Abstract:
Abstract of Disclosure The present invention is a method means of preventing water-leak damage to any hot water system providing means, or any water storage means such as washing machines, water storage means used in manufacturing facilities, or any water volume means where the prevention of water-leak damage is desired, vital, or essential. Water-leak damage is prevented using a collection flange reservoir system means at the base of a hot-water tank means. Said collection flange reservoir system means can be an afore added component to a hot-water tank means or a feature of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) production means, which is a novel feature and further intention of the present invention.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to detecting and preventing accidental water leaks from a hot-water accumulation tank system means inside of homes and businesses, but not restricted to homes and businesses, nor restricted to hot-water tanks systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Water leaks in homes, high rise condominiums or apartments, and businesses, and even extending to novel applications of such systems in sea craft and huge cruise liners can amount to serious damage thus causing huge amounts of monetary expense and affecting such important insurance requirements and costs associated with damage claims. 
         [0003]    This detailed in this web site: http://www.rmiia.com/Homeowners/water_damage.htm. 
         [0004]    And the Insurance Information Institute at: http://www.iii.org 
         [0005]    The source of water-leaks can emanate from home appliances such as hot-water heater systems, dishwashers, or washing machines; as well as freezers, ice machines, which are usually located in the basement of homes. The most common water-leak problem comes from hot-water tank systems, which if left to leak water can and usually does cause serious damage to basement belongings. 
         [0006]    In high rise building such as condos or apartments, serious water-leak damage is most pronounced more severe than in most homes. 
         [0007]    Current prior art as stated in the patents of Tornay Patent Application No. US 2005/0224118 A1 uses an approach to monitor overall water system pressure deviation in a building, and not at the source of a leak, which occurs at the hot-water tank source means. Prior art of Hoiberg U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,564 is a battery operated quick fix for monitoring and alerting of a water leak, but not preventing such leak(s) from spilling over a basement floor by containing said leak(s). Prior art of Newmann et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,826 B1 uses a method of shutting off the main water supply line and not preventing flooding by containing such leak(s) by using any contained reservoir methodology that is an embodiment to a hot-water tank feature. 
         [0008]    In contrast, the novelty of the present invention remains that it prevents water-leak damage by containing said water-leak(s) within a unitized water-tank collection reservoir means. This novelty of the present invention allows for the hot-water system to remain in operation whilst repairs can be made. This is due to the novel dual water sensor and controlled pumping action of a strategically placed water pump and pump drain embodiment. This novelty is an improvement over current prior art and teaches that a hot-water system means can remain fully operative whilst undergoing repair to said water leak(s) and further that no water leak(s) will cause any damage to surroundings due to a novel water collection reservoir, which is an embodiment of said present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    One aspect of embodiments of said present invention is to prevent any discontinued operation of a hot-water system due to a water leak(s) in the hot-water tank system means before and during a repair engagement. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention is to interminably and continuously monitor for any hot-water tank leaks in a hot-water tank system by means of utilizing a dual water sensor means to monitor a lower and upper level of water contained in a water collection reservoir means. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention is for an ample pump capacity water pump means to continuously and cyclically, pump water leaks from said contained water collection flanged reservoir surrounding said hot-water tank means. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention is for the inclusion of a tarpaulin kit assembly that is part and parcel to said present invention of a Water-leak Damage Prevention System Utilizing A Unitized Tank Collection Flange Reservoir System. 
         [0013]    Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention is for providing an OEM hot water tank feature that incorporates as a further embodiment of said present invention a built-in attached unitized tank collection flanged reservoir means as a manufactured feature of an OEM product. 
         [0014]    Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention is for utilizing a special micro-controller algorithm that automatically, interminably and continuously monitors by said dual water level sensors and controls the actions of said water pump to operate form a precise turn-on to a turn-off state of pumping action to control said water leak and maintain said water leak within the confines of said water collection reservoir means. 
