Secure wireless leak detection system

• US 20070289635A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Monica L. Ruggieri, Thomas L. Ruggieri Trust
• Original Assignee: Monica L. Ruggieri, Thomas L. Ruggieri Trust
• Inventors: Ruggieri, Tom, Balaster, Ahmon, Ghazarian, John
• Application Number:
  US11/888,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20070289635A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/312
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/055 for rotating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/06 using electric or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting

Abstract

Supervised wireless leak detection system, having a leak detection sensor unit, capable of transmitting a uniquely coded signal in response to a detected leak, a supervised wireless valve control transceiver unit having a receiver, capable of receiving said uniquely coded signal, and a transmitter for feeding the uniquely coded signal within the system, a valve shut-off mechanism in communication with said valve control transceiver unit said valve shut-off mechanism having a motor attached to a valve, said motor creating a rotation pulse used to close and open said valve, and a processor having an electronic circuitry containing sensor(s), detecting said motor rotation pulse count during a motorized valve closure or open process. Said processor functions in a setup process to memorize (learn) said motor rotation pulse count, required, to close and or to open the valve. Wherein said processor upon receipt of said uniquely coded signal in response to a detected leak, applies power to the motor to close the valve, the motor controlled to stop turning the valve in response to a processor received motor rotation pulse count number, substantially equal to a previously stored number needed to close or open said valve. A digital, voice, or SMS text message phone dialer is add to dispatch the detected leak signals, and notify monitoring personnel supervised system operation, end provide user access to turn on or off a valve(s) from a remote location(s).

Claims

1. A supervised leak detection and damage prevention system, comprised of;

a remote supervised wireless leak detection unit, having;

leak detection sensor circuitry, capable of transmitting a uniquely coded signal in response to a detected leak,

a supervised wireless valve control transceiver unit having a receiver, capable of receiving said uniquely coded signal, and a transmitter for feeding the uniquely coded signal within the system,

a valve shut-off mechanism in communication with said valve control transceiver unit said valve shut-off mechanism having a motor attached to a valve, said motor creating a rotation pulse used to close and open said valve, and

a processor having an electronic circuitry containing sensor(s), detecting said motor rotation pulse provided by said valve control transceiver, a supervised motor rotation pulse count producing a motorized valve closure or valve opening process, the valve fitted in a pipe line, said processor functions in a setup process to memorize (learn) said motor rotation pulse count, required, to close and or to open the valve that the motor is attached to, wherein said processor upon receipt of said uniquely coded signal in response to a detected leak, applies power to the motor generating torque to close the valve, the motor controlled to stop turning the valve in response to a processor received motor rotation pulse count number, substantially equal to a previously stored number needed to close or open said valve.

2. The supervised leak detection and damage prevention system, as recited in claim 1 wherein said valve shut-off mechanism further comprises,

a housing,

an adjustable bracket, mounted to said housing used to mount the valve shut-off mechanism securely on a pipe,

a motor contained within the housing having a gear therein attached to a manual valve, said motor having a circuit selected from the group consisting of an optical circuit, a magnetic circuit, and an electromechanical circuit to detect motor or gear turn cycles to provide supervisory valve closure operation, said processor is programmed, in a setup process to memorize (learn) a motor or gear turn cycle pulse count required to close the manual valve that the motor is attached to,

said valve control transceiver receives a signals from the leak detection unit wherein the valve control transceiver unit upon receipt of the leak detection signal, sends said signal to the processor, the processor circuitry in response to said received signal turns the motor to generate torque to close the valve, the motor stops turning the valve in response to processor received number of motor or gear turn cycle pulse counts, equal to predetermined turns to close or open the valve, and

a handle adaptor attached to said motor shaft used to open and close the manual valve.

3. The supervised leak detection and damage prevention system as recited in claim 1 further comprising,

said processor is programmed to generate an audio and visual alarm, and

said valve control transceiver is programmed to transmits an alarm condition signal to a monitoring station through a phone auto dialer or by wireless means.

4. The supervised leak detection and damage prevention system as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed to periodically conduct a valve “

closure” and

“

open”

test/exercise procedure to ascertain and maintain system operation, and provide said test/exercise procedure condition status, by means of a local audiovisual signal, and transmitting said audiovisual signal through an auto dialer or wireless means to monitoring station personnel.

5. The supervised leak detection and damage prevention system as recited in claim 2 further comprising a universal coupler mechanism selected from the group consisting of a universal coupler and a U joint coupler, utilized for alignment of said motor shaft to said valve to avoid any possible binding in case of a misalignment,

said valve having a handle adaptor,

said universal coupler mechanism transmits torque between the motor shaft and the valve handle adaptor, a center connection element within the universal coupler having elongated holes and two pairs of pins allowing substantial misalignment of the motor shaft and the valve handle adaptor, as torque is transmitted through the two pairs of pins, and

said U joint coupler mechanism is used to further overcome valve control motor mounting misalignment avoiding binding.

9. The supervised leak detection and damage prevention system as recited in claim 1 or 8, wherein said phone auto dialer and a wireless PC communication means, receives commands from a user phone or a PC located at a remote location and subsequently transmits wirelessly received commands to said valve shut-off mechanism to close or open said valve or perform a supervisory test function as requested, and transmit said valve shut-off mechanism successful valve closure or valve opening process status to said user phone or PC.

10. The supervised leak detection and damage prevention system, as recited in claim 1 or 8 wherein said phone auto dialer, a wireless cellular dialer or a satellite or wireless means, transmit supervisory leak detection and valve closure and open detection confirmation, or periodic supervisory test procedure, information by means of a digital data, a prerecorded voice message, or by a text message to a monitoring station.

11. The supervised leak detection and damage prevention system as recited in claim 1 wherein said leak detection unit and said valve shut-off mechanism is powered by A/C, Battery or other power means, for operation.

6. A supervised leak detection and damage prevention system, comprised of,

a remote supervised wireless leak detection unit, having;

leak detection sensor circuitry, capable of transmitting a uniquely coded signal in response to a detected leak,

a supervised wireless valve control transceiver unit having a receiver, capable of receiving said uniquely coded signal, and said wireless valve control transceiver having a transmitter for feeding the uniquely coded signal within the system,

a valve shut-off mechanism in communication with said valve control transceiver unit said valve shut-off mechanism having a supervised solenoid shut off valve assembly installed within a pipe,

a processor generating energy to close said supervised solenoid shut off valve assembly, in response to a received uniquely coded leak detection signal from the leak detection unit sensor, and

a valve closure detection sensor switch, located within said solenoid shut off valve assembly, for detecting a solenoid valve close position or solenoid valve open position, said valve closure detection sensor switch feeds a detected solenoid valve close position or solenoid valve open position signal, to said processor, in response to said detected signal, which notifies a user successful solenoid valve close position or solenoid valve open position, by means of audiovisual signals, or by use of an auto-dialer or by wireless means to monitoring personnel located at a remote location.

7. A supervised leak detection and damage prevention system which comprises,

a supervisory phone auto dialer having a phone auto dialer processor pre-programmed with a unique code, to identify said supervisory phone auto dialer,

said supervisory phone auto dialer having a phone auto dialer transceiver with antenna to receive a leak detection signal from a leak detection unit, said transceiver sends said leak detection signal for display on a remote screen including leak detection unit ID information, and

said phone auto dialer produces a visual and an audible alarm signal in response to said received leak detection signal and sends to a monitoring station leak detection unit ID information, auto dialer ID information, and supervisory valve closure or opening status, through a land phone line, cellular, satellite or wireless means, said phone auto dialer energized by power means including A/C and battery.

8. The supervised leak detection and damage prevention system as recited in claim 7, wherein said phone auto dialer, at a preset time interval-establishes a supervisory communication to verify proper operation of the leak detection unit and phone auto dialer, said phone auto dialer transmits a signal to a particular leak detection unit, and produces a audio and a visual alarm to notify user personnel the presence of a failed leak detector unit, said phone auto dialer displays failed leak detection unit ID information and transmits a signal containing information to said particular failed leak detection unit and a particular phone auto dialer information to a monitoring station.