Remotely controlled water line shut off system

• US 6,491,062 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Croft
• Original Assignee: Thomas Croft
• Inventors: Croft, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/127,000
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.11, 137/624.12, 239/67, 239/68, 239/69, 239/70, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 137/624.11
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• 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: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

A remotely controlled water line shut off system having particular utility as a convenient means to avoid internal water damage to a dwelling, or to the excessive use of water through a sprinkler system, where the dwelling is not occupied continuously, such as a summer rental. System includes a housing or enclosure mounted between a water intake and water discharge lines, where the housing includes a water meter, a water cut off valve, a preset quantity control metering mechanism, a solid state radio transceiver, and an electrical power source, where controlling thereof may be by wireless communication with the solid state radio transceiver.

Claims

1. A remotely controlled water line shut off system for responding to inadvertant or excessive damand for water at a dwelling, wherein said dwelling includes aligned water intake and water discharge lines in fluid communication with each other for transmitting water to internal plumbing and an external sprinkler mechanism, said system comprising:

a.) a housing situated between said water intake line and said water discharge line, said housing including the following components;

i.) a water meter in direct fluid communication with said water intake line,

ii.) a water cut off valve in fluid communication with said water discharge line, with a water conduit between said water meter and said water cut off valve,

iii.) a preset quantity control metering means,

iv.) a solid state radio transceiver for transmitting programmed signals to said control metering means, and

v.) an electrical power source and circuitry bringing said components into electrical communication to effect a predetermined operation of said water cut off valve;

b.) remote means in radio communication with said solid state radio transceiver to allow programming of said system from a remote location.

2. The remotely controlled water line shut off system according to claim 1, wherein said electrical power source includes a storage battery, and at least a portion of said housing is above ground level and mounts a solar collector for recharging said storage battery.

3. The remotely controlled water line shut off system according to claim 1, wherein said remote means is a handheld unit including a radio transmitter and a timing control mechanism to allow external operation of said system.

4. The remotely controlled water line shut off system according to claim 1, wherein said remote means is a fixed unit within said dwelling.

5. The remotely controlled water line shut off system according to claim 1, wherein said housing is fabricated of polyvinyl chloride.

6. The remotely controlled water line shut off system according to claim 1, including a programmable switch to override said water cut off valve to continue operating said system in a sprinkler mode.

7. The remotely controlled water line shut off system according to claim 1, wherein said solid state radio transceiver includes an antenna in wireless communication with said remote means.

8. The remotely controlled water line shut off system according to claim 1, including means to program a predetermined quantity of water transmitting said system before said water cut off valve is activated.