External water shutoff

• US 20050205132A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowstar Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Flowstar Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Nagel, Allen J., Holmes, Paul Michael, Kallestad, Jonathan Salvatore, Thorne, Paul Walbridge, Marzean, Raphael John, Cummings, Duane Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,690,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/357
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/08 Arrangement of draining devices, e.g. manual shut-off valvesdraining devices in general F16K, F16L
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/046 with electric means, e.g. electric switches, to control the motor or to control a clutch between the valve and the motor F16K31/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/46 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6969 Buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87772 With electrical actuation

Abstract

The present subject matter relates to controlling water sources external to a structure and more particularly to an external water shutoff. One embodiment of the present subject matter includes an apparatus having an electrically operable valve placed on a water supply line internal to a structure between a location where the water supply line enters the structure and a location where the water supply line exits the structure, an auto-drain valve, and means for controlling the electrically operable valve, wherein the means for controlling is external to the structure, further wherein the means for controlling the electrically operable valve is communicatively connected to the electrically operable valve external to the structure.

Claims

1. An apparatus to control water flow to an irrigation system, the apparatus comprising:

an electrically operable valve placed on a water supply line internal to a structure between a location where the water supply line enters the structure and a location where the water supply line exits the structure; and

a conductive connection extending from the electrically operable valve internal to the structure to a location external to the structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an auto-drain valve coupled to the water supply line internal to the structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the auto-drain valve is a pressure biased auto-drain valve.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a drain line, wherein the drain line is coupled to the auto-drain valve and extends to a drain.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive connection is capable of receiving and carrying electricity from a controller to operate the electrically operable valve from the location external to the structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive connection is capable of receiving and carrying control signals to the electrically operable valve.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrically operable valve is a valve having an electric motor attached thereto to open and close the valve.

8. An apparatus comprising:

an electrically operable valve placed on a water supply line internal to a structure between a location where the water supply line enters the structure and a location where the water supply line exits the structure;

an auto-drain valve;

means for communicating with a server for receiving commands, wherein the commands are for opening and closing the electrically operable valve; and

a controller unit capable responding to commands received from the server.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for communicating with a server is a modem.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for communicating with a server is an RF antenna.

11. A valve manipulation apparatus to control water flow to an irrigation system, the valve manipulation apparatus comprising:

an electric motor capable of engaging and manipulating a valve;

a power receptacle to receive power to operate the valve manipulation apparatus;

a communication interface to send and receive data;

a processor;

a memory;

a valve ID stored in the memory; and

software stored in the memory and operable on the processor to cause the valve manipulation apparatus to;

receive and respond to a request for a the valve ID over the communication interface;

receive a command to manipulate the valve by operating the electric motor, the command received over the communication interface; and

operate the electric motor according to the received command.

12. The valve manipulation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor and the memory are a CMOS flash microcontroller with built in readable/writeable EEPROM data storage.

13. The valve manipulation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the software stored in the memory is further operable on the processor to cause the valve manipulation apparatus to:

retrieve the valve ID from the memory, wherein the valve ID when retrieved from the memory for the first time is a default ID indicating the valve is newly installed;

communicate the valve ID over the communication interface;

receive an ID over the communication interface; and

store the received ID as the valve ID.

14. A valve manipulation controller comprising:

a communication interface to send and receive data;

a processor;

a memory;

a valve ID stored in the memory; and

software stored in the memory and operable on the processor to cause the valve manipulation controller to;

receive an authentication ID and a command to manipulate a valve motor coupleable the valve manipulation controller, the authentication ID and command received over the communication interface; and

send a signal to the valve motor coupleable to the valve manipulation controller to operate the valve motor according to the received command.

15. The valve manipulation controller of claim 14, wherein the communication interface is a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (“

UART”

).

16. The valve manipulation controller of claim 14, wherein the communication interface includes a wireless communication device.

17. A remotely operable valve controller comprising:

a communication interface to send and receive data;

a processor;

a memory;

a controller ID stored in the controller; and

software stored in the memory and operable on the processor to cause the controller to;

request and receive a valve ID over the communication interface;

compare the received valve ID to the controller ID; and

if the valve ID and the Controller ID match, send a signal with an encoded command over the communication interface to manipulate a valve motor.

18. The remotely operable valve controller of claim 17, wherein the controller ID is set and stored in the controller via a dip switch set.

19. The remotely operable valve controller of claim 17 further comprising:

a battery space to hold a battery;

a first power receptacle coupleable to a battery in the battery space;

a second power receptacle to couple to a valve power receptacle to provide power from a battery in the battery space to a remotely operable valve; and

wherein the communication interface includes a connection point to connect via a wired communication connection to the remotely operable valve.

20. The remotely operable valve controller of claim 17, wherein the memory and the processor are included in a single EPROM microprocessor.

21. The remotely operable valve controller of claim 17, further comprising:

an input mechanism, wherein the receipt of input directs the controller to send a command over the communication interface to manipulate the valve motor.

22. The remotely operable valve controller of claim 17, further comprising:

an output mechanism to display a status of a remote valve;

wherein the software is further operable on the processor to;

receive valve status signals from the remote valve; and

cause the output mechanism to display a representation of the remote valve status.