Moisture monitoring system

• US 20030011482A1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles C. Mckenzie, Frederick H. Harms
• Original Assignee: Charles C. Mckenzie, Frederick H. Harms
• Inventors: Harms, Frederick H., McKenzie, Charles C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,731,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

A leakage response system for an appliance includes a leakage sensor which is operative to change an electrical parameter upon contact by a conductive liquid, a controller circuit electrically coupled with the strip for generating an activation signal in response to contact of the strip by a conductive liquid and a response device coupled with the controller circuit and activated by the signal. The sensor includes a mat which is constructed of top and bottom outer layers of electrically conductive fabric separated by a central nonconductive fabric layer; and a pair of fusing layers fusing the top and bottom layers to the central nonconductive layer. The sensor may also include a pair of conductive pins for installation into a surface for detecting moisture hidden within the surface. The response device may include an audible alarm and/or a valve for shutting off the water flow in the appliance water supply line. The response device may also include a radio link for activating a remote alarm and shut off valve. An alternate sensor mat includes a pair of apertured foil conductive layers separated by a nonconductive layer, and a pair of fusing layers fusing the foil conductive layers to top and bottom nonconductive absorbent layers.

Claims

1. A leakage response apparatus for responding to leakage of a conductive liquid from an appliance and including:

a leakage sensor unit operative to change an electrical parameter thereof upon contact by a conductive liquid;

a controller circuit electrically coupled to said sensor unit and operative to generate an activation signal in response to said contact of said sensor unit by a conductive liquid;

a response device coupled to said controller circuit and activated by said activation signal; and

said sensor unit being formed of;

first and second electrically conductive outer layers;

a central nonconductive layer; and

a pair of fusing layers fusing said first and second layers to said central nonconductive layer.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said fusing layers are heat activated to fuse said first and second layers to said central layer.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first and second conductive layers include carbon black.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said central nonconductive layer is porous.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said first and second layers and said central nonconductive layer are formed of a fabric.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said response device includes an audible alarm.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

a water supply line is coupled with an appliance for delivering a supply of water; and

said response device includes a solenoid controlled valve operably coupled with said water supply line, said valve shiftable between an open position permitting a flow of water through the supply line and a closed, water flow blocking position.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including:

a battery power supply providing operating power to said controller circuit.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including:

a radio link functionally coupled between said controller circuit and said response device.

10. A leakage response apparatus for responding to leakage of a conductive liquid below a visible surface and including:

a leakage sensor unit operative to change an electrical parameter thereof upon contact by a conductive liquid;

a controller circuit electrically coupled to said sensor unit and operative to generate an activation signal in response to said contact of said sensor unit by a conductive liquid;

a responsive device coupled to said controller circuit and activated by said activation signal; and

said sensor unit includes a pair of surface-penetrating pins for installation below the visible surface for contacting a conductive liquid therein.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

said response device includes an audible alarm.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

a water supply line is coupled with an appliance for delivering a supply of water; and

said response device includes a solenoid controlled valve operably coupled wtih said water supply line, said valve shiftable between an open position permitting a flow of water through the supply line and a closed, water flow blocking position.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, further including:

a radio link functionally coupled between said controller circuit and said response device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

said first and second conductive layers include a conductive metallic foil;

said conductive metallic foil includes a series of spaced apertures; and

said fusing layers fuse said first absorbent outer layer to said second absorbent outer layer in covering relationship to said apertures.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

said response device includes an audible alarm.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

a water supply line is coupled with an appliance for delivering a supply of water; and

said response device includes a solenoid controlled valve operably coupled wtih said water supply line, said valve shiftable between an open position permitting a flow of water through the supply line and a closed, water flow blocking position.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, further including:

a radio link functionally coupled between said controller circuit and said responsive device.

14. A leakage response apparatus for responding to leakage of a conductive liquid from an appliance and including:

a leakage sensor unit operative to change an electrical parameter thereof upon contact by a conductive liquid;

a controller circuit electrically coupled to said sensor unit and operative to generate an activation signal in response to said contact of said sensor unit by a conductive liquid;

a response device coupled to said controller circuit and activated by said activation signal; and

said sensor unit being formed of;

first and second moisture absorbent outer layers;

first and second conductive layers;

a central nonconductive layer; and

a pair of fusing layers fusing said first and second moisture absorbent outer layers to said respective first and second conductive layers.