Water heater fail safe apparatus

• US 6,543,471 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James H. Carroll
• Original Assignee: James H. Carroll
• Inventors: Carroll, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US10/172,905
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 122/504, 122/504.2, 122/507, 137/312, 137/420, 137/421, 137/447, 137/449, 251/14, 251/73, 251/74, 251/294, 340/605, 340/623
• US Class Current: 137/312
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/18 actuated by a float floats F16K33/00; float-actuated valves in steam-traps F16T1/20, in boilers F22D5/08
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/12 Preventing or detecting fluid leakage
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/17 Means for retaining water leaked from heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2007 for water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3245 using a level monitoring device G01M3/3272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7397 Weight or spring bias
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7481 Rotary valve element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7488 Ball valves

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically shutting off a water supply to a leaking water heater includes a water-collecting tray adapted to be positioned beneath a water heater, and a float mechanism removably attachable to the tray. The float mechanism has a float adapted to reside within the tray. An arm extends from the float, and terminates in a trigger extremity located outside the tray. The trigger extremity is positioned to push upwardly upon a holding block that secures an extremity of a coil spring. The holding block also secures a tether that extends to an operating lever of a water shut-off valve. When the float rises in the tank, it causes the trigger extremity to release the coil spring in tensioned state from the holding block. Such action pulls the operating lever downwardly, causing shut-off of the water supply.

Claims

1. Apparatus for automatedly shutting off a water supply to a leaking water heater, said apparatus comprising:

a) a water-collecting tray having a perimeter sidewall and adapted to be positioned beneath said water heater,

b) an elongated rigid base strip attachable to said sidewall,

c) a shut-off valve secured to said base strip and equipped with an operating lever,

d) float means comprised of a buoyant head positioned within said tray, an elongated extension arm extending from said head to a distal extremity, a transverse arm extending orthogonally from said distal extremity and crossing over said sidewall, means for pivotally supporting said transverse arm, and a downwardly directed arm emergent from said transverse arm and terminating in a trigger extremity,

e) an elongated coil spring having a normally contracted state and having a first end attached to said base strip at a site adjacent said buoyant head, and a second end directed toward said trigger extremity,

f) holding means for securing the second end of said spring when said spring is forcefully stretched toward said trigger extremity, said holding means being interactive with said trigger extremity in a manner to release said spring when said buoyant head is elevated by virtue of flotation upon water collected in said tray,

g) first tether means extending in engagement between the second end of said spring and the operating lever of said shut-off valve,

h) guide means secured to said base strip for engaging said first tether in a manner causing said tether to have a sharply angled upward path directed toward said lever, and

i) second tether means attached to the second end of said spring and extending to a distal end having means to facilitate manual gripping for exerting pulling force to extend said spring from its contracted to stretched state, whereby

j) release of said stretched spring by said trigger extremity produces a pulling force upon said first tether means which moves said lever handle downwardly to a position representing closure of said shut-off valve.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tray has a rectangular configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base strip is removably attached to said perimeter sidewall by way of penetrating threaded fasteners.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base strip is an angle bar.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for pivotally supporting said transverse arm is a bearing bracket attached to said angle bar.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said extension arm, transverse arm and downwardly directed arm are portions of a single piece of metal rod stock shaped by an appropriate bending operation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said holding means is a block having an aperture.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said trigger extremity is adapted to push said holding means upwardly.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further including engaging means interactive with said block by way of insertive penetration of said aperture.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said engaging means is a post of threadably adjustable height upwardly directed from said base strip.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further including adjustable limiting means for limiting the downward movement of said lever handle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further including a microswitch associated with said limiting means and adapted to produce an alarm which signals the presence of a leaking water heater.