Systems and methods for detecting water leaks

• US 10,444,107 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Flachsbart, Matthew, Desai, Snehal, Graham, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fitzgerald, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Truong D
• Application Number:
  US15/364,853
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 73 405 R, 73 40, 73 41, 73 412, 73 413, 73 414, 73 45, 73 451- 458, 73 47, 73 494, 73 496- 497
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/04 by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence

Abstract

A plumbing system may include a first conduit that supplies a fluid to a destination device. The plumbing system may also include a second conduit concentric to the first conduit. The second conduit includes an indicator material that changes one or more properties of the fluid supplied to the destination device when the fluid contacts the indicator material via an opening present in the first conduit.

Claims

1. A plumbing system, comprising:

a first conduit configured to supply a fluid to a destination device configured to output the fluid from the first conduit to an external environment; and

a second conduit concentric about the first conduit, wherein the second conduit and the first conduit form a space between each other, and wherein the space comprises an indicator material configured to produce a gas in response to the fluid contacting the indicator material disposed in the space between the first conduit and the second conduit, and wherein the fluid supplied to the destination device via the first conduit contacts the indicator material via an opening present in the first conduit.

2. The plumbing system of claim 1, wherein the indicator material is configured to change a color of the fluid in response to the fluid contacting the indicator material.

3. The plumbing system of claim 1, wherein the indicator material comprises a liquid, solid, or powder-like material.

4. The plumbing system of claim 1, comprising:

a third conduit configured to supply the fluid to a second destination device; and

a fourth conduit concentric about the third conduit, wherein the fourth conduit and the third conduit form an additional space between each other, and wherein the additional space comprises a second indicator material configured to change a color of the fluid supplied to the destination device or to the second destination device in response to the fluid contacting the indicator material via an opening present in the first conduit or the third conduit.

5. The plumbing system of claim 1, wherein the second conduit is configured to be retrofitted onto the first conduit.

6. The plumbing system of claim 1, wherein the indicator material is configured to produce a scent indicative of a location of a leak in the first conduit.

7. The plumbing system of claim 1, wherein the indicator material is configured to produce a visual indication of a location of a leak in the first conduit.

8. The plumbing system of claim 7, wherein the visual indication comprises smoke.

9. The plumbing system of claim 8, wherein the indicator material comprises a glycol-based material configured to produce the smoke in response to the indicator material contacting the fluid.

10. A leak detection system, comprising:

a first conduit configured to deliver water to a destination device configured to output the water from the first conduit to an external environment; and

a second conduit configured to retrofit over the first conduit, wherein the second conduit and the first conduit form a space between each other, and wherein the space comprises an indicator material configured to change a color of the water supplied to the destination device via the first conduit in response to the indicator material contacting the water.

11. The leak detection system of claim 10, wherein the indicator material is configured to produce smoke at a location where the water is in contact with the indicator material.

12. The leak detection system of claim 10, wherein the indicator material is configured to produce a scent at a location where the water is in contact with the indicator material.