SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR LEAK DETECTION AND PREVENTION

• US 20080143540A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lalit Savla
• Original Assignee: Lalit Savla
• Inventors: SAVLA, LALIT
• Granted Patent: US 9,759,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/05 specially adapted for operating hand-operated valves or for combined motor and hand operation
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/055 for rotating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 35/06 using a removable actuating or locking member, e.g. a key F16K35/10, F16K35/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/16 using electric detection means G01M3/045, G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence
• 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 137/1842 Ambient condition change responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7256 Locks against rotary motion

Abstract

A leak detection and prevention system includes a gear motor linkage assembly. The gear motor linkage assembly includes a gear motor and a gear motor controller/driver module that controls operation of the gear motor. The gear motor linkage assembly also includes a push lever attached to a shaft of the gear motor, the push lever in a home position, wherein when a signal indicating that a leak has been detected is received the gear motor controller/driver module controls the gear motor to rotate the push lever so that the push level non-captively engages a handle of a valve and pushes the handle to a closed position, then the gear motor controller/driver module controls the gear motor to rotate the push lever to the home position.

Claims

1. A leak detection and prevention system comprising:

a gear motor linkage assembly comprising;

a motor and gear box;

a motor controller/driver module that controls operation of the motor,

a push lever attached to a shaft of the motor, the push lever in a home position, wherein when a signal indicating that a leak has been detected is received by the motor controller/driver module the motor controller/driver module controls the motor to rotate the push lever so that the push level non-captively engages a handle of a valve and pushes the handle to a closed position, then the motor controller/driver module controls the motor to rotate the push lever to the home position; and

at least one leak detection sensor comprising a detection circuit that measures the resistance between the at least two detection probes and when the resistance between the at least two detection probes is below a predetermined value a switch activates a transmitter that transmits the signal indicating the presence of a leak.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the leak detection transmitter is a wireless transmitted.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve is a ball valve.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve is a gate valve.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve can be manually operated when the push lever is in the home position.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising detecting the handle of the valve is in a closed position comprises detecting an increase in current to the gear motor.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising detecting the push lever is in the home position comprises detecting an increase in current to the gear motor.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a feedback device indicating a position of the handle of the valve.

9. A motor controller/driver module comprising:

a motor drive logic module that receives a signal indicating the presence of a leak, in response to receiving the signal indicating the presence of a leak the motor drive logic module generates commands to drive a gear motor and rotate a push lever attached to a shaft of the gear motor;

a motor driver module that receives the commands and applies power to the gear motor causing the shaft of the gear motor to rotate in a first direction;

a current limiter module that monitors a level of current supplied to the motor, the current limiter module detects a first current spike indicating that the push lever attached to the gear motor shaft has reached a first stop whereupon the motor drive logic module generates a command causing the shaft of the gear motor to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction, until the current limiter module detects a second current spike indicating that the push lever attached to the gear motor shaft has reached a second stop in a home position whereupon the motor drive logic module generates a command to stop the gear motor.

10. The motor controller/driver module of claim 9, wherein the signal indicating the presence of a leak is received from a leak detection sensor.

11. The motor controller/driver of claim 9, wherein the push lever non-captively engages a handle of a ball valve.

12. The motor controller/driver of claim 9, wherein the push lever non-captively engages a handle of a gate valve.

13. A leak detection sensor comprising:

at least two detection probes;

a detection circuit that measures the resistance between the at least two detection probes and when the resistance between the at least two detection probes is below a predetermined value a switch activates a transmitter that transmits a signal indicating the presence of a leak, the signal is transmitted for a predetermined period of time and then the transmitter is powered off extending life of a battery in the sensor.

14. The sensor of claim 13, wherein the sensor is installed in a decorative statue.

15. The sensor of claim 13, further comprising a transmitter module.

16. A method of controlling a motor, the method comprising:

generating a command to apply power to the gear motor to cause a shaft of the motor to rotate in a first direction;

monitoring a level of current supplied to the motor, and when the current level exceeds a first threshold level indicating that a push lever attached to the motor shaft has reached a first stop, generating a command causing the shaft of the motor to rotate in a second direction, opposite the first direction; and

monitoring a level of current supplied to the motor, and when the current level exceeds a second threshold level indicating that the push lever attached to the motor shaft has reached a second stop, generating a command to stop the gear motor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the push lever non-captively engages a handle of a valve.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the valve is a ball valve.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the valve is a gate valve.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first stop corresponds to a valve closed position.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the second stop corresponds to a home position of the push lever.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the first threshold and the second threshold are the same value.

23. A valve comprising:

a ball valve;

a gear motor;

a motor controller/driver module that controls operation of the motor,

a push lever attached to a shaft of the motor, the push lever captively engages a handle of the valve; and

a feedback device in communication with the motor controller/driver module, the feedback device provides an indication of a position of the valve handle, the indication of the position of the valve handle used by the motor controller/driver module to move the valve handle to an desired position.

24. The valve of claim 23, wherein the feedback device is an optical encoder.

25. The valve of claim 23, wherein the feedback device is a potentiometer.