Remote water shut-off module for use by disabled and infirm

A single-unit, remote shut-off module for use by the disabled and infirm has a single-unit module attached by clamps to external water source and outflow connector pipes and housing a shaft which itself houses a plunger with a rubber ball seal which is guided through a shaft guide by electrical current from an electrical motor unit, which is fitably attached above the external water source connector pipe to direct the plunger into the seal of the mouth of the outflow connector pipe, and thereby to interrupt the communication of water from the external water source connector pipe through the module into the outflow connector pipe during a plumbing emergency at the discretion of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a remote water shut-off module for use by 
the disabled and infirm and more particularly to a remote water shut-off 
system utilizing a shaft guide and ball plunger which engage upon the 
ignition of electrical current at the decision of the user. 
While inventions which include remote control and/or electrically operated 
valve apparatus exist (see Atherton, U.S. Pat. No. 1,585,816 and Hibbard, 
U.S. Patent reissue number Re 17,689), none of the current art provides 
for the expeditious, remote shut-off of the flow of water in a plumbing 
emergency by the use of an electrically operated plunger which is fitably 
engaged inside of a shaft and connected to a ball to cease the flow of 
water before it enters into the system of plumbing pipes and connectors. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote 
shut-off module for the use of the disabled and infirm utilizing a shaft 
guide and ball plunger which engage upon the ignition of electric current 
at the decision of the user, which eliminates the necessity of physical 
exertion on the part of the user. 
In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent 
hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, 
in an electric motor and electric switch housed in a single unit fitably 
attached above a connector pipe which extends into a domicile from an 
external water source. When in normal use, water flows into the connector 
pipe from the external water source and runs into the module, which is 
fitted between the external water source connector pipe and the outflow 
connector pipe. Water flows through the module into an opening between the 
module and the copper or plastic outflow pipe into a domicile's plumbing 
system. The present invention provides a one-piece housing element for the 
module with shaft and shaft guide to electrically push a ball plunger into 
the mouth of the outlet connector pipe to stop the flow of water from the 
external water source into a domicile's plumbing system. The ball plunger 
remains in its place until the cessation of the plumbing emergency which 
necessitated its use. The ball plunger returns to its original position in 
the shaft unit upon being signaled to do so by the electric switch, which 
is operated remotely by the user. 
When the module is designed in accordance with the present invention, it 
has considerably less parts and therefore is easier to assemble in tight 
places. Additional joints which are susceptible to leaks are eliminated, 
and the module does not break under the action of high forces applied for 
tightening. The module is unique in that it provides a single assembly to 
be fitably attached to the external water source connector pipe and the 
outflow connector pipe. 
In accordance with another advantageous feature of the present invention, 
the ball plunger operated by the electric switching mechanism has a 
surface which, upon piercing the existing outflow connector pipe, can be 
brought in tight contact with a seal and water tightly interrupt the 
communication between the existing pipe and the water in the module unit 
which has been communicated into it by the external water source connector 
pipe. The thusly designed module permits not only the "normal" operation 
of the flow of water into a domicile's plumbing system, but also the 
closing of the existing outflow connector pipe in the case of a plumbing 
emergency. 
The novel features of the present invention are set forth in particular in 
the appended claims. The invention itself will be best understood from the 
following description of a preferred embodiment, which is accompanied by 
the following drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A single-unit module 1 has an integral one-piece housing element 10 which 
simultaneously forms a housing for an elongated plunger 2 with a rubber 
ball seal 3, fitably mounted to shaft 4 and directed into the mouth of 
outflow connector pipe 5 by shaft assembly 6, which shaft 4 is controlled 
by electric switch 7 connected to electrical motor unit 8. The motor unit 
8 is attached to the external water source connector pipe 9. 
The single-unit module 1 is attached to external water source connector 
pipe 9 and outflow connector pipe 5 by the use of conventional fastening 
numbers, not shown. Plunger 2 with rubber ball seal 3 is housed in a shaft 
assembly 6 built into the module and extending into its inner chamber 15, 
directly above external water source connector pipe 9. Shaft assembly is 
sealed to prevent leakage of the water from the single-unit module 1. 
