Leak detector

• US 5,877,689 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dan D'Amico
• Original Assignee: Dan D'Amico
• Inventors: D'Amico, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/940,499
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 340/605, 340/606, 340/608, 340/618, 340/623, 137/78.1, 137/79, 137/31, 73/40, 73/305, 73/307, 73/317, 73/319, 200/84 R, 200/61.04
• US Class Current: 340/605
• 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 9/17 Means for retaining water leaked from heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2007 for water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting

Abstract

A water appliance detection and cut off apparatus is provided including a water entry conduit for receiving water from a water source. A pan is provided having a bottom face and a lip coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom for defining an open top and an interior space into which the water appliance is stored. A water ball valve is connected to the water entry conduit. In use, the ball valve has a closed orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of an activation signal wherein water is prevented from flowing to the water appliance and an open orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of a deactivation signal wherein water is allowed to flow to the water appliance. At least one water sensor is situated within the interior space of the pan and is adapted to generate the activation signal upon the detection of water within the pan, wherein the water sensor is connected to the water ball valve for transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of water thereby precluding water from flowing to the water appliance. A D-flip flop having an input is connected to the water sensors for continuously transmitting the activation signal at an output thereof upon at least the instantaneous receipt thereof until the receipt of the deactivation signal at a clear input thereof. Next provided is an audio alarm connected to the output of the D-flip flop for emitting an audible noise only during the receipt of the activation signal. Finally, a reset switch is connected to the clear input of the D-flip flop and the water ball valve for transmitting a deactivation signal thereto upon the depression thereof for resuming the flow of water to the water appliance.

Claims

1. A water appliance detection and cut off apparatus comprising, in combination:

a water appliance having a water entry conduit for receiving water from a water source and a gas entry conduit for receiving gas from a gas source for powering purposes, the water appliance further connected to a electrical power source via a plurality of wires for receiving electrical power therefrom for powering control means of the water appliance;

a pan having a bottom face and a lip coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom for defining an open top and an interior space into which the water appliance is stored;

a water ball valve connected to the water entry conduit, the ball valve having a closed orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of an activation signal wherein water is prevented from flowing to the water appliance and an open orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of a deactivation signal wherein water is allowed to flow to the water appliance;

a gas valve coupled to the gas entry conduit for precluding the flow of gas to the water appliance only during the receipt of power;

a plurality of water sensors each situated within the interior space of the pan and each adapted to generate the activation signal upon the detection of water within the pan, wherein the water sensors are connected to the water ball valve for transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of water thereby precluding water from flowing to the water appliance;

a light emitting diode connected to the water sensors for illuminating upon the receipt of the activation signal thereby indicating a true leak;

a D-flip flop having an input connected to the water sensors for continuously transmitting the activation signal at an output thereof upon at least the instantaneous receipt thereof until the receipt of the deactivation signal at a clear input thereof;

a manual override switch connected between the light emitting diode and water sensors and the water ball valve and D-flip flop for allowing the transmission of the activation signal to only the light emitting diode in a first orientation and further allow the transmission of the activation signal to the D-flip flop and the water ball valve in a second orientation;

an audio alarm means connected to the output of the D-flip flop for emitting an audible alarm only during the receipt of the activation signal;

a voltage controlled switch connected between the electrical power source and the gas valve, the voltage controlled switch further connected to the output of the D-flip flop for supplying power to the gas valve only during the receipt of the activation signal thereby precluding the flow of gas to the water appliance, the voltage controlled switch further connected to the wires between the electrical power source and the water appliance for precluding the supply of electrical power to the water appliance only during the receipt of the activation signal; and

a reset switch connected to the clear input of the D-flip flop and the water ball valve for transmitting a deactivation signal thereto upon the depression thereof for resuming the flow of water, gas, and electrical power to the water appliance.

2. A water appliance detection and cut off apparatus comprising;

a water appliance having a water entry conduit for receiving water from a water source, the water appliance further connected to a power source for electrical power,

a pan having a bottom face and a lip coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom for defining an open top and an interior space into which the water appliance is stored;

a water ball valve connected to the water entry conduit, the ball valve having a closed orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of an activation signal wherein water is prevented from flowing to the water appliance and an open orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of a deactivation signal wherein water is allowed to flow to the water appliance;

a power cutoff means coupled between the power source and the water appliance for precluding the flow of power to the water appliance only during the receipt of the activation signal;

at least one water sensor situated within the interior space of the pan and adapted to generate the activation signal upon the detection of water within the pan, wherein the water sensor is connected to the water ball valve for transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of water thereby precluding water from flowing to the water appliance;

a D-flip flop having an input connected to the water sensors for continuously transmitting the activation signal at an output thereof upon at least the instantaneous receipt thereof until the receipt of the deactivation signal at a clear input thereof, wherein the output of the D-flip flop is connected to the power cut off means;

an audio alarm means connected to the output of the D-flip flop for emitting an audible alarm only during the receipt of the activation signal;

a reset switch connected to the clear input of the D-flip flop and the water ball valve for transmitting a deactivation signal thereto upon the depression thereof for resuming the flow of water and power to the water appliance;

a light emitting diode connected to the water sensors for illuminating upon the receipt of the activation signal thereby indicating a true leak; and

a manual override switch connected between the light emitting diode and water sensors and the water ball valve and D-flip flop for allowing the transmission of the activation signal to only the light emitting diode in a first orientation and further allow the transmission of the activation signal to the D-flip flop and the water ball valve in a second orientation.

3. A water appliance detection and cut off apparatus comprising:

a water appliance having a water entry conduit for receiving water from a water source;

a pan having a bottom face and a lip coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom for defining an open top and an interior space into which the water appliance is stored;

a water ball valve connected to the water entry conduit, the ball valve having a closed orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of an activation signal wherein water is prevented from flowing to the water appliance and an open orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of a deactivation signal wherein water is allowed to flow to the water appliance;

at least one water sensor situated within the interior space of the pan and each adapted to generate the activation signal upon the detection of water within the pan, wherein the water sensor is connected to the water ball valve for transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of water thereby precluding water from flowing to the water appliance;

a D-flip flop having an input connected to the water sensors for continuously transmitting the activation signal at an output thereof upon at least the instantaneous receipt thereof until the receipt of the deactivation signal at a clear input thereof;

an audio alarm means connected to the output of the D-flip flop for emitting an audible alarm only during the receipt of the activation signal; and

a reset switch connected to the clear input of the D-flip flop and the water ball valve for transmitting a deactivation signal thereto upon the depression thereof for resuming the flow of water to the water appliance;

wherein the appliance is a washer;

wherein the water sensor is adapted for transmitting the activation signal upon the detection of a leak, the apparatus further including means for closing the water ball valve unconditionally after a predetermined amount of time if the washer is not consuming power as in the case where the washer is deactivated.