SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR LEAK DETECTION AND PREVENTION
First Claim
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.
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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.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A leak detection and prevention system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A motor controller/driver module comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A leak detection sensor comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling a motor, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A valve comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification