Flood control device

• US 6,119,720 A
• Filed: 07/13/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• 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 Sr., Nyenhuis, James, Nyenhuis, Eric, Simpkins, Terry J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferensic, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RINEHART, KENNETH
• Application Number:
  US09/352,810
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 137/459, 137/460, 415/72, 415/75, 416/176, 416/177
• US Class Current: 137/459
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/20 Excess-flow valves actuated in consequence of shock or similar extraneous influence F16K17/36
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/32 acting on a servo-mechanism or on a catch-releasing mechanism
• 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: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7726 Responsive to change in rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7727 Excessive flow cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A flood control device measures fluid flow into a house or building and shuts off the fluid flow if measured flow conditions indicate an overly high consumption due to a leak, break, or other abnormal condition which is present in the plumbing system 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;

a detector for sensing rotation of said impeller;

an electronic circuit coupled to said detector and configured to count the number of rotations of said impeller;

a solenoid activated by said electronic circuit;

a trigger activated by said solenoid;

a spring loaded shaft releasably restrained in place by said trigger;

a rotatable shut-off valve coupled to said spring loaded shaft such that when said trigger is activated so as to release said spring loaded shaft from being restrained by said trigger, said spring loaded shaft rotates so as to close said outlet and stop fluid flow through the flood control device.

2. The flood control device of claim 1, wherein said rotatable shut-off mechanism comprises a rotating ball valve.

3. The flood control device of claim 1, wherein said rotatable shut-off mechanism comprises a ball check valve coupled to a cam.

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

5. The flood control device of claim 4, wherein said impeller is removable from said housing.

6. The flood control device of claim 1, additionally comprising a digital display device.