Talking water tank minder
First Claim
1. A system for alerting a user with diminished sensory capacity that a leak has been detected in a water heating system, comprising:
- at least one sensor for detecting presence of water, comprising two or more galvanic contacts, the at least one sensor being configured to;
in response to detecting moisture via the two or more galvanic contacts, transmit a leak detection signal, anddisplay an alert that the leak has been detected;
at least one automatic shut-off valve for controlling flow of water to or from a tankless water heating system or hot water tank; and
a controller, magnetically affixed to an exterior surface of the tankless water heating system or hot water tank, and communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and at least one automatic shut-off valve, wherein the controller is configured to;
store instructions for displaying a set of messages comprising a plurality of pre-recorded audio messages and at least one visual message,receive the leak detection signal from the at least one sensor,automatically transmit, in response to the received leak detection signal, a shut-off signal to the at least one automatic shut-off valve instructing the at least one automatic shut-off valve to close and prevent flow of water, andin response to the received leak detection signal, select and display, to the user with diminished sensory capacity, at least one message of the set of messages, via a sensory medium different from a sense in which the user has diminished sensory capacity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting and stopping flooding from a residential water heating system. A central controller is coupled to one or more flooding sensors and one or more automatic valves. In response to the sensors'"'"' detecting water, the controller causes the automatic valves to close, shutting off flow of water into or out of the water heating system. Advanced modular galvanic sensors and low-voltage, high-torque automatic ball valves may be used to improve the energy efficiency and responsiveness of the system. When flooding is detected, a variety of visual and auditory signals are generated by the controller, providing advance warning to the blind, deaf, or elderly that flooding is occurring and prompt attention is required.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for alerting a user with diminished sensory capacity that a leak has been detected in a water heating system, comprising:
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at least one sensor for detecting presence of water, comprising two or more galvanic contacts, the at least one sensor being configured to; in response to detecting moisture via the two or more galvanic contacts, transmit a leak detection signal, and display an alert that the leak has been detected; at least one automatic shut-off valve for controlling flow of water to or from a tankless water heating system or hot water tank; and a controller, magnetically affixed to an exterior surface of the tankless water heating system or hot water tank, and communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and at least one automatic shut-off valve, wherein the controller is configured to; store instructions for displaying a set of messages comprising a plurality of pre-recorded audio messages and at least one visual message, receive the leak detection signal from the at least one sensor, automatically transmit, in response to the received leak detection signal, a shut-off signal to the at least one automatic shut-off valve instructing the at least one automatic shut-off valve to close and prevent flow of water, and in response to the received leak detection signal, select and display, to the user with diminished sensory capacity, at least one message of the set of messages, via a sensory medium different from a sense in which the user has diminished sensory capacity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computing device for flood mitigation, comprising:
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a speaker; one or more light emitting diodes; a processor; and non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to; receive a flood detection signal indicating presence of moisture at one or more flood sensors, transmit, in response to the received flood detection signal, a shut-off signal to an automatic shut-off valve instructing the automatic shut-off valve to close the valve and prevent flow of water, and display, via the speaker and via the one or more light emitting diodes, messages configured to inform a human bystander with either diminished vision or diminished hearing capacity that a leak has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A computing device for sensing flooding, comprising at least two galvanic contacts and a light emitting diode, and wherein the device is configured to:
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display, via the light emitting diode and while no flooding is detected by the computing device, a color-coded visual cue to a human user with diminished hearing capacity, indicating that no flooding is detected; display, via the light emitting diode and responsive to detecting flooding via a difference in voltage between the galvanic contacts, a different color-coded visual cue to the human user, indicating that flooding is detected; and transmit, to an automatic shut-off valve, an instruction to close and prevent a flow of water through the valve. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification