Leak detection and control system and method

• US 8,130,107 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aspen Water Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Timothy Meyer
• Inventors: Meyer, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US12/194,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 340/605, 340/870.02, 137/312, 251/129.11, 251/315.01, 73/40, 73/46
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/28 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves ; for welds
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

A system and method for detecting leaks using sensors to report the leak and communicate with a control unit to turn off the source of the leak once detected. A valve can be turned off in the event of a leak and embodiments employing battery power can function during loss of power such as a power blackout. Wireless sensors can be employed to detect leaks that wirelessly communicate with a control and operate solely with a designated control unit. The wireless sensors can operate using low power provided by batteries. The control panel can display alarm conditions from the sensors, including: low battery, poor signal, wet sensor, communication failure, sensor failure.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the flow of a substance comprising:

a valve coupled to an intake and an outtake for the substance;

a rotatable portion coupled to the valve that selectively places the valve into an open position that allows flow of the substance from the intake to the outtake or a closed position that prevents the substance from flowing from the intake to the outtake;

at least one sensor located remotely from the valve that can detect the presence of the substance;

a control unit configured to receive signals from the sensor;

an actuator coupled to the control unit by at least a pair of wires that are coupled to each the actuator and the control unit according to polarity, wherein the actuator will selectively control the valve to the open position or the closed position in response to at least one signal from the control unit placed upon at least one wire of the pair of wires;

at least one mechanical stop contained within the actuator configured to produce a stall signal after a 90 degree movement of the rotatable portion, the stall signal being indicative of the rotatable portion reaching either the open position or the closed position, the stall signal being generated due to increased current draw on the actuator upon completion of said 90 degree movement; and

a valve control mechanism within the control unit configured to respond to an instruction to place the valve in either the open position or the closed position and place the signal on the pair of wires to control the valve to the open position or the closed position as dictated by the instruction;

wherein upon reception from the sensor that the substance has been detected, the valve control mechanism will generate the instruction to placed the valve into the closed position.

2. The leak detection system of claim 1 further comprising an activating mechanism on the control unit that selectively generates the instruction to place the valve in either the open position or the closed position.

3. The leak detection system of claim 1 further comprising an attachment mechanism that is fixedly attached to both the actuator and the valve, the attachment mechanism holding the actuator and the valve in an aligned configuration with respect to each other such that substantially all slack is removed in connections between the attachment mechanism, the actuator and the value.

4. The leak detection system of claim 3 wherein the attachment mechanism is removable such that the rotatable exterior portion is exposed once the attachment mechanism is removed allowing for manual control of the rotatable exterior portion of the valve.

5. The leak detection system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is coupled to the control unit via a wireless interface.

6. The leak detection system of claim 5 wherein the control unit further comprises at least one wired input for the sensor, the wired input providing a bidirectional interface between the control unit and the sensor.

7. The leak detection system of claim 6, wherein the sensor is programmed by the control unit over the bidirectional interface to function only with the control unit via the wireless interface to the exclusion of any other control units.

8. The leak detection system of claim 5, wherein the sensor provides to the control unit via the wireless interface a status of the sensor to the control unit through wireless communication, wherein the status is for at least one of:

wet or dry condition;

normal functioning;

or battery voltage status.

9. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the valve is a low torque valve.

10. The leak detection system of claim 9 wherein the low torque valve can be either opened or closed using less than about 10 inch-pounds of torque up to an internal pressure within the valve of up to about 150 pounds per square inch.

11. The leak detection system of claim 10 wherein the actuator has a high gear ratio.

12. The leak detection system of claim 1, further comprising a flow monitor interface on the control unit capable of accepting an input from a flow monitor and determining if a summarized use of the substance through a conduit exceeds at least one predetermined parameter.

13. The leak detection system of claim 1 wherein the control unit instructs the valve actuator to close and then reopen the valve on a periodic basis.

14. The leak detection system of claim 1, further comprising a flow monitor interface on the control unit capable of accepting an input from a flow monitor and determining if a summarized use of the substance through a conduit exceeds at least one predetermined parameter.

15. A water leak detection system comprising:

at least one sensor that can detect the presence of a substance;

a wireless transmitter coupled to the sensor to transmit detection of the substance by the sensor;

a central control unit coupled to a receiver configured to can receive signals from the wireless transmitter;

a low torque ball valve;

a valve actuator configured to control the low torque ball valve to an open position and a closed position in response to at least one signal from the control unit;

at least one mechanical stop contained within the valve actuator configured to produce a stall signal after a 90 degree movement of the low torque ball, the stall signal being indicative of the low torque ball reaching either the open position or the closed position, the stall signal being generated due to increased current draw on the valve actuator upon completion of said 90 degree movement; and

a leak response mechanism within the control unit that is configured to respond to the reception from the wireless transmitter that water has been detected by controlling the valve actuator to close the low torque ball valve.

16. The leak detection system of claim 15 further comprising an attachment mechanism that is fixedly attached to both the actuator and the valve, the attachment mechanism holding the actuator and the valve in an aligned configuration with respect to each other such that substantially all slack is removed in connections between the attachment mechanism, the actuator and the value.

17. The leak detection system of claim 16 wherein the attachment mechanism is removable such that the rotatable exterior portion is exposed once the attachment mechanism is removed allowing for manual control of the rotatable exterior portion of the valve.

18. The leak detection system of claim 15 wherein the control unit further comprises at least one wired input for the sensor, the wired input providing a bidirectional interface between the control unit and the sensor, wherein the sensor is programmed by the control unit over the bidirectional interface to function only with the control unit via the wireless interface to the exclusion of any other control units.

19. The leak detection system of claim 15, wherein the sensor provides to the control unit via the wireless interface a status of the sensor to the control unit through wireless communication, wherein the status is for at least one of:

wet or dry condition;

normal functioning;

or battery voltage status.

20. The leak detection system of claim 15 wherein the low torque valve can be either opened or closed using less than about 10 inch-pounds of torque up to an internal pressure within the valve of up to about 150 pounds per square inch and the actuator has a high gear ratio.