System and method for monitoring and controlling utility systems

• US 6,860,288 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth J. Uhler
• Original Assignee: Kenneth J. Uhler
• Inventors: Uhler, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/784,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 137/551, 137/552, 137/357, 137/312, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 137/552
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/06 using electric or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/003 using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means G01F15/002, G01F15/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1963 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6969 Buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8175 Plural

Abstract

A system for monitoring and controlling one or more utility systems includes a utility system main supply line for supplying a utility to at least one of a structure, an area and a building and a controlled shut-off device on the utility system main supply line. The controlled shut-off device is bias toward an open position and is movable toward a closed position upon receipt of an actuation signal wherein the utility is prevented from passing by the controlled shut-off device. A main utility sensor is on the utility system main supply line and a motion sensor that detects occupancy is in the building. A processor communicates with the controlled shut-off device, the main utility sensor and the motion sensor. The processor sends the actuation signal to the controlled shut-off device to move the controlled shut-off device toward the closed position when input from the main utility sensor and the motion sensor indicates occurrence of an abnormal event.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and controlling one or more utility systems, comprising:

a utility system main supply line for supplying a utility to at least one of a structure, an area and a building;

a controlled shut-off device on said utility system main supply line, said controlled shut-off device bias toward an open position and movable toward a closed position upon receipt of an actuation signal wherein said utility is prevented from passing by said controlled shut-off device;

a main utility sensor on said utility system main supply line that at least one of detects and monitors passage of said utility through said utility main supply line;

a occupancy sensor in said building that detects occupancy;

a processor communicating with said controlled shut-off device, said main utility sensor and said occupancy sensor, said processor sending said actuation signal to said controlled shut-off device to move said controlled shut-off device toward said closed position when input from both said main utility sensor and said occupancy sensor indicates occurrence of an abnormal event.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the utility is one of gas, electric and water.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the utility is one of gas and electric.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said utility sensor and said occupancy sensor indicate said occurrence of said abnormal event when at least one of:

(a) said occupancy sensor indicates that said building is unoccupied and said utility sensor indicates that said utility is one of (i) being used in excess of a specified unoccupied amount and (ii) being used continuously in excess of a specified unoccupied period of time; and

(b) said occupancy sensor indicates that said building is occupied and said utility sensor indicates that said utility is one of (i) being used in excess of a specified occupied amount and (ii) being used continuously in excess of a specified occupied period of time.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said controlled shut-off valve remains in said open position when said occupancy sensor detects that said building is unoccupied while said utility sensor indicates normal usage of said utility.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said utility sensor and said occupancy sensor indicate said occurrence of said abnormal event when said occupancy sensor indicates that said building is occupied and said utility sensor indicates that said utility is one of (i) being used in excess of a specified occupied amount and (ii) being used continuously in excess of a specified occupied period of time.

7. The system of claim 1 further including:

a local controlled shut-off device spaced downstream from said controlled shut-off device and adjacent an appliance that uses said utility, said local controlled shut-off device bias toward a local device open position and movable toward a local device closed position upon receipt of a local actuation signal wherein said utility is prevented from passing by said local controlled shut-off device;

a local utility sensor adjacent said local controlled shut-off device; and

said processor communicating with said local controlled shut-off device and said local utility sensor, said processor sending said local actuation signal to said local controlled shut-off device to move said local controlled shut-off device toward said local device closed position when input from said local utility sensor and said occupancy sensor indicates said occurrence of said abnormal event.

8. The system of claim 1 further including:

a local controlled shut-off device spaced downstream from said controlled shut-off device and upstream from one of a room, a designated area and a circuit to which said utility is supplied, said local controlled shut-off device bias toward a local device open position and movable toward a local device closed position upon receipt of a local actuation signal wherein said utility is prevented from passing by said local controlled shut-off device;

a local utility sensor adjacent said local controlled shut-off device; and

said processor communicating with said local controlled shut-off device and said local utility sensor, said processor sending said local actuation signal to said local controlled shut-off device to move said local controlled shut-off device toward said local device closed position when input from at least one of said local utility sensor and said occupancy sensor indicates said occurrence of said abnormal event.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said local controlled shut-off device is upstream of one of said room and said designated area, and said occupancy sensor is positioned in said one of said room and said designated area.

