Abstract:
A water shut-off valve assembly comprises a valve that is moveable by a motor between open and closed positions. The water shut-off valve assembly is adapted to be connected to a water line. A sensor is also associated with a valve assembly for sensing leakages that occurred downstream from the valve assembly. A controller is operatively connected to the water shut-off valve assembly for actuating the electric motor which in turn actuates the valve therein. From time to time, the water shut-off valve assembly exercises or moves the valve within the valve assembly so as to prevent the valve from becoming clogged due to inactivity over a period of time.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to water shut-off valves for domestic and commercial settings and particularly to a water shut-off valve that is periodically manipulated to prevent failure thereof. 
     It is known to provide automatic water shut-off valves that have the ability to sense a water leak or accumulation of water and automatically close the valve so as to prevent further leakage and damage. For example, see the disclosures found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,771,920 and 5,794,653 as well as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/416,132. Further, disclosed therein is a teaching that both small trickle leaks and catastrophic leaks may be sensed and the shut-off valve actuated. Still further, disclosed therein is a controller that may be programmed to call a monitoring service or an attendant, and/or be programmed for home and away modes. An active mode assumes normal water use conditions and does not shut off for detected water flow events such as a shower running or the like. An away mode is a tighter threshold that will allow small water flow conditions such as when a toilet is refilled to compensate for evaporation or automatic ice making devices, but not for sustaining trickle leaks, burst washing machine hoses, showers or the like. Such modes may be particularly useful for vacation homes where occupants are sporadic and leak detection and shut-off are needed more than in an occupied house where a resident may detect and deal with the leak. 
     While these products and many others do exist in the field of water shut-off valves, there remains a problem in that the valves may fail when called upon to close. Many rural and municipal water systems have some degree of particulate matter suspended therein. This matter may gum up the valve preventing closure at the desired time. Further, many water systems convey water with chemicals disposed therein. Over time, these chemicals may corrode or damage the mechanism of the shut-off valve. Corrosion, just as much as the suspended matter, may clog the valve, preventing closure at the desired time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a controller that periodically exercises the shut-off valve so as to prevent or minimize the accumulation of valve clogging matter or corrosion, or simply from time to time break up matter that might tend to cause the valve to clog. In one embodiment, the shut-off valve is exercised during away periods so as to not disrupt normal operation of the water system serving the building. In another embodiment, the shut-off valve is exercised during non-peak use times. In still a third embodiment, the valve may be exercised upon a manual trigger event. Additionally, the shut-off valve may be exercised in other ways. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a water shut-off system; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective exploded view of an exemplary valve such as may be used in the system of claim  1 ; 
     FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B illustrate a cross-sectional view of the valve of FIG. 2 in an open and closed posture respectively; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a first embodiment of an exercising regimen for a water shut-off system; and 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment of an exercising regimen for a water shut-off system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An exemplary water shut-off system  10  is illustrated in FIG.  1 . In particular, water shut-off system  10  comprises a water main  12 , a main valve  14 , and a combined flow sensor and shutoff valve  16 . The shut-of valve  16  is typically actuated by an electric motor, solenoid or some other power source. Optionally, several other components may also be present in the water shut-off system  10 , including an intermediate controller  18 , a security controller  20 , and a personal computer (PC)  22 . 
     Water main  12  passes through main valve  14 , which may be a conventional manual valve, and supplies water to internal water consuming entities such as a toilet  30 , a shower  32 , and a sink  34 . Other water consuming entities such as lawn sprinklers, dishwashers, clothes washers and the like may also be present depending on the nature of the building. 
     Flow sensor and shut-off valve  16  may be interposed in water main  12  between main valve  14  and the water consuming entities. Exemplary flow sensors and shut-off valves are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,771,920; 5,794,653; 3,805,611; 5,038,820; and 4,705,060 as well as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/416,132, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties. Other sensor and shut-off valves may also be used. These sensors and shut-off valves need not be unitary, but can be spaced from one another such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,060. A further discussion of an exemplary valve  16  is presented below with respect to FIGS. 2,  3 A, &amp;  3 B. 
     In the disclosed embodiment, the intermediate controller  18  acts as the intelligence of the flow sensor and shut-off valve  16 . In particular, the intermediate controller  18  evaluates whether the flow sensor  16  has detected a leak of sufficient severity to merit actuating the shut-off valve to close the water main  12 . Intermediate controller  18  may communicate with the security controller  20 . Security controller  20  may in turn communicate with the personal computer  22  and remote security service  24 . Security controller  20  therefore may comprise the appropriate telephone, cable, or DSL connections as needed or desired. Remote security service  24  may be a housekeeper, a plumber, a service such as ADT® or the like. In the event of a leak, they are notified and appropriate contacts are made. 
     Personal computer  22  may be used to program the security controller  20  and the intermediate controller  18  if needed or desired. Further, it may generate telephone calls or emails to the owners of the building alerting them as to the existence of a detected leak. 
     For the purposes of the present invention, the security controller  20 , the personal computer  22 , and the remote security service  24  are optional. Further, the intermediate controller  18  may be integrated into a single unit with the flow sensor and shut-off valve  16  if needed or desired. 
     Intermediate controller  18  comprises a memory device such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or the like coupled with a microprocessor. Software may be installed thereon or the controller  18  may be hardwired or adopted for wireless operation to perform the duties of the present invention as needed or desired. Intermediate controller  18  may have a user interface or require programming through an auxiliary device such as a personal computer  22 . 
     Intermediate controller  18  may further be programmed to recognize active (such as home) or away modes as disclosed in the previously incorporated patent application. Note that the previously incorporated application may refer to the active mode as a “home” mode. The terms are meant to be synonymous as used herein. These modes reflect the variable use levels associated with an active building and an inactive building. Water demands are minimal when in the away mode and shut-off water flow thresholds would be set correspondingly low. In contrast, in an active mode, the occupants may have water demands that result in relatively constant medium to low flow situations, such as for example, when the lawn is being watered. Showers, toilet flushing, and the like also have characteristic water demands that are accommodated without triggering a shutoff in the home or active mode. Those of ordinary skill in the art may determine other acceptable water use profiles based on events that routinely occur in the building. 
     An exemplary valve  16 ′ forms part of the flow sensor and shutoff valve  16  and is illustrated in FIG.  2 . Valve  16 ′ comprises an inlet tube  50 , an output gear  52 , a screw  54 , a ball  56 , a plurality of o-rings  58 , and an inlet tube switch  60 . Ball  56  is positioned within the inlet tube  50  and actuated by movement of output gear  52 . This is similar to the construction presented in the previously incorporated application, and for a further explanation, the interested reader is directed there. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B, this exemplary valve  16 ′ may be open (FIG.  3 A), wherein the aperture  62  in the ball  56  is generally collinear with the flow path of the inlet tube  50 , or closed (FIG. 3B) wherein the aperture  62  is generally perpendicular to the flow path of the inlet tube. In this embodiment of the valve  16 ′, closing the valve  16 ′ from an open position comprises rotating the ball  56  a quarter turn counter-clockwise. Opening the valve  16 ′ from a closed position comprises rotating the ball  56  a quarter turn clockwise. Other arrangements are possible and contemplated. 
     Intermediate controller  18  or an equivalent structure such as the personal computer  22  or a controller within the flow sensor and shut-off valve  16  is programmed to effectuate the following functionality as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In particular, with reference to FIG. 4, the flow sensor and shut-off valve  16  is installed within the building (block  100 ). The active and away modes are programmed such that threshold values for acceptable flow rates are established for both modes (block  102 ). This may be done empirically or according to standard profiles as needed or desired. 
     The occupant then leaves the building activating the away mode (block  104 ). A timer associated with the controller  18  is set and begins to count down (block  106 ). Eventually, the count down will reach zero (block  108 ). Alternatively, the timer may count up as needed or desired, in which case, the count up will eventually exceed a predetermined threshold. In either case, the end result is the passage of a predetermined amount of time, such as a few minutes, an hour, or even a day or two . Upon the passage of the appropriate amount of time, the valve is closed (block  110 ). 
     A timer, perhaps the same one, or perhaps a second one as needed or desired, is set and a count down begins (block  112 ). This second count down reaches zero (block  114 ). Again, this could be a count up with a predetermined threshold. This second count may be shorter than the initial count, on the order of a minute or less. In one embodiment, this time is ten to fifteen seconds. Upon the passage of the desired amount of time, the valve is cycled all the way open (block  116 ). The term “exercising” as used herein comprises at least partially moving or partially closing the valve  16 ′. Exercising specifically includes closing a valve  16 ′ all the way and then opening the valve  16 ′ all the way. Likewise, if the valve  16 ′ is normally in a closed position, exercising comprises at least partially opening the valve  16 ′ and then closing the valve  16 ′. 
