WATER CONTROL AND SECURITY SYSTEM

• US 20130306170A1
• Filed: 07/25/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Federico Rivera
• Original Assignee: Federico Rivera
• Inventors: RIVERA, FEDERICO
• Application Number:
  US13/950,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20130306170A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/551
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/00 Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems the preceding groups and groups F16L57/00, F16L59/00 take precedence; repairing or joining pipes on or under water F16L1/26; nozzles B05B; cleaning of pipes B08B9/02; arrangements of draining devices for water main or service pipe systems E03B7/08; devices for preventing bursting of water pipes by freezing E03B7/10; draining devices for hydrants E03B9/14; for domestic plumbing installations E03C1/00; steam traps for draining of liquids from enclosures containing gases or vapours F16T; arrangements for sealing leaky tubes or conduits of heat-exchangers F28F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

A water control and security system includes one or more leak detection units for detecting the presence of water in undesirable locations, a water-source control unit includes a controller that is in communication with a valve functioning to allow and prevent water from entering a structure, and a remote control unit capable of communicating with each of the water source control unit and the one or more leak detection units.

Claims

1. A water control and security system, comprising:

one or more leak detection units, each of said units including

a sensor that is configured to detect the presence of water and generate an alarm, and

a transmitter that is in communication with the sensor, said transmitter being configured to transmit a wireless signal containing the alarm;

a water-source control unit that includes

a valve having an input, an output and a valve actuator, said valve being configured to be interposed between a water supply source and a building plumbing,

a controller having a plurality of visual indicators, a plurality of user inputs, and a wireless receiver, said controller being configured control an operation of the valve based on at least one of a user input and a received wireless signal; and

a remote control unit having at least one visual indicator, a plurality of user inputs, a transmitter and a receiver, said remote control unit being configured to communicate with each of the one or more leak detection units and the water-source control unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of visual indicators on the controller include a system power indicator, an active sensor indicator, a valve status open indicator, and a valve status closed indicator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user inputs on the controller include a power on/off button, a water-flow-on button, and a water-flow-off button.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the valve to open upon engagement of the water-flow-on button, and to instruct the valve to close in response to engagement of the water-flow-off button or a received wireless alarm.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one visual indicator on the remote control unit includes a sensor alarm indicator that is configured to illuminate upon receiving a wireless alarm signal from at least one of the leak detection units.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user inputs on the remote control unit includes a water-flow-on button and a water-flow-off button.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the remote control unit is configured to transmit a valve-open instruction to the controller in response to an engagement of the water-flow-on button, and

to transmit a valve-closed instruction to the controller in response to an engagement of the water-flow-off button.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the valve to open upon receipt of the valve-open instruction, and to instruct the valve to close upon receipt of at least one of the valve-closed instruction and an alarm signal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the control unit, the remote control unit and the at least one leak detection unit are configured to communicate via at least one of a radio wave, infrared, Bluetooth, RFID, microwave, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one leak detection units are configured to generate and transmit an identical alarm signal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of visual indicators on the controller further includes a plurality of lighted elements each tied to a particular leak detection unit, and configured to illuminate upon receipt of a unique signal from the particular leak detection unit that includes an alarm.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of visual indicators on the remote control unit further includes a plurality of lighted elements each tied to a particular leak detection unit, and configured to illuminate upon receipt of a unique signal from the particular leak detection unit that includes an alarm.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more leak detection units and the control unit includes a battery backup power supply configured to operate the system in the event of a building power outage.