Automatic fluid flow sensor and fluid shut-off system

• US 5,004,014 A
• Filed: 06/29/1990
• Issued: 04/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard C. Bender
• Original Assignee: Richard C. Bender
• Inventors: Bender, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Application Number:
  US07/545,595
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.12, 137/624.11, 137/486, 137/495, 137/487.5, 137/553, 73/861.42, 73/861, 116/264, 116/277
• US Class Current: 137/624.12
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7759 Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7782 With manual or external control for line valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

An automatic fluid-sensing and fluid shut-off system (10) that allows a flow of water into a structure to be sensed, timed and stopped when the flow exceeds a preset time. The system (10), which operates in combination with a conventional main water valve (50) and pressure regulator (60), consists of a flow-sensing valve (12) that incorporates an infrared emitter (14) and an infrared detector (16), an electric valve (18) and an electronics control unit (20). When a flow is sensed by the valve (12), the detector (16) produces a flow-trigger signal that is applied to a programmable timer (20n) in the unit (20). When the signal is received, the timer commences a countdown; when the time has lapsed, the unit (20) produces a signal that energizes a power relay (20h) that removes the power keeping the electric valve (18) open. Upon this power removed, the valve (18) closes and shuts off the water supply. The water flow remains off until the system is reset by depressing a reset switch (20t).

Claims

1. An automatic fluid-flow sensor and fluid shut-off system that functions in combination with a water supply source applied through a main water pipe connected in-line with a main water valve and pressure regulator, said system comprising:

(a) an electrical valve connected in line with said main water valve,

(b) a flow-sensing valve connected in-line with said electrical valve, where said flow sensing valve includes an optical path and means including a movable element that remains below the optical path when there is no fluid flow through said flow-sensing valve which causes a no-flow signal to be produced and that interrupts the optical path when there is a fluid flow which causes a flow trigger signal to be produced, and

(c) an electronics control unit having the means to;

(1) control the application of an a-c voltage that turns on said electrical valve,

(2) receive and process the no-flow or flow trigger signals from said flow sensing valve,

(3) start a programmable timer circuit that is directly coupled to receive the no-flow and flow trigger signals from said flow-sensing valve such that when the flow trigger signal is received, upon the lapsing of a preset time, a signal, that is free of microprocessor control, is produced that removes the a-c power being applied to said electrical valve which causes said valve to close and stop the fluid flow.

2. An automatic fluid-flow sensor and fluid shut-off system that functions in combination with a water supply source applied through a main water pipe connected in-line with a main water valve and pressure regulator, said system comprising:

A. an electrical valve connected in line with said main water valve,

B. a flow-sensing valve connected in-line with said electrical valve, where, said flow sensing valve comprises;

(a) a valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a vertically oriented valve guide cap port,

(b) an inlet/outlet separator located within said valve housing between the inlet port and the outlet port,

(c) a valve seat located within an area bordered by said inlet/outlet separator and a protrusion on the inlet port,

(d) a valve guide cap affixed to the valve guide port, said cap having;

(1) a vertically oriented valve guide cavity, and

(2) a horizontal bore having a first port section and a concentric second port section that interface with an aperture section that is centered and that intercepts the valve guide cavity,

(e) a control valve consisting of a seat disk having an upwardly extending valve stem, where the seat disk is sized to rest on the valve seat and the valve stem is slideably located within the vertical valve guide cavity, where when no flow is present, the upper end of the valve stem is positioned below said aperture section and conversely, when a flow is present, the flow causes the seat disk to rise from its valve seat and the upper end of the valve stem to move across the path of the aperture section,

(f) means to allows said control valve to move freely within the valve guide cavity in both its upstroke and downstroke,

(g) a light transmitting device located within the first port section,

(h) a light receiving device located within said second port section, where when said upper end of said valve stem is positioned below said aperture section, the light transmitted from said light transmitting device is received by said light receiving device causing a no-flow signal to be produced and when said valve stem raises and moves across the path of said aperture section, due to fluid flow, the light beam is broken causing said light receiving device to stop the no-flow signal and instead produce a flow trigger signal where the two signals are applied to said electronics control unit for further processing,

C. an electronics control unit having the means to;

(a) control the application of an a-c voltage that turns on said electrical valve,

(b) receive and process the no-flow or flow trigger signals from said flow sensing valve,

(c) start a programmable timer circuit when the flow trigger signal is received, that upon the lapsing of a preset time, a signal is produced that energizes a power relay that when energized removes the a-c power being applied to said electrical valve which causes said valve to close and stop the fluid flow, and

(d) a reset circuit having the means to produce a reset signal that allows said programmable timer to restart after its preset time has lapsed.

3. An automatic fluid-flow sensor and fluid shut-off system that functions in combination with a water supply source applied through a main water pipe connected in-line with a main water valve and pressure regulator, said system comprising:

A. an electrical valve connected in line with said main water valve,

B. a flow-sensing valve connected in-line with said electrical valve, where, said flow sensing valve comprises;

(a) a valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a vertically oriented valve guide cap port,

(b) an inlet/outlet separator located within said valve housing between the inlet port and the outlet port,

(c) a valve seat located within an area bordered by said inlet/outlet separator and a protrusion on the inlet port,

(d) a valve guide cap affixed to the valve guide port, said cap having;

(1) a vertically oriented valve guide cavity, and

(2) a horizontal bore having a first port section and a concentric second port section that interface with an aperture section that is centered, intercepts the valve guide cavity, and has a smaller diameter than the diameter of said first port section and second port section,

(e) a control valve consisting of a seat disk having an upwardly extending valve stem, where the seat disk is sized to rest on the valve seat and the valve stem is slideably located within the vertical valve guide cavity, where when no flow is present, the upper end of the valve stem is positioned below said aperture section and conversely, when a flow is present, the flow causes the seat disk to rise from its valve seat and the upper end of the valve stem to move across the path of the aperture section,

(f) means to allow said control valve to move freely within the valve guide cavity in both its upstroke and downstroke,

(g) a light transmitting device located within the first port section,

(h) a light receiving device located within said second port section, where when said upper end of said valve stem is positioned below said aperture section, the light transmitted from said light transmitting device is received by said light receiving device causing a no-flow signal to be produced and when said valve stem raises and moves across the path of said aperture section, due to fluid flow, the light beam is broken causing said light receiving device to stop the no-flow signal and instead produce a flow trigger signal where the two signals are applied to said electronics control unit for further processing,

C. an electronics control unit having the means to;

(a) control the application of an a-c voltage that turns on said electrical valve,

(b) receive and process the no-flow or flow trigger signals from said flow sensing valve,

(c) start a programmable timer circuit when the flow trigger signal is received, that upon the lapsing of a preset time, a signal is produced that energizes a power relay that when energized removes the a-c power being applied to said electrical valve which causes said valve to close and stop the fluid flow, and

(d) a reset circuit having the means to produce a reset signal that allows said programmable timer to restart after its preset time has lapsed.

4. An automatic fluid-flow sensor and fluid shut-off system that functions in combination with a water supply source applied through a main water pipe connected in-line with a main water valve and pressure regulator, said system comprising:

A. an electrical valve connected in line with said main water valve.

B. a flow-sensing valve connected in-line with said electrical valve, where, said flow sensing valve comprises;

(a) a valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a vertically oriented valve guide cap port,

(b) an inlet/outlet separator located within said valve housing between the inlet port and the outlet port,

(c) a valve seat located within an area bordered by said inlet/outlet separator and a protrusion on the inlet port,

(d) a valve guide cap affixed to the valve guide port, said cap having;

(1) a vertically oriented valve guide cavity, and

(2) a horizontal bore having a first port section and a concentric second port section that interface with an aperture section that is centered, intercepts the valve guide cavity,

(e) a control valve consisting of a seat disk having an upwardly extending valve stem, where the seat disk is sized to rest on the valve seat and the valve stem is slideably located within the vertical valve guide cavity, where when no flow is present, the upper end of the valve stem is positioned below said aperture section and conversely, when a flow is present, the flow causes the seat disk to rise from its valve seat and the upper end of the valve stem to move across the path of the aperture section where said control valve moves freely within the valve guide cavity by having a valve guide cap that further comprises a water relief cavity, where said cavity intercepts the valve guide cavity at its upper end, extends horizontally outwards, extends vertically downwards, substantially parallel to the valve guide cavity, and exits out an exit port into the outlet port of said flow-sensing valve,

(f) means to allow said control valve to move freely within the valve guide cavity in both its upstroke and downstroke,

