Leak detection and management apparatus including a programmable message device for a hot water heater

• US 5,345,224 A
• Filed: 04/24/1992
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Complete Packaging Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Complete Packaging Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Jimmy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/874,300
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/12 Preventing or detecting fluid leakage
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/246 Water level
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/31 of valves having only one inlet port and one outlet port, e.g. flow rate regulating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/17 Means for retaining water leaked from heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2007 for water heaters

Abstract

A leak detection and management apparatus including a programmable message device, for a hot water heater. The apparatus includes a liquid pan disposed beneath and concentrically with a hot water heater for collecting water leaking from the hot water heater. A float is disposed at least partially within the liquid pan 14 and causes an electrical shut-off signal from an electrical switch to be generated when it is elevated in response to the collection of water within the liquid pan 14. The electrical shut-off signal causes electrically controlled solenoid valves disposed in the water supply and gas lines to the hot water heater 12 to be closed, thereby interrupting the flow of cold water and natural gas into the hot water heater 12, and simultaneously causing a programmable message device to play a prerecorded message informing of the water leak and where to obtain service to correct same. In a preferred embodiment, the programmable message device includes a conventional magnetic tape transport device having a magnetic recording medium such as a cassette tape and a conventional speaker. The magnetic recording medium includes a preprogrammed message which may be made by personnel installing the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting and managing water leaks in a hot water heater, said apparatus comprising:

pan means for collecting water leaking from said hot water heater, said pan means being disposed generally concentrically underneath said hot water heater and circumscribing substantially the entire periphery of said water heater;

float means disposed within said pan means and responsive to a water level in said pan means for providing a mechanical signal when said water level in said pan means rises to a predetermined level;

first electrical switch means responsive to said mechanical signal generated by said float means for providing an electrical shut-off signal when said float means rises to a predetermined level within said pan means;

a first electrically controlled valve disposed in a cold water supply line of said water heater responsive to said electrical shut-off signal for controllably interrupting the flow of cold water into said hot water heater in response to said electrical shut-off signal;

a second electrically controlled valve disposed in a gas supply line for said water heater for interrupting a flow of gas to said water heater in response to said electrical shut-off signal;

means for providing a programmable audio message in response to said electrical shut-off signal to thereby notify an occupant of a dwelling where said hot water heater is disposed that a water leak has occurred;

said pan means including an overflow aperture located near an upper end thereof;

a conduit coupled to said overflow aperture leading to a drain, said overflow aperture and said conduit enabling a portion of leaking water within said pan means to be drained therefrom to help prevent an overflow of said pan means;

a secondary overflow reservoir;

a secondary overflow aperture in communication with said secondary overflow reservoir, said secondary overflow reservoir being operable to receive an overflow of water collected within said pan means; and

pump means disposed within said secondary overflow reservoir and responsive to the collection of a predetermined amount of water in said secondary overflow reservoir for pumping water collected within said secondary overflow reservoir to a drain.

2. A leak detection and management apparatus including a programmable message device, for detecting and managing leaks occurring in a hot water heater and providing an audible message to a person informing that a leak has occurred and where to call for service, said apparatus comprising:

a liquid pan disposed concentrically beneath said hot water heater and being of a diameter and shape sufficient to circumscribe substantially the entire outer periphery of said hot water heater, for collecting water leaking from said hot water heater;

a float disposed at least partially within said liquid pan and operable to rise and descent in response to rising and descending water levels within said liquid pan;

an electrical switch operably associated with said float for generating an electrical shut-off signal when said water collected within said liquid pan causes said float to rise to a predetermined level;

a first electrically controlled solenoid valve responsive to said electrical shut-off signal and disposed in a cold water supply line of said hot water heater for interrupting a flow of cold water into said hot water heater in response to said electrical shut-off signal;

a second electrically controlled solenoid valve disposed in a gas supply line to said hot water heater for interrupting the flow of gas into said hot water heater in response to said electrical shut-off signal; and

a programmable magnetic tape message device operable to provide a continuous, pre-programmed audible message in response to the generation of said electrical shut-off signal to thereby audibly inform individuals that a leak in said hot water has occurred and where to obtain service for said hot water heater;

wherein said liquid pan includes an overflow aperture mounted in a side wall portion thereof near an upper surface thereof;

a secondary overflow aperture disposed in said side wall at a position closer to said upper surface than said overflow aperture; and

a secondary overflow reservoir in communication with said secondary overflow aperture for collecting water therewithin which flows through said secondary overflow aperture.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said liquid pan includes an overflow aperture disposed in a side wall portion thereof near an upper surface thereof;

and

a conduit in communication with said overflow aperture, said conduit and said overflow aperture enabling water collected within said liquid pan which has risen to the level of said overflow aperture to be transported through said conduit to an adjacent floor drain.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said programmable message device comprises a magnetic tape player and a magnetic tape medium, said magnetic tape medium being magnetically encoded with a predetermined message advising that a water leak has occurred and where to obtain service for said water heater, said magnetic tape player being responsive to said electrical shut-off signal and operable to play continuously in response to said electrical shut-off signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said conduit is comprised of clear plastic tubing to enable visual detection that water is passing therethrough.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said secondary overflow reservoir includes a pump responsive to the accumulation of water within said secondary overflow reservoir for pumping water collected within said secondary overflow reservoir to a remotely located drain.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electrical shut-off signal operates to simultaneously to cause said first and second electrically controlled solenoid valves to interrupt the flow of said cold water and said gas, respectively, to said hot water heater, and to simultaneously initiate operation of said programmable message device.

8. A water leak detection and management system including a programmable message device for informing of the occurrence of a water leak in a hot water heater and where to obtain service, said apparatus comprising:

a liquid pan adapted to be disposed beneath said hot water heater and being of a sufficient diameter so as to circumscribe substantially completely the periphery of said hot water heater for collecting water leaking from said hot water heater;

said liquid pan having an overflow aperture located in a side wall portion thereof near an upper surface thereof;

a conduit in communication with said overflow aperture for conveying water passing through said overflow aperture to a nearby drain;

a secondary overflow aperture disposed in said side wall at a position closer to said upper surface than said overflow aperture for draining water from said liquid pan which rises to the level of said secondary overflow aperture;

a secondary overflow reservoir in communication with said secondary overflow aperture for collecting water passing through said secondary overflow aperture;

a float disposed within said liquid pan and adapted to rise and descend in response to rising and descending water levels within said pan, to thereby provide a mechanical signal indicative of a water leak condition occurring with said hot water heater when water leaking from said hot water heater collects within said liquid pan;

an electrical switch associated with said float for providing an electrical shut-off signal in response to movement of said float to a predetermined position;

a first electrically controlled solenoid valve disposed in a cold water supply line of said hot water heater and responsive to said electrical shut-off signal for interrupting a flow of cold water into said hot water heater when said electrical shut-off signal is generated;

a second electrically controlled solenoid valve disposed in a gas supply line of said hot water heater for interrupting a flow of gas to said hot water heater in response to the generation of said electrical shut-off signal;

a programmable message device responsive to said electrical shut-off signal for generating a preprogrammed audio message in response to the generation of said electrical shut-off signal informing of the occurrence of a water leak in said hot water heater and where to obtain service; and

a pump disposed within said secondary overflow reservoir and responsive to the collection of water within said secondary overflow reservoir for pumping water collected within said secondary overflow reservoir to a remote drain.