Water safety system
First Claim
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1. A water safety valve for detecting water flow due to leaks or breaks in a water line, comprising;
- a) a housing having a top, a bottom and an encompassing side wall;
b) a central axial bore opening at said top and extending from said top toward said bottom and stopping a short distance from said bottom;
c) an inlet port extending into said housing and opening into said central axial bore, said inlet port having a top and bottom;
d) an outlet port in said side wall and opening into said central axial bore, said outlet port having a top and bottom;
e) said outlet port spaced above said inlet port and below said top of said housing;
f) a stop in said central axial bore adjacent said top of said inlet port;
g) said central axial bore being of substantially uniform diameter from the top of said housing to adjacent the top of said inlet port;
h) means for sealing said bore at the top of said housing;
i) a piston of uniform diameter slidable within said central axial bore including a switch actuator, said piston having a top and a bottom and an encompassing side wall;
j) switch means in said housing adjacent said top of said housing and actuatable by said piston;
k) said piston having a length extending from said stop to a distance above said top of said outlet port;
l) said piston when resting on said stop having its top spaced below said means for sealing said bore to form a first chamber between said piston top and said means for sealing said bore and a second chamber between said bottom of said piston and said bottom of said housing;
m) a first fluid by-pass means in said piston extending from the top of said piston and exiting out of said piston side wall above said bottom of said piston and in substantial communication with said outlet port during slidable movement of said piston in said bore for moving fluid from said chamber into said outlet port;
n) said piston having a clearance with said central axis bore of about between 0.003 and 0.006 inches;
o) said piston having a non-switch actuating position at rest on said stop below said switch means, and a switch actuating position adjacent said switch means; and
p) whereby when there is no water flow in said line, said piston will substantially close off said outlet port and when there is minimal water flow in said line, said piston will move upwardly discharging water from said chamber into said first fluid by-pass means and into said outlet port permitting said piston to rise to permit said actuator to actuate said switch means causing said water flow in said line to be shut down.
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Abstract
A water safety valve, system and method for detecting and shutting off water flow due to leaks or breaks in a water line in which the water flow is at a very low rate on the order of three to five fluid ounces per minute but having the capability of passing large flows of three hundred to five hundred times this amount. The system provides an automatic fluid shut off with an over-ride timer with an automatic return to normal operation when a predetermined period has expired. It further allows simple shut off and activation of the system with a single conveniently located control.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A water safety valve for detecting water flow due to leaks or breaks in a water line, comprising;
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a) a housing having a top, a bottom and an encompassing side wall; b) a central axial bore opening at said top and extending from said top toward said bottom and stopping a short distance from said bottom; c) an inlet port extending into said housing and opening into said central axial bore, said inlet port having a top and bottom; d) an outlet port in said side wall and opening into said central axial bore, said outlet port having a top and bottom; e) said outlet port spaced above said inlet port and below said top of said housing; f) a stop in said central axial bore adjacent said top of said inlet port; g) said central axial bore being of substantially uniform diameter from the top of said housing to adjacent the top of said inlet port; h) means for sealing said bore at the top of said housing; i) a piston of uniform diameter slidable within said central axial bore including a switch actuator, said piston having a top and a bottom and an encompassing side wall; j) switch means in said housing adjacent said top of said housing and actuatable by said piston; k) said piston having a length extending from said stop to a distance above said top of said outlet port; l) said piston when resting on said stop having its top spaced below said means for sealing said bore to form a first chamber between said piston top and said means for sealing said bore and a second chamber between said bottom of said piston and said bottom of said housing; m) a first fluid by-pass means in said piston extending from the top of said piston and exiting out of said piston side wall above said bottom of said piston and in substantial communication with said outlet port during slidable movement of said piston in said bore for moving fluid from said chamber into said outlet port; n) said piston having a clearance with said central axis bore of about between 0.003 and 0.006 inches; o) said piston having a non-switch actuating position at rest on said stop below said switch means, and a switch actuating position adjacent said switch means; and p) whereby when there is no water flow in said line, said piston will substantially close off said outlet port and when there is minimal water flow in said line, said piston will move upwardly discharging water from said chamber into said first fluid by-pass means and into said outlet port permitting said piston to rise to permit said actuator to actuate said switch means causing said water flow in said line to be shut down. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A water safety system for detecting and shutting off water flow due to leaks or breaks in a water line, comprising:
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a) a electro-mechanical first valve connected in the water line having an open and closed position, said first valve, when in said open position permits water to flow through the water line, and when in said closed position prevents water from flowing through the water line; b) a flow detector having a sensor, said flow detector connected in the water line in series with said first valve for detecting water flow in the water line so that upon water flow detection, said sensor is actuated; c) an electrical control unit connected to a power supply, said electrical control unit interconnecting said flow detector with said first valve, said control unit responsive to said flow detector detecting water flow; d) said electrical control unit including a first variable delay timer for delaying for a first preselected period of time the closing of said first valve when said flow detector has detected water flow; e) said electrical control unit having means for closing said first valve during water flow when said first preselected period has expired; and f) said electrical control unit including a second variable delay timer for interrupting said first variable delay timer and maintaining said first valve in an open position for a second preselected period of time beyond said first preselected period of time. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for detecting and shutting off water flow due to leaks or breaks in a water line, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an electro-mechanical first valve having open and closed positions, connected in the water line; b) providing a flow detector connected in the water line in series with the first valve for detecting water flow in the water line, the flow detector having a sensor; c) providing an electrical control unit for interconnecting the flow detector with the first valve, said control unit responsive to the flow detector detecting water flow in the water line; d) providing a first variable delay timer in the electrical control unit for delaying for a first preselected period of time the closing of the first valve when said flow detector has detected water flow; e) providing the electrical control unit with a means for closing the first valve during water flow when said preselected period has expired; f) opening the first valve to permit water to flow in the water line; g) detecting water flow in the water line with the flow detector; h) actuating the sensor in the flow detector; i) activating the first variable delay timer in the control unit in response to the sensor being actuated; j) closing the first valve during water flow when the first preselected period has expired to prevent water from flowing in the line; and k) providing a second delay timer in the electrical control unit for interrupting the first delay timer for maintaining the first valve in an open position for a second preselected period of time beyond the first preselected period of time.
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Specification