to the control module from the moisture detector; and

indicating a condition between a dry condition and a moisture leak has been detected by the moisture detector by providing a second level of the electrical parameter that is between the first threshold level of the electrical parameter and the second threshold level of the electrical parameter to the control module from the moisture detector.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the moisture detector has a resistance that changes upon contact with moisture.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising entering the water heater into a pilot light only mode in response to indicating a moisture leak has been detected.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising shutting down the water heater in response to indicating a moisture leak has been detected.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising shutting down the water heater and flashing an error message in response to indicating that a moisture leak has been detected.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising doing one or more of flashing an error message, sounding an audible alarm, and sending an electronic message in response to indicating that a moisture leak has been detected.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting a change in the second level of the electrical parameter with the control module; and

interpreting the detected change in the second level of the electrical parameter as a change in a level of moisture detected by the moisture detector.

16. A leak detection system comprising:

a leak sensor that detects an amount of wetness adjacent the leak sensor; and

a control module in communication with the leak sensor; and

wherein;

the leak sensor is configured to provide a first level of an electrical parameter to the control module that indicates a detected amount of wetness;

if the first level of the electrical parameter is beyond a first threshold, a dry condition is indicated by the leak sensor;

if the first level of the electrical parameter is beyond a second threshold, a wet condition is indicated by the leak sensor; and

if the first level of the electrical parameter is between the first threshold and the second threshold, a condition between a dry condition and a wet condition is indicated by the leak sensor.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a battery of the leak sensor; and

wherein the leak sensor has a second level of the electrical parameter that is received from the battery.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the leak sensor is configured to receive a second level of the electrical parameter from a remote power source.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the control module is connected to one or more items selected from a group comprising a water heater, a dishwasher, a washing machine, an air conditioner, a heat pump, a chiller, building control devices, and electrical appliances.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein when a magnitude of the first level of the electrical parameter present at the control module changes, the control module recognizes a change of an amount of dampness or wetness detected by the leak sensor.

21. A moisture detector comprising:

a water heater control module; and

a moisture detection circuit connected to the water heater control module; and

wherein;

the moisture detection circuit is configured to receive an electrical parameter having a first level and provide a second level of the electrical parameter to the water heater control module; and

the second level of the electrical parameter is indicative of the moisture detection circuit detecting a leak of a water heater when the water heater control module determines that the second level of the electrical parameter goes beyond a threshold level;

when the second level of the electrical parameter goes beyond the threshold level, the water heater control module is configured to go to a pilot light only mode for the water heater.

22. A method for detection of a moisture leak comprising:

connecting a moisture detector to a water heater control module in communication with a water heater;

receiving a first level of an electrical parameter at the moisture detector;

indicating a moisture leak has been detected by the moisture detector by providing a second level of the electrical parameter that is above a threshold level of the electrical parameter to the control module from the moisture detector; and

entering the water heater into a pilot light only mode in response to indicating a moisture leak has been detected.