Domestic water leak and humidity detection and control apparatus with water valve control

• US 8,456,312 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward C. Wofford
• Original Assignee: Edward C. Wofford
• Inventors: Wofford, Edward C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US12/860,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20100315245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,017 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/605, 340/540, 73/405, 73/40, 200/61.04, 200/61.05, 137/551
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/06 using electric or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/045 with electrical detection means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

A domestic water leak and humidity detection and control apparatus to monitor and detect water leaks and to alert a user by an aural buzzer and by illuminated green, red, or yellow LEDs of an operative state of the apparatus incorporates one or more sensor sets, each sensor set having one or more leak detectors connected to a central controller; the central controller having for each sensor set a respective comparator set and a respective LED set, and the central controller connected to and controlling the aural buzzer and controlling a water valve to control water leaks originating from a domestic water supply by electrically controlling the water valve.

Claims

1. A water leak and humidity detection and control apparatus comprising a first sensor set, said first sensor set having a leak detector, said first sensor set connected to a central controller, said central controller having a first comparator set associated with said first sensor set, said first comparator set also associated with a first LED set, said first comparator set having a cumulating aural buzzer contact, said aural buzzer contact having either a high voltage state or a low voltage state and said aural buzzer contact associated with an aural buzzer and controlling said aural buzzer, said first comparator set having a cumulating water valve contact, said water valve contact having either a high voltage state or a low voltage state and said water valve contact associated with a water valve controlling circuit and said water valve controlling circuit controlling a water valve, a power supply connected to said central controller, said leak detector comprising a respective first conductive metal grid overlaid by a respective porous insulating layer impregnated with a salt and said respective insulating layer overlaid by a respective second conductive metal grid and said respective first conductive metal grid connected to a respective first wire and said first wire at one end connected to a ground trace of said central controller and said respective second conductive metal grid connected to a respective second wire and said second wire connected at one end to a respective signal voltage trace of said central controller, a respective terminating resistor connects the other end of said first wire to the other end of said second wire, said respective signal voltage trace connected in series to a respective signal voltage resistor, and said signal voltage resistor connected in series to a source voltage of said central controller, and said terminating resistor having the same resistance as said signal voltage resistor.

2. A water leak and humidity detection and control apparatus comprising one or more sensor sets, each said sensor set having one or more leak detectors and having a terminating resistor;

each said sensor set connected between a ground trace and a respective signal voltage trace of a central controller;

said central controller receiving a source voltage from a power supply;

said central controller having a high reference voltage and a low reference voltage;

said central controller having a respective comparator set associated with each respective sensor set and having a respective LED set having three LED circuits associated with each respective comparator set;

each respective comparator set having a first comparator, a second comparator, a third comparator, and a fourth comparator;

each respective fourth comparator having a respective fourth comparator output pin associated with each respective sensor set;

each respective fourth comparator output pin connected to an aural buzzer through a cumulating aural buzzer contact and connected to a water valve control circuit though a cumulating water valve contact; and

said water valve control circuit controlling a water valve.

3. A water leak and humidity detection and control apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each said leak detector comprising a respective first conductive metal grid overlaid by a respective porous insulating layer impregnated with a salt and said respective insulating layer overlaid by a respective second conductive metal grid and said respective first conductive metal grid connected to a respective first wire and said first wire at one end connected to a ground trace of said central controller and said respective second conductive metal grid connected to a respective second wire and said second wire connected at one end to a respective signal voltage trace of said central controller;

a respective terminating resistor connects the other end of said first wire to the other end of said second wire;

said respective signal voltage trace connected in series to a respective signal voltage resistor; and

said signal voltage resistor connected in series to a source voltage of said central controller; and

said terminating resistor having the same resistance as said signal voltage resistor.