         [0015]    Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention is for the periodic flushing accumulated sediments in said hot-water tank by the operation and control of said solenoid control valve means that flushes sediments into said water collection reservoir means and further has said sediments pumped out through an external remote drain means. 
         [0016]    Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention is for the micro-controller module means to sound an audible alarm alert and to further be in communication with an external means for calling and alerting a homeowner by means of a remote phone or other wireless means of a water leak in progress. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an overview of said present invention embodiments. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a detailed graphic representation of the invention embodiments. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an electrical schematic block diagram of the water leak detection system and its control features. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is the electrical diagram of the dual water sensor subsystem. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is the construction assembly for the water collection reservoir fire resistant tarpaulin. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a drawing of the drain water connection. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a drawing of a further intention of the present invention graphically describing an OEM in-production fabricated unitized flanged water collection reservoir feature. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    The water-leak damage caused by home appliances is real and it can amount to serious damages for residential homes, high rise condominiums or apartments. The water-leak damage is serious to cause thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in damages, as well as increasing homeowner insurance rate changes. 
         [0025]    The water-leak can come from home appliances such as a hot-water heater, a dishwasher, or a washing machine. The water-leak caused by washing machines or dishwashers is rare in nature, although it can cause serious water-leak damages per se. The most common water-leak damages come from hot-water heaters. The hot-water heater has no built-in end-of-life indicator, or warning for a water-leak. Therefore, water will leak from the hot-water heater, without any warning or indication, when it comes to its end-of-life period. 
         [0026]    In residential homes, the hot-water heater or washer and drier are usually located in the basement. If the basement is not finished, it can tolerate some amount of water-leak. If the basement is finished, it can cause serious damage. The problem of any water-leak is far more serious if it is in such places as condominiums or apartments in high rise buildings. 
         [0027]    There are prior art devices in the market to warn of water-leaks, or to minimize the water-leak by turning-off cold water supply to the hot-water heater. It should be noted that these devices are not designed for preventing water-leak damages. If the home owner is away from home when the water starting to leak and an alarm is set, the water will continuously leak until the water-leak is discovered upon return to home. If the cold water supply is shutoff, the water in the hot-water heater will continuously leak until proper care is given to the hot-water heater. 
         [0028]    In general, the typical hot-water heater contains 40-Gallon to 80-Gallons of water, which is enough volume to cause serious damages, even after the cold water supply to the hot-water heater has been turned-off. 
         [0029]    The problem is even more serious if the water-leak happens in high rise condominiums or apartments. In this case, the water-leak can flow down, and can cause expensive damages for multiple units below. 
         [0030]    Therefore, the ultimate solution is to provide a method to prevent any and all water-leak damage. The present invention is designed and embodied to prevent expensive damage caused by water-leaks. This is done by detecting the water-leak, capturing leaky water into water-pan, and pumping-out leaky water, before it can cause serious property damages. 
         [0031]    The present invention through its embodiments teaches and accomplishes this problem of water leak damage and interminably and continuously prevents same. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates a typical hot-water tank system utilizing the present invention&#39;s embodiments  100 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is an embodiment of said present invention and refers to a detailed and complete hot-water tank system with said present invention embodiments  100 , with a hot-water tank  101  positioned on the floor  115  of a typical installation with cold water inlet pipe  103  and hot water outlet pipe  104  being used in the distribution of accumulated hot water for general usage in a consumer environment. The normal drainage faucet  105  is connected to a solenoid valve control  106  that remains a normally shut-off state until it is enabled and turned on by a command from the micro-controller module  120  and this electrical command signal is sent along electrical connection  122  between micro-controller module  120  and solenoid valve control  106 . This action takes place periodically to eliminate accumulated sediments in the hot-water tank means  101 , and performs as a methodology for extending the life of said hot-water tank  101 . The output of said solenoid valve  106  is a pipe  107  that allows water to flow into a contained water collection reservoir  108  positioned and remaining center aligned beneath the base of said hot-water tank  101 . Water collection reservoir  108  is used to collect any water from either a water leak from said water tank  101  or from the periodic water tank  101  flushing of accumulated sediments by solenoid control valve  106  that feeds accumulated sediments into said water collection reservoir  108 . Any water in said water collection reservoir  108  is pumped out by water pump  109  and said water in collection reservoir  108  flows through collection reservoir outlet pipe  110  into said pump  109  and through outlet pipe  111  then being fed through a foundation base  114  and building support wall  113  to the outside environment through an outside pipe  112 . This action of water being pumped out by said water pump  109  is controlled by micro-controller module  120  and its associated algorithms. Water collection reservoir  108  also has a dual water sensor means, which is comprised of a lower-level water sensor  116  and an upper-level water sensor  117  that is connected to micro-controller module  120  by electrical connections  118  for said lower-level water sensor  116  and electrical connection  119  for said upper-level water sensor  117 . Water pump  109  receives its signal command to turn on or off by electrical connection  121  from micro-controller module  120 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  represents a functional electrical block diagram of the water-leak detection and prevention system  100 . Said micro-controller module  120  is programmed with a series of instructions or algorithms that generates precise interminable control, monitoring, and prevention of a hot-water tank distribution system  100  from causing leak damage if said hot-water tank  101  fails to contain water due to leaks or other sporadic accidental means. All power for said water leak prevention system  100  is generated from the AC-to-DC converter module  127  by converting AC power mains voltage received from an AC type plug  125  with connection wires for AC line (Black)  129  and AC Neutral (White)  128 . AC ground (Green)  131  is the common AC ground for all AC operated components of said water leak prevention system  100 . AC lines  128  and  129  are electrically connected to the input of AC-to-DC converter  127 . Said AC-to-DC converter  127  supplies a low DC voltage bus of plus 5 (five) volts  134  with reference to the DC ground  132  and a DC voltage bus of plus 24 (twenty four) volts  135  with reference to DC ground  132 . Said +5 volts  134  and +24 volts  135  are used to power said micro-controller module  120  and solenoid valve  106  respectively. The novel embodiments of said present invention of said water-leak detection and prevention system  100  utilize algorithms to interrogate and continuously monitor water upper-water sensor  117  by said upper electrical connection  119  and lower-water sensor  116  by said lower electrical connection  118 . Micro-controller  120  continuously monitors and senses the status of said maintenance and test push button switch  136  by electrical connection  148 , said alarm-off switch  137  by electrical connection  149 , and system reset switch  138  by electrical connection  150 ; and further it responds to any change in the status of these switches as part of said novel algorithms for micro-controller  120  task of interminable monitoring. Said water-leak damage prevention system  100  features embodiments of system status LED lights for a system ready status light indicator  141  that is electrically connected by line  152  to indicate a lighted condition when said system  100  is ready for operation, said alarm-on LED status light indicator  142  that is electrically connected by line  153  to indicate when said audible alert alarm  140  is enabled or not, and maintenance and test LED light indicator  143  electrically connected by line  154  as well as all LED indicator lights having a common DC ground  132 . Audible alert alarm  140  is connected to said micro-controller  120  by electrical line  146  and will audibly announce an alert condition of any detected water leak. Micro-controller  120  monitors and interrogates said maintenance/test switch  136  and if said switch is pushed, a logic signal change takes place on electrical line  148  that signals said micro-controller  120  to send a signal along electrical line  151  to said solenoid driver circuit module  139  and said solenoid driver  139  applies 24 VDC from line  135  to line  156  to solenoid  106 , this action flushes water from said hot-water tank  101  into said water collection reservoir  108  and this action is a methodology for periodically cleaning and flushing away accumulated sediments from said hot-water tank  101  as a methodology of extending the useful lifetime of said tank system. During this time period of flushing, both lower-level sensor  116  and upper-level  117  are interrogated by said micro-controller  120  for the presence of water levels in said water collection reservoir  108 , when said collection reservoir  108  is filled, a signal is sent to said micro-controller  120  and said controller  120  sends a signal to said water pump controller circuit  109 C turns on water pump  109  that is powered by said AC power mains through AC plug  126  with connections to pump by electrical lines  129  and  130 . Said pump continues to pump water out of water collection reservoir  108  until said water level diminishes to a level below that of said lower-level water sensor  116 , then said water pump  109  shuts off and remains in that state until either another flush test is triggered or there is a sporadic water leak from said hot-water tank  101 . If there is sporadic water leak from said hot-water tank  101 , said water from said leak will be collected by water reservoir  108  and as said leaking water accumulates in water collection reservoir  108 , once a lower level amount of water comes in contact with said lower-level water sensor  116  a signal is sent along line  118  and it is detected by micro-controller  120 . Further when said water level reaches said upper-level water sensor  117  it now sends another signal along line  119  to micro-controller  120  and this signal completes a logic condition in said algorithms that turns on said water pump  109  at a precise time that prevents any water from over spilling onto a floor  115  as shown in  FIG. 2 , said water pump  109  will continue to pump out water as long as there is a sustainable level of water to communicate with both lower-level water sensor  116  and upper-level water sensor  117 . This novel action and intention of said present invention teaches that there is novelty in said methodology of water-leak damage prevention by said present invention that is interminable and continuous over time until a repair condition overrides the emergency. Another intention and novelty of said present invention is to have said hot-water tank heating system still functioning in some capacity for hot water generation and usage. Said audible alert alarm  140  is used to locally announce an emergency leak condition. Another novelty and intention of said present invention is for simultaneously sending an audible alert alarm locally within a home or building sectional area and to send an RF wireless signal to a remote locale such as a computer, or computer controlled phone line annunciating system in order for said alert alarm to be acknowledged by someone that can attend to said emergency leak situation. Another novelty and intention of said present invention is for linking said water-leak damage prevention system  100  by RF wireless transmission to a Zigbee or similar RF wireless residential or commercial building energy efficiency and control system for further assurance of sporadic hot-water tank system leaks. Upon detecting a water leak, said present invention will send an alert signal along line  155  to a wireless RF transceiver  144  and said transceiver  144  transmits and radiates an encoded RF signal to antenna  145  where it is propagated into the atmosphere for remote reception by a designated receiver. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  references an embodiment of said water detect sensors for said lower-level sensor  116  water level detection and said upper-level sensor  117  water level detection. Each water level sensor component  164  ( 116  &amp;  117  as specifically noted in FIGS.  1 , 2 , and  3 ) is comprised of conductors plates  165  and  166  with an air space between them, which further comprises and is defined electrically as a capacitor. For those steeped in the art it is obvious that a capacitor&#39;s dielectric determines the permittivity of an established electric field set up between said conductive plates  165  and  166  once a voltage is established between said plates. Therefore comprehending said water level sensor  164  ( 116  &amp;  117  as specifically noted in FIGS.  1 , 2 , and  3 ) as a capacitor with a dielectric established by the air between said plates, and the dielectric constant for air being 1 and the dielectric constant for water being 85 or greater; it should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art that capacitance is directly proportional to the dielectric constant; and further that a measurable change in capacitance can be detected when water flows through said water level sensor  164  ( 116  &amp;  117  as specifically noted in FIGS.  1 , 2 , and  3 ). The change in capacitance of said water sensor is electrically felt at the input  171  of sense amplifier  157  and this signal change is developed at the electrical series point between resistor R 1   160  and R 2   159 . Resistor R 1   160  is connected between said +5 volt supply voltage  134  and said upper plate of water sensor  164  ( 116  &amp;  117  as specifically noted in FIGS.  1 , 2 , and  3 ) and R 2   159  is connected between lower plate of  164  ( 116  &amp;  117  as specifically noted in FIGS.  1 , 2 , and  3 ) and DC ground  132  fed from said sense amplifier  157  to said micro-controller  120  by electrical connection  172 , which is the output of said sense amplifier  157 . When water comes in contact with said lower-level water sensor  117  it is registered in said micro-controller  120  for evaluation and decision making of turning on said water pump  109  when it receives a second signal from said upper-level water sensor  117 . Vref  158  is a reference voltage used for said sense amplifier  157  voltage level sensing and this reference voltage  158  is what said water level sensors  164  ( 116  &amp;  117  as specifically noted in FIGS.  1 , 2 , and  3 ) and miniature float means  161  are compared against for pump turn on signals to said micro-controller  120 . 
