Wireless system for detecting and stopping water leaks

• US 5,655,561 A
• Filed: 11/27/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven E. Freitag, Wendel A. Christopher
• Original Assignee: Steven E. Freitag, Wendel A. Christopher
• Inventors: Freitag, Steven E., Wendel, A. Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/561,828
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 137/79, 137/312, 137/624.12, 137/334, 137/78.1, 137/59, 340/605
• US Class Current: 137/79
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/243 Schematic arrangements of probes combined with measuring circuits
• 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: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1189 Freeze condition responsive safety systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1842 Ambient condition change responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1963 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting

Abstract

A water-activated alarm system, providing an alarm in the event of a water leak, includes a radio-frequency transmitting unit and a receiving unit and a number of safety features to ensure proper operation in the event of an emergency. The transmitting unit includes a flood detector having electrodes to be placed in a flood prone area, a tone encoder, for sending an encoded signal in the event of a flood, and means to provide visible and audible alarm indications, including a buzzer and a user-programmable digital voice circuit for identification of the area in which a flood occurs. The receiving unit includes a superheterodyne receiver or a super-regenerative receiver and detector, a tone decoder to prevent false alarms, a battery charger, a solenoid valve for shutting off the flow of water in the event to a leak detected by the transmitting unit, and a freeze-guard circuit using a peltier device to keep the solenoid valve within a temperature range allowing valve operation during freezing weather conditions.

Claims

1. A cordless leak detection transmitter comprising:

a housing;

a battery with first and second battery terminals within said housing;

first and second electrodes extending from said housing, wherein said first battery terminal, wherein said first and second electrodes are adjacently disposed to provide electrical conductivity therebetween in the, presence of a partially conductive fluid extending therebetween; and

a radio-frequency transmitter within said housing, wherein said radio-frequency transmitter is caused to transmit an encoded signal through a surrounding atmospheric space in response to an electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal,

and wherein electrical power for operation of said radio-frequency transmitter is derived solely from said battery,

message storage means, within said housing, for storing an audio message recorded from an audible input as a first switch is operated; and

message play means, within said housing, for playing back said audio message in an audible manner, wherein said message playback means is caused to operate in response to said electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal, and wherein said message playback means is additionally caused to operate as a second switch is operated,

audible alarm means, within said housing, for producing a non-verbal alarm signal; and

audio output timing means for operating said message playback means and said audible alarm means in an alternating pattern in response to said electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal.

2. The leak detection transmitter of claim 1, wherein electrical power necessary for operation of said radio-frequency transmitter is derived from said electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal only when said partially conductive fluid has accumulated to an extent causing electrical conduction between said first and second electrodes.

3. The leak detection transmitter of claim 1:

wherein said message storage means comprises means for digitally recording a message in electronic memory; and

wherein said message playback means includes means for audibly reproducing said message stored in said electronic memory.

4. The leak detection transmitter of claim 1, wherein said message playback means additionally plays back said audio message as a second switch is operated.

5. The leak detection transmitter of claim 1, comprising additionally visual indication means for flashing a light emitting diode, wherein said visual indication means is caused to operate in response to said electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal.

6. The leak detection transmitter of claim 1, comprising additionally a low battery alarm flashing a light emitting diode when a voltage provided at a terminal of said battery falls below a pre-determined level.

7. The leak detection transmitter of claim 1, wherein said radio-frequency transmitter includes:

carrier frequency signal generating means for generating a radio-frequency signal;

tone frequency signal generating means for generating an audio-frequency signal; and

modulation means for modulating said radio-frequency signal with said audio-frequency signal.

8. The leak detection transmitter of claim 1, wherein said radio-frequency transmitter includes:

a phase-locked loop generating a tone signal in response to said electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal; and

a radio-frequency amplifier operating in response to said electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal, wherein said radio-frequency amplifier is coupled to an output of said phase-locked loop and to a tank circuit oscillating at a carrier frequency.

9. The leak detection transmitter of claim 1, wherein said radio-frequency transmitter includes:

a multivibrator generating a tone signal in response to said electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal; and

a radio-frequency transmitter circuit operating in response to said electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal, wherein said radio-frequency transmitter circuit includes an oscillator amplifier driven at a carrier frequency by a crystal oscillator and a transmission signal amplifier to which outputs of said multivibrator and said oscillator amplifier are coupled.

12. The leak detection receiver of claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises:

a timing circuit operating in response to said temperature output signal; and

a peltier device driven by said timing circuit, being alternately turned off and on thereby, wherein heat is conducted to said valve from said peltier device.

10. A cordless leak detection transmitter comprising:

a housing;

a battery with first and second battery terminals within said housing;

first and second electrodes extending from said housing, wherein said first battery terminal, wherein said first and second electrodes are adjacently disposed to provide electrical conductivity therebetween in the presence of a partially conductive fluid extending therebetween; and

a radio-frequency transmitter within said housing, wherein said radio-frequency transmitter is caused to transmit an encoded signal through a surrounding atmospheric space in response to an electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second battery terminal,

and wherein electrical power for operation of said radio-frequency transmitter is derived solely from said battery,

message storage means, within said housing, for storing an audio message recorded from an audible input as a first switch is operated;

an audio output timer producing a train of intermediate signal pulses in response to said electrical potential established between said second electrode and said second batter terminal;

message playback means, within said housing, for playing back said audio message in an audible manner, in response to each of said intermediate signal pulses, wherein said message playback means produces an end of message signal at the end of each said audio message; and

audible alarm means, within said housing, for producing a non-verbal alarm signal in response to each said end of message signal.

