Method and apparatus for detecting severity of water leaks

• US 20060007008A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Kates
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,561,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/002 by using thermal means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/186 for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3245 using a level monitoring device G01M3/3272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

A system for detecting water leaks is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of sensors, selected from a moisture sensor, a water level sensor, and/or a water temperature sensor. A processor collects moisture readings from the sensors. In one embodiment, the processor reports a possible water leak when a moisture sensor detects moisture above a moisture threshold value. In one embodiment, the processor reports a water leak when the water level reading exceeds a water threshold value and/or when the temperature reading exceeds a temperature threshold value.

Claims

1. A system for detecting water leaks, comprising:

a moisture sensor;

a water level sensor comprising a plurality of probes at different heights; and

a processor configured to collect moisture readings from said plurality of probes, said processor configured to report a possible water leak when said moisture sensor detects moisture above a moisture threshold value, said processor configured to report a first water level when a resistance between a first pair of probes falls below a specified value and to report a second water level when a resistance between a second pair of probes falls below a threshold value.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a conduction-enhancing agent provided to one or more of said probes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first pair of probes and said second pair of probes share a common probe.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein different probes in said plurality of probes are composed of different conductive materials.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a substrate to support one or more of said probes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a conduction-enhancing agent is provided to said substrate.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for wirelessly transmitting data from said moisture sensor to a monitoring station.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for wirelessly transmitting resistance data to a monitoring station.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for receiving instructions to close a water shutoff valve from a remote operator.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said moisture sensor is provided to a wireless sensor unit configured to report data measured by said moisture sensor when said wireless sensor determines that said moisture data fails a threshold test, said wireless sensor unit configured to operating in a low-power mode when not transmitting or receiving data.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said water sensor is provided to a wireless sensor unit configured to report data measured by said water sensor when said wireless sensor determines that said water data fails a threshold test, said wireless sensor unit configured to operating in a low-power mode when not transmitting or receiving data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor is provided to a wireless sensor unit configured to report data measured by said temperature sensor when said wireless sensor determines that said temperature data fails a threshold test, said wireless sensor unit configured to operating in a low-power mode when not transmitting or receiving data.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a self-test module.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said self-test module comprises a fluid and an actuator configured to provide a portion of said fluid to one or more of said probes.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring computer configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by telephone.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring computer configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by cellular telephone.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring computer configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by cellular text messaging.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring computer configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by pager.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring computer configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by Internet.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring computer configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by email.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring computer configured to attempt to contact said responsible party by Internet instant messaging.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said first pair of probes is provided below a drain and said second pair of probes is provided above a drain.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said first pair of probes is positioned to detect a water leak, and said second pair of probes is positioned to detect that said water leak is not being properly drained.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured to receive an instruction to change a status reporting interval.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said system is configured to receive an instruction to change a sensor data reporting interval.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein a monitoring computer is configured to monitor a status of said wireless sensor unit.