         [0036]    Also in  FIG. 4  another embodiment of a second method means for detecting the presence of water in said water collection reservoir  108 , is a strategically positioned miniature float embodiment comprised of; an upper electrical contact plate  162  and a lower electrical contact plate  163 . Said lower plate  163  is mechanically attached to a float means  161  and when there is water present, said float means  161  will rise with said water in collection reservoir and cause an electrical connection to be made between plates  162  and  163 . Said plates  162  and  163  of said miniature float means  161 are connected in parallel with said water level sensor  164  ( 116  &amp;  117  as specifically noted in FIGS.  1 , 2 , and  3 ) for redundancy of interminable monitoring and detection of any sporadic hot-water tank  101  leaks. 
         [0037]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a fire resistant and waterproof tarpaulin sheet or some polymer or metallic or complex combination material means  108 A and  108 B is provided in a kit form that is part and parcel to said present invention&#39;s production consumer package or of an independent tarpaulin or other said polymer or metallic or complex combination material means. Using a supplied instruction set, one can easily cut out and fold over to make a flanged water-leak collection reservoir  108  that is positioned underneath said hot-water tank  101 . This is used for all installations of said present invention, for on-site fabrication of said water collection reservoir  108  in any existing or new build homes, condos or apartments. 
         [0038]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  it is illustrated how high said water outlet pipe  111  can be elevated to flow through building wall  113  to outside through outside pipe fixture  112 . Suggested maximum elevation for outlet pipe is ten feet from floor  115 . Also another arrangement of said embodiment is to connect outlet pipe  111 D to an existing drain-water source drain. 
         [0039]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and another feature and intention of said present invention, is for a permanent water collection flanged reservoir  173  to be fabricated and constructed as a permanent improvement and feature over existing prior art that is seen as an attachment to a typical prior art hot-water tank means  101 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the components of said permanent water collection flanged reservoir  173 , whereby a metal floor base means  174  is centered and welded to said hot-water tank  101  in a production setting means. A base circumference metal flange wall  179  is welded and fabricated around the full circumference of said metal floor base  174  and forms a water tight permanent water collection flanged reservoir  173 . Support braces  175  are inserted and welded around said metal floor base  174  and said base circumference metal flange wall  179  at a multiplicity of positions, for maximum support and strength. An expanded view  176  of said support braces  175  shows a flow through hole  177  fabricated on each support brace  175  to allow water flow throughout said permanent water collection flanged reservoir  173 . Lower and upper water-level sensor knock-out hole patterns  180  or holes  180  are fabricated in said base circumference metal flange wall  179  and water-pump pipe knock-out hole patterns  181  or holes  181  are also fabricated in said base circumference metal flange wall  179 . These added improvements and intentions of said present invention are methodologies of improvement over prior art hot-water tanks and provides for an alternatives and accommodations for hot-water tank manufacturers to utilize as value added product features. 
         [0040]    An embodiment is an implementation or example of said invention. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments of said present invention. The various appearances of “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. 
         [0041]    If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may,” “might,” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. 
         [0042]    Said present invention is not restricted to the particular details described herein. Indeed, many other variations of the foregoing description and drawings may be made within the scope of said present invention. Accordingly, it is the following claims including any amendments thereto that define the scope of said present invention.