Energy manager—water leak detection

• US 9,019,120 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Broniak, Jay Andrew, Beyerle, Michael Thomas, Brian, Joseph Mark, Bingham, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US12/942,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20120026004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/606, 340/605, 73/46, 731/95, 702/45, 702/46, 702/100
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/075 Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/07 Integration to give total flow, e.g. using mechanically-operated integrating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/00 Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring water leaks within a home. A home network with various devices monitors these devices with a controller. Information is received from a water flow meter via a transceiver for tracking a total water flow amount through pipelines in the home. By comparing information collected to a predetermined threshold, a leak is determined as present or not within each pipeline. Upon the detection of a leak in the home, a home owner is notified of the condition so that action is taken expeditiously. A shut off valve can be triggered remotely when a request is received from the user, which closes the water pipeline to prevent water damage.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a home for a leak within a home network that includes a water meter for measuring water consumption within the home network and a central controller communicatively linked to the water meter, the central controller including at least one memory for storing executable instructions, the method comprising:

tracking a total water flow to a water consuming device for a period of time;

identifying a maximum amount of the total water flow to the water consuming device that occurs during a subinterval length of time in the period of time;

assigning the maximum amount to a threshold value;

receiving communication data at the central controller, the communication data reflecting a total water flow amount from a water pipeline that is operatively coupled to the water meter;

tracking the total water flow amount of the water pipeline over the subinterval length of time from the water meter;

analyzing the total water flow amount by comparing the total water flow amount to the threshold value; and

generating an output to an end user that alerts the end user of a leak when the total water flow amount exceeds the threshold value for the subinterval length of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the water pipeline comprises a main pipeline having a plurality of branch pipelines coupled thereto, wherein the plurality of branch pipelines provide water to different water consuming devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the water consuming device includes one of a toilet, a sink, a shower, an outdoor faucet, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a water storage device, and home device having a secondary pipeline connected to the water pipeline.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the subinterval length of time is less than about sixty minutes.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising identifying the water consuming device or the branch water pipeline in which the leak is located.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the output comprises a communication message that identifies which water consuming device or water pipeline has the leak.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the output comprises a warning from the central device to the end user upon detecting the leak via at least one of a text message, an email, a phone message, and a user interface display operatively coupled to the controller.

8. A method for monitoring a home for a leak within a home network that includes a plurality of water flow meters for measuring water being consumed by water consuming devices within the network and a central controller communicatively linked to the water meters and the water consuming devices, the controller including at least one memory for storing executable instructions, said method comprising:

tracking a total water flow amount for each water pipeline of a plurality of water pipelines respectively coupled to a plurality of water consuming devices within the home network over a period of time;

identifying a maximum amount of the total water flow to the water consuming device that occurs during a subinterval length of time in the period of time;

assigning the maximum amount to a threshold value; and

determining whether a leak exists at the home by comparing the total water flow amount of each water pipeline to the threshold value set for each of the water consuming devices.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising identifying the particular water consuming device and/or water pipeline in which the leak exists, wherein water pipelines of the plurality of water pipelines respectively have a different threshold value for determining whether the leak exists.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a warning from the central controller to an end user of the home to indicate that the leak exists and from which water consuming device and/or water pipeline the leak originates.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein each water pipeline is operatively coupled to at least one of the flow meters that measure the total water flow amount incoming to the home and to each water consuming device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving communications data at the central controller from the flow meters via a wireless transmitter, wherein the communications data indicates a total water flow amount for each water pipeline and/or a total water flow amount for the home.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an input from the user indicating whether to turn the water pipeline with the leak off;

and in response to the input, sending a communication command to trigger a shut off valve to stop water flow in the water pipeline.

14. An energy management system for a home network comprising water consuming devices coupled to water inlets at a home, said energy management system comprising:

a central controller comprising a processor and memory for storing executable instructions;

a water flow meter coupled to a water pipeline for each of the water consuming devices, wherein the water flow meter is configured to measure a total water flow amount in the water pipeline;

a communication device coupled to the flow meter, the communication device configured to communicate the total water flow amount to the central controller; and

a user device display operatively connected to the central controller that provides the total water flow amount to an end user,

wherein the executable instructions include instructions for;

tracking the total water flow amount to the water consuming device over a period of time;

identifying a maximum amount of the total water flow to the water consuming device that occurs during a subinterval length of time in the period of time;

assigning the maximum amount to a threshold value; and

determining whether a leak exists at the home by comparing the total water flow amount of each water pipeline to the threshold value set for each of the water consuming device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the central controller is configured to provide a warning to the end user that a leak exists in the water pipeline based on the total water flow amount exceeding the threshold value over the subinterval length time.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a shut off valve located at the water pipeline to shut off water flow therein upon the controller receiving an input from the end user to shut off the water pipeline.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one water pipeline is a main water pipeline that provides water to the home and the water consuming devices.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the water consuming devices include one of a toilet, a sink, a shower, an outdoor faucet, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a water storage device and home device having the secondary pipeline connected to the main water pipeline.