(g) a light transmitting device located within the first port section,

(h) a light receiving device located within said second port section, where when said upper end of said valve stem is positioned below said aperture section, the light transmitted from said light transmitting device is received by said light receiving device causing a no-flow signal to be produced and when said valve stem raises and moves across the path of said aperture section, due to fluid flow, the light beam is broken causing said light receiving device to stop the no-flow signal and instead produce a flow trigger signal where the two signals are applied to said electronics control unit for further processing,

C. an electronics control unit having the means to;

(a) control the application of an a-c voltage that turns on said electrical valve,

(b) receive and process the no-flow or flow trigger signals from said flow sensing valve,

(c) start a programmable timer circuit when the flow trigger signal is received, that upon the lapsing of a preset time, a signal is produced that energizes a power relay that when energized removes the a-c power being applied to said electrical valve which causes said valve to close and stop the fluid flow, and

(d) a reset circuit having the means to produce a reset signal that allows said programmable timer to restart after its preset time has lapsed.

5. An automatic fluid-flow sensor and fluid shut-off system that functions in combination with a water supply source applied through a main water pipe connected in-line with a main water valve and pressure regulator, said system comprising:

A. an electrical valve connected in line with said main water valve,

B. a flow-sensing valve connected in-line with said electrical valve, where, said flow sensing valve comprises;

(a) a valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a vertically oriented valve guide cap port,

(b) an inlet/outlet separator located within said valve housing between the inlet port and the outlet port,

(c) a valve seat located within an area bordered by said inlet/outlet separator and a protrusion on the inlet port,

(d) a valve guide cap affixed to the valve guide port, said cap having;

(1) a vertically oriented valve guide cavity, and

(2) a horizontal bore having a first port section and a concentric second port section that interface with an aperture section that is centered, intercepts the valve guide cavity,

(e) a control valve consisting;

(1) a seat disk sized to rest on the valve stem and having an upwardly extending threaded rod,

(2) a lock nut threaded into said threaded rod, and

(3) a threaded valve stem that is threaded into said threaded rod, above the locknut, to allow the valve stem to be set at a length that provides optimum sensitivity at which length the locknut is tightened against the end of the valve stem to lock-in the set length, where the stem is slideably located within the vertical valve guide cavity, where when no flow is present, the upper end of the valve stem is positioned below said aperture section and conversely, when a flow is present, the flow causes the seat disk to rise from its valve seat and the upper end of the valve stem to move across the path of the aperture section,

(f) means to allow said control valve to move freely within the valve guide cavity in both its upstroke and downstroke,

(g) a light transmitting device located within the first port section,

(h) a light receiving device located within said second port section, where when said upper end of said valve stem is positioned below said aperture section, the light transmitted from said light transmitting device is received by said light receiving device causing a no-flow signal to be produced and when said valve stem raises and moves across the path of said aperture section, due to fluid flow, the light beam is broken causing said light receiving device to stop the no-flow signal and instead produce a flow trigger signal where the two signals are applied to said electronics control unit for further processing,

C. an electronics control unit having the means to;

(a) control the application of an a-c voltage that turns on said electrical valve,

(b) receive and process the no-flow or flow trigger signals from said flow sensing valve,

(c) start a programmable timer circuit when the flow trigger signal is received, that upon the lapsing of a preset time, a signal is produced that energizes a power relay that when energized removes the a-c power being applied to said electrical valve which causes said valve to close and stop the fluid flow, and

(d) a reset circuit having the means to produce a reset signal that allows said programmable timer to restart after its preset time has lapsed.

6. An automatic fluid-flow sensor and fluid shut-off system that functions in combination with a water supply source applied through a main water pipe connected in-line with a main water valve and pressure regulator, said system comprising:

A. an electrical valve connected in line with said main water valve,

B. a flow-sensing valve connected in-line with said electrical valve, where, said flow sensing valve comprises;

(a) a valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a vertically oriented valve guide cap port,

(b) an inlet/outlet separator located within said valve housing between the inlet port and the outlet port,

(c) a valve seat located within an area bordered by said inlet/outlet separator and a protrusion on the inlet port,

(d) a valve guide cap affixed to the valve guide port, said cap having;

(1) a vertically oriented valve guide cavity, and

(2) a horizontal bore having a first port section and a concentric second port section that interface with an aperture section that is centered, intercepts the valve guide cavity,