10. The system of claim 1 further including:

a plurality of local controlled shut-off devices downstream from said controlled shut-off device, each of said plurality of local controlled shut-off devices bias toward a local device open position and movable toward a local device closed position upon receipt of a local actuation signal from said processor wherein said utility is prevented from passing thereby;

a plurality of local utility sensors associated with said plurality of local controlled shut-off devices; and

said processor communicating with said plurality of local controlled shut-off devices and said plurality of local utility sensors;

said processor sending said local actuation signal to one of said plurality of local controlled shut-off devices when input from said plurality of local utility sensors and said occupancy sensor indicates said occurrence of said abnormal event.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said processor includes:

a means for collecting data from said main utility sensor and said plurality of local utility sensors;

a means for processing said collected data; and

a means for determining if said input is indicating said occurrence of said abnormal event based on said collected data.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein communication between said processor and said controlled shut-off device, main utility sensor and said occupancy sensor occurs through wires or wirelessly.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is connected to a battery backup power supply.

14. The system of claim 1 further including an alarm that actuates when said processor sends said actuation signal.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is connected to at least one of an alarm system and a security system.

16. The system of claim 1 further including:

a temperature sensor communicating with said processor, said processor sending said actuation signal to said controlled shut-off device to move said controlled shut-off device toward said closed position when input from said main utility sensor, said occupancy sensor and said temperature sensor indicates occurrence of an abnormal event.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said occurrence of said abnormal event is indicated when said temperature sensor detects freezing temperatures, said occupancy sensor detects that said building is unoccupied and said main utility sensor indicates that said utility is being used in excess of a specified unoccupied amount or being used continuously in excess of a specified unoccupied period of time.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said utility is one of gas utility, an electric utility and a water utility and said system further includes:

a second controlled shut-off device on a second utility system main supply line that supplies one of the other of said gas utility, said electric utility and said water utility, said second controlled shut-off device bias toward a second device open position and movable toward a second device closed position upon receipt of said actuation signal from said processor.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said occupancy sensor is one of a motion sensor, a vibration sensor and an audible sensor.

20. A system for monitoring and controlling utility systems, comprising:

a water main supply line for supplying water to a building;

a gas main supply line for supplying gas to said building;

an electric main supply line for supplying electricity to said building;

a controlled main water valve on said water main supply line that selectively prevents water from passing therethrough;

a controlled main gas valve on said gas main supply line that selectively prevents gas from passing therethrough;

a controlled main electric switch on said electric main supply line that selectively prevents electricity from passing therethrough;

a main water sensor on said water main supply line for monitoring the flow of water therethrough;

a main gas sensor on said gas main supply line for monitoring the flow of gas therethrough;

a main electric sensor on said electric main supply line for monitoring the flow of electricity therethrough;

at least one occupancy sensor in said building to monitor occupancy of said building; and

a processor that (1) receives feedback from said main water, gas and electric sensors and from said at least one occupancy sensor, (2) processes said feedback and (3) controls said controlled main water valve, said controlled main gas valve and said controlled main electric switch based on the processed feedback.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said processor closes one of said controlled main water valve, controlled main gas valve and controlled main electrical switch when said corresponding main water sensor, main gas sensor or main electric sensor indicates that a corresponding one of water, gas and electricity is one of:

(i) being used in excess of a specified unoccupied amount and (ii) being used continuously in excess of a specified unoccupied period of time, when said occupancy sensor indicates that said building is unoccupied; and

(i) being used in excess of a specified occupied amount and (ii) being used continuously in excess of a specified occupied period of time, when said occupancy sensor indicates that said building is occupied.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein communication between said processor and at least one of said controlled main valve, controlled main gas valve, controlled electric switch, main water sensor, main gas sensor, main electric sensor and said at least one occupancy sensor occurs wirelessly.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein said processor is connected to a battery backup power supply.

24. The system of claim 20 further including an alarm that actuates when said processor closes one of said controlled main water valve, controlled main gas valve or controlled main electric switch.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the processor is connected to at least one of an alarm system and a security system.

26. A system for monitoring and controlling at least two utility systems, comprising:

a first utility system main supply line for supplying a utility to at least one of a structure, an area and a building;

a first controlled shutoff device on said first utility system main supply line, said first controlled shutoff device biased toward an open position and moveable toward a closed position upon receipt of an actuation signal wherein said utility is prevented from passing by said controlled shutoff device;

a first main utility sensor on said first utility system main supply line;

an occupancy sensor in said building that detects occupancy;

a second utility system main supply line for supplying a second utility to said at least one of a structure, an area and a building;

a second controlled shutoff device on said second utility system main supply line, said second controlled shutoff device biased toward an open position and moveable toward a closed position upon receipt of an actuation signal wherein said second utility is prevented from passing by said second controlled shutoff device;

a second main utility sensor on said second utility system main supply line; and

a processor communicating with said first and second controlled shutoff devices, said first and second utility sensors and said occupancy sensor, said processor sending said actuation signal to at least one of said first and second controlled shutoff devices to move said at least one of said first and second controlled shutoff devices toward said closed position when input from at least one of said first and second main utility sensors along with said occupancy sensor indicates occurrence of an abnormal event.