TOILET LEAK DETECTION KIT AND METHOD

• US 20150323097A1
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AR Valve Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: AR Valve Group, LLC
• Inventors: STOLTZ, AMBER, BEARDEN, RICHARD
• Granted Patent: US 9,303,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/00 Water flushing devices with cisterns ; Setting up a range of flushing devices or water-closets; Combinations of several flushing devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 11/00 Other component parts of water-closets pipe-joints or couplings in general F16L , e.g. noise-reducing means in the flushing system noise-reducing means in combination with flushing valves E03D9/14, flushing pipes mounted in the bowl, seals for the bowl outlet, devices preventing overflow of the bowl contents; devices forming a water seal in the bowl after flushing, devices eliminating obstructions in the bowl outlet or preventing backflow of water and excrements from the waterpipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/48 actuated by mechanical timing-device, e.g. with dash-pot self-closing valves F16K21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3254 using a flow detector G01M3/3245, G01M3/3272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

The present invention provides an easily mounted, self-contained, compact fluid leak detection kit and/or method. The kit housing can be mounted by a homeowner or contractor between the wall outlet and the toilet input. When water begins to flow through the kit housing, a sensor such as a flow switch closes and applies voltage to the time delay relay. As long as the flow continues, the relay will count down the amount of preset time. The kit provides an adjustment to set a predetermined delay time, which is easily accessible and adjustable to the normal operating cycle time of any particular toilet. After adjusting the timer to the normal operating cycle time of the toilet, then the kit simply allows normal operation of the toilet as long as flow stops before the flow cycle. However, when a time has elapsed during the flow cycle to thereby indicate a problem leak, the relay will send voltage to a solenoid valve, which will stop the flow. The flow will remain stopped until an easily accessible reset button is depressed manually.

Claims

1. A kit to detect leaks in a toilet when said kit is connected to a wall fluid supply, said toilet comprising a flush water inlet, said wall fluid supply comprising a supply outlet, said kit comprising:

input and output connectors that connect said kit between said supply outlet and said flush water inlet, respectively;

a flow sensor that detects when fluid from said fluid supply is flowing to said toilet inlet;

a timer operatively connected to said flow sensor;

a latching solenoid moveable between an open position that allows fluid flow through to said toilet inlet and a closed position that prevents fluid flow to said toilet inlet, said timer being operatively connected to said latching solenoid to move said latching solenoid to said closed position after a shutoff time; and

a reset switch operable to move said latching solenoid from said closed position to said open position.

2. The kit of claim 1, further comprising at least one battery to power said timer, said latching solenoid, and said reset switch.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein said timer comprises an adjustment operable to provide selective adjustment of said shutoff time to provide a predetermined shutoff time.

4. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a housing for said timer, said flow sensor, and said latching solenoid.

5. The kit of claim 4 further comprising a reset switch positioned to be accessible from outside said housing.

6. An apparatus to detect leaks in a toilet, comprising:

a housing comprising input and output connections operable to connect between a toilet inlet and a flush water fluid supply that supplies water to said toilet inlet;

a flow sensor mounted to said housing that senses fluid to said toilet inlet;

a timer mounted to said housing operatively connected to said flow sensor; and

a latching solenoid mounted to said housing moveable between an open position that allows fluid flow to said toilet inlet and a closed position that prevents fluid flow to said toilet inlet, said timer being operably connected to said latching solenoid to move said latching solenoid to said closed position when fluid flowing through said flow sensor exceeds a shutoff time.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a reset switch electrically connected to move said latching solenoid from said closed position to said open position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising at least one DC power supply to power said timer, said latching solenoid, and said reset switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said flow sensor is operable to detect a predetermined minimum fluid flow above which the flow sensor produces a flow signal, said predetermined minimum being selected to be less than an unrestricted flow for a selected toilet.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, said flow sensor further comprising normally open contacts that close when fluid flows through said flow sensor above said minimum fluid flow that produces said flow signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said timer comprises an adjustment operable to provide selective adjustment of said shutoff time to provide a predetermined shutoff time.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising said reset switch being mounted to said housing in a position allowing access to operate said reset switch from outside said housing.

13. A method for making a flow control apparatus to detect leaks in a toilet when said toilet is connected to a toilet water supply, comprising:

providing a flow control apparatus with connections to fluidly connect between said toilet water supply and a toilet inlet for said toilet;

providing a flow sensor that detects fluid flowing into said toilet inlet;

providing a timer responsive to said flow sensor; and

providing a latching solenoid moveable between an open position that allows fluid flow into said toilet inlet and a closed position that prevents fluid flow to said toilet inlet, said latching solenoid being operatively connected to said timer to terminate fluid flow from said toilet water supply after reaching a shutoff time.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing a reset switch to move said latching solenoid from said closed position to said open position.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing that said toilet water supply and said toilet inlet for said toilet are positioned within five feet of each other.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing at least one DC power supply to power said timer, said latching solenoid, and said reset switch.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing that said timer is operable to adjust a predetermined shutoff time for said shutoff time.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing that said toilet water supply comprises a wall outlet adjacent to said toilet.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising mounting said timer, said flow sensor, a power supply, and said latching solenoid to a housing.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising mounting a reset switch to said housing in a position that allows access to said reset switch from outside said housing.