Moisture monitoring system
First Claim
1. A leakage response apparatus for responding to leakage of a conductive liquid from an appliance and including:
- a leakage sensor unit operative to change an electrical parameter thereof upon contact by a conductive liquid;
a controller circuit electrically coupled to said sensor unit and operative to generate an activation signal in response to said contact of said sensor unit by a conductive liquid;
a response device coupled to said controller circuit and activated by said activation signal; and
said sensor unit being formed of;
first and second electrically conductive outer layers having a porosity allowing for passage of the conductive liquid therethrough;
a central nonconductive layer having a porosity allowing for passage of the conductive liquid therethrough; and
a pair of fusing layers fusing said first and second layers to said central nonconductive layer, said fusing, layers having a porosity allowing for passage of the conductive liquid therethrough, said liquid bridging said conductive outer layers and fusing layers allowing said controller circuit to generate said activation signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A leakage response system for an appliance includes a leakage sensor which is operative to change an electrical parameter upon contact by a conductive liquid, a controller circuit electrically coupled with the strip for generating an activation signal in response to contact of the strip by a conductive liquid and a response device coupled with the controller circuit and activated by the signal. The sensor includes a mat which is constructed of top and bottom outer layers of electrically conductive fabric separated by a central nonconductive fabric layer; and a pair of fusing layers fusing the top and bottom layers to the central nonconductive layer. The sensor may also include a pair of conductive pins for installation into a surface for detecting moisture hidden within the surface. The response device may include an audible alarm and/or a valve for shutting off the water flow in the appliance water supply line. The response device may also include a radio link for activating a remote alarm and shut off valve. An alternate sensor mat includes a pair of apertured foil conductive layers separated by a nonconductive layer, and a pair of fusing layers fusing the foil conductive layers to top and bottom nonconductive absorbent layers.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A leakage response apparatus for responding to leakage of a conductive liquid from an appliance and including:
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a leakage sensor unit operative to change an electrical parameter thereof upon contact by a conductive liquid;
a controller circuit electrically coupled to said sensor unit and operative to generate an activation signal in response to said contact of said sensor unit by a conductive liquid;
a response device coupled to said controller circuit and activated by said activation signal; and
said sensor unit being formed of;
first and second electrically conductive outer layers having a porosity allowing for passage of the conductive liquid therethrough;
a central nonconductive layer having a porosity allowing for passage of the conductive liquid therethrough; and
a pair of fusing layers fusing said first and second layers to said central nonconductive layer, said fusing, layers having a porosity allowing for passage of the conductive liquid therethrough, said liquid bridging said conductive outer layers and fusing layers allowing said controller circuit to generate said activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
said fusing layers are heat activated to fuse said first and second layers to said central layer.
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3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said first and second conductive layers include carbon black.
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4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said central nonconductive layer is porous.
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5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said first and second layers and said central nonconductive layer are formed of a fabric.
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6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said responsive device includes an audible alarm.
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7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
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a water supply line is coupled with an appliance for delivering a supply of water; and
said response device includes a solenoid controlled valve operably coupled with said water supply line, said valve shiftable between an open position permitting a flow of water through the supply line and a closed, water flow blocking position.
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8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including:
a battery power supply providing operating power to said controller circuit.
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9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including:
a radio link functionally coupled between said controller circuit and said response device.
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10. A leakage response apparatus for responding to leakage of a conductive liquid from an appliance and including:
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a leakage sensor unit operative to change an electrical parameter thereof upon contact by a conductive liquid;
a controller circuit electrically coupled to said sensor unit and operative to generate an activation signal in response to said contact of said sensor unit by a conductive liquid;
a response device coupled to said controller circuit and activated by said activation signal; and
said sensor being formed of;
first and second moisture absorbent outer layers having a porosity allowing for passage of the conductive liquid therethrough;
first and second conductive layers having a porosity allowing for passage of the conductive liquid therethrough;
a central nonconductive layer having a porosity allowing for passage of the conductive liquid therethrough; and
a pair of fusing layers fusing said first and second moisture absorbent outer layers to said respective first and second conductive layers, said fusing layers having a porosity allowing for passage of the conductive liquid therethrough, said liquid bridging said conductive layers allowing said controller circuit to generate said activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
said response device includes an audible alarm.
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13. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein:
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a water supply line is coupled with an appliance for delivering a supply of water; and
said response device includes a solenoid controlled valve operably coupled with said water supply line, said valve shiftable between an open position permitting a flow of water through the supply line and a closed, water flow blocking position.
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14. The apparatus according to claim 10, further including:
a radio link functionally coupled between said controller circuit and said responsive device.
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11. The apparatus according to claim wherein:
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said first and second conductive layers include a conductive metallic foil;
said conductive metallic foil includes a series of spaced apertures; and
said fusing layers fuse said first absorbent outer layer to said second absorbent outer layer in covering relationship to said apertures.
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Specification