Apparatus for detecting and preventing fluid leaks in a property

• US 7,044,154 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Process Integration Management Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Power Integrations Incorporated
• Inventors: Adams, Donald E., Henderson, Xan D., Henderson, Robert D., Bozsi, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/691,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20050087230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 340/605, 340/513, 340/514, 340/525, 73/405.R, 137/312, 137/551, 137/558, 200/61.04, 200/61.05, 307/116, 307/118, 361/178
• US Class Current: 137/312
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

The invention is a detection and prevention system to detect and prevent fluid leaks in a property that may cause damage to the property. The sources of the leaks may include, for example, toilets, hot water heater, sinks, washing machines, water makers and broken pipes or other sources of fluid leaks. The inventive may include one or more sender units that may be positioned at various locations on a property. The sender units may have a fluid sensor (for detecting a fluid leak) and a transmitter (for communicating with a base unit). The base unit may receive signals from the transmitter when the fluid sensors detect a fluid. The base unit may then communicate with a main shut off valve to restrict the flow of fluids onto the property.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting and preventing fluid leaks in a property, comprising:

A) one or more sender units adapted for positioning near a location desirable to detect for a fluid leak;

B) a main shut off valve adapted for restricting delivery of fluids to a property; and

C) a base unit in communication with the one or more sender units and the main shut off valve, wherein at least one of the sender units is battery powered and the base unit includes an electronic circuit to detect a power level of a battery in a sender unit.

2. The apparatus in claim 1, wherein at least one sender unit comprises a fluid sensor and a transmitter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one sensor comprises two electrical contacts for determining the resistance or continuity between the two electrical contacts.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one transmitter communicates with the base unit via an RF signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base unit communicates with the main shut off valve via an AC electrical signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base unit further includes a multi colored light emitting diodes to indicate which fluid sensor has a lower battery power level.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base unit includes one or more light emitting diodes to indicate which sender unit signaled the base unit that the sender unit had detected a fluid.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base unit communicates with the main shut off valve via an AC electrical signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base unit includes a reset button to allow fluid to flow through the main shut off valve.

10. An apparatus for detecting and preventing fluid leaks in a property, comprising:

A) one or more sender units adapted for remote positioning on a property;

B) a main shut off valve adapted for restricting delivery of fluids to the property; and

C) a base unit in communication with the one or more sender units and the main shut off valve, wherein the base unit includes a corresponding multicolored light emitting diode for each sender unit.

11. The apparatus in claim 10, wherein at least one sender unit comprises a fluid sensor and a transmitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one sensor comprises two electrical contacts for determining the resistance or continuity between the two electrical contacts.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one transmitter communicates with the base unit via an RF signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the base unit communicates with the main shut off valve via an AC electrical signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one sender unit is battery powered.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the base unit includes an electronic circuit to detect a power level of the battery in the sender unit.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each multicolored LED is adapted to emit red to indicate that its corresponding sender unit has detected a leak, green to indicate normal operation of its sender unit with no leaks, and yellow to indicate a low battery or a test condition for its sender unit.