Flood control device

• US 5,782,263 A
• Filed: 08/02/1996
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Plumbing Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gary A. Isaacson Jr
• Inventors: Isaacson, Gary A. Jr., Simpkins, Terry J. Jr., Simpkins, Terry Sr., Nyenhuis, James, Nyenhuis, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferensic, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FARID, RAMYAR M
• Application Number:
  US08/691,569
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 137/460, 137/487.5, 137/456, 137/463, 137/624.13, 137/624.11, 137/624.12, 137/624.22, 137/901, 137/459, 251/68, 251/74, 251/263, 251/129.04, 73/861.77, 73/861.78, 73/861.79
• US Class Current: 137/487.5
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/20 Excess-flow valves actuated in consequence of shock or similar extraneous influence F16K17/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/10 using rotating vanes with axial admission
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/115 with magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to the indicating device
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/003 using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/005 Valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/901 Biased ball valves with operators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7726 Responsive to change in rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86477 Biased latch, cam operated

Abstract

A flood control device 200 which measures the volume of fluid delivered in a continuous steady flow to a house or building and which shuts off the fluid flow if a preset maximum limit is reached, indicating overly high consumption due to a leak, break or open faucet in the plumbing of the house or building.

Claims

1. A flood control device comprising:

a housing having an inlet and an outlet;

an impeller which rotates a specified number of times for a given volume of fluid flowing into the inlet;

at least one indicator mass on at least one vane of the impeller;

a proximity detector for sensing when said at least one indicator mass passes by the proximity detector, for counting the number of rotations of the impeller;

an electronic circuit, coupled to the proximity detector, for counting the number of rotations of the impeller;

a solenoid, coupled to the electronic circuit, for activating a trigger when the electronic circuit has counted a preset number of rotations of the impeller;

a cocking lever, having first and second ends, wherein the first end is releasably coupled to the trigger;

a cam shaft having first and second ends and biased with a spring, the first end of the cam shaft being attached to the second end of the cocking lever;

a cam, attached to the second end of the cam shaft; and

a ball engaging the cam such that when the trigger is activated by the solenoid, the cocking lever releases from a cocked position, thereby rotating the cam shaft and cam as the first end of said cocking lever swings so as to extend outward from said housing, and thereby allowing the ball to be seated in a seat of said outlet, thereby closing the outlet and stopping fluid flow through the flood control device.

2. The flood control device of claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting said preset number of rotations which will trigger shut-off of the flood control device.

3. The flood control device of claim 1 further comprising at least one battery, coupled to said electronic circuit, for providing power to the electronic circuit.

4. The flood control device of claim 3 further comprising means for electrically charging said at least one battery.

5. The flood control device of claim 4 wherein said charging means comprises at least one permanent magnet connected to said axial impeller;

and

a coil generator, coupled to said at least one battery, wherein the at least one permanent magnet induces current in the coil generator as the axial impeller spins, causing the at least one permanent magnet to pass near the coil generator, thereby charging the at least one battery with the induced current provided by the coil generator by providing the induced current to the at least on battery.

6. The flood control device of claim 1, wherein said impeller comprises a helical axial impeller.