Integrated local or remote control liquid gas leak detection and shut-off system

• US 6,025,788 A
• Filed: 02/16/1996
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Smart Sensor Corp.
• Original Assignee: First Smart Sensor Corp.
• Inventors: Diduck, Victor John
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/602,300
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.16, 340/870.11, 340/870.15, 340/825.06, 340/825.16, 340/539, 340/604, 340/605, 340/632, 340/501
• US Class Current: 340/870.16
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements

Abstract

A novel system for detecting liquid and/or gas leaks and automatically shutting off the source of the liquid and/or gas leak. The system includes electronically detecting undesirable liquid and/or gas leaks, electronically transmitting signal about such undesirable liquid and/or gas leak, electronically receiving the signal, and electronically activating a mechanism which shuts off a liquid and/or gas valve thereby stopping the liquid or gas leak.

Claims

1. A liquid or gas leak detection and control apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of liquid or gas detectors for detecting liquid or gas;

(b) a transmitter electronically associated with each liquid or gas detector in said plurality of liquid or gas detectors, said transmitter, when activated by an electronic signal by said liquid or gas detector detecting liquid or gas, transmitting audio or radio signals or electrical signals by wire to a receiver;

(c) said receiver for receiving said audio or radio signals or electrical signals by wire transmitted by said transmitter and activating a control mechanism;

(d) a control mechanism associated with the receiver, said control mechanism, when activated by an electronic signal from the receiver, activating a shut-off valve associated with said liquid or gas detector which controls an associated source of the liquid or gas; and

(e) a power supply for electrically powering each detector, transmitter, receiver and control mechanism,

wherein said plurality of liquid or gas detectors are located in separate locations in a network including a central control which electronically communicates with said plurality of liquid or gas detectors, transmitters and receivers and controls valves that regulate the sources of liquid or gas, and wherein said plurality of liquid or gas detectors are remote from said central control and said control valves are independently remotely actuable between open and closed positions in response to said communication from said central control.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of water detectors deployed throughout a building, and a plurality of connecting transmitters deployed throughout the building, the transmitters communicating with respective receivers and motors, which are connected to a plurality of respective water valves which regulate the respective sources of water which may contact the respective water detectors, the respective applicable motors independently shutting off applicable water valves.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of gas detectors deployed through a building, and a plurality of connecting transmitters deployed throughout the building, the transmitters communicating with respective receivers and motors, which are connected to a plurality of respective gas valves which regulate the sources of gas which may contact the respective gas detectors, the respective applicable motors shutting off applicable gas valves.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including a plurality of gas detectors deployed throughout a building, and a plurality of connecting transmitters deployed throughout the building, the transmitters communicating with respective receivers and motors, which are connected to a plurality of respective gas valves which regulate the sources of gas which may contact the respective gas detectors, the respective applicable motors shutting off applicable gas valves.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein multiple input zones control one or more valves.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control mechanism changes flow rate, flow direction or flow pressure whereby a flow may be adjusted to compensate for an isolated leak.