Leak detection and control system and method

• US 9,298,191 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy Meyer
• Original Assignee: Timothy Meyer
• Inventors: Meyer, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALISTER, WILLIAM M
• Application Number:
  US13/359,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20140000729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 137/15.11, 137/487.5, 137/557, 137/558, 137/312, 340/605, 251/129.11, 251/315.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 blocks flow of the substance 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 a predetermined polarity allowing the control unit to determine if the valve is in an opened or closed position, wherein the actuator will selectively control the valve to an open position or a closed position in response to at least one signal from the control unit placed upon at least one wire of the pair of wires;

a motor operatively coupled to the actuator; 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 place the valve into the closed position;

wherein the control unit further comprises an error detection mechanism for determining if the pair of wires are attached incorrectly.

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 and a timing mechanism to stop the actuator within a predetermined time period after generating the instruction.

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.

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 actuator has a high gear ratio.

11. The leak detection system of claim 10 wherein the motor is operatively coupled to the actuator to provide a force required by the actuator to open and close the low torque valve and further wherein the motor is configured to provide the force required using power supplied solely from a set of 4 AA batteries.

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.

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

a motor coupled to valve actuator;

wherein the control unit further comprises an error detection mechanism to provide an alert if the pair of wires are attached incorrectly.

14. The leak detection system of claim 13 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, 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.

15. The leak detection system of claim 13 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 and a timing mechanism to stop the actuator within a predetermined time period after generating the instruction.

16. The leak detection system of claim 13, 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.

17. The leak detection system of claim 13 wherein the motor is operatively coupled to the actuator to provide a force required by the actuator to open and close the low torque ball valve and further wherein the motor is configured to provide the force required using power supplied solely from a set of 4 AA batteries.