Remote water shut-off module for use by disabled and infirm

• US 5,248,124 A
• Filed: 12/09/1991
• Issued: 09/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Nugent
• Original Assignee: George Nugent
• Inventors: Nugent, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US07/804,023
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.11, 251/129.14, 251/77, 251/129.2, 251/147
• US Class Current: 251/129.11
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/04 using a motor

Abstract

A single-unit, remote shut-off module for use by the disabled and infirm has a single-unit module attached by clamps to external water source and outflow connector pipes and housing a shaft which itself houses a plunger with a rubber ball seal which is guided through a shaft guide by electrical current from an electrical motor unit, which is fitably attached above the external water source connector pipe to direct the plunger into the seal of the mouth of the outflow connector pipe, and thereby to interrupt the communication of water from the external water source connector pipe through the module into the outflow connector pipe during a plumbing emergency at the discretion of the user.

Claims

1. A remote water shut-off apparatus for the use of the disabled and infirm, which interrupts the communication of water from a pressurized water source, which comprises:

a housing having an inlet side, an outlet side, front, back, bottom and top forming a fluid tight chamber therebetween;

an inlet pipe in fluid communication with a pressurized water source and the fluid tight chamber, the inlet pipe secured to the inlet side of the housing;

an outlet pipe in fluid communication with the fluid tight chamber, the outlet pipe secured to the outlet side of the housing in offset alignment with the inlet pipe;

a selectively actuated motor secured to the housing having a rotatable shaft extending from the motor, through a threaded aperture in the inlet side of the housing, the rotatable shaft positioned in linear alignment with the offset outlet pipe, and

a sealing means secured to the free end of the rotatable shaft;

whereby

the motor is selectively remotely actuated to rotatably advance the sealing means to abut the end of the outlet pipe to seal the end of the outlet pipe to stop water from flowing from the housing chamber, and the motor is selectively remotely actuated to rotatably retract the rotatable shaft to withdraw the sealing means from the end of the outlet pipe to allow pressurized fluid from the inlet pipe to pass through the housing into the outlet pipe;

a first shaft end portion disposed to said sealing means, a rotatable seal guiding portion, said seal guiding portion disposed to a rotatable first sub-assembly threadably engagable with a reciprocal threaded tube supported in a wall of said fluid tight chamber, said first sub-assembly further having a second shaft extension member at an end opposite to an end engageable with said first shaft end portion, said second shaft extension portion disposed to a shock absorbing means, said shock absorbing means comprising said second shaft extension member longitudinally movable within a rotatable bracket, said bracket bearing a gap between a third rotatable shaft extension portion extending from said motor, said second shaft extension member slidably movable within said gap of said rotatable collar bracket upon a flow of reverse fluid pressure against said sealing means from said outlet pipe, said movement of said second shaft extension movably limited by a blocking member disposed within a longitudinally extending groove guide within said rotatable bracket

said sealing means being a spherical ball secured to a free end of said rotatable shaft.