Water-leak Damage Prevention System Utilizing A Unitized Tank Collection Flange Reservoir System

• US 20120275927A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hotaek Rhim
• Original Assignee: Hotaek Rhim
• Inventors: Rhim, Hotaek
• Application Number:
  US13/097,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20120275927A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/36
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/02 having reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/10 Other safety measures

Abstract

Abstract of Disclosure The present invention is a method means of preventing water-leak damage to any hot water system providing means, or any water storage means such as washing machines, water storage means used in manufacturing facilities, or any water volume means where the prevention of water-leak damage is desired, vital, or essential. Water-leak damage is prevented using a collection flange reservoir system means at the base of a hot-water tank means. Said collection flange reservoir system means can be an afore added component to a hot-water tank means or a feature of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) production means, which is a novel feature and further intention of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water-leak damage prevention system means comprising:

an electronic control module means comprising;

a programmable microcontroller module means;

a microcontroller custom program means;

a functional solenoid in mechanical and fluidic connection and communication with a valve shut-off and turn-on means;

a functional solenoid control means, which is in electronic communication with said electronic control module means;

a functional water pump and motor means, which is in mechanical and fluidic connection and communication with a water collection flange reservoir system means for pumping water out of said reservoir collection system means;

a functional pump motor control means, which is in communication with said electronic control module means;

a unitized hot-water tank collection flange reservoir system means that is part and parcel to a special hot-water tank means with a featured collection flange reservoir system means of an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) production means;

a lower water level sensor means mounted at the bottom of a water-pan reservoir means;

and is in communication with said electronic control module means and detects water accumulation in said water-pan reservoir whenever said water supply commences leaking;

and this leak detection activates an alarm means to audibly indicate an alert situation;

an upper water level sensor means, which is in communication with said. electronic control module means mounted at the top portion of said water-pan reservoir means;

and is in communication with said electronic control module means;

and whenever said upper-sensor means detects water, said control system module means turns on said water pump motor means and removes water from said water-pan reservoir means;

a maintenance and system test means, which is in communication with said electronic control module means that by manual means or pre-programmed means causes a water flushing action to take place to remove sediment from hot-water tank means;

a system reset means, which is in communication with said electronic control module means;

an audible sound alarm means, which is in communication with said electronic control module means;

a light alarm means, which is in communication with said electronic control module means;

a wireless transceiver module means for communications with a wireless transceiver central control unit means;

a method means for connecting said wireless transceiver central control unit to an auto-dial or other external alarm alert means, which is in communication with said electronic control module means and alerts said wireless transceiver central control unit to send an alarm method means translating an emergency water-leak condition;

a shut-off valve means mechanically connected to and controlled by said solenoid means;

a fluid collection flange reservoir system means to collect, capture, and contain a water-leak fluid whose method means interminably and non-compromisingly prevents water-leak damage;

and said fluid collection flange reservoir system can be a feature production part of a special hot-water tank system means that is another intention of said present invention.

2. The system of claim 1, whereby accumulated water in said water-pan reservoir is removed and said system control module turns-off said water pump-motor.

3. The system of claim 1, whereby if said water leak is continuous;

said water pump-motor is precisely, cyclically, and automatically turned on-and-off until leak is given proper attention and repair.

4. The system of claim 1 that has said discharged water hose pipe means connected to any nearby water drain means, washing machine water drain means, or a pump-out path means that pumps said discharged water to an external deposit means via a wall outlet means.

5. The system of claim 1, whereby said water-leak prevention system means operates with an optional sequential routine system maintenance algorithm that allows for periodic hot water reservoir cleaning by removal of clogging sediments;

and said sequential routine system maintenance algorithm can be activated by a manual or a pre-programmed periodic action event.

6. The system of claim 1, whereby said optional routine system maintenance algorithm proceeds with said action to automatically open a drain-faucet means and further;

Removing accumulated sediments in unison with discharged water and further;

any discharged water is removed by said pump-motor means, when said discharged water rises from said lower-sensor means to said upper-sensor means;

and said action is utilized to extend the life of said hot-water heater means.

7. The system of claim 1 and method recited in claim 5 and claim 6, in which said water pump will continue to pump-out water until such time that both said lower-sensor means and said upper-sensor means detects no water, thereafter said water pump will shut off and remain in this state until a command signal recycles afore mentioned sequence.

8. The system of claim 1, in which a water-leak collection means is provided by a tarpaulin assembly kit means that is part of said consumer water-leak prevention system means and is assembled and applied by said consumer utilizing a set of construct instructions provided by said water-leak system instruction set means.

9. The system of claim 1 and method recited in claim 8, in which said tarpaulin assembly completely surrounds the bottom base of said hot-water tank means and maintains a water-tight volume for water-leak collection contained therein.

10. The system of claim 1 and method recited in claims 8 and 9, in which said hot-water tank means is constructed with a permanent collection flanged reservoir means that is part of said hot-water tank features of prescribed assembly and production as claimed in said present invention herein.

11. The system of claim 1, in which said water-leak detection means causes direct action of said lower sensor detecting water in collection reservoir and sets off an audible alert alarm means.

12. The system of claim 1, in which said water-leak detection means causes direct action of said upper sensor to detect an upper limit water level in said collection reservoir and enable said electronic control module to communicate with pump motor control module to turn on said pump motor and set off an audible alarm.

13. The system of claim 1 and as recited in claim 11 and claim 12, in which water is detected as being of ample amount to turn on said water pump to pump out water in said collection reservoir and with said water-leak emergency condition existing;

a wireless transceiver that is part of said present invention sends out an rf radio signal to a remote location to alert and summon for help and said wireless transceiver rf radio signal continues to send said emergency signal until it is acknowledged by a remote location receiver and acted upon by a consumer or other human monitor.

14. The system of claim 1 and claim 13, in which said wireless RF radio signal transceiver can be a zigbee designed remote control residence or commercial building monitoring and control system or any other type of wireless rf radio signal transceiver system utilized for remote control residence or commercial building monitoring and control systems.

15. The system of claim 1, in which said micro-controller module programming utilizes an algorithm that precisely calculates pump turn-on and turn-off time determined by pump capacity data that insures said water pump will only operate when there is water in said collection reservoir and this action is enabled to eliminate pump motor from overheating.

16. The system of claim 1 and method recited in claims 11-13, in which a dual water sensor system is utilized for water-leak prevention.

17. The system of claim 1, in which a hot-water maintenance feature means is utilized to extend the life of said water tank, whereby said maintenance feature means performs a periodic opening of hot-water tank drain-faucet means to remove accumulated sediments in said hot-water tank means.

18. The system of claim 1 and method recited in claim 15, in which said hot-water maintenance feature means can be enabled and place into action by the push of a trigger switch means.

19. The system of claim 1 and method recited in claim 15, in which said hot-water maintenance feature means can be enabled automatically and periodically by an embedded algorithm in said electronic micro-controller control module means;

and can be initiated manually by a consumer or by said embedded algorithm.

20. The system of claim 1, in which an oem (original equipment manufacturer) production means of said present invention is for the incorporation of a permanent collection flanged reservoir means adhered to said hot-water tank means with provisions for installing said lower-level and upper-level water sensor means and water pump outlet pipe means and remains as further features and intentions of said present invention as a further embodiment and novelty.