Water detection unit and system

• US 7,948,388 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Derek Phelps Gardner, Joseph Ralph Mcginty
• Original Assignee: Derek Phelps Gardner, Joseph Ralph Mcginty
• Inventors: Gardner, Derek Phelps, McGinty, Joseph Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mortell; John F
• Application Number:
  US11/458,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 340/605, 340/604, 137/15.11
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0452 Detecting or repairing leak

Abstract

A leak detector apparatus and system for use with a drop ceiling having a grid-work of ceiling tiles. The leak detector apparatus includes an electrically non-conducting tile body that is shaped and dimensioned to rest on top of a ceiling tile. The tile body comprises multiple layers of non-conducting closed cell-foam and has a plurality of water collector cups formed or positioned therein. Spaced-apart sensor wires are provided and form an electrical grid that extends between the multiple layers of the tile body and the sensor wires generally extend through the water collector cups. The sensor wires are operative to sense the presence of water in the cups. An electronics module is provided at each tile body and is associated with the sensor wires and electrically coupled to the sensor wires for triggering an alert in response to the presence of water in one or more of the cups. A master controller is in communication with the local processors for monitoring the function and operation of each local processor. Thus, each leak detector tile has its own electronics module associated with it, thereby providing excellent location precision when installed in the room.

Claims

1. A leak detector apparatus for use with a drop ceiling having a grid-work of ceiling tiles, the leak detector apparatus comprising:

a non-conducting tile body shaped and dimensioned to rest atop a ceiling tile, the tile body comprising multiple non-conducting non-absorbing layers and having a plurality of water collector cups therein, and wherein each of the plurality of water collector cups is formed by creating an opening in at least one of the multiple layers by removing a portion of the multiple non-conducting non-absorbing layers;

a pair of spaced apart sensor wires forming an electrical grid, a portion of the sensor wires being separated by one of the non-conducting non-absorbing multiple layers of the tile body, one sensor wire extending on only one side of the one non-conducting non-absorbing layer and the other sensor wire extending on only the opposite side of the one non-conducting non-absorbing layer, the sensor wires extending through the water collector cups, and the sensor wires being operative to sense the presence of water in the water collector cups; and

an electronics module associated with the sensor wires and electrically coupled thereto for triggering an alert in response to the presence of water in one or more of the water collector cups.

2. A leak detector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tile body includes shallow funnels for collecting water and funneling it into the water collector cups.

3. A leak detector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tile body is flexible to allow it to be conformed to various shapes.

4. A leak detector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spaced-apart sensor wires are spaced apart horizontally.

5. A leak detector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spaced-apart sensor wires are spaced apart vertically.

6. A leak detector apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the multiple layers of the non-conducting tile body comprise at least three layers, with at least one layer positioned between the spaced-apart sensor wires.

7. A leak detector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor wires are un-insulated prior to installation between the multiple layers of the tile body.

8. A leak detector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tile body has dimples formed in the lowermost layer thereof to deepen the water collector cups.

9. A leak detector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tile body has feet formed in the lowermost layer thereof to support most of the tile body above the ceiling tile to minimize the growth of mold, algae, mildew, and fungus.

10. A leak detector apparatus is claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrical grid of sensor wires extends between distal edges of the non-conducting tile body in a manner to traverse most of the tile body.

11. A leak detector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrical grid of sensor wires is formed in such a way to allow the leak detector apparatus to be trimmed along at least one edge while maintaining the integrity of the electrical grid.

12. A leak detector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronics are operable to trigger an audible or visible alarm to indicate the presence of water in the water collector cups.

13. A leak detection system for use with a drop ceiling having a plurality of ceiling tiles and a grid frame supporting the ceiling tiles, the leak detection system comprising:

a plurality of lightweight non-conductive leak detection tiles adapted to be placed atop the ceiling tiles of the drop ceiling, each non-conductive leak detection tile including multiple non-conducting non-absorbing layers and one or more sensors for detecting the presence of liquid at one or more locations on the ceiling tile, wherein each one of the one or more sensors is located in a water collector cup formed in each of the non-conductive leak detection tiles by creating an opening in at least one of the multiple layers by removing a portion of the multiple non-conducting non-absorbing layers;

a pair of spaced apart sensor wires forming an electrical grid, a portion of the sensor wires being separated by one of the non-conducting non-absorbing multiple layers of the tile body, one sensor wire extending on only one side of the one non-conducting non-absorbing layer and the other sensor wire extending on only the opposite side of the one non-conducting non-absorbing layer, the sensor wires extending through the water collector cups, and the sensor wires being operative to sense the presence of water in the water collector cups; and

a plurality of local processors electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors, the local processors being provided at least one per leak detection tile; and

a master controller in communication with the local processors for monitoring the function and operation of each local processor.

14. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the local processors are linked to one another in a daisy-chain arrangement.

15. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the master controller is operative to determine which, if any, of the non-conductive leak detection tiles has detected a leak.

16. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising deflector roofs adapted to be positioned atop the grid frame for deflecting liquid that might otherwise impinge on the grid frame and for deflecting the liquid onto an adjacent non-conductive leak detection tile.

17. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the deflector roofs comprise foam.

18. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the non-conductive leak detector tiles comprise non-conducting foam.

19. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the sensors comprise parallel, spaced-apart wires.

20. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the length and/or width of the non-conductive leak detection tiles can be trimmed without destroying the function of the remaining leak detection sensors in the leak detection tile.

21. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the parallel spaced-apart wires are spaced apart horizontally from one another.

22. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the parallel spaced-apart wires are spaced apart vertically.

23. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the non-conductive leak detection tiles comprise feet for supporting the non-conductive leak detection tiles slightly above the ceiling tile to minimize the growth of molds, algae, mildew, or fungus.

24. A leak detection system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the leak detection tiles comprise flexible foam to allow the non-conductive leak detection tiles to be fitted in irregular spaces.