Water leak mitigation system

• US 7,030,767 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flo-Guard Water Leak Mitigation Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Flo-Guard Water Leak Mitigation Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Candela, Paul Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/771,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 340/605, 340/603, 340/606, 137/79, 137/15, 137/11, 137/78.3, 137/624.12, 73/40
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/02 Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1963 Temperature

Abstract

A liquid flow mitigation system comprising a systems interface, a liquid arresting mechanism operable to impede flow of a liquid, a control device operable to produce an input to the systems interface representing a request to impede flow of the liquid, and a liquid utilizing device operable to produce an input to the systems interface representing a request for liquid flow. The systems interface directs the liquid arresting mechanism to impede liquid flow when the systems interface is in receipt of an input from the control device. The systems interface directs the liquid arresting mechanism to permit liquid flow when the systems interface is in receipt of an input from the water utilizing device.

Claims

1. A liquid flow mitigation system comprising:

a systems interface;

a liquid arresting mechanism operable to impede flow of a liquid;

a control device operable to produce an input to said systems interface representing a request to impede flow of the liquid;

a liquid utilizing device operable to produce an input to said systems interface representing a request for liquid flow;

wherein said systems interface directs said liquid arresting mechanism to impede liquid flow when said systems interface is in receipt of an input from said control device; and

wherein said systems interface directs said liquid arresting mechanism to permit liquid flow when said systems interface is in receipt of an input from said water utilizing device.

2. The liquid flow mitigation system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply.

3. The liquid flow mitigation system of claim 1, wherein said liquid arresting mechanism is at least one of a solenoid valve, a motorized ball valve, and a motorized gate valve.

4. The liquid flow mitigation system of claim 1, wherein said control device is at least one of a manual control switch, a security system, and a smart building system.

5. The liquid flow mitigation system of claim 1, wherein said liquid utilizing device is at least one of an irrigation system, a sump system, a baseboard heat system, a water softener system, a fire suppression system, and a central humidification system.

6. The liquid flow mitigation system of claim 1, wherein said systems interface further comprises a timer for delaying operation of said liquid arresting mechanism.

7. The liquid flow mitigation system of claim 1, wherein said liquid arresting mechanism is a 24V AC powered liquid arresting mechanism.

8. The liquid flow mitigation system of claim 1, wherein said liquid arresting mechanism is operable to provide feedback to at least one of said systems interface and said control device concerning the position of said liquid arresting mechanism.

9. The liquid flow mitigation system of claim 8, wherein said liquid arresting mechanism further comprises an integral limit switch operable to provide feedback to at least one of said systems interface and said control device concerning the position of said liquid arresting mechanism.

10. The liquid flow mitigation system of claim 8, further comprising a visual indicator operable to alert a user as to the position of said liquid arresting mechanism.

11. A water flow mitigation system comprising:

a systems interface;

a water regulation device operable to impede water flow and operable to notify said systems interface as to the position of said water regulation device;

a control device operable to provide an input to said systems interface representative of a request to restrict water flow;

a water utilizing device operable to provide an input to said systems interface representative of a request for water flow;

wherein said systems interface commands said water regulation device to impede water flow when said systems interface is in receipt of an input from said control device;

wherein said systems interface commands said water regulation device to permit water flow when said systems interface is in receipt of an input from said water utilizing device; and

wherein said water regulation device provides feedback to said systems interface concerning the position of said water regulation device.

12. The water flow mitigation system of claim 11, wherein said water regulation device further comprises an integral limit switch operable to provide an input to said systems interface to indicate the position of said water regulation device.

13. The water flow mitigation system of claim 11, wherein said systems interface indicates the position of said water regulation device to a user by way of said control device.

14. The water flow mitigation system of claim 11, further comprising a visual indicator operable to notify a user as to the position of said water regulation device.

15. The water flow mitigation system of claim 11, wherein said water regulation device is at least one of a solenoid valve, a motorized ball valve, and a motorized gate valve.

16. The water flow mitigation system of claim 11, wherein said control device is at least one of a manual control switch, a security system, and a smart building system.

17. The water flow mitigation system of claim 11, wherein said water utilizing device is at least one of an irrigation system, a sump system, a baseboard heat system, a water softener system, a fire suppression system, and a central humidification system.

18. The water flow mitigation system of claim 11, wherein said water regulation device is a 24V AC water regulation device.

19. A water flow mitigation method comprising:

transferring a water arresting command from a control device to a systems interface to request the systems interface to restrict water flow;

setting a water flow regulation device to restrict water flow in response receipt of the water arresting command by the systems interface;

transferring a water request command from a water utilizing device to the systems interface to request the systems interface to permit water flow;

setting the water flow regulation device to permit water flow in response to receipt of the water request command by the systems interface; and

providing feedback to a user concerning the position of the water flow regulation device through at least one of a visual indicator and the control device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the setting the water flow regulation device steps include setting at least one of a solenoid valve, a motorized ball valve, and a motorized gate valve.