Method and apparatus for detecting severity of water leaks

• US 7,561,057 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Kates
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US11/216,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/605, 340/612, 340/618, 340/620, 73/40, 73/407, 733/04.R, 733/04.C, 73/405.R, 137/312
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/002 by using thermal means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/186 for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3245 using a level monitoring device G01M3/3272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

A system for detecting water leaks is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of sensors, selected from a moisture sensor, a water level sensor, and/or a water temperature sensor. A processor collects moisture readings from the sensors. In one embodiment, the processor reports a possible water leak when a moisture sensor detects moisture above a moisture threshold value. In one embodiment, the processor reports a water leak when the water level reading exceeds a water threshold value and/or when the temperature reading exceeds a temperature threshold value.

Claims

1. A system for detecting water leaks, comprising:

a moisture sensor;

a water level sensor comprising a plurality of probes at different heights; and

a processor configured to collect moisture readings from said plurality of probes, said processor configured to report a possible water leak when said moisture sensor detects moisture above a moisture threshold value and above a threshold temperature, said processor configured to report a first water level when a resistance between a first pair of probes falls below a specified value and to report a second water level when a resistance between a second pair of probes falls below a threshold value, said water level sensor comprising a conduction-enhancing agent provided to one or more of said probes.

2. A system for detecting water leaks, comprising:

a moisture sensor;

a water temperature sensor;

a water level sensor comprising a plurality of probes at different heights; and

a processor configured to collect moisture readings from said plurality of probes, said processor configured to report a possible water leak when said moisture sensor detects moisture above a moisture threshold value and above a threshold temperature, said processor configured to report a first water level when a resistance between a first pair of probes falls below a specified value and to report a second water level when a resistance between a second pair of probes falls below a threshold value, wherein different probes in said plurality of probes are composed of different conductive materials.

3. A system for detecting water leaks, comprising:

a moisture sensor;

a water level sensor comprising a plurality of probes provided to one or more substrates at different heights, said water level sensor sensing water level and water temperature; and

a processor configured to collect moisture readings from said plurality of probes, said processor configured to report a possible water leak when said moisture sensor detects moisture above a moisture threshold value, said processor configured to report a first water level when a resistance between a first pair of probes falls below a specified value and to report a second water level when a resistance between a second pair of probes falls below a threshold value and said water temperature corresponds to a specified temperature range, wherein a conduction-enhancing agent is provided to at least one of said at least one or more substrates.