Shaft assembly includes shaft guide 16 to slidably direct plunger 2 and 
rubber ball seal 3 into reciprocal circumferential seal 18 of the rounded 
edged mouth orifice 17 of outflow connector pipe 5 to discontinue the 
communication of water from the external water source connector pipe 9 
through single-unit module 1 into outflow connector pipe 5. The end of 
shaft 4, which is opposite to the end secured to ball seal 3 is secured 
longitudinally within shaft guide 6, which is longitudinally secured to 
shaft guide sub assembly 6A which subassembly 6A is mounted within a wall 
10A of housing element 10. The generation of electrical current by 
ignition of remotely controlled switch 7 dictates the movement of plunger 
2 and rubber ball 3 into and out of out seal 18 of outflow connector pipe 
5. 
Rotatable shaft guide subassembly 6A is threadably movable within inlaid 
tubing 12 having internal reciprocal threading surface 13, within which 
shaft guide subassembly 6A advances shaft assembly 6 and shaft 4, thereby 
guiding and propelling the movement of plunger seal 3 in a rotatable 
manner longitudinally toward outflow connector pipe 5. At the portion of 
shaft guide subassembly 6A closest to outflow connector pipe 5 there is 
located shaft guide 6, also extending longitudinally toward water outflow 
connector pipe 5. Conventional fasteners such as nuts 12A and 12B, secure 
inlaid tubing 12 within wall 10A of housing element 10. 
Shaft 4 has attached, at its end closest to seal 18 of outflow connector 
pipe 5, the rubber ball seal 3. (It is noted that other similar resilient 
materials such as plastics may be employed spherically in a manner similar 
to rubber ball seal 5.) At the end of shaft 4 transverse from the rubber 
ball seal 3, shaft 4 is fixably mounted within shaft guide 6 such that 
both shaft 4 and shaft guide 6 extend longitudinally within housing unit 
10 in a direction with a common axis. 
As shaft subassembly 6A advances rotatably within the threaded interior 
wall surface 13 of inlaid tubing 12 mounted within the wall 10A of housing 
element 10, mechanical power is transmitted from the electric motor to 
rotatable shaft guide subassembly 6A by means of drive shaft 15 of 
electric motor unit 8. 
However, to prevent fracturing of any of the components and seals of the 
device, a shock absorbing assembly 16 attaches shaft extension member 40 
to shaft subassembly 6A of electric motor 8. 
As shown in FIG. 3, shock absorbing assembly 16 includes a generally 
cylindrical bracket member 41 having a gap 42 between drive shaft 15 and 
shaft extension member 40. The gap 42 permits shaft extension member 40 to 
slide through gap 42 of cylindrical bracket member 41 when excess or 
sudden force from reverse water pressure out of outflow connector pipe 5 
impresses inward upon rubber ball seal 3, and thereby upon shaft 4, shaft 
assembly 6, shaft subassembly 6A and ultimately against shaft extension 
member 40. Furthermore, whenever the ball seal 3 engages the outflow 
connector pipe 5, the ball seal 3 requires some resiliency to accommodate 
the surge of water pressure against the ball seal 3. 
Therefore, a small horizontal, longitudinal movement is permitted during 
sudden changes of water pressure. This movement of shaft extension member 
40 within cylindrical bracket member 41 is limited by the length of 
longitudinally extending track guide groove 43, which track guide 43 
limits the movement of shaft extension member 40 by means of blocking 
member 44, such as a set screw. 
Consequently, the device has a built in safety device to permit some 
initial give under water pressure conditions of sudden change. 
An alternate poppet-type embodiment for the device in FIG. 4, wherein a 
solenoid 50 controls cooperating lever arms 51a, 51b and 52, causing 
reciprocal lever arm 53 to move in a direction opposite to that of lever 
arms 51a and 51b, thereby causing shaft member 54 to extend longitudinally 
within housing element 10A. 
As an alternate to rubber ball seal 3, there may be provided funnel shaped 
seal 60, which engages in sealing manner with the rounded sealed edge of 
water outlet connector pipe 55. 
The assembly shown in FIG. 1 is installed on the existing pipe, outflow 
connector pipe 5 and external water source connector pipe 9. This assembly 
includes a minimal number of working parts and therefore can be easily 
installed even in very tight places. When used in conjunction with 
electrical motor unit 8, the present invention provides a safe, reliable, 
expeditious and nonexertionary means to interrupt the communication of 
water from an external water source into a domicile's plumbing system. It 
is to be noted that various modifications may be made without departing 
from the principles and scope of the appended claims.