Apparatus for the prevention or limitation of water damage
First Claim
1. An apparatus for limiting water damage in structural floors and covering floors in a building which have water-carrying means connected to a central water circulating apparatus, characterized by at least one moisture sensing device positioned at floor level in proximity with said water-carrying means, a relay means connecting said relay to the moisture sensing means, a direct acting thermostatic valve positioned in the central water circulating apparatus supplying the water-carrying means to control the flow of water to the water-carrying means, said valve having a sensing body for actuating the valve, a heating element arranged in proximity with the sensing body, and circuit means connecting said heating element through a source of electric current to said relay to be controlled thereby, said relay being arranged to close the circuit means energizing the heating element from an impulse from the sensing device indicating that a predetermined moisture limit has been exceeded and operative to actuate the thermostatic valve to close the flow of water to the water-carrying means.
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Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus for preventing or limiting water damage caused by leakage from pipes or appliances in which a sensing element in the form of a pair of conductors having current applied thereto is positioned in an area to sense accumulation of water from leakage. The sensing element is connected to a resettable relay to operate the same when current flows between conductors of the sensing element. The relay is bi-stable and resettable and operates to disconnect the sensing element after initial conduction and to further apply heat through the heating element to a thermostatic valve to operate the thermostatic valve in a direction to close off water flow to piping or apparatus in which leakage occurs.
81 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for limiting water damage in structural floors and covering floors in a building which have water-carrying means connected to a central water circulating apparatus, characterized by at least one moisture sensing device positioned at floor level in proximity with said water-carrying means, a relay means connecting said relay to the moisture sensing means, a direct acting thermostatic valve positioned in the central water circulating apparatus supplying the water-carrying means to control the flow of water to the water-carrying means, said valve having a sensing body for actuating the valve, a heating element arranged in proximity with the sensing body, and circuit means connecting said heating element through a source of electric current to said relay to be controlled thereby, said relay being arranged to close the circuit means energizing the heating element from an impulse from the sensing device indicating that a predetermined moisture limit has been exceeded and operative to actuate the thermostatic valve to close the flow of water to the water-carrying means.
Specification