Wireless Automated Shutoff Valve

• US 20130255798A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Zakrewski, David S., Piel, Kevin G., Klinger, Jonathan, McAward, James Gerard
• Granted Patent: US 9,976,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/455
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/421 Safety arrangements for preventing water damage
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4217 Fittings for water supply, e.g. valves or plumbing means to connect to cold or warm water lines, aquastops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/01 Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/47 Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of pumps safety arrangements D06F37/42
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/081 Safety arrangements for preventing water damage
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• 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: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7722 Line condition change responsive valves

Abstract

A modular water leakage detector includes a housing which carries a plurality of water leakage sensors, an electrical water shutoff valve and circuitry coupled thereto. In response to sensing water leakage, the circuitry actuates the valve to shut off the water supply. Detectors can communicate alarm indicating signals directly with one another. The detectors can include a wireless transmitter and communicate with a displaced alarm monitoring system.

Claims

1. A water detector comprising:

a housing;

flow connectors carried by the housing;

at least one water presence sensor carried by the housing;

an electrically actuatable valve, carried by the housing, and having first and second states; and

control circuits, carried by the housing, coupled to the sensor and valve, and, responsive to a leakage indicating signal from the sensor, the circuits actuate the valve causing it to change state.

2. A detector as in claim 1 where the valve is coupled to the connectors and the connectors can be manually coupled to flexible water hoses.

3. A detector as in claim 1 which includes at least one sensor, outside of the housing, having a flexible connection member, coupled to the circuits and positionable relative to a local environment.

4. A detector as in claim 1 which includes a self-contained power supply, where the connectors are threadably connectable to a water supply, and which includes a communications port connectable to a displaced, similar port.

5. A detector as in claim 4 where the port includes interface circuits to receive incoming alarm indicating signals, from a displaced port, and, which couple such signals to the control circuits to actuate the valve causing it to change state.

6. A detector as in claim 3 where the control circuits include a wireless transmitter to forward alarm indicating signals to a displaced monitoring system.

7. A detector as in claim 6 which includes a self-contained power supply, where the connectors are threadably connectable to a water supply, and which includes a communications port connectable to a displaced, similar port.

8. A water detection system comprising:

a plurality of modular water detectors wherein at least some of the detectors each include a communications port and control circuits coupled thereto to respond to alarm indicating incoming signals and where pairs of detectors are coupled to one another to transmit water leakage indicating signals therebetween to actuate a local water shutoff valve.

9. A water detection system as in claim 8 where at least some of the detectors include external water sensors, coupled to the control circuits wherein the control circuits evaluate either incoming alarm indicating signals, from another detector, or from the external sensors, and responsive thereto transmit indicators thereof to a displaced monitoring system.

10. A water leakage detector comprising:

a water detection and shut-off element;

alarm monitoring circuitry, coupled to the detection element; and

manually engagable water flow connectors coupled to the element.

11. A water leakage detector as in claim 10 which includes a port for communication between at least two members of a plurality of detection and shut-off elements.

12. A water leakage detector as in claim 10 which includes a water presence sensor, coupled to the water detection element.

13. A water leakage detector as in claim 10 where the connectors include one of threaded, or, quick release couplers connected to the water detection element.

14. A water leakage detector as in claim 13 where the water detection element includes an automatically actuatable valve.

15. A water leakage detector as in claim 14 which includes a communications port coupled to the circuitry.

16. A water leakage detector as in claim 15 where the circuitry, responsive to an indicator from the sensor, activates the valve to go from one state to a second state.

17. A water leakage detector as in claim 16 which includes a wireless transmitter to communicate alarm indicating signals to a displaced monitoring system.

18. A water leakage detector as in claim 17 which includes a port to communicate with at least one of a plurality of detection and shut-off elements, the port being connected to the circuitry, and responsive to signals from the port, the circuitry activates the valve to go from one state to a second state.

19. A water leakage detector as in claim 18 which includes interconnect wires coupled from the port to a displaced second port and where the connectors comprise threadably connectable hose connectors.

20. A water leakage detector as in claim 10 which includes a wireless transceiver that enables communications with a displaced monitoring system.