Automated water shut-off valve

A device includes a housing that has a plurality of monolithically formed walls, wherein selected walls are provided with inlet and outlet ports respectively. The housing includes a coupling in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, a mechanism for detecting a fluctuation in water pressure, and a mechanism for selectively prohibiting water flow. The prohibiting mechanism cooperates with the detecting mechanism. The housing also includes a mechanism for providing an audible notification when the water supply is toggled between interrupted and reinstated modes and a mechanism for manually controlling the prohibiting mechanism. The manually controlling mechanism is electrically coupled to the prohibiting mechanism. An internal power supply source supplies power to the detecting mechanism, the prohibiting mechanism, and the manually controlling mechanism. A diode is attached to the housing and is illuminable when the power supply source reaches a minimum threshold level.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to automated valves and, more particularly, to an automated water shut-off valve for interrupting undesirable water discharge.

2. Prior Art

Water shut-off valves and systems are known. Some of them are based on monitoring a continuous flow of water. The problem with such a system is that eventually an acceptable continuous flow, such as from a leaking valve in a toilet tank, will accumulate until a fault condition is indicated that shuts off the flow of water when, in fact, a serious fault condition does not exist.

Also, certain other types of continuous flow systems are more complex and require that a second flow sensor be installed in a drain line and then connected to the system so as to determine when a protracted or excessive flow of water is nevertheless acceptable, because it is not then believed to be accumulating in the house. This is hardly foolproof as considerable damage may be occurring, yet the water may eventually find its way to a drain. Also such a system is more complex to install and to maintain.

Still other known systems do not allow for varying conditions, such as occur during seasonal changes when, for example, a lawn is to be watered in the summer and then only on particular days, or for special situations such as when the family is away from the home on vacation. For example, some of these prior systems specifically require that physical installation of the system occur after water has already been acquired for sprinkler use, thereby rendering the system ineffective in detecting leaks involving the sprinkler system.

Other systems are not well suited for use in commercial installations where potentially high flow rates are likely to occur, and when, during normal use, a continuous flow may be present simply due to many users having intermittent requirements that occasionally result in a protracted and uninterrupted continuous flow that can be misinterpreted as a fault condition (leak) that results in stopping the flow of water when it is not desired.

Accordingly, a need remains for an automated water shut-off valve in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing an automated shut-off valve that is adaptable in function and provides protection from water damage. Such an automated water shut-off valve actively cuts off water flow in the presence of a leak developing in a fixture or exposed supply line, thereby minimizing costly water damage to a structure and the furnishings contained therein. The system can be adapted for use in most residential structures and requires no maintenance beyond periodic battery replacement.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automated water shut-off valve. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a water leak detection