(e) a control valve consisting of a seat disk having an upwardly extending valve stem, where the seat disk is sized to rest on the valve seat and the valve stem is slideably located within the vertical valve guide cavity, where when no flow is present, the upper end of the valve stem is positioned below said aperture section and conversely, when a flow is present, the flow causes the seat disk to rise from its valve seat and the upper end of the valve stem to move across the path of the aperture section,

(f) means to allow said control valve to move freely within the valve guide cavity in both its upstroke and downstroke,

(g) a light transmitting device comprising, an infrared emitter located within the first port section,

(h) a light receiving device comprising an infrared detector located within said second port section, where when said upper end of said valve stem is positioned below said aperture section, the light transmitted from said light transmitting device is received by said light receiving device causing a no-flow signal to be produced and when said valve stem raises and moves across the path of said aperture section, due to fluid flow, the light beam is broken causing said light receiving device to stop the no-flow signal and instead produce a flow trigger signal,

C. an electronics control unit having the means to;

(a) control the application of an a-c voltage that turns on said electrical valve,

(b) receive and process the no-flow or flow trigger signals from said flow sensing valve,

(c) start a programmable timer circuit when the flow trigger signal is received, that upon the lapsing of a preset time, a signal is produced that energizes a power relay that when energized removes the a-c power being applied to said electrical valve which causes said valve to close and stop the fluid flow, and

(d) a reset circuit having the means to produce a reset signal that allows said programmable timer to restart after its preset time has lapsed.

7. An automatic fluid-flow sensor and fluid shut-off system that functions in combination with a water supply source applied through a main water pipe connected in-line with a main water valve and pressure regulator, said system comprising:

A. an electrical valve connected in line with said main water valve,

B. a flow-sensing valve connected in-line with said electrical valve, where, said flow sensing valve comprises;

(a) a valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a vertically oriented valve guide cap port,

(b) an inlet/outlet separator located within said valve housing between the inlet port and the outlet port,

(c) a valve seat located within an area bordered by said inlet/outlet separator and a protrusion on the inlet port,

(d) a valve guide cap affixed to the valve guide port, said cap having;

(1) a vertically oriented valve guide cavity, and

(2) a horizontal bore having a first port section and a concentric second port section that interface with an aperture section that is centered, intercepts the valve guide cavity,

(e) a control valve consisting of a seat disk having an upwardly extending valve stem, where the seat disk is sized to rest on the valve seat and the valve stem is slideably located within the vertical valve guide cavity, where when no flow is present, the upper end of the valve stem is positioned below said aperture section and conversely, when a flow is present, the flow causes the seat disk to rise from its valve seat and the upper end of the valve stem to move across the path of the aperture section,

(f) means to allow said control valve to move freely within the valve guide cavity in both its upstroke and downstroke,

(g) a light transmitting device comprising, an infrared emitter located within the first port section,

(h) a light receiving device comprising an infrared detector located within said second port section, where when said upper end of said valve stem is positioned below said aperture section, the light transmitted from said light transmitting device is received by said light receiving device causing a no-flow signal to be produced and when said valve stem raises and moves across the path of said aperture section, due to fluid flow, the light beam is broken causing said light receiving device to stop the no-flow signal and instead produce a flow trigger signal,

C. an electronics control unit comprising;

(a) a power circuit having the means to provide an a-c voltage and a regulated d-c voltage,

(b) a relay driver transistor,

(c) a power relay having a coil connected in series between the regulated d-c voltage from said power circuit and said relay driver transistor, where said relay includes a set of normally closed contacts connected in series between the a-c voltage from said power circuit where when said relay is deenergized the a-c voltage is applied to said electrical valve to maintain said valve in an open position to allow fluid flow and conversely when said valve is energized, the contact set opens causing said electrical valve to open and stop the fluid flow,

(d) a buffer/driver circuit that receives either a no-flow signal or a flow trigger signal from said infrared detector where when the no-flow signal is received, indicating no fluid flow, said buffer/driver circuit is disabled causing the follow-on control logic circuits to remain in a disabled quiescent state, conversely, when the flow trigger signal is received, indicating fluid flow, said buffer is enabled and produces a high to low trigger signal,

(e) a switching network,

(f) a programmable timer that upon receiving the trigger signal from said buffer/driver circuit commences counting down from a preset time as set by said switching network, where when said preset time has lapsed, said timer produces an output logic signal,

(g) a quad 2-input NOR gate that latches when the output logic signal from said programmable timer is received, where when so latched, a latching signal is produced and fed back to said buffer/driver circuit from where the signal is further applied to the base of said relay driver transistor causing said transistor to turn on and allow the regulated d-c voltage from said power circuit to energize said power relay and open the relay contacts, with the contacts open the a-c voltage that has been keeping said electric valve open is terminated which causes said electric valve to close and stop the water flow, and

(h) a reset circuit having the means to produce a reset signal that allows said programmable timer to restart after its preset time has lapsed.

8. An automatic fluid-flow sensor and fluid shut-off system that functions in combination with a water supply source applied through a main water pipe connected in-line with a main water valve and pressure regulator, said system comprising:

A. an electrical valve connected in line with said main water valve,

B. a flow-sensing valve connected in-line with said electrical valve, where;

said flow sensing valve comprises;

(a) a valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a vertically oriented valve guide cap port,

(b) an inlet/outlet separator located within said valve housing between the inlet port and the outlet port,

(c) a valve seat located within an area bordered by said inlet/outlet separator and a protrusion on the inlet port,

(d) a valve guide cap affixed to the valve guide port, said cap having;

(1) a vertically oriented valve guide cavity, and

(2) a horizontal bore having a first port section and a concentric second port section that interface with an aperture section that is centered, intercepts the valve guide cavity,

(e) a control valve consisting of a seat disk having an upwardly extending valve stem, where the seat disk is sized to rest on the valve seat and the valve stem is slideably located within the vertical valve guide cavity, where when no flow is present, the upper end of the valve stem is positioned below said aperture section and conversely, when a flow is present, the flow causes the seat disk to rise from its valve seat and the upper end of the valve stem to move across the path of the aperture section,

(f) means to allow said control valve to move freely within the valve guide cavity in both its upstroke and downstroke,

(g) a light transmitting device comprising, an infrared emitter located within the first port section,

(h) a light receiving device comprising an infrared detector located within said second port section, where when said upper end of said valve stem is positioned below said aperture section, the light transmitted from said light transmitting device is received by said light receiving device causing a no-flow signal to be produced and when said valve stem raises and moves across the path of said aperture section, due to fluid flow, the light beam is broken causing said light receiving device to stop the no-flow signal and instead produce a flow trigger signal,

C. an electronics control unit comprising;

(a) a power circuit having the means to provide an a-c voltage and a regulated d-c voltage,

(b) a relay driver transistor,

(c) a power relay having a coil connected in series between the regulated d-c voltage from said power circuit and said relay driver transistor, where said relay includes a set of normally closed contacts connected in series between the a-c voltage from said power circuit where when said relay is deenergized the a-c voltage is applied to said electrical valve to maintain said valve in an open position to allow fluid flow and conversely when said valve is energized, the contact sets opens causing said electrical valve to open and stop the fluid flow,

(d) a buffer/driver circuit that receives either a no-flow signal or a flow trigger signal from said infrared detector where when the no-flow signal is received, indicating no fluid flow, said buffer/driver circuit is disabled causing the follow-on control logic circuits to remain in a disabled quiescent state, conversely, when the flow trigger signal is received, indicating fluid flow, said buffer is enabled and produces a high to low trigger signal,

(e) a switching network,

(f) a programmable timer that upon receiving the trigger signal from said buffer/driver circuit commences counting down from a preset time as set by said switching network, where when said preset time has lapsed, said timer produces an output logic signal,

(g) a quad 2-input NOR gate that latches when the output logic signal from said programmable timer is received, where when so latched, a latching signal is produced and fed back to said buffer/driver circuit from where the signal is further applied to the base of said relay driver transistor causing said transistor to turn on and allow the regulated d-c voltage from said power circuit to energize said power relay and open the relay contacts, with the contacts open the a-c voltage that has been keeping said electric valve open is terminated which causes said electric valve to close and stop the water flow, and

D. a reset circuit having the means to reset said system by restarting the water flow after the flow has been stopped by said system, said reset circuit comprising;

(a) a reset switch consisting of single-pole double-throw momentary on switch having its pole connected to ground, and

(b) a quad 2-input NAND gate connected to the contacts of said reset switch and having an output connected to said quad 2-input NOR gate, where when said reset switch is momentarily depressed, the ground connection normally on device pins 1 and 2 is placed on pins 5 and 6 which causes a reset signal to be applied to said quad 2-input NAND gate from where a feedback signal is applied to and causes said driver/buffer circuit to remove the signal that is maintaining said relay driver transistor in the on state, where when the transistor signal is removed, the relay contacts close to allow the a-c power to turn on said electric valve.

