Appliance leak detector and inline shutoff
First Claim
1. A system for detecting when a fluid is leaking from a machine or from one or more connecting hoses providing and removing the fluid from the machine, the system comprising:
- a leak sensor apparatus (10) having two conductors (10a-b) held in spaced apart relation in a fluid-permeable insulating material (10c), responsive to an impressed voltage causing a voltage difference between the two conductors (10a-b), for providing a leak detection current when fluid from the machine leaks through the fluid-permeable membrane (10c); and
a flow control device (16), for providing the impressed voltage, for stopping the flow of the fluid to the machine in response to the sensor response signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A leak sensor apparatus (10) and flow control equipment (16) for sensing a leak from a machine using a supply of water (or other fluid) or from connecting hoses supplying the water, and for turning off the supply when a leak is detected, with the leak sensor (10) itself including in particular two conductors (10a-b) held in spaced apart relation in a fluid-permeable insulating material (10c), and the flow control equipment (16) for providing a voltage difference between the two conductors (10a-b) and for sensing the presence of a fluid based on the fluid providing an electrical path between the two conductors (10a-b) and so allowing current to flow between the two conductors (10a-b) under the urging of the voltage difference provided by the flow control equipment (16). In some embodiments, the two conductors (10a-b) are configured so as to wrap about one or more of the connecting hoses.
21 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for detecting when a fluid is leaking from a machine or from one or more connecting hoses providing and removing the fluid from the machine, the system comprising:
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a leak sensor apparatus (10) having two conductors (10a-b) held in spaced apart relation in a fluid-permeable insulating material (10c), responsive to an impressed voltage causing a voltage difference between the two conductors (10a-b), for providing a leak detection current when fluid from the machine leaks through the fluid-permeable membrane (10c); and
a flow control device (16), for providing the impressed voltage, for stopping the flow of the fluid to the machine in response to the sensor response signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A machine having a hose for receiving or discharging a fluid, characterized in that:
electrical conductors (10a-b) separated from each other by a fluid-permeable insulating material (10c) are arranged in fixed proximate relation to the hose or the machine, and adapted so as to be responsive to a first signal and to fluid leaking from the hose, and so as to provide a second signal to a flow control device (16) that determines whether there is a possible leak in the hose. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A kit for adapting on a machine having a hose for receiving or discharging a fluid, characterized in that the kit comprises:
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electrical conductors (10a-b) separated from each other by a fluid-permeable insulating material (10c), for arranging in fixed proximate relation to the hose or the machine, and adapted to respond to a first signal and to fluid leaking from the hose by providing a second signal; and
a flow control device (16), responsive to the second signal, for determining whether there is a possible leak in the hose.
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Specification