Microprocessor controled water shut-off device

• US 6,105,607 A
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Howard G. Worthy III, Robert F. Caise, William J. Senkevich
• Original Assignee: Howard G. Worthy III, Robert F. Caise, William J. Senkevich
• Inventors: Caise, Robert F., Worthy, Howard G. III, Senkevich, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Joanne Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/349,802
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 137/80, 137/624.11, 137/624.12, 137/487.5, 200/31.9 M
• US Class Current: 137/487.5
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/402 acting on a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/06 using electric or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

A microprocessor based control system to monitor flow in a potable water system and compare said flow with pre-set programs of time of day and duration of flow, if the pre-set parameters are exceeded the controller will turn off the flow of water.

Claims

1. A water supply shut-off system controlled by a microprocessor, said water supply shut-off system being used in a building structure having a plurality of diverse plumbing devices therein, said water supply shut-off system includes a water supply shut-off valve and a water flow sensing valve,

said microprocessor includes means for programming said microprocessor to sense an electronic signal emanating from said water flow sensing valve and means to compare the value of said electronic signal to pre-programmed time durations based upon time of day/day of the week in said microprocessor and to thereafter impress an electronic signal onto said water supply shut-off valve including means for positioning said water flow sensing valve to be oriented in multi-directional positions from the vertical.

2. A water supply shut-off system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said time values are of different durations.

3. A water supply shut-off system as claimed in claim 1 including a manually operated panic switch to activate said shut-off valve when any of said plumbing devices develop an external water leak.

4. A water supply shut-off system according to claim 1 including means for sensing the ambient air temperature close to a point of freezing to shut off said supply.

5. A water supply shut-off system according to claim 1, wherein said water flow sensing valve includes a valve body having an upstream water inlet and a downstream water outlet and a spring biased ball valve placed there between.

6. A water supply shut-off system according to claim 5 including a back pressure inlet in said valve body and positioned upstream of said ball valve and a switch means responsive to fluid pressure in said back pressure inlet generating said electronic signal to said microprocessor.

7. A water supply shut-off system according to claim 1 including an internal battery to continue power to the program status in said microprocessor in case of a main power failure.

8. A water supply shut-off system according to claim 1 including an LCD display on said microprocessor having means to indicate the status of said water supply shut-off system, said LCD also acts as an interface to program said system.

9. A microprocessor for controlling an automatic water supply system having a shut-off valve and a water flow sensing valve, said microprocessor includes a user programmable control means for receiving, comparing and generating electronic signals, said water flow sensing valve sends appropriate electronic signals to said means for receiving in said microprocessor, said means for comparing compares said signals received with a predetermined duration of time and thereafter, the means for generating sends a corresponding signal to said water supply shut-off valve.