Leak detector

A water appliance detection and cut off apparatus is provided including a water entry conduit for receiving water from a water source. A pan is provided having a bottom face and a lip coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom for defining an open top and an interior space into which the water appliance is stored. A water ball valve is connected to the water entry conduit. In use, the ball valve has a closed orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of an activation signal wherein water is prevented from flowing to the water appliance and an open orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of a deactivation signal wherein water is allowed to flow to the water appliance. At least one water sensor is situated within the interior space of the pan and is adapted to generate the activation signal upon the detection of water within the pan, wherein the water sensor is connected to the water ball valve for transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of water thereby precluding water from flowing to the water appliance. A D-flip flop having an input is connected to the water sensors for continuously transmitting the activation signal at an output thereof upon at least the instantaneous receipt thereof until the receipt of the deactivation signal at a clear input thereof. Next provided is an audio alarm connected to the output of the D-flip flop for emitting an audible noise only during the receipt of the activation signal. Finally, a reset switch is connected to the clear input of the D-flip flop and the water ball valve for transmitting a deactivation signal thereto upon the depression thereof for resuming the flow of water to the water appliance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to water leak detectors and more particularly 
pertains to a new LEAK DETECTOR for providing a unique means for 
indicating and preventing a leak associated with a water appliance. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of water leak detectors is known in the prior art. More 
specifically, water leak detectors heretofore devised and utilized are 
known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural 
configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the 
crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of 
countless objectives and requirements. 
Known prior art water leak detectors include U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,973; U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,345,224; U.S. Patent Des. 255,102; U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,241; 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,564; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,052. 
In these respects, the LEAK DETECTOR according to the present invention 
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the 
prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for 
the purpose of providing a unique means for indicating and preventing a 
leak associated with a water appliance. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of water 
leak detectors now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides a new LEAK DETECTOR construction wherein the same can be utilized 
for providing a unique means for indicating and preventing a leak 
associated with a water appliance. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new LEAK DETECTOR 
apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the water leak 
detectors mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a 
new LEAK DETECTOR which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, 
or even implied by any of the prior art water leak detectors, either alone 
or in any combination thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a water appliance 
having a water entry conduit for receiving water from a water source and a 
gas entry conduit for receiving gas from a gas source for powering 
purposes. The water appliance is further connected to a electrical power 
source via a plurality of wires for receiving electrical power therefrom. 
Such electrical power is employed for powering control means of the water 
appliance. Also showing FIG. 1 is a pan having a bottom face and a lip 
coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. The lip thus defines an 
open top and an interior space into which the water appliance is stored. 
Further provided is a water ball valve connected to the water entry 
conduit. In operation, the ball valve has a closed orientation upon at 
least the instantaneous receipt of an activation signal. In the closed 
orientation, the ball valve prevents water from flowing to the water 
appliance. The ball valve further has an open orientation upon at least 
the instantaneous receipt of a deactivation signal, wherein water is 
allowed to flow to the water appliance. A gas valve is coupled to the gas 
entry conduit for precluding the flow of gas to the water appliance. It 
should be noted that the gas valve only operates in such a way during the 
receipt of power. Situated within the interior space of the pan is a 
plurality of water sensors. Each of the water sensors is adapted to 
generate the activation signal upon the detection of water within the pan. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the water sensors are connected to the water ball 
valve for transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of 
water. As mentioned before, this precludes water from flowing to the water 
appliance. As shown in FIG. 3, a D-flip flop is provided having an input 
connected to the water sensors for continuously transmitting the 
activation signal at an output thereof upon at least the instantaneous 
receipt thereof. Such transmission continues until the receipt of the 
deactivation signal at a clear input thereof. For indicating that a true 
leak is occurring, a light emitting diode is connected to the water 
sensors for illuminating upon the receipt of the activation signal. Also 
included is a manual override switch connected between the light emitting 
diode and water sensors and the water ball valve and D-flip flop. Note 
FIG. 3. By such interconnection, the override switch is adapted for 
allowing the transmission of the activation signal to only the light 