     After the valve has been exercised, that is after the valve has been closed and opened, the system may be designed to exercise the valve from time to time while the system is in the away mode. This is also illustrated in FIG.  4 . After the valve is open (block  116 ), the timer is reset and begins a countdown (block  118 ). Once the timer has reached zero, if the system has been changed from the away mode to the active mode, then the process ends. However, if the system is still in the away mode, the process or method is essentially recycled back to block  108  such that when the countdown reaches zero, the valve is closed and thereafter some amount of time is allowed to elapse after which the valve is returned to the open position. 
     Therefore, it is appreciated that when the system is placed in the away mode, that the valve can be exercised after the passing of a predetermined amount of time. Thereafter, the valve may be exercised from time to time during the time period in which the system remains in the away mode. 
     A similar process may occur for the active mode, as illustrated in FIG.  5 . The flow sensor and shut-off valve  16  is installed (block  100 ) and the active and away modes are programmed as previously described (block  102 ). The active mode is entered (block  150 ). Controller  18  determines a non-peak time (block  152 ). This may be done by programming the controller  18 , empirical data sampling, or other technique as needed or desired. A non-peak time comprises a time at which water usage is zero or at a minimum. In most households this would most likely be between midnight and five AM. Of course this may vary from household to household depending on schedules, working shifts, or the like. 
     A clock associated with the controller  18  reaches that non-peak time (block  154 ). The valve in the flow sensor/detector shut-off valve  16  is closed (block  156 ). This closing step may be identical to the closing step of block  110 , and may be, for example, a quarter closing. A timer associated with the controller  18  is set and a count down begins (block  158 ). The count down reaches zero (block  160 ). Again, this may be a count up and a threshold if desired. After the passage of an appropriate amount of time, the valve is opened (block  162 ). 
     As a further feature a human may manually actuate an exercise button (block  164 ). This button may be positioned on the flow sensor and shut-off valve  16  or on the intermediate controller  18  or other position as needed or desired. This actuation triggers the valve to cycle closed and open as previously described (block  166 ). Appropriate visual or audible indicia may be provided to indicate the successful completion of the manual exercising. Note that this manual exercising need not occur during a non-peak time, although it might temporarily impose an inconvenience for occupants of the building. 
     Intermediate controller  18  monitors to determine if the away mode has been triggered (block  168 ). If the answer is no, the process repeats in the active mode cycle, with manual exercising occurring as needed or desired. Again, the periodic exercising of the valve  16 ′ helps prevent failure thereof. If the away mode has been triggered, this process ends, and the process of FIG. 4 may begin. 
     While this process is particularly well suited for ball valves within the flow sensor and shut-off valve  16 , it may also be performed with other valves as well. Further, the exact location of the programming and memory associated with the present invention is contemplated as being closely associated with the flow sensor and shut-off valve  16 , it may also be remote therefrom. 
     As another possible trigger event for the valve exercising is the actuation of a mode. Thus, when an operator actuates, for example, the away mode, the valve  16 ′ is exercised immediately or close in time thereafter. If the process of exercising the valve  16 ′ fails for some reason, an alarm (audible or visual) may be generated and the operator may deal with the situation before leaving if desired. Equally possible would be to exercise the valve  16 ′ immediately after the home or active mode or other such modes were selected. 
     From the foregoing specification, it is appreciated that the shut-off valve can be exercised periodically, from time to time, manually, or in response to a programmed controller. It will be appreciated that this exercising activity will exercise other related or associated components such as the drive motor and the drive train interconnecting the drive motor with the on/off valve. 
     In the above discussion, the shut-off valve is basically described in connection with a system or method where flow is sensed. In this regard, the system is programmed or designed to shut-off or close a valve in response to a certain water flow condition sensed by a flow sensor. It is to be understood that the shut-off valve can be used in conjunction with other types of detection and sensing devices, and in those cases there is still the need to exercise the shut-off valve. For example, a system may be provided where there is a moisture or water detector or sensor. In such a case the shut-off valve would be automatically moved to a closed position when water or moisture is sensed. In this particular case, there would still be a need to exercise the shut-off valve from time to time and that could be accomplished in the same manner as described above. 
     The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.