Earthquake utilities cut-off control system

• US 4,841,287 A
• Filed: 12/17/1987
• Issued: 06/20/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan Y. Flig, Paul Regan
• Original Assignee: Alan Y. Flig, Paul Regan
• Inventors: Regan, Paul, Flig, Alan Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, JILL
• Application Number:
  US07/134,052
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 340/690, 137/39, 361/335, 361/333, 361/37, 361/170, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.46, 200/61.45 M, 200/61.47, 200/61.48, 200/DIG. 20, 307/117
• US Class Current: 340/690
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/36 actuated in consequence of extraneous circumstances, e.g. shock, change of position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0777 With second control

Abstract

A seismic detector which generates an electrical signal in response to the occurrence of a vertical seismic wave predetermined magnitude is mounted in a weather-proof container in or adjacent an inhibitable building. A circuit breaker to interupt electrical power to the building is mounted in the same container and connected to open in response to signals from the detector. Gas and water line connections each with a solenoid operated shut-off valve are separately housed in a weather-proof container in or adjacent the building and the valves are connected so that they will close in response to a signal from the seismic detector. The entire system is rendered fail safe through the use of an interruptible power supply system housed in the container with the seismic detector and connected to energize the gas and water line cut off valves to hold them in open condition. In response to a signal from the seismic detector, however, the circuit between the power supply and the cutoff valves is opened which cuts off all utilities to the building.

Claims

1. A fail-safe control system for automatic cut-off of gas, electric and water utilities in a building in the event of an earthquake, comprising:

(a) an uninterruptible power supply for providing continuous power to said system;

(b) an electrical seismic detector means, being connected to said uninterruptible power supply, and having an output for triggering an electric current upon the occurrence of an earthquake;

(c) a control relay being connected to said seismic detector means and obtaining power from said output of said seismic detector means;

(d) electrically operated gas cut off means, being adapted to be positioned between the main gas supply and the building gas supply, and connected to said uninterruptible power supply, for interrupting the gas supply to the building upon an occurrence of an earthquake detected by said seismic detector means;

(e) electrically operated water cut-off means, being adapted to be positioned between the main water supply and the building water supply, and connected to said uninterruptible power supply, for interrupting the water supply to the building upon an occurrence of an earthquake detected by said seismic detector means;

(f) said gas and water cut off means being normally opened when energized and being closed when de-energized;

(g) first normally closed contact of said control relay being connected in series with said gas cut-off means, and said first contact being opened when said control relay is energized by said seismic detector means upon an occurrence of an earthquake detected by said seismic detector means, thereby de-energizing and closing said gas cut-off means;

(h) second normally closed contact of said control relay being connected in series with said water cut off means, and said contact being open when said control relay is energized by said seismic detector means upon an occurrence of an earthquake detected by said seismic detector means, thereby de-energizing and closing said water cut off means;

(i) electrically operated breaker trip means, being connected to said uninterruptible power supply, for tripping the main power supply breaker to the building when said breaker trip means is energized upon an occurrence of an earthquake detected by said seismic detector means;

(j) first normally open contact of said control relay being connected in series with said breaker trip means, and said normally open contact being closed when said control relay is energized by said seismic detector means upon an occurrence of an earthquake detected by said detector means, thereby energizing said breaker trip means and tripping the main power supply breaker to the building; and

(k) said gas and water cut-off means and said breaker trip means being manually resetable after said seismic detector means has been activated in response to an earthquake.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said seismic detector means is attached to a rigid horizontal supporting base partially buried in the ground for preventing non-earthquake disturbances from setting off said seismic detector means.

3. A system as in claim 1, and further comprising:

(a) a first enclosure having an inner bottom surface;

(b) said uninterruptible power supply, said seismic detector means and said control relay are disposed within said first enclosure for providing a compact assembly; and

(c) said seismic detector means is attached to said bottom surface and said bottom surface is attached to a rigid horizontal supporting base partially buried in the ground for preventing non-earthquake disturbances from setting off said seismic detector means.

4. A system as in claim 3, and further comprising:

(a) audio-visual alarm connected to said power supply and responsive to an earthquake detected by said seismic detector means, for providing indication to occupants of the building that an earthquake has been detected.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein:

(a) said audio-visual alarm includes a second normally opened contact of said control relay connected in series with said audio-visual alarm, and said second normally opened contact closes when said control relay is energized by said seismic detector, thereby energizing and setting off said audio-visual alarm.

6. A system as in claim 4, and further comprising:

(a) a second enclosure for said electrically operated gas cut-off means.

7. A system as in claim 6, and further comprising:

(a) a manually operable gas by-pass valve, disposed within said second enclosure, connected across said electrically operated gas cut-off means, for by-passing said electrically operated gas cut-off means in the event of system failure causing said electrically operated gas cut-off means to be in the closed position, thereby permitting the flow of gas to the building.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said manually operable gas by-pass valve is operable from the exterior of said second enclosure.

9. A system as in claim 8, and further comprising:

(a) a manually operable water by-pass valve, disposed within said second enclosure, connected across said electrically operated water cut-off means, for by-passing said electrically operated water cut-off means in the event of system failure causing said electrically operated water cut-off means to be in closed position, thereby permitting the flow of water to the building.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein:

(a) said manually operable water by-pass valve is operable from the exterior of said second enclosure.

11. A fail-safe control system for automatic cut-off of a utility to a building in the event of an earthquake, comprising:

(a) an uninterruptible power supply for providing continuous power to said system;

(b) a first enclosure;

(c) a first electrically operated cut-off means, being disposed within said first enclosure, having opened and closed positions, connected to the utility supply main to the building and connected to said uninterruptible power supply, for controlling the flow of the utility therethrough;

(d) a seismic detector means, being connected to said cut-off means and said uninterruptible power supply, for causing the operation of said cut-off means to the closed position, in the event of an earthquake detected by said detector means; and

(e) a first manually operable by-pass valve, being disposed within said first enclosure, connected across said cut-off means, and operable from the exterior of said enclosure, for by-passing said cut-off means in the event of system failure causing the operation of said cut-off means to the closed position, thereby permitting flow of the utility to the building.

12. A system as in claim 11, and further comprising:

(a) a second enclosure for housing said uninterruptible power supply and said seismic detector means, thereby providing a compact assembly.

13. A system as in claim 12, and further comprising:

(a) a second electrically operated cut-off means, disposed within said first enclosure, having opened and closed positions, connected to a second utility supply main to the building and connected to said uninterruptible power supply for controlling the flow of the second utility therethrough; and

(b) a second manually operable by-pass valve, disposed within said first enclosure, connected across said second electrically operated cut-off means, and operable from the exterior of said first enclosure, for by-passing said second electrically operated cut-off means in the event of system failure causing the operation of said second electrically operated cut-off means to the closed position, thereby permitting the flow of the second utility to the building.

14. A system as in claim 13, and further comprising:

(a) an electrically operated breaker trip means operably associated with the main power supply breaker in the building, connected to said uninterruptible power supply and said seismic detector means, for tripping the main power supply breaker and thereby interrupting the main power supply to the building upon an occurrence of an earthquake detected by said seismic detector means.

15. A system as in claim 14, and further comprising:

(a) audio-visual alarm, connected to said uninterruptible power supply and responsive to an earthquake detected by said seismic detector means, for providing an indication to occupants of the building that an earthquake has been detected.