Valve system

A valve system for use in conjunction with a hot water heater where the water line to the hot water heater passes through the valve system which, when a leak is detected by an electrical sensor, causes a motor to drive a gear which moves a gear rack laterally to pull a rod attached to a gate which gate moves over a valve outlet to block further flow of water to the hot water heater.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Field of the Invention 
The system of this invention resides in the area of valves and more 
particularly relates to a shutoff valve system for use with a hot water 
heater. 
Description of the Prior Art 
Hot water heaters in common domestic use receive water through a water 
line. Many hot water heaters are designed such that if the casing of the 
hot water heater rusts through or otherwise springs a leak, water to the 
water heater continues to flow through the water line, flooding the area 
in which the hot water heater is located. In order to prevent such 
flooding and resulting damage, Osmani A. Rodriguez developed and patented 
a Valve Apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,274 which caused the flood water to 
raise a float assembly which action mechanically rotated a gear which 
closed a valve to shut off the water going to the water heater so that 
damage from such flooding would be limited or stopped. This device helps 
to provide security and peace of mind that even with a water heater leak, 
the damage will be minimal or nonexistent. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The system disclosed herein is an improvement over the aforementioned 
invention for a Valve Apparatus of Osmani A. Rodriguez. The system 
disclosed herein utilizes a valve housing having a chamber defined 
therein, such chamber having a valve inlet and a valve outlet through 
which water directed to the water heater flows. When water is detected by 
an electrical water sensor located on the floor near the water heater, it 
sends a signal to control circuitry which turns on a motor which rotates a 
gear which moves a gear rack which pulls a rod laterally which in turn 
pulls a gate to block the valve outlet, thereby stopping water from 
entering the water heater.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
The FIGURE illustrates a perspective view of the valve system of this 
invention. Valve housing 11 is disposed on the water line to water heater 
22 which heater is depicted in block format. The water line has inlet pipe 
12 which directs water through valve opening 52 defined in the top of 
valve housing 11 wherein the water enters into first chamber 14 which can 
have a plastic or glass window thereover, as described further below, and 
exits through valve outlet 18 into outlet pipe 20 which delivers the water 
to water heater 22. In its open mode, valve system 10 of this invention 
allows water to pass therethrough. However, when water escapes out of 
water heater 22, such as by leaking to form a water puddle 46 on the 
floor, a water detector such as electronic water sensor 44 of a type that 
is well known, for example, Zircon Water Detector made by Zircon 
Corporation of Campbell, Calif. 95008, not only can sound an alarm, if 
desired, but also sends a signal to control circuit 40 which then directs 
power from a power source such as battery 42 to a motor 36. Motor 36, when 
activated, rotates gear 34 which drives gear rack 32 away from valve 
housing 11. Gear rack 32 moves laterally within a channel 35 formed in 
base support 38. Gear rack 32 can be disposed in channel 35 or placed in 
any other equivalent configuration such as would allow its movement 
laterally to pull rod 26 along with it as it moves away from valve housing 
11. Rod 26 extends through first aperture 28, through second chamber 24, 
through second aperture 30, through first chamber 14, to its attachment to 
gate 16. Gate 16 in a preferred embodiment can be a rectangular piece of 
metal but other shapes can be used as long as gate 16 can fully cover 
valve outlet 18. Gate 16, when pulled to the right by the action of gear 
rack 32 pulling rod 26, covers valve outlet 18 which action effectively 
blocks the flow of water out of valve outlet 18 to water heater 22. When 
gear rack 32 comes in contact with switch 48, it activates switch 48 which 
sends a signal back to control circuit 40 to shut off current to motor 36 
so that its operation ceases. When operation of motor 36 ceases, valve 
outlet 18 is blocked by gate 16 and water no longer flows to water heater 
22. Rod 26 passes through close-fitting first and second apertures 28 and 
30 and can also pass through a bellows washer 50 to prevent leakage from 
second chamber 24. Second chamber 24, should water accumulate therein, 
utilizes bellows washer 50 to prevent any leakage of water therefrom. Once 
the water heater has been repaired or replaced and is no longer leaking, 
one can then reset gear rack 32 back to its original starting position 
with rod 26 moved to the left and gate 16 positioned at its starting 
position beyond valve outlet 18 so that valve outlet 18 is no longer 
blocked and water can freely pass from inlet pipe 12 through first chamber 
14 to outlet pipe 20 and then to water heater 22. 
The use of a water detector such as electronic water sensor 44 is an 
improvement over the float and mechanical systems of the prior art as it 
quickly senses the presence of water and directs a signal to an 
electric-powered drive system which shuts off the water flow to the water 
heater. Further, the invention herein utilizes much less material in its 
construction and is of lower cost to product than prior art systems. The 
valve system of this invention can be independent of house current by 
utilizing battery 42 although in some embodiments a combination of house 
current and a back-up battery can be utilized. Water sensor 44 can also be 
powered by a battery, house current or a combination thereof. First and 
second viewing apertures 54 and 56 can be provided, respectively, in first 
and second chambers 14 and 24 and covered by a sheet of heavy clear 
plastic or glass which is transparent so that the water level in the 
chambers can be seen. Such plastic sheet or glass is not illustrated in 
the Figure but can be attached by well-known means, such as screws with a 
gasket washer thereunder, to valve system 10. The control circuit, motor, 
gear, and gear rack structure can all be covered by a housing, not shown. 
Although the present invention has been described with reference to 
particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art 
that variations and modifications can be substituted therefor without 
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.