Service panel with microprocessor

• US 9,683,911 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WCM Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Parker, Phil A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUKHARI, AQEEL H
• Application Number:
  US13/975,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24003 Emergency stop
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24146 Configure actuators to be switched off in case of emergency stop
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution

Abstract

A service panel for controlling at least one utility actuator to control the availability of a utility comprises a covered enclosure having an exterior region and an interior region, at least one readily accessible utility control providing ON and OFF request signals and a limited access control in the exterior region providing a temporary activate signal. The service panel has a controller and data storage programmed with code and data and control circuitry providing an “ON” control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to the “ON” state, and the control circuitry providing an “OFF” control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to an OFF state, the control circuitry further providing a re-key signal to the at least one actuator in response to activation of a switch.

Claims

1. A utility control system for controlling at least one utility actuator, the utility control system comprising:

an enclosure having an exterior region and an interior region;

at least one readily accessible utility control having an “

ON”

state and an “

OFF”

state and configured to control an availability of a utility;

a keyed switch at the exterior region and configured to provide a temporary activate signal;

a first printed circuit board including a first portion of a control circuitry, the first printed circuit board provided within the interior region of the enclosure;

a second printed circuit board including a second portion of the control circuitry, the second printed circuit board provided within the interior region of the enclosure;

one or more terminals mounted to the second printed circuit board and configured to electrically connect the at least one utility actuator to the second portion of control circuitry;

a plurality of electrical connections electrically connecting the first portion of the control circuitry to the second portion of the control circuitry;

an indicator at the exterior region and configured to provide an indication of a state of the utility;

a controller electrically connected to the first portion of the control circuitry and configured to provide an “

ON”

control signal to the at least one utility actuator via the one or more terminals to change the at least one utility actuator to an “

ON”

state when both the at least one readily accessible utility control is in the “

ON”

state and when the keyed switch provides the temporary activate signal, wherein the controller is configured to provide an “

OFF”

control signal to the at least one utility actuator via the one or more terminals to change the at least one utility actuator to an “

OFF”

state;

a readily accessible emergency shut-off control configured to provide a shut-down signal to the control circuitry; and

wherein after a configurable period of time, the at least one utility actuator is changed to the “

OFF”

state.

2. The utility control system of claim 1, further comprising a touchscreen exposed to the exterior region, the touchscreen providing an interface to the controller.

3. The utility control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is one of a programmable logic controller and a microprocessor.

4. The utility control system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the at least one utility actuator in response to an alarm signal, wherein the utility control system further comprises a selectable switch configured to switch alarm signal inputs.

5. The utility control system of claim 1, further comprising a USB port connected to the control circuitry, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to update code and data within the controller from a device connected to the USB port.

6. The utility control system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide a re-key signal on activation of the keyed switch.

7. The utility control system of claim 1, further comprising a relay configured to provide a re-key signal on receipt of an outside signal.

8. The utility control system of claim 1, wherein switching the utility control to an “

OFF”

condition disables the utility control until again enabled by the temporary activate signal from the keyed switch.

20. The utility control system of claim 1, further comprising a second indicator at the exterior region, wherein the second indicator is configured to emit light when a signal from a gas pressure sensor is detected.

9. A utility control system for controlling at least one utility actuator for switching between an “

ON”

state and an “

OFF”

state to control an availability of a utility, comprising;

an enclosure having an exterior region and an interior region;

at least one readily accessible utility control having an “

ON”

state and an “

OFF”

state;

a limited access control at the exterior region for providing a temporary activate signal;

a printed circuit board (PCB) located within the interior region of the enclosure, comprising;

a controller and data storage programmed with default code and data; and

control circuitry disposed on the PCB providing an “

ON”

control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to the “

ON”

state, the control circuitry providing an “

OFF”

control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to an “

OFF”

state, the control circuitry comprising connections for connecting with selected add-on modules; and

a readily accessible emergency shut-off control for providing a shut-down signal to the control circuitry, the shut-down signal disabling the utility actuator until the emergency shut-off control is reset; and

wherein after a configurable period of time, the at least one utility actuator is switched to the “

OFF”

state.

10. The utility control system of claim 9, further comprising a touchscreen exposed to the exterior region, the touchscreen providing an interface to the controller.

11. The utility control system of claim 9, wherein the controller and data storage comprises one of a programmable logic controller and a microprocessor.

12. The utility control system of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the at least one utility actuator in response to an alarm signal, wherein the service panel further comprises a selectable switch configured to switch alarm signal inputs.

13. The utility control system of claim 9, further comprising a USB port connected to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to update the code and data from a device connected to the USB port.

14. The utility control system of claim 9, wherein the limited access control in the exterior region is a keyed switch, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide a re-key signal on activation of the keyed switch.

15. A utility control system for controlling at least one utility actuator for switching between an “

ON”

state and an “

OFF”

state to control the availability of a utility, comprising;

an enclosure having an exterior region and an interior region;

at least one readily accessible utility control having an “

ON”

state and an “

OFF”

state;

a limited access control at the exterior region for providing a temporary activate signal;

a printed circuit board (PCB) located within the interior region of the enclosure, comprising;

a controller and data storage programmed with default code and data, the default code and data responsive to one or more jumper connections located on the PCB; and

control circuitry mounted on the PCB providing an “

ON”

control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to the “

ON”

state, the “

ON”

control signal being provided when both the at least one readily accessible utility control is in the “

ON”

state and when the limited access control provides the temporary activate signal, the control circuitry for providing an “

OFF”

control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to an “

OFF”

state, and the control circuitry further comprising connections for connecting with selected add-on modules; and

a readily accessible emergency shut-off control providing a shut-down signal to the control circuitry, the shut-down signal disabling the utility actuator until the emergency shut-off control is reset.

16. The utility control system of claim 15, wherein the controller is one of a programmable logic controller and a microprocessor.

17. The utility control system of claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the at least one utility actuator in response to an alarm signal, wherein the service panel further comprises a selectable switch configured to switch alarm signal inputs.

18. The utility control system of claim 15, further comprising a USB port connected to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to update the default code and data from a device connected to the USB port.

19. The utility control system of claim 15, wherein a relay is configured to activate in response to an outside signal, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide a re-key signal on activation of at least one of a keyed switch and the relay.