Electrical system

• US 6,404,345 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Berwyn Travis Frasier
• Original Assignee: Berwyn Travis Frasier
• Inventors: Frasier, Berwyn Travis
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/660,780
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 347/605, 347/606, 347/626, 347/607, 347/618, 73/40, 73/425.R, 137/80, 137/551, 137/557, 137/558
• US Class Current: 340/626
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

An electronic system with a control box. Pressure sensors are coupled to the electrical lines to determine and display pressure. Flow metering devices are coupled to the electrical ines to determine and display the flow rate. Liquid bridging sensors include four liquid bridging sensors in four sites with a valve actuated by electro-mechanical means. The valve located within the water line with a voice-auto dialer allowing data from the system to be transferred via a phone line. An electrical circuit includes a port for coupling with a conventional central computer and has computing software allowing the storing of the rate of flow of water. An internet program is adapted to notify the user and authorities upon emergency shut-off and provide the pressure and flow rates of the water lines and if the liquid bridging sensors have detected leaks. Finally included is control software to program and shut off the water supply.

Claims

1. A new and improved electronic system for controlling and monitoring water lines, comprising, in combination:

a control box for the system positionable within the house of a user;

a digital light emitting diode display mounted to the control box to indicate a numerical value indicative of a sensed water pressure and a rate of flow of water;

a buzzer mounted in the control box to generate an audible signal upon the pressure flow or liquid bridging being identified outside of an acceptable range;

a first electrical line from the control box to a source of potential within the house;

a plurality of second electrical lines from the control box to a plurality of water lines for the house;

a third electrical line from the control box to a telephone line;

an electrical circuit within the control box allowing the system to accept both AC and DC power;

a plurality of pressure sensors coupled with respect to the second electrical lines to determine the pressure within the water line and to allow the display to indicate such determined pressure including a first pressure metering device in a first location, a second pressure metering device in a second location and a third pressure sensor in a third location;

a plurality of flow metering device coupled with respect to the second electrical lines to determine the rate of flow of the water within the water line and to allow the display to indicate such determined rate of flow of the water including a first flow metering device in the first location, a second flow metering device in the second location and a third flow metering device in the third location;

a plurality of liquid bridging sensors including a first liquid bridging sensor in a first site, a second liquid bridging sensor in a second site, a third liquid bridging sensor in a third site and fourth bridging sensor in a fourth site and all being mounted to the second electrical lines to detect leak outside of the pipes;

a valve actuated by electro-mechanical means, the valve located within the water line at the first location and mounted thereto adjacent to the pressure sensor and flow sensor in a fashion similar to that of an existing main control valve, the valve adapted to shut off the flow of water automatically upon the pressure flow or liquid bridging being outside of the high and low acceptable range for a predetermined amount of time, the valve adapted to shut off the flow of water manually from the control box at the discretion of a user upon the inspection of the display;

a voice-auto dialer in the control box coupled to the third electrical allowing data from the system to be transferred via a phone line;

an existing alarm system coupled to the system to notify users and authorities;

an electrical circuit for controlling the box including a port for allowing coupling with a conventional central computer

computing software adapted to be loaded on the central computer allowing the storing of the rate of flow of water and further calculating the amount of water consumed over a predetermined amount of time and the price of water consumed;

an internet program loaded on to the central computer adapted to notify the user and authorities upon emergency shut-off and provide the pressure and flow rate of the water lines; and

control software loaded on the computer to program and shut-off the water supply utilizing the central computer or a remote source via the internet.

7. A new and improved electronic system as set forth in claim 1 and further including switches to immediately program the on or off flow of water for an extended period of time within a day, week or month, if needed to allow for maintenance inside or outside of the building when the user is home or away.

2. A electronic system for comprising:

a control box for the system positionable within the house of a user;

a first electrical line from the control box to a source of potential within the house;

a plurality of second electrical lines from the control box to a plurality of water lines for the house;

a third electrical line from the control box to a telephone line;

a plurality of pressure sensors coupled with respect to the second electrical lines to determine the pressure within the water line and to allow the display to indicate such determined pressure;

a plurality of flow metering device coupled with respect to the second electrical lines to determine the rate of flow of the water within the water line and to allow the display to indicate such determined rate of flow of the water;

a plurality of liquid bridging sensors including a first liquid bridging sensor in a first site, a second liquid bridging sensor in a second site, a third liquid bridging sensor in a third site and fourth bridging sensor in a fourth site;

a valve actuated by electro-mechanical means, the valve located within the water line;

a voice-auto dialer in the control box coupled to the third electrical allowing data from the system to be transferred via a phone line;

an electrical circuit for controlling the box including a port for allowing coupling with a conventional central computer

computing software adapted to be loaded on the central computer allowing the storing of the rate of flow of water;

an internet program loaded on to the central computer adapted to notify the user and authorities upon emergency shut-off and provide the pressure and flow rate of the water lines; and

control software loaded on the computer to program and shut-off the water supply.

3. A new and improved electronic system as set forth in claim 2 and further including a digital light emitting diode display mounted to the control box to indicate a numerical value indicative of a sensed water pressure and a rate of flow of water.

4. A new and improved electronic system as set forth in claim 3 and further including a buzzer mounted in the box to generate an audible signal upon the pressure flow or liquid bridging being identified outside of an acceptable range.

5. A new and improved electronic system as set forth in claim 4 and further including an electrical circuit within the control box allowing the system to accept both AC and DC power.

6. A new and improved electronic system as set forth in claim 5 and further including an existing alarm system coupled to the system to notify users and authorities.