11. A leak detection receiver comprising:

receiving means for receiving a radio signal from a surrounding atmospheric space, wherein said receiving means provides an intermediate signal derived from said radio signal;

decoding means for determining characteristics of said intermediate signal, wherein said decoding means produces a first decoded output when certain characteristics of said intermediate signal are met;

a valve operating in response to said first decoded output to shut off water flow;

temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature at said valve, wherein said temperature sensing means provides a temperature output signal as said temperature at said valve approaches a freezing condition; and

heating means for heating said valve in response to said temperature output signal.

13. A leak detection system comprising:

a plurality of cordless leak detection transmitters, wherein each said leak detection transmitter includes a battery, leak detection means for detecting a nearby water leak, with said detection means providing a first intermediate signal upon detection of said nearby water leak, message storage means for storing an individual audio message, message playback means for playing back said audio message in an audible manner in response to said first intermediate signal, and transmission means for transmitting a radio-frequency alarm signal through an ambient atmospheric space in response to said first intermediate signal, wherein electrical power for operation of said transmission means is derived solely from said battery;

a leak detection receiver including receiving means for receiving said radio-frequency alarm signal through said ambient atmospheric space from each of said leak detection transmitters, with said receiving means providing a second intermediate signal upon reception of said radio-frequency alarm signal, and a valve operating in response to said second intermediate signal to shut off water flow;

said leak detection receiver additionally includes decoding means, with a phase-locked loop providing an output signal in response to an input signal occurring at a predetermined tone frequency, for determining characteristics of said second intermediate signal, wherein said decoding means produces a first decoded output when predetermined characteristics of said intermediate signal are met, with said valve operating in response to said first decoded output to shut off said water flow.

14. The leak detection system of claim 13:

wherein said battery has first and second terminals within said leak detection transmitter and first and second electrodes extending from a housing of said leak detection transmitter, with said first and second electrodes being adjacently disposed to provide electrical conductivity therebetween only in the presence of a partially conductive fluid extending therebetween, with said first terminal of said battery electrically connected to a first of said electrodes; and

wherein said first intermediate signal is derived at said second electrode.

15. The leak detection system of claim 13, wherein said receiving means includes a superheterodyne radio-frequency receiver.

16. The leak detection system of claim 13, wherein said receiving means includes a super-regenerative radio-frequency receiver and detector.

17. The leak detection system of claim 14, wherein said leak detection receiver additionally includes:

an audible alarm operating in response to said second intermediate signal; and

visual alarm means flashing a light emitting diode in response to said second intermediate signal.

18. The leak detection system of claim 13, wherein said leak detection receiver additionally includes:

temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature at said valve, wherein said temperature sensing means provides a temperature output signal as said temperature at said valve approaches a freezing condition; and

heating means for heating said valve in response to said temperature output signal.

19. The leak detection system of claim 16, wherein said super-regenerative radio-frequency receiver and detector includes:

a receiving antenna;

an input tank circuit coupled to said receiving antenna;

a buffer stage having an input coupled to said input tank circuit;

a first amplifier stage having an input coupled to an output of said buffer stage and to a negative feedback loop from an output of said first amplifier stage; and

a output amplifier stage having an input coupled to an output of said first amplifier stage and to a positive feedback loop from an output of said output amplifier stage.

20. A leak detection system comprising:

a plurality of cordless leak detection transmitters, wherein each said leak detection transmitter includes a battery, leak detection means for detecting a nearby water leak, with said detection means providing a first intermediate signal upon detection of said nearby water leak, message storage means for storing an individual audio message, message playback means for playing back said audio message in an audible manner in response to said first intermediate signal, and transmission means for transmitting a radio-frequency alarm signal through an ambient atmospheric space an response to said first intermediate signal, wherein electrical power for operation of said transmission means is derived solely from said battery;

a leak detection receiver including receiving means for receiving said radio-frequency alarm signal through said ambient atmospheric space from each of said leak detection transmitters, with said receiving means providing a second intermediate signal upon reception of said radio-frequency alarm signal, and a valve operating in response to said second intermediate signal to shut off water flow;

means for digitally recording a message in electronic memory;

said message playback means includes means for audibly reproducing said message stored in said electronic memory; and

audible alarm means for producing a non-verbal alarm signal; and

audio switching means for causing alternating operation of said message playback means and said audible alarm means.

21. A leak detection system comprising:

a plurality of cordless leak detection transmitters, wherein each said leak detection transmitter includes a battery, leak detection means for detecting a nearby water leak, with said detection means providing a first intermediate signal upon detection of said nearby water leak, message storage means for storing an individual audio message, message playback means for playing back said audio message in an audible manner in response to said first intermediate signal, and transmission means for transmitting a radio-frequency alarm signal through an ambient atmospheric space in response to said first intermediate signal, wherein electrical power for operation of said transmission means is derived solely from said battery;

a leak detection receiver including receiving means for receiving said radio-frequency alarm signal through said ambient atmospheric space from each of said leak detection transmitters, with said receiving means providing a second intermediate signal upon reception of said radio-frequency alarm signal, and a valve operating in response to said second intermediate signal to shut off water flow;

a super-regenerative radio-frequency receiver and detector including;

a receiving antenna;

an input tank circuit coupled to said receiving antenna;

a buffer stage having an input coupled to said input tank circuit;

a first amplifier stage having an input coupled to an output of said buffer stage and to a negative feedback loop from an output of said first amplifier stage; and

an output amplifier stage having an input of said first amplifier stage and to a positive feedback loop from an output of said output amplifier stage.