Early warning water leak detection system

• US 6,526,807 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Doumit, Royden J. Lynch Jr
• Original Assignee: Joseph Doumit, Royden J. Lynch Jr
• Inventors: Lynch, Royden J. Jr., Doumit, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garber, C D
• Application Number:
  US09/712,054
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 73/405.R, 340/605, 340/604, 340/533, 340/532, 340/534, 340/524, 340/525, 137/312
• US Class Current: 73/40.50R
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/04 by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/103 for flexible or elastic containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/16 using electric detection means G01M3/045, G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence

Abstract

A system for early detection of water leaks at particular locations in any water-dependent appliance and apparatus used in multi-dwelling facilities. A central control apparatus electrically interconnected with a plurality of circuits that enable water leaks to be accurately detected in a diversity of devices including air conditioners, compressor coils, hot water appliances, and pipes, and for communicating the severity of the water-related problem. A plurality of water sensors are incorporated into specially designed probes of the preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein water leaks may be accurately and reliably detected in a diversity of water-dependent appliances and devices. A specially designed fiber glass cloth functions as a probe for sensing water leaks via its built-in plurality of sensors constructed from a corresponding plurality of conductive wires enables the location and extent of a water leak to be ascertained. The apparatus is designed to be easily installed and to be inherently devoid of any safety hazards. Specially color-coded wires enable particular appliances and pipes to be properly interconnected wherein water leaks may be detected early enough to prevent consequent water-damage. A detection transmitter contained with a central control housing uses information retrieved from a database to communicate the location and extent of water leaks to contact personnel disposed at a plurality of remote receivers. Transmission of voice and data alert and warning messages is effectuated via telephone lines and cellular communications.

Claims

1. For a multi-dwelling building with a plurality dwelling units, each said dwelling unit having a plurality of water-dependent appliances and water-carrying pipes, a water leak detection apparatus providing warning of a water leak in at least one of said plurality of water-dependent appliances and said water-carrying pipes for at lest one of said plurality of dwelling units, said water leak detection apparatus comprising:

a plurality of flexible probe means for determining the location and extent of said water leak in at least one of said plurality of water-dependent appliances and said water-carrying pipes in at least one of said plurality of dwelling units;

each of said probe means of said plurality of probe means assigned an ID number for identifying each said dwelling unit and configured for attachment to at least one of said plurality of water-dependent appliances and said water-carying pipes for each said dwelling unit;

a central control housing means configured for installation in said multidwelling building for housing a circuit means and having multiconductor cable means for electrically interconnecting said plurality of water-dependent appliances and said water-carrying pipes with a plurality of sensor means encased within said plurality of probe means,

each of said plurality of sensor means coded corresponding to each conductor of said multiconductor cable means;

said central control housing means having a plurality of display means electrically interconnected with said circuit means for indicating the location and extent of said water leak in said plurality of dwelling units of said multi-dwelling building;

said plurality of transmission means including a database that stores information for each said assigned ID number that describes each appliance of said plurality of water-dependent appliances and each pipe of said plurality of water-carrying pipes, and enumerating a plurality of predetermined telephone numbers and a plurality of voice and data warning and alert messages responsive to said water leak detection;

each of said plurality of transmission means including programmable processor means responsive to said location and extent of said water leak in at least one of said dwelling units of said plurality of dwelling units, for retrieving corresponding information from said database for communicating a selected message from said database of a plurality of predetermined warning and alert messages to said remote receiving means; and

electrical power means interconnected with said central housing means for driving said circuit means.

2. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of flexible probe means comprises electrically nonconductive fiberglass cloth means as a base thereof.

3. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein said nonconductive fiberglass cloth means includes a silicon cloth means affixed to each end and side thereof, for insulating said connection of said plurality of sensor means with said multiconductor cable means.

4. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein said nonconductive fiberglass cloth means is configured to withstand temperatures up to 1000°

F.

5. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein said nonconductive fiberglass cloth means is configured to resist abrasion and tearing attributable to placement proximal to said plurality of water-dependent appliances and said plurality of water-carrying pipes.

6. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said nonconductive fiberglass cloth means is constructed from Teflon-coated cloth.

7. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein said nonconductive fiberglass cloth means further comprises protective cloth means enclosing and insulating joinder of said plurality of sensor means with a corresponding plurality of receptacles enclosed within said fiberglass cloth means, and fixedly attached thereto.

8. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein said protective cloth means comprises silicone cloth constructed to withstand temperatures up to 2300°

F.

9. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of sensor means comprises a pair of metal rods that create a conductive path when water appears therebetween.

10. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein said circuit means comprises a plurality of Darlington circuits with each of said plurality of Darlington circuits coupled to one of said plurality of sensor means.

11. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein said water leak occurring proximal to said plurality of water-dependent appliances and water-carrying pipes causes one of said plurality of Darlington circuits to conduct electricity.

12. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 11, wherein said display means comprises a plurality of display windows for displaying the location of said water leak, responsive to the conductivity of said plurality of Darlington circuits.

13. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 12, wherein said display means comprises a plurality of illuminating buttons for displaying the extent of said water leak and for displaying whether said power is supplied from a standard AC source or from battery backup, responsive to the conductivity of said plurality of Darlington circuits.

14. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said display means comprises an alarm means for generating a sound indicative of said water leak, responsive to the conductivity of said plurality of Darlington circuits.

15. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 14, wherein said circuit means comprises a delay means for interrupting said alarm means from generating a sound for a predetermined period of time to allow for said water leak to be remedied.

16. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 15, wherein said multiconductor cable means is color-coded for proper interconnection with a corresponding plurality of ports of said circuit means.

17. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 16, wherein said display means includes means for indicating an early warning of a minor water leak in said plurality of water-dependent appliances.

18. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 17, wherein said plurality of probe means and said central control housing means are releasably attached to said plurality of water-dependent appliances and said water-carrying pipes without requiring retrofitting.

19. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 18, wherein said plurality of probe means and said central control housing means are releasably attached to said plurality of water-dependent appliances and said water-carrying pipes without requiring professional installation by plumbers or electricians.

20. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 16, wherein at least one said plurality of sensor means is configured to detect and warn of an initial, low water leak prior to detecting and warning of a subsequent, high water leak in at least one of said plurality of water-dependent appliances.

21. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 16, wherein each sensor means of said plurality of sensor means is color-coded to be coupled to a corresponding like color-coded cable of said multiconductor cable means.

22. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 21, wherein each said color-coded cable of said multiconductor cable means that is coupled to said corresponding color-coded sensor means of said plurality of sensor means is, in turn, coupled to a corresponding like color-coded circuit of said circuit means.

23. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 22, wherein a first flexible probe means of said plurality of flexible probe means configured for determining the location and extent of said water leak in a hot water heater appliance of said plurality of water-dependent appliances and said water-carrying pipes is configured to be disposed beneath said hot water heater appliance and comprises:

a first color-coded sensor means encased within said first flexible probe means and disposed proximal to a plurality of edges thereof;

a second color-coded sensor means encased within said first flexible probe means and disposed medially of said first color-coded sensor means and said plurality of edges;

a third color-coded sensor means encased within said first flexible probe means and disposed medially of said second color-coded sensor means and said first color-coded sensor means; and

a fourth color-coded sensor means encased within said first flexible probe means and disposed centrally of said first, second, and said third color-coded sensor means.

24. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 23, wherein said first flexible probe means detects a water leak from said hot water heater appliance when leaking water bridges two of said first, second, third, and fourth color-coded sensor means, one interconnected with a corresponding said Darlington circuit and another not so interconnected, thereby establishing a conductive path therebetween.

25. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 24, wherein a first of said plurality of display means displays an alphanumeric symbol responsive to said location of said detection of said water leak from said hot water heater appliance.

26. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 24, wherein said first flexible probe means detects an initial, low water leak from said hot water heater appliance when leaking water bridges said second and said third color-coded sensor means.

27. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 26, wherein a second of said plurality of display means displays an alphanumeric symbol responsive to said initial extent of said detection of said water leak from said hot water heater appliance.

28. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 24, wherein said first flexible probe means detects a subsequent, high water leak from said hot water heater appliance when leaking water bridges said first and said fourth color-coded sensor means.

29. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 28, wherein said second of said plurality of display means displays an alphanumeric symbol responsive to said subsequent extent of said detection of said water leak from said hot water heater appliance.

30. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 22, wherein a second and third flexible probe means of said plurality of flexible probe means configured for determining the location and extent of said water leak in an air conditioner appliance of said plurality of water-dependent appliances and said water-carrying pipes are configured to be disposed on either side of a secondary catch pan of said air conditioner appliance immediately above the drainage pipe thereof, comprise:

a fifth color-coded sensor means encased within said second flexible probe means and disposed proximal to an outer longitudinal edge thereof;

a sixth color-coded sensor means encased within said second flexible probe means and disposed above said fifth color-coded sensor means;

a seventh color-coded sensor means encased within said third flexible probe means and disposed proximal to an outer longitudinal edge thereof; and

an eighth color-coded sensor means encased within said third flexible probe means and disposed above said seventh color-coded sensor means.

31. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 30, wherein said second and third flexible probe means detect a water leak from said air conditioner appliance when leaking water bridges either of said fifth and seventh color-coded sensor means or said sixth and eighth color-coded sensor means, one interconnected with a corresponding said Darlington circuit and another not so interconnected, thereby establishing a conductive path therebetween.

32. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 31, wherein said first of said plurality of display means displays an alphanumeric symbol responsive to said location of said detection of said water leak from said air conditioner appliance.

33. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 31, wherein said second and third flexible probe means detects an initial, low water leak from said air conditioner appliance when leaking water bridges said fifth and said seventh color-coded sensor means.

34. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 33, wherein said second of said plurality of display means displays an alphanumeric symbol responsive to said initial extent of said detection of said water leak from said air conditioner appliance.

35. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 31, wherein said second and third flexible probe means detect a subsequent, high water leak from said air conditioner appliance when leaking water bridges said sixth and said eighth color-coded sensor means.

36. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 35, wherein said second of said plurality of display means displays an alphanumeric symbol responsive to said subsequent extent of said detection of said water leak from said air conditioner appliance.

37. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 22, wherein a fourth flexible probe means of said plurality of flexible probe means configured for determining the location and extent of said water leak in a water-carrying pipe of said plurality of water-dependent appliances and said water-carrying pipes is configured to be wrapped around said water-carrying pipe, comprises:

a ninth color-coded sensor means encased within said fourth flexible probe means and disposed proximal to an outer longitudinal edge thereof; and

a tenth color-coded sensor means encased within said fourth flexible probe means and disposed proximal to the other, opposite outer longitudinal edge thereof.

38. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 37, wherein said fourth flexible probe means detects a water leak from said water-carrying pipe when leaking water bridges said ninth and tenth color-coded sensor means, one interconnected with a corresponding said Darlington circuit and another not so interconnected, thereby establishing a conductive path therebetween.

39. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 38, wherein said first of said plurality of display means displays an alphanumeric symbol responsive to said location of said detection of said water leak from said pip.

40. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 39, wherein said second of said plurality of display means displays an alphanumeric symbol responsive to said extent of said detection of said water leak from said pipe.

41. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said transmission means communicates with said receiving means by voice or data using telephone lines.

42. The water leak detection apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said transmission means communicates with said receiving means by voice or data using cellular means.