Leak detector

• US 10,127,790 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Watts Regulator Inc., Watts Regulator Company (Watts Water Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Watts Regulator Company (Watts Water Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Doughty, Jason W., Bouchard, Peter P, Lake, Paul J., Burke, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US15/465,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20170278372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 340603, 340605, 340606
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/077 Arrangement of backflow preventing devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/078 Combined units with different devices; Arrangement of different devices with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/28 by drag-force, e.g. vane type or impact flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/56 by using electric or magnetic effects G01F1/66 takes precedence
• 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: G01M 3/184 for valves
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3254 using a flow detector G01M3/3245, G01M3/3272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

A leak detector assembly for use with a backflow prevention device includes a housing defining a passageway for receiving a fluid. A flap assembly couples to the housing for generating a low flow error signal indicating minimal fluid passing through the passageway and a fully actuated error signal indicating significant fluid passing through the passageway. The flap assembly includes a flap mounted in the passageway such that significant flow of the fluid moves the flap to generate the fully actuated error signal. The flap assembly also includes a sensing element on the flap to determine a presence of the fluid without movement of the flap to generate the low flow error signal based on a low flow of the fluid.

Claims

1. A leak detector assembly comprising:

a housing defining a passageway for receiving a fluid; and

a flap assembly coupled to the housing, the flap assembly including;

a first post,

a flap,

a rotating arm,

a second post,

a first flow sensor, and

a second flow sensor,

wherein the flap is mounted to the first post, the second post is connected to the first post by the rotating arm, the first flow sensor is configured to detect a low flow of fluid from the passageway through the flap and generate a low flow error signal, and the second flow sensor is configured to detect a high flow of fluid from the passageway through the flap and generate a high flow error signal.

2. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board for processing at least one of the high flow error signal and the low flow error signal.

3. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a main controller connected to the flap assembly for providing wireless communication of the low flow and high flow error signals.

4. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a main controller connected to the flap assembly for storing a date, time and duration of each of the low flow and high flow error signals.

5. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, wherein the flap assembly further includes:

a magnet coupled to the second post; and

a third post, wherein the second flow sensor is a fixed magnetic sensor located on the third post and configured to generate the high flow error signal based upon the magnet on the second post moving away from the fixed magnetic sensor on the third post.

6. The leak detector assembly of claim 5, wherein one of the magnet and the fixed magnetic sensor is mechanically adjustable to adjust a set point for the high flow error signal.

7. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first flow sensor includes a sensing element on the flap that is co-planar inter-digitated conductive traces connected to a printed circuit board.

8. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, wherein the flap is mounted on the first post to allow 90°

of rotation in the housing.

9. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, wherein the flap is mounted on the first post substantially perpendicular to the passageway when neither the low flow nor high flow error signals are activated.

10. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, wherein the flap is mounted on the first post at an angle of 45°

with respect to an axis of the passageway.

11. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, wherein the flap is mounted on the first post at an angle of 30°

with respect to an axis of the passageway.

12. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a screen in the passageway upstream of the flap for disbursing energy of the fluid.

13. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, further comprising an absorptive material in the passageway upstream of the flap.

14. The leak detector assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotating arm and the second post are positioned on an exterior surface of the housing.

15. The leak detector assembly of claim 5, wherein the third post is positioned on an exterior surface of the housing proximate to the second post.

16. A leak detector assembly comprising:

a housing defining a passageway for receiving a fluid; and

a flap assembly coupled to the housing, the flap assembly including;

a flap mounted for rotation so that the fluid in the passageway is directed to the flap;

a first flow sensor on the flap for generating a low flow error signal without movement of the flap when a low flow of the fluid from the passageway wets the first flow sensor; and

a second flow sensor mounted for rotation with the flap for generating a high flow error signal based on movement of the flap as a result of a high flow of the fluid from the passageway hitting the flap.