emitting diode in a first orientation and further allow the transmission 
of the activation signal to the D-flip flop and the water ball valve in a 
second orientation. To provide an audible alarm when a leak is detected, 
an audio alarm means is connected to the output of the D-flip flop. As 
such, the alarm means is adapted for emitting an audible alarm only during 
the receipt of the activation signal. Connected between the electrical 
power source and the gas valve is a voltage controlled switch. Such 
voltage controlled switch is further connected to the output of the D-flip 
flop and serves to supply power to the gas valve only during the receipt 
of the activation signal. This in turn precludes the flow of gas to the 
water appliance. It should be noted that the voltage controlled switch is 
further connected to the wires between the electrical power source and the 
water appliance for precluding the supply of electrical power to the water 
appliance only during the receipt of the activation signal. The voltage 
control switch may comprises of dual relays or the like. Next provided is 
a reset switch connected to the clear input of the D-flip flop and the 
water ball valve. In use, the reset switch is adapted for transmitting a 
deactivation signal upon the depression thereof. Such depression thus 
resumes the flow of water, gas, and electrical power to the water 
appliance. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature an essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new LEAK 
DETECTOR apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the 
water leak detectors mentioned heretofore and many novel features that 
result in a new LEAK DETECTOR which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, 
suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art water leak detectors, 
either alone or in any combination thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new LEAK 
DETECTOR which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new LEAK 
DETECTOR which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new LEAK 
DETECTOR which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to 
both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low 
prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such LEAK DETECTOR 
economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new LEAK 
DETECTOR which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art 
some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of 
the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new LEAK 
DETECTOR for providing a unique means for indicating and preventing a leak 
associated with a water appliance. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new LEAK 
DETECTOR that includes a water entry conduit for receiving water from a 
water source. A pan is provided having a bottom face and a lip coupled 
thereto and extending upwardly therefrom for defining an open top and an 
interior space into which the water appliance is stored. A water ball 
valve is connected to the water entry conduit. In use, the ball valve has 
a closed orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt of an 
activation signal wherein water is prevented from flowing to the water 
appliance and an open orientation upon at least the instantaneous receipt 
of a deactivation signal wherein water is allowed to flow to the water 
appliance. At least one water sensor is situated within the interior space 
of the pan and is adapted to generate the activation signal upon the 
detection of water within the pan, wherein the water sensor is connected 
to the water ball valve for transmitting the activation signal thereto 
upon the detection of water thereby precluding water from flowing to the 
water appliance. A D-flip flop having an input is connected to the water 
sensors for continuously transmitting the activation signal at an output 
thereof upon at least the instantaneous receipt thereof until the receipt 
of the deactivation signal at a clear input thereof. Next provided is an 
audio alarm connected to the output of the D-flip flop for emitting an 
audible noise only during the receipt of the activation signal. Finally, a 
reset switch is connected to the clear input of the D-flip flop and the 
water ball valve for transmitting a deactivation signal thereto upon the 
depression thereof for resuming the flow of water to the water appliance. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, a new LEAK DETECTOR embodying the 
principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated 
by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a water appliance 12 is provided having a water entry 
conduit 14 for receiving water from a water source and a gas entry conduit 
16 for receiving gas from a gas source for powering purposes. The water 
appliance is further connected to a electrical power source 18 via a 
plurality of wires 20 for receiving electrical power therefrom. Such 
electrical power is employed for powering control means of the water 
appliance. 
Also showing FIG. 1 is a pan 22 having a bottom face and a lip coupled 
thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. The lip thus defines an open top 
and an interior space into which the water appliance is stored. 
Further provided is a water ball valve 24 connected to the water entry 
conduit. In operation, the ball valve has a closed orientation upon at 
least the instantaneous receipt of an activation signal. It should be 
noted that the activation signal simply consists of a pulse. In the closed 
orientation, the ball valve prevents water from flowing to the water 
appliance. The ball valve further has an open orientation upon at least 
the instantaneous receipt of a deactivation signal, wherein water is 
allowed to flow to the water appliance. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the ball valve receives the activation and deactivation 
signal via two separate inputs. It should be understood that the unique 
operation of the water ball valve is afforded by a way of a pair of 
non-retriggerable one-shot multivibrators 30 which permit the transmission 
of a pulse of proper duration despite the brevity of the activation and 
deactivation signals. In the preferred embodiment, the water ball valve 
preferably comprises a NIBCO AT585 valve. 
