WATER DETECTION UNIT AND SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A leak detector apparatus for use with a drop ceiling having a grid-work of ceiling tiles, the leak detector apparatus comprising:
- a non-conducting tile body shaped and dimensioned to rest atop a ceiling tile, the tile body comprising multiple layers and having a plurality of water collector cups therein;
a pair of spaced apart sensor wires forming an electrical grid and extending between ones of the multiple layers of the tile body and extending through the water collector cups, the sensor wires being operative to sense the presence of water in the cups; and
an electronics module associated with the sensor wires and electrically coupled thereto for triggering an alert in response to the presence of water in one or more of the cups.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A leak detector apparatus and system for use with a drop ceiling having a grid-work of ceiling tiles. The leak detector apparatus includes an electrically non-conducting tile body that is shaped and dimensioned to rest on top of a ceiling tile. The tile body comprises multiple layers of non-conducting closed cell-foam and has a plurality of water collector cups formed or positioned therein. Spaced-apart sensor wires are provided and form an electrical grid that extends between the multiple layers of the tile body and the sensor wires generally extend through the water collector cups. The sensor wires are operative to sense the presence of water in the cups. An electronics module is provided at each tile body and is associated with the sensor wires and electrically coupled to the sensor wires for triggering an alert in response to the presence of water in one or more of the cups. A master controller is in communication with the local processors for monitoring the function and operation of each local processor. Thus, each leak detector tile has its own electronics module associated with it, thereby providing excellent location precision when installed in the room.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A leak detector apparatus for use with a drop ceiling having a grid-work of ceiling tiles, the leak detector apparatus comprising:
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a non-conducting tile body shaped and dimensioned to rest atop a ceiling tile, the tile body comprising multiple layers and having a plurality of water collector cups therein;
a pair of spaced apart sensor wires forming an electrical grid and extending between ones of the multiple layers of the tile body and extending through the water collector cups, the sensor wires being operative to sense the presence of water in the cups; and
an electronics module associated with the sensor wires and electrically coupled thereto for triggering an alert in response to the presence of water in one or more of the cups. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A leak detection system for use with a drop ceiling having a plurality of ceiling tiles and a grid frame supporting the ceiling tiles, the leak detection system comprising:
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a plurality of lightweight leak detection tiles adapted to be placed atop the ceiling tiles of the drop ceiling, each leak detection tile including one or more sensors for detecting the presence of liquid at one or more locations on the ceiling tile;
a plurality of local processors electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors, the local processors being provided at least one per leak detection tile; and
a master controller in communication with the local processors for monitoring the function and operation of each local processor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification