Fluid drip detection system

• US 5,650,564 A
• Filed: 04/16/1996
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Josef Wodeslavsky, Shirly Wodeslavsky
• Original Assignee: Josef Wodeslavsky, Shirly Wodeslavsky
• Inventors: Wodeslavsky, Josef, Wodeslavsky, Shirly
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIGGINS, JOHN DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/633,114
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 73/40, 73/40.5, 73/49.2, 73/861.44, 73/861.71, 340/605, 340/606, 340/604, 340/611, 340/612, 137/312, 137/313, 137/624.11, 137/624.12
• US Class Current: 73/49.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/16 using electric detection means G01M3/045, G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

A fluid drip detection system which is not prone to false alarms caused by the presence of dirt or solid particle contaminants in the fluid. The fluid drip detector comprises; a conducting hollow housing for permitting fluid flow and passage therethrough, the housing having a first and second conducting seats. A first conducting door is urged against the first seat and a second conducting door is urged against the second seat. The first and second doors disengage from their respective seats in a drip condition and in response to fluid movement. A conducting rod is connected to one of the doors and is slidingly fitted into a bore in the other door, such that in a no drip condition, if one of the doors is disengaged from its seat by dirt, the other door can still engage its seat, and a lead connected to the housing, for producing an electrical output in the event of a drip. Such electrical output is transmitted to a timer unit that can control the fluid flow by controlling a cut off valve. Such timer can be set both manually, by the user, or remotely, by an electrical signal from the fluid drip detector; where the electrical signal from the fluid drip detector is activated by opening and closing any fluid valve in the system.

Claims

1. A fluid drop detector for sensing presence of fluid droplets and leaks via measured changes in electrical resistance comprising:

a hollow housing for permitting fluid flow and passage therethrough of fluid from a fluid supply, the housing having a first and second conducting seats disposed therein;

a first conducting door urged against the first seat;

a second conducting door urged against the second seat, where both the first and second doors disengage from their respective first and second seats in a drip condition and in response to fluid movement that accompanies the occurrence of a drip or leak condition at the locations of said first and second doors;

an electrically conducting engaging means, engaging the first and second doors, such that in a no drip condition, if only one door is disengaged from its respective seat due to a mechanical malfunction or particle blocking of the second door, the other door can still engage its respective seat, and

a first conducting lead is in electrical communication with the first and second seats and the second conducting lead is in electrical communication with said first and second conducting doors, further having electrical connections to an ohmmeter instrument or other resistance detector means for providing an electrical output in response to a change in the electrical resistance occurring between each door and its respective seat, where the first and second conducting leads are electrically isolated from each other by means of a resistive sleeve disposed around one of each of said conducting leads.

3. A fluid drip detector as in claim 1, wherein the electrically conducting engaging means is a rod connected to one of the doors and is slidingly fitted into a bore disposed in the other door, such that in a no drip condition, if one of the doors is disengaged from its respective seat by dirt or solid particle contaminants to assume a non-operating status, the other door can still engage its respective seat to indicate a no drip or a no leak condition independent of the operating status of the disengaged door.

5. A fluid drip detector as in claim 1, wherein when a drip condition occurs, the electrical output activates an alarm and/or a cutoff valve to shut off the fluid supply.

6. A fluid drip detector as in claim 1 connected in fluid communication with a sprinkler-type tire suppressant system comprising a fluid pipe, alarm and a sprinkler, such that when the detector senses the sprinkler spraying fluid, the alarm is activated.

8. A fluid drip detector as in claim 1, wherein the drip detector additionally comprises an adjustable timer means connected to said resistance detector means, for selecting a time period over which continuous fluid flow or movement is permitted through said housing, while ignoring the electrical output of the resistance detector means over that time period.

9. A fluid drip detector as in claim 1, wherein the drip detector additionally comprises an adjustable timer means connected to the electrical output of the ohmmeter instrument or other electrical resistance detector means, the timer means comprises;

a timer;

time selecting means for initializing the timer, the time selecting means having at least two settings for different time periods, a first, short time setting, and a second, long time setting, whereby the time selecting means can be set by the user, either by manually setting a selector, or electrically, by an electrical signal of preset duration outputed by the detecting means, such that fluid can continuously pass through the housing for any period not exceeding the selected/set time period, while the electrical output of the detecting means is ignored over that selected/set time period, and further, if fluid passes through the housing after the selected/set period has lapsed, a signal is activated to notify the user, and/or a fluid shut off means is activated, to shut off the fluid, and

an overriding means for extending the selected/set time-period to the longer, second predetermined period, the overriding means is activated by opening and closing any fluid valve for a preset time, where the opening of the fluid valve increases the electrical resistance measured at the detecting means, and further, the closing of the fluid valve decreases the electrical resistance measured at the detecting means, such that the detecting means outputs an electrical signal of preset duration which electrically resets the time selecting means to the longer, second predetermined period, permitting fluid flow through the housing for the longer, second predetermined period, while ignoring the electrical output of the detector means over that period, and further, when the second predetermined period has lapsed, the first predetermined period set/selected on the timer is automatically reverted back to.

10. The fluid drip detector as in claim 9, further comprising;

a warning means, for warning the user that water will be shut off within a third predetermined period if the timer does not receive an electrical signal from the drip detector, such that before the set/selected period has ended, the warning means temporarily activates the shut off means to temporarily shut off the fluid for a short predetermined period, after the warning means stops actuating the shut off means, within the third predetermined period, the user must either activate the overriding means in order to have continuous fluid flow for the longer, second predetermined period, or the user must shut off the fluid valve which resets the timer to the first predetermined period, otherwise, an electrical means will actuate the shut off means, and fluid will be shut off.

13. A fluid drip detector as in claim 1 further comprising a one-way valve or a release valve, for releasing the back pressure from the outlet to the inlet.

15. A fluid drip detector as in claim 1, wherein the fluid drip detector reprograms, enables or sets a programmable integrated circuit chip to produce its designed output and/or implement its intended programmed course of action when a leak or drip condition occurs.

2. A fluid drop detector for sensing presence of fluid droplets and leaks via measured changes in electrical resistance comprising:

a conducting hollow housing for permitting fluid flow and passage therethrough, the housing having a first and second conducting seats disposed therein;

a first conducting door urged against the first seat;

a second conducting door urged against the second seat, where both the first and second doors disengage from their respective first and second seats in a drip condition and in response to fluid movement that accompanies the occurrence of a drip or leak condition at the locations of said first and second doors;

an electrically conducting engaging means, engaging the first and second doors, such that in a no drip condition, if only one door is disengaged from its respective seat due to a mechanical malfunction or particle blocking of the second door, the other door can still engage its respective seat, and

a first lead connected to the hoursing and a second lead connected to said electrically conducting engaging means, where said first and second leads are connected across an electrical measurement meter for providing an electrical output in response to a change in the electrical resistance occurring between each door and its respective seat,

a first conducting lead is in electrical communication with the first and second seats respectively and the second conducting lead is in electrical communication with said first and second conducting doors, further having an electrical connections to an ohmeter instrument for providing an electrical output in response to a change in the electrical resistance occurring between each door and its respective seat whenever said first and second doors are not engaged upon said first and second seats.

4. A fluid drip detector for detecting presence of drops and leaks of fluid via measured changes in electrical resistances, comprising:

a first electrically conducting housing having a stationary electrical lead having a first end protruding into the housing and a second end protruding out of the housing, the lead being electrically insulated from the housing;

a first electrically conducting moving door means situated in the first housing;

a first electrically conducting, force transmitting and urging means situated in the first housing, with said force transmitting and urging means having a first end connected to the first end of the stationary lead and having a second moveable end urging the first door means outward away from the first end of the lead;

a second electrically conducting housing having a first and second ends, where at the first end, the second housing is mounted to the first housing, and with the second housing having a first conducting seat at the first end, such that the first urging means urges the first door against the first seat;

a second electrically conducting moving door means situated in the second housing, the second door means having a bore therein;

a second electrically conducting, force transmitting and urging means having a stationary end and a moveable end that is situated in the second housing;

a third electrically conducting housing having a first and second ends, where at the first end, the third housing is mounted to the second end of the second housing, and with the first end of the third housing having a second conducting seat, such that the moveable end of said second urging means urges the second door means against the stationary second seat, whereby in a drip condition, both of said first and second doors disengage from their respective seats;

a hollow conducting rod connected to the first door means and slidingly fitted into the bore of the second door means, for allowing the two doors to move independently of each other, whereby, in a no drip condition, if dirt or solid particle contamination separates the first door from the first seat due to, fluid contaminant mechanical interference therebetween, the first door pulls the rod, which slides freely in the bore of the second door, thus permitting the second door to continuously engage the second seat without any disturbing effects due to said contaminant interference at said first door, and further, if dirt or solid particle contamination separates the second door from the second seat, the second door slides freely on the rod away from the second seat free of any resultant effect on said first door, thus leaving the first door engaged with the first seat, and

an electric resistance detector means connected to the electrical lead and across the housing for producing an electrical output in the event of a drip condition.

7. A fluid drip detector as in claim 4, wherein the electrical resistance detector means comprises a pulse generating means for generating electrical pulsating signals for continuously checking the electrical resistance between the housing and the lead.

14. A fluid drip detector as in claim 4 wherein the rod further comprises a first one way valve, such that back pressure from the first housing could vent out to the third housing, in order to keep the pressure in the first and third housing equal, and the second door further having a bore having a second one way valve, such that back pressure from the second housing could vent out to the third housing, in order to keep the pressure in the second and third housing equal.

11. An adjustable timer unit connected to a fluid handling system including at least one length of conduit, a fluid shut-off valve or signal warning means, one, or more fluid valves and any fluid drip detector means which can provide an electrical output in response to fluid drip, leak, movement or flow, the timer means comprises:

a timer;

Time selecting means for initializing the timer, the time selecting means having at least two settings for different time periods, including a first, short time setting, and a second, long time setting, whereby the time selecting means can be set by a user of said fluid handling system, either by manually setting a selector, or electrically, by an electrical signal of preset duration as outputted by the detecting means, such that fluid can continuously pass through the detecting means for any period not exceeding the selected/set time period, while the electrical output of the detecting means is ignored by the timer over that same time period, and further, if fluid passes through the detecting means after the selected/set time period has lapsed, a signal is activated to notify the user, and/or a fluid shut off valve means is activated, to shut off the fluid, and

an overriding means for extending the selected time-period to the longer, second predetermined period, the overriding means is activated by opening and closing any fluid valve for a preset time so as to provide a recognizable signal for transmission along said fluid handling system into said time selecting means and overriding means, such that the fluid detecting means provides an electrical signal of preset duration which electrically resets the time selecting means to the longer, second predetermined period, thus permitting fluid flow through the detecting means for the longer, second predetermined period, while ignoring the electrical output of the fluid detecting means over that period, and further, when the second predetermined period has lapsed, the first predetermined period selected/set on the timer is automatically reverted back to.

12. The fluid drip detector as in claim 11, further comprising:

a warning means, for warning the user that said fluid such as water in a water delivery system or supply conduit will be shut off within a third predetermined period if the timer does not receive an electrical signal from the fluid detecting means, such that before the set/selected period has ended, the warning means temporarily activates the shut off means to temporarily shut off the fluid for a short predetermined period, after the warning means stops actuating the shut off means, the user must activate the overriding means within the third predetermined period, or an electrical means will actuate the shut off valve, and fluid will be shut off.

16. An adjustable timer unit as in claim 11 further comprising a false-alarm-deactivating means, for resetting the system to open fluid flow communication thru said fluid drip detector means in case of a false alarm.

17. A fluid drop detector for interconnection with fluid handling systems or components that detects the presence of drips and leaks of fluid via measured changes in degree of electrical contact which occur between adjacent surfaces of a moveable door part and a stationary switch part initially sharing mechanical contact in said fluid drip detector, comprising:

a hollow housing for permitting fluid flow and passage therethrough, the housing having a seats disposed therein;

a flexible door means with a moveable center portion situated in said housing and urged against the seat, in order to close and open fluid communication through said housing from an inlet end towards an outlet end;

and said door means has mechanical communication with an electric switch, where said switch changes electrical state during a no leak condition, and whereby said electric switch will open and close to transmit an electrical signal before a fluid drop or leak passes across the door, thereby causing a decrease in pressure behind said door so that the center portion of said door will give to fluid pressure differential, which acts to move the center portion of said flexible door away from said switch before fluid will go through said housing from said inlet to said outlet in a steady leak condition as occurs when the fluid pressure differential becomes large enough to physically separate the complete mass of said door away from said seat, thereby forming a gap passage for said fluid to leak between the adjunct said door and seat.