9. An automatic fluid-flow sensor having the means to provide a no-flow signal when no fluid flow is sensed and a flow trigger signal when a flow is sensed, where said sensor is located in series with an electric valve having an on or off mode that is controlled by an electronics control unit having the means to receive and process the non-flow and flow trigger signals, where when the no-flow trigger is received and processed by said unit, said unit allows said electric valve to remain in the open position to allow a fluid flow and conversely, when the flow-trigger signal is received by said unit it is subsequently processed by a programmable timer having a preset time that upon the lapsing of the time a signal is produced by said unit that is applied to and causes said electric valve to close and stop the fluid flow, where said fluid-flow sensor comprises:

(a) a valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a vertically oriented valve guide cap port,

(b) an inlet/outlet separator located within said valve housing between the inlet port and the outlet port,

(c) a valve seat located within an area bordered by said inlet/outlet separator and a protrusion on the inlet port,

(d) a valve guide cap affixed to the valve guide port, said cap having;

(1) a vertically oriented valve guide cavity, and

(2) a horizontal bore having a first port section and a concentric second port section that interfaces with an aperture section that is centered and that intercepts the valve guide cavity,

(e) a control valve consisting of a seat disk having an upwardly extending valve stem, where the seat disk is sized to rest on the valve seat and the valve stem is slideably located within the vertical valve guide cavity, where when no flow is present, the upper end of the valve stem is positioned below said aperture section and conversely, when a flow is present, the flow causes the seat disk to rise from its valve seat and the upper end of the valve stem to move across the path of the aperture section,

(f) a light transmitting device located within the first port section, and

(g) a light receiving device located within said second port section, where when said upper end of said valve steam is positioned below said aperture section, the light transmitted from said light transmitting device is received by said light receiving device causing a no-flow signal to be produced and when said valve stem raises and moves across the path of said aperture section, due to fluid flow, the light beam is broken causing said light receiving device to stop the no-flow signal and instead produce the flow trigger signal.

10. An automatic fluid-flow sensor and fluid shut-off system that functions in combination with a water supply source applied through a main water pipe connected in-line with a main water valve and pressure regulator, said system comprising:

A. an electrical valve connected in line with said main water valve,

B. a flow-sensing valve comprising;

(a) a housing comprising;

(1) an inlet and outlet port that are connected in-line with said main water valve,

(2) a vertically oriented valve guide port,

(3) a valve guide cap affixed to the valve guide port, said cap having a vertically oriented valve guide cavity having a horizontal bore therethrough that intercepts the valve guide cavity,

(b) a control valve consisting of a seat disk having an upwardly extending valve stem, where the disk sits on a valve seat located within said housing and the valve stem is slideably located within the valve guide cavity where when no flow is present, the upper end of the valve stem is positioned below the horizontal bore and conversely, when a flow is present, the flow causes the seat disk to rise from its valve seat and the upper end of the valve stem to move across the path of the horizontal bore,

(c) a light transmitting device located on one side of the horizontal bore and a light receiving device located on the opposite side of the horizontal bore, where when the upper end of the valve stem is positioned below the horizontal bore the light transmitted from said light transmitting device is received by said light receiving device causing a no-flow signal to be produced and when the valve stem raises and moves across the paht of the horizontal bore, due to fluid flow, the light beam is broken causing said light receiving device to stop the no-flow signal and instead produce a flow trigger signal,

C. an electronics control unit having the means to;

(a) control the application of an a-c voltage that turns on said electrical valve,

(b) receive and process the no-flow or flow trigger signals from said flow sensing valve,

(c) start a programmable timer circuit when the flow trigger signal is received, that upon the lapsing of a preset time, a signal is produced that energizes a power relay that when energized removes the a-c power being applied to said electrical valve which causes said valve to close and stop the fluid flow, and

(d) a rest circuit having the means to produce a reset signal that allows said programmable timer to restart after its preset time has lapsed.