A gas valve 32 is coupled to the gas entry conduit for precluding the flow 
of gas to the water appliance. It should be noted that the gas valve only 
operates in such a way during the receipt of power. 
Situated within the interior space of the pan is a plurality of water 
sensors 34. Each of the water sensors is adapted to generate the 
activation signal upon the detection of water within the pan. As shown in 
FIG. 3, the water sensors are connected to the water ball valve for 
transmitting the activation signal thereto upon the detection of water. As 
mentioned before, this precludes water from flowing to the water 
appliance. For simulating the detection of water, a test button 36 is 
positioned in parallel with the water sensors for manually transmitting 
the activation signal. 
As shown in FIG. 3, a D-flip flop 40 is provided having an input connected 
to the water sensors for continuously transmitting the activation signal 
at an output thereof upon at least the instantaneous receipt thereof. Such 
transmission continues until the receipt of the deactivation signal at a 
clear input thereof. 
For indicating that a true leak is occurring, a light emitting diode 42 is 
connected to the water sensors for illuminating upon the receipt of the 
activation signal. 
Also included is a manual override switch 44 connected between the light 
emitting diode and water sensors and the water ball valve and D-flip flop. 
Note FIG. 3. By such interconnection, the override switch is adapted for 
allowing the transmission of the activation signal to only the light 
emitting diode in a first orientation and further allow the transmission 
of the activation signal to the D-flip flop and the water ball valve in a 
second orientation. This allows the light emitting diode to 
unconditionally signal a leak. 
To provide an audible alarm when a leak is detected, an audio alarm means 
46, in the form of a buzzer, is connected to the output of the D-flip 
flop. As such, the alarm means is adapted for emitting an audible alarm 
only during the receipt of the activation signal. 
Connected between the electrical power source and the gas valve is a 
voltage controlled switch 48. Such voltage controlled switch is further 
connected to the output of the D-flip flop and serves to supply power to 
the gas valve only during the receipt of the activation signal. This in 
turn precludes the flow of gas to the water appliance. It should be noted 
that the voltage controlled switch is further connected to the wires 
between the electrical power source and the water appliance for precluding 
the supply of electrical power to the water appliance only during the 
receipt of the activation signal. The voltage controlled switch may 
comprises of dual relays or the like. 
Next provided is a reset switch 50 connected to the clear input of the 
D-flip flop and the water ball valve. In use, the reset switch is adapted 
for transmitting a deactivation signal upon the depression thereof. Such 
depression thus resumes the flow of water, gas, and electrical power to 
the water appliance. It is imperative that the various electrical 
components of the present invention are powered by a separate power source 
which is not affected by the voltage controlled switch. 
In an alternate embodiment, the water sensors are situated adjacent a 
washer for transmitting the activation signal upon the detection of a 
leak. The present embodiment further includes means 52 for closing the 
water ball valve unconditionally after a predetermined amount of time if 
the washer is not consuming power as in the case where the washer has been 
deactivated. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the gas 
and electrical power cutoff mechanism have been excluded for purposes of 
clarity. The means 52 includes a current sensor 54 adapted to provide a 
washer on signal for a predetermined amount of time upon each detection of 
the washer being activated. To accomplish this, the current sensor has 
associated therewith a retriggerable one-shot multivibrator 56. Further 
included is a first AND gate 58 with a pair of inverter inputs connected 
to the output of the D-flip flop and an output of the retriggerable 
one-shot multivibrator. As shown in FIG. 4, an output of the first AND 
gate is connected to a first input of a first OR gate 60. A second input 
of the first OR gate is connected to the water sensors while the output 
thereof is connected the water ball valve. By this interconnection, the 
water supplied to the washer will be cut off by either the detection of 
water or the deactivation of the washer. To effect the opening of the 
water ball valve upon either the depression of the reset button or the 
lack of detection of water in combination with the activation of the 
washer, a second AND gate 62 and OR gate 64 are provided. The second AND 
gate has a first inverter input connected to the output of the D-flip flop 
and a second input connected to the retriggerable one-shot multivibrator. 
The second AND gate further has an output connected to a first input of 
the second OR gate. A second input of such OR gate is connected to the 
reset button. By this structure, the forgoing function is accomplished. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.