Tank monitor system
First Claim
1. A hot water tank monitoring system for a hot water tank having an input water supply line, an output water line, and a source of heat energy, the monitoring system including in combination:
- a pressure sensor connected to sense the pressure inside the hot water tank to provide an output signal when the sensed pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold;
a normally open shut-off valve in the input water supply line;
a control means for disconnecting the source of heat energy from the hot water tank; and
a controller coupled to receive the output signal from the pressure sensor and in response thereto, to close the shut-off valve in the input water supply line and to cause the control means to disconnect the source of heat energy from the hot water tank.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hot water tank monitoring system is designed to shut off the water supply to the hot water tank and to shut off either the electrical supply or the gas supply to the heating unit of the hot water tank in response to sensing of malfunction of one or more of a number of different sensed parameters. These parameters include a water leak detector located beneath the water tank, a water level float sensor, a temperature sensor to sense excess temperature, and a pressure sensor located in the line between the pressure relief valve and the blow-out outlet of the water tank. Signals from the various sensors are supplied to a controller, which provides signals to a LED status indicator, and also operates to provide alarm signals through a modem over telephone lines to remote locations and to operate an alarm.
72 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A hot water tank monitoring system for a hot water tank having an input water supply line, an output water line, and a source of heat energy, the monitoring system including in combination:
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a pressure sensor connected to sense the pressure inside the hot water tank to provide an output signal when the sensed pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold;
a normally open shut-off valve in the input water supply line;
a control means for disconnecting the source of heat energy from the hot water tank; and
a controller coupled to receive the output signal from the pressure sensor and in response thereto, to close the shut-off valve in the input water supply line and to cause the control means to disconnect the source of heat energy from the hot water tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A hot water tank monitoring system for a hot water tank having an input water supply line, an output water line, and a source of heat energy, the monitoring system including in combination:
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a pressure sensor connected to sense the pressure inside the hot water tank to provide an output signal when the sensed pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold;
an additional parameter sensor selected from the group of;
water leak sensor, excess temperature sensor, and water level sensor to provide an output signal when the sensed additional parameter reaches a predetermined threshold;
a normally open shut-off valve in the input water supply line;
control means for disconnecting the source of heat energy from the hot water tank; and
a controller coupled to receive the output signals from the pressure sensor and the additional parameter sensor, and, in response to any one of the output signals, to close the shut-off valve in the input water supply line and to cause the control means to disconnect the source of heat energy from the hot water tank. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. For use with a tank monitoring system for a hot water tank having an excess pressure relief outlet, a fitting assembly including in combination:
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a first length of pipe having a fluid communication channel and first and second ends, with the first end adapted to be secured in the pressure blow-out outlet of a hot water tank and the second end adapted to be attached to an excess pressure relief valve with a direct fluid pathway between the first and second ends;
a third leg, in open communication with the fluid pathway between the first and second ends for receiving a pressure sensing device; and
a fourth leg communicating with the pathway between the first and second ends and receiving a temperature sensor connected in the fourth leg for sensing temperature variations within the pathway between the blow-but outlet of the hot water tank and the pressure relief valve;
the pressure sensor including a movable diaphragm for operating a switch wherein the movable diaphragm responds to variations in pressure without the passage of any fluid through the third leg. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification