WATER HEATER LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM

• US 20160260312A1
• Filed: 03/04/2016
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Hazzard, Frederick, Khosla, Ravindra, Heil, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,799,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G01N 27/223 for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

The disclosure reveals a system for detecting moisture or water in a particular location. The system may incorporate a moisture detector having a control module connected to an appliance, a moisture detection circuit connected to the control module, and a voltage source connected to the moisture detection circuit and to the control module. The voltage source and the moisture detection circuit may provide voltage levels to the control module when the moisture detection circuit detects dry or wet conditions, or conditions between those conditions. A voltage level to the control module may indicate whether the appliance, such as a water heater, a washing machine, or a dish washer, has a leak. If the leak is deemed by a voltage level from the circuit to be worthy of concern, then a display, an alarm, a message, or other notice mechanism may indicate an issue or what action needs to be taken.

Claims

1. A moisture detector comprising:

a water heater control module;

a moisture detection circuit connected to the water heater control module; and

a voltage source connected to the moisture detection circuit and to the water heater control module; and

wherein;

the voltage source and the moisture detection circuit provide a first voltage level to the water heater control module when the moisture detection circuit detects a dry condition;

the voltage source and the moisture detection circuit provide a second voltage level to the water heater control module when the moisture detection circuit detects a wet condition; and

the voltage source and the moisture detection circuit provide a third voltage level to the water heater control module when the moisture detection circuit detects a condition between the dry condition and the wet condition.

2. The detector of claim 1, wherein a voltage level to the water heater control module indicates whether a water heater that the water heater control module controls, has a leak.

3. The detector of claim 1, wherein the second voltage level indicates a condition of moisture that causes the water heater control module to reduce a water temperature set point of the water heater, flash an error code, or send an electronic message, to indicate a presence of moisture due to a leak in the water heater;

or the second voltage level indicates a wet condition that uses the water heater control module to go to a pilot light only mode for the water heater, flash an error code, shut down the water heater, sound an audible alarm, or send an electronic message, indicating that action is needed to prevent water damage.

4. The detector of claim 2, wherein:

when the third voltage level is at the first voltage level or the second voltage level, no action is needed relative to the water heater having a leak; and

when the third voltage level is at the second voltage level, action is needed relative to the water heater having a leak.

5. The detector of claim 1, wherein the voltage source and the moisture detection circuit are connected in series.

6. The detector of claim 1, wherein the voltage source and the moisture detection circuit are connected in parallel.

7. The detector of claim 3, wherein the audible alarm is powered by a super capacitor that is charged by power from the voltage source.

8. The detector of claim 1, wherein the moisture detection circuit comprise a sensing element that has a resistance that changes upon contact with moisture;

or the moisture detection circuit comprises a sensing element that indicates contact with moisture without a change in resistance.

9. A method for detection of a leak from a water heater comprising:

connecting a moisture detector to a control module for a water heater; and

connecting a voltage source to the moisture detector; and

wherein;

the moisture detector has a resistance that changes upon contact with moisture;

changes of the resistance of the moisture detector change the voltage of the voltage source;

changes of the voltage of the voltage source are detected by the control module and interpreted by the control module as a change in a level of moisture detected by the moisture detector; and

the moisture detector is situated in a place where if the water heater has a leak, moisture from the leak would gather at the place.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising equating an amount of a change of voltage of the voltage source, detected by the control module to an amount of change of moisture detected by the moisture detector.

11. The method claim 10, wherein:

a first level of voltage indicates a lack of moisture in the place where the moisture detector is situated;

a second level of voltage indicates wetness in the place where the moisture detector is situated; and

a third level of voltage indicates a condition of moisture between a lack of moisture and wetness in the place where the moisture detector is situated.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the first level of voltage detected by the control module results in no action needed relative to the water heater; and

the second level of voltage detected by the control module results in going to a pilot light only mode for the water heater, flashing an error code, shutting down the water heater, sounding an audible alarm, or sending an electronic message, to indicate that action is needed to prevent or minimize water damage caused by a leak in the water heater.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the control module is powered by the voltage source; and

the voltage source is an item selected from a group comprising thermopiles, line power, batteries, solar cells, charged super capacitors, and wind generators.

14. An appliance leak detection system comprising:

a leak sensor;

a control module connected to an appliance; and

a voltage source connected to the leak sensor and the control module; and

wherein;

the appliance is selected from a group comprising a water heater, a dishwasher and a washing machine; and

the leak sensor is located in an area where dampness or wetness would appear if the appliance had a leak, and would be sensed by the leak sensor.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the leak sensor has a resistance of an open circuit when situated in an area of dryness and has a resistance of a short circuit when situated in an area of wetness, or the leak sensor has a resistance of a closed circuit when situated in an area of dryness and has a resistance of an open circuit when situated in an area of wetness; and

the leak sensor is selected from a group of items comprising non-discrete variable resistance moisture detectors, discrete variable resistance moisture detectors and moisture sensitive switches.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the leak sensor has a resistance that changes according to an amount of dampness or wetness detected by the leak sensor;

a magnitude of voltage from the voltage source is present at the control module; and

when a resistance of the leak sensor changes, the magnitude of voltage present at the control module changes.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein when the magnitude of voltage present at the control module changes, the control module recognizes a change of an amount of dampness or wetness detected by the leak sensor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the amount of dampness or wetness detected by the leak sensor varies from dry to wet.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

a dry condition indicates zero percent moisture and a wet condition indicates one hundred percent moisture; and

a level one is a dry condition;

a level two is a predetermined percent of moisture greater than zero percent;

a level three is a predetermined percentage of moisture greater than that of level two and less than one hundred percent moisture; and

a level four is a wet condition.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

at level one the control module operates in a routine manner;

at level two, the control module operates in a routine manner;

at level three the control module flashes an error code, changes an operating level or reduces a water temperature set point of the appliance, or sends a Wi-Fi signal to indicate a presence of moisture, or shuts down the appliance and sounds an audible alarm; and

at level four, the control module goes to an idle mode for the appliance, flashes an error code, shuts down the appliance, sounds an audible alarm, or sends a Wi-Fi signal indicating that action is needed to prevent water damage.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the voltage source is selected from a group comprising thermopiles, line power, batteries, solar cells, charged super capacitors, and wind generators.