Water management and leak detection for hot water tank

• US 20060169321A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andre Houle
• Original Assignee: Andre Houle
• Inventors: Houle, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 7,114,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/312
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/0005 for water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/17 Means for retaining water leaked from heaters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/00 Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting

Abstract

A water management and leak detection has a containment system to contain hot water tank leaks and and electrical circuits that manage water flow and electricity to the hot water tank.

Claims

1. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks comprising:

a rigid secondary container to contain a hot water tank consisting of two halves mated together around the said water tank;

attachment means to attach the two halves together;

access hatches to access heating elements panels;

a bail pump and a water sensor.

5. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 comprising:

means for controlling water and heating by way of an electrical circuit having electromechanical and electric components.

6. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claim 5 wherein said means for controlling water and heating comprising:

static relays;

a manual switch;

a main programmable timer;

a remote control receiver;

electromechanical valve;

an alarm.

7. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claim 6 further comprising:

a water control relay having a water control timer.

8. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claim 6 further comprising:

motion detectors;

motion detector timer.

9. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claim 6 further comprising:

a water control relay having a water control timer.

10. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claim 6 further comprising:

a water control relay having a water control timer;

a main water line valve to control a main water line having a main water line timer.

11. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claim 6 further comprising:

a main water line valve to control a main water line having a main water line timer;

said main water line timer being positioned to override said main programmable timer.

12. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claim 6 further comprising:

a main water line valve to control a main water line having a main water line timer;

said main water line timer being positioned to be slave to said main programmable timer.

13. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claim 6 further comprising:

an additional timer to control said main water line valve.

14. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claim 6 further comprising:

a motion detector timer to control said main water line timer.

15. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claims 6-14 wherein said means for controlling water and heating comprising:

said motion detectors and said motion detector timers being in an open loop.

16. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks as in claims 6-14 wherein said means for controlling water and heating comprising:

said motion detectors and said motion detector timers being in an closed loop.

2. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks comprising:

a soft secondary container to contain a hot water tank;

a non metallic sealing zipper to open said soft secondary container;

a bail pump and a water sensor.

3. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks comprising:

a hybrid secondary container having a rigid bottom basin and a skirt extending upwardly therefrom and a tightening belt at the top of the said skirt;

a bail pump and a water sensor.

4. A water management and leak detection for hot water tanks comprising:

a modular rigid container comprised of at least one but preferably a plurality of slightly conical modules;

each said conical modules shaped so as to sealably wedge into one another to create said sealed modular rigid container.