Overflow protection shut-off apparatus for use with a water heater

• US 5,632,302 A
• Filed: 12/22/1995
• Issued: 05/27/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert M. Lenoir Jr
• Original Assignee: Robert M. Lenoir Jr
• Inventors: Lenoir, Robert M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US08/577,692
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 122/504, 122/504.2, 122/505, 122/507, 200/61.04, 200/61.05, 200/DIG. 40, 200/DIG. 41, 307/118, 340/604, 340/605, 340/620, 340/623, 340/624, 340/625, 361/178, 137/312, 137/387, 251/263
• US Class Current: 137/312
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/04 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/12 Preventing or detecting fluid leakage
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/20 characterised by control inputs
• 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 9/2007 for water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/42 Switches operated by change of humidity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 200/41 Liquid contact
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting

Abstract

An overflow protection shut-off device for use with a water heater for shutting off a supply of water to the water heater when a leaking or an overflow condition occurs, the device including a valve mechanism coupleable to an input water line of a water heater and having an opened orientation for allowing flow of water within the input line and a closed orientation for preventing such flow; a water sensing mechanism positionable at a location proximal to the water heater for providing a signal when it is placed in contact with water when the water heater experiences the leaking or the overflow condition; and a switching mechanism coupled to the valve mechanism and the water sensing mechanism and with the switching mechanism being responsive to receipt of the signal from the water sensing mechanism for placing the valve mechanism in the closed orientation.

Claims

1. An overflow protection shut-off device for use with a water heater for shutting off a supply of water to the water heater when a leaking condition occurs comprising, in combination:

a resettable stop valve mechanism comprising;

a fitting securable to an input water line of a water heater,

an axially rotatable stem engaged within the fitting and being rotatable to an opened position for allowing water flow within the input line and further being rotatable to a closed position for preventing such flow,

a cam secured to the stem,

a coil spring coupled to the stem and having a biased orientation for placing the stem in an opened position and an unbiased orientation for placing the stem in the closed position, and

a hand-turnable knob coupled to the stem for allowing the coil spring to be placed in the biased orientation upon discretion of a user;

a switching mechanism comprising;

a hollow rigid housing with a plurality of apertures formed thereon for receiving a flow of water from the water heater when the leaking condition occurs,

a rigid and L-shaped lever having a short arm, a long arm with a hooked outboard end, and a location therebetween that is pivotally coupled to the housing,

a spring coupled between the long arm of the lever and the housing,

a strip of water-soluble material having one end coupled to the housing and another end coupled to the outboard end of the long arm of the lever to thereby place the spring of the switch mechanism in a biased position, and

a cable having a first end held in contact with the cam of the valve mechanism and a second end coupled to the short arm of the lever and with the strip dissolvable when placed in contact with water entering the housing to release the lever and remove the first end of the cable from contact with the cam, thus allowing closure of the stop valve mechanism;

electronic horn means for providing an audible indication of the leaking condition when the cam is released from contact with the first end of the cable;

a battery for supplying electrical energy to the horn; and

a depressible switch coupled between the horn and the battery and having a depressed orientation when placed in contact with the cam for allowing electrical energy to be delivered to the horn means and a released orientation for preventing such delivery.

2. An overflow protection shut-off device for use with a water heater for shutting off a supply of water to the water heater when a leaking condition occurs comprising:

valve means coupleable to an input water line of a water heater and having an opened orientation for allowing flow of water within the input line and a closed orientation for preventing such flow, wherein the valve means includes a fitting securable to an input water line of a water heater;

an axially rotatable stem engaged within the tubular fitting and being rotatable to an open position for allowing water flow within the input line and further being rotatable to a closed position for preventing such flow;

a cam secured to the stem;

a coil spring coupled to the stem and having a biased orientation for placing the stem in an open position and an unbiased orientation for placing the stem in the closed position; and

a hand-turnable knob coupled to the stem for allowing the coil spring to be placed in the biased orientation upon discretion of a user;

a electronic battery-operated horn means for providing an audible indication of the leaking condition when the coil spring is in the unbiased orientation;

water sensing means positionable at a location proximal to the water heater for providing a signal when it is placed in contact with water when the water heater experiences the leaking condition; and

switching means coupled to the valve means and the water sensing means and being responsive to receipt of the signal from the water sensing means for placing the valve means in the closed orientation.

3. An overflow protection shut-off device for use with a water heater for shutting off a supply of water to the water heater when a leaking condition occurs comprising:

valve means coupleable to an input water line of a water heater and having an opened orientation for allowing flow of water within the input line and a closed orientation for preventing such flow;

water sensing means positionable at a location proximal to the water heater for providing a signal when it is placed in contact with water when the water heater experiences the leaking condition;

switching means coupled to the valve means and the water sensing means and being responsive to receipt of the signal from the water sensing means for placing the valve means in the closed orientation, wherein the switching means comprises a hollow housing with a plurality of apertures formed thereon for receiving a flow of water from the water heater when the leaking condition occurs;

a rigid and L-shaped lever having a short arm, a long arm with an outboard end, and a location therebetween that is pivotally coupled to the housing;

a spring coupled between the long arm of the lever and the housing; and

a cable having a first end engaged with the valve means and a second end coupled to the short arm of the lever;

wherein the water sensing means comprises a strip of water-soluble material having one end coupled to the housing and another end coupled to the outboard end of the long arm of the lever to thereby place the spring of the switching means in a biased position, and with the strip dissolvable when placed in contact with water entering the housing to release the lever and allow closure of the valve means.