System and method for closing an existing valve in response to a detected leak

• US 6,662,821 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2001
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rapid Emergency Shutoff Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rapid Emergency Shutoff Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Lumsden, John, Craig, Jack, Jacobsen, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US09/932,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20020096213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 137/312, 137/78.1, 137/557, 251/291, 251/292, 251/129.03, 251/129.04, 251/129.05, 251/129.11, 251/129.12, 307/118, 340/605, 340/620, 361/178, 361/180, 361/171, 700/275, 700/281, 700/282
• US Class Current: 137/312
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/05 specially adapted for operating hand-operated valves or for combined motor and hand operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1842 Ambient condition change responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

The invention is system and method for detecting a leak and operating an existing valve in response to the detected leak. In this regard, a receiving unit may be installed on an existing shutoff valve. The valve may control the flow of a fluid into a site. A transmitting unit may be installed in the vicinity of an appliance receiving the fluid. The transmitting unit may include a detector capable of detecting the fluid. In response to the detector detecting the fluid, the transmitting unit may transmit a signal including a unique 32 bit code. A receiver within the receiving unit may be capable of receiving the signal. Additionally, a PIC microprocessor within the receiving unit may be configured to receive the signal from the receiver and determine if the signal contains the code. In response to determining the signal contains the code, the PIC may control a motor to operate (e.g., turn off) the valve. The motor may be configured for attachment to the valve via a coupler.

Claims

1. A system comprising a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, the transmitting unit comprising:

a fluid detector; and

a transmitter connected to the fluid detector, wherein the transmitter is capable of transmitting a signal in response to a detected fluid;

the receiving unit comprising;

a receiver capable of detecting the signal;

an attachment mechanism having two ends, a first end of the attachment mechanism being detachably secured to a handle of a manual valve; and

a motor being attached to a second end of the attachment mechanism and the motor being attached to the receiving unit, wherein the motor is supplied an amount of current to generate torque to turn the valve toward a closed position in response to the receiver detecting the signal and the motor being controlled to stop turning the valve in response to the amount of current that generated to torque exceeds a predetermined current value, thereby closing the valve and terminating current supplied to the motor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit further comprises:

a processor connected between the fluid detector and the transmitter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is a PIC.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the signal in response to a detected fluid.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal contains a predetermined code.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the code comprises a predetermined unique 32 bit code.

7. The network of claim 6 wherein the signal is a wireless signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the transmitting unit further comprises:

an antenna configured to transmit the signal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit further comprises:

a processor connected between the receiver and the motor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is a PIC.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to determine if the signal contains the predetermined code.

12. A method comprising:

detecting a fluid;

transmitting a signal in response to the detecting step;

receiving the signal; and

operating a manual valve in response to the receiving the signal, wherein the manual valve, the motor, the motor being detachably secured to a handle of the manual valve, the motor operating to close the valve until an amount of current supplied to the motor exceeds a predetermined current value, thereby closing the valve and terminating current supplied to the motor.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

attaching a coupling mechanism to the manual valve.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the fluid is one of the group consisting of a conductive liquid, combustible liquid, combustible gas, and carbon monoxide.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal comprises a code.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the code further comprises a predetermined unique 32 bit code.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal is a wireless signal.

18. A transmitting unit comprising:

a fluid detector;

a memory device configured to store a code; and

a transmitter connected to the fluid detector and the memory device, the transmitter being capable of transmitting a signal in response to a detected fluid, the signal comprising the code, a manual valve being operated in response to the code, wherein the manual valve is operated by a motor, the motor being detachably secured to a handle of the manual valve, the motor operating to close the valve, thereby closing the valve and terminating current supplied to the motor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the transmitting unit further comprises:

a processor connected between the fluid detector and the transmitter.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is a PIC.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the signal in response to a detected fluid.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the code is a predetermined substantially unique 32 bit code.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the transmitting unit further comprises:

an antenna configured to transmit the signal.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the signal is a wireless signal.

25. A method comprising:

detecting a fluid;

retrieving a code from a memory device; and

transmitting a signal, in response to detecting the fluid, the signal comprising the code, a manual valve being operated in response to the code, wherein the manual valve is operated by a motor, the motor being detachably secured to a handle of the manual valve, the motor operating to close the valve until an amount of current supplied to the motor exceeds a predetermined current value, thereby closing the valve and terminating current supplied to the motor.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the fluid is one of the group consisting of a conductive liquid, combustible liquid, combustible gas, and carbon monoxide.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the code further comprises a predetermined unique 32 bit code.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the signal is a wireless signal.

29. A receiving unit comprising:

a receiver capable of detecting the signal;

an attachment mechanism having two ends, a first end of the attachment mechanism being detachably secured to a handle of a manual valve; and

a motor being attached to a second end of the attachment mechanism and the motor being attached to the receiving unit, wherein the motor is supplied an amount of current to generate torque to turn the valve toward an off position in response to the receiver detecting the signal and the motor being controlled to stop turning the valve in response to the amount of current exceeding a predetermined current value, thereby closing the valve and terminating current supplied to the motor.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the receiving unit further comprises:

a processor connected between the receiver and the motor.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor is a PIC.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the signal comprises a code.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the code comprises a predetermined substantially unique 32 bit code.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured to determine if the signal contains the predetermined code.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the receiving unit further comprises an antenna configured to receive the signal.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the signal is a wireless signal.

37. A method comprising:

receiving an electrical signal; and

automatically operating a manual valve in response to receiving the electrical signal, the manual valve being operated in response to the signal, wherein the manual valve is operating to shut off the valve until an amount of current supplied to the motor exceeds a predetermined current value, thereby closing the valve and terminating current supplied to the motor.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

attaching a coupling mechanism to the manual valve.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the signal comprises a code.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the code comprises a predetermined unique 32 bit code.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the receiving step is performed wirelessly.

42. A network comprising:

a first transmitting unit;

a second transmitting unit; and

a receiving unit in communication with the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit,

wherein both the first transmitting unit and the second transmitting unit individually comprise;

a fluid detector; and

a transmitter connected to the fluid detector, wherein the transmitter is capable of transmitting a signal in response to a detected fluid; and

wherein the receiving unit comprises;

a receiver capable of detecting the signal;

an attachment mechanism having two ends, a first end of the attachment mechanism being detachably secured to a handle of a manual valve; and

a motor being attached to a second end of the attachment mechanism and the motor being attached to the receiving unit, wherein the motor is supplied an amount of current to generate torque to turn the valve toward an off position in response to the receiver detecting the signal and the motor being controlled to stop turning the valve in response to the amount of current exceeding a predetermined current value, thereby closing the valve and terminating current supplied to the motor.

43. The network of claim 42 wherein the signal is a wireless signal.

44. The network of claim 43 wherein each transmitting unit further comprises an antenna configured to transmit the signal and wherein each receiving unit further comprises an antenna configured to receive the signal.

45. A network comprising:

a first receiving unit;

a second receiving unit; and

a transmitting unit in communication with the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit,

wherein both the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit individually comprise;

a receiver capable of detecting a signal;

an attachment mechanism having two ends, a first end of the attachment mechanism being detachably secured to a handle of a manual valve; and

a motor being attached to a second end of the attachment mechanism and the motor being attached to the receiving unit, wherein the motor is supplied an amount of current to generate torque to turn the valve in response to the receiver detecting the signal and the motor being controlled to stop turning the valve toward a closed position in response to the amount of current exceeding a predetermined current value, thereby closing the valve and terminating current supplied to the motor; and

wherein the transmitting unit comprises;

a fluid detector; and

a transmitter connected to the fluid detector, wherein the transmitter is capable of transmitting the signal in response to a detected fluid.

46. The network of claim 45 wherein the signal is a wireless signal.

47. The network of claim 46 wherein each transmitting unit further comprises an antenna configured to transmit the signal and wherein each receiving unit further comprises an antenna configured to receive the signal.

48. A network comprising:

a first matched set, the first set comprising;

one or more transmitting units; and

one or more receiving units in communication with the one or more transmitting units of the first set; and

a second matched set, the second set comprising;

one or more transmitting units; and

one or more receiving units in communication with the one or more transmitting units of the second set; and

wherein both the first matched set and the second matched set individually comprise;

one or more transmitting units;

one or more receiving units in communication with the one or more transmitting units;

wherein each of the one or more transmitting units individually comprises;

a fluid detector; and

a transmitter connected to the fluid detector, wherein the transmitter is capable of transmitting a signal in response to a detected fluid; and

wherein each of the one or more receiving units individually comprises;

a receiver capable of detecting the signal;

an attachment mechanism having two ends, a first end of the attachment mechanism being detachably secured to a handle of a manual valve; and

a motor being attached to a second end of the attachment mechanism and the motor being attached to the receiving unit, wherein the motor is supplied an amount of current to generate torque to turn the valve toward an off position in response to the receiver detecting the signal and the motor being controlled to stop turning the valve in response to the amount of current exceeding a predetermined current value, thereby closing the valve and terminating current supplied to the motor.

49. The network of claim 48 wherein the signal is a wireless signal.

50. The network of claim 49 wherein each transmitting unit further comprises an antenna configured to transmit the signal and wherein each receiving unit further comprises an antenna configured to receive the signal.