Alarm system for hot water heaters

• US 8,319,626 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher Ralph Cantolino
• Original Assignee: Christopher Ralph Cantolino
• Inventors: Cantolino, Christopher Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US12/832,053
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 340/605, 122/13.01, 137/312
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/12 Preventing or detecting fluid leakage
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/238 Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/17 Means for retaining water leaked from heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2021 Storage heaters
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting

Abstract

An alarm system for a storage hot water heater comprising an alarm housing, power supply leads inserted through the top of a hot water heater tank, a fluid collection pan positioned under the tank, and a fluid detection sensor associated with the pan. The alarm housing is configured to provide prompt owner/operator notification after only a small amount of fluid is collected in the pan under the tank. Owner/operator notification can be provided via audible, visual, and/or remote means, such as but not limited to a signal transmitted to a home security device that is relayed to a 24-hour security monitoring network. Since the alarm housing is hard wired, reliance on batteries is avoided and the system'"'"'s useful life meets or exceeds that of the associated hot water heater. In addition, the leads never have to be removed from the hot water heater tank and can be made tamper-resistant.

Claims

1. An automatic alarm system for detecting slow leaks in a storage hot water heater tank and providing notification thereof, said system comprising:

an alarm housing having circuitry and components therein connected to a circuit board and configured to generate and transmit an electrical leak notification signal;

a sheathed electrical cable connected on one of its ends to a source of electrical power and having an opposed end configured for electrical connection;

an electrical metallic tubing connector having an integral adjustable clamp and a threaded stem adjacent to said adjustable clamp, said sheathed electrical cable secured to said connector via said adjustable clamp;

a nut with threads complementary to said threaded stem of said connector, said nut securing said connector to said alarm housing so that said opposed end of said cable configured for electrical connection is placed in electrical communication with said circuit board;

power supply leads inserted through the top of a hot water heater tank, said power supply leads in electrical communication with said circuit board in said alarm housing;

a water collection pan positioned under the storage hot water heater tank and configured to support the storage hot water heater tank in an elevated position, said pan having a small perimeter fluid discharge opening it its bottom surface;

a fluid detection sensor associated with said water collection pan, said sensor having a top opening similar in size and configuration to said fluid discharge opening in said pan, said sensor also located under said pan in a position that allows fluid communication between said fluid discharge opening in said pan and said top opening in said sensor wherein prompt signal generation occurs after only a very small amount of water collects in said pan; and

electrical connection means adapted to provide electrical communication between said fluid detection sensor and said circuitry in said alarm housing, wherein when a threshold amount of water slowly leaking from the storage hot water heater tank contacts said fluid detection sensor, an electrical circuit is completed that causes said circuitry in said alarm housing to electrically generate a leak notification signal.

2. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said fluid detection sensor located below said fluid collection pan has bracing means adapted to provide proper orientation and stable positioning of said fluid detection sensor for prompt signal generation after only a very small amount of water from the hot water heater tank has been collected in said water collection pan.

3. The alarm system of claim 2 wherein said bracing means comprises a centrally located water collection chamber and two angled braces in a substantially perpendicular orientation to one another, and further with each such angled brace depending laterally from said water collection chamber in an opposite direction from the other.

4. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said sensor positioned under said water collection pan has a water collection chamber aligned with said opening in said pan for receipt of water passing through said opening, and further wherein said electrical connection means comprises a cable that passes through said opening, with said cable having an unsheathed end positioned within said water collection chamber.

5. The alarm system of claim 1 further comprising at least one surface mount configured to maintain said electrical connection means in close association against the storage hot water heater tank while it is supported by said water collection pan.

6. The alarm system of claim 5 wherein said at least one surface mount has an adjustable ring.

7. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein insertion of said power supply leads through the top of the hot water heater tank is tamper-resistant.

8. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said leak notification signal is selected from a group consisting of audible leak notification signals, visual leak notification signals, leak notification signals sent electrically to a remote location, and leak notification signals transmitted through a home security device to a 24-hour security monitoring network.

9. The alarm system of claim 8 wherein said alarm housing has at least one slot therethrough that is configured to facilitate projection of said audible leak notification signals beyond said alarm housing.

10. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said alarm housing is configured for easy mounting into a usable position, and said usable position is selected from a group consisting of mounting to the top of a storage hot water heater tank, mounting to a disconnect box, and mounting to a handy box.

11. The alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a reset button extending through said alarm housing that is in electrical communication with said circuitry within said alarm housing and configured for placement of said alarm system back into a leak detection mode after a power outage or signal generation.

12. The alarm system of claim 11 wherein said reset button becomes lit to provide a visible indication of water leak detection.

13. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said alarm housing has a detachable line feed cover.

14. The alarm system of claim 13 wherein said detachable line feed cover has a knockout panel configured for use in securing said sheathed electrical cable to said alarm housing.

15. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said alarm housing has a detachable terminal block cover.

16. The alarm system of claim 15 wherein said alarm housing further comprises a detachable line feed cover with a knockout panel configured for use in securing said sheathed electrical cable to said alarm housing.

17. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said alarm housing further comprises a base with a threaded stem.

18. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said electrical communication between said sheathed electrical cable and said alarm housing is provided by an insulated connector and an adjustable clamp.

19. The alarm system of claim 18 wherein said insulated connector has an end with a threaded stem.

20. The alarm system of claim 19 wherein said alarm housing has a detachable line feed cover with a knock out panel and a nut having internal threads securing said threaded stem of said insulated connector to said line feed cover through a void space remaining in said line feed cover after said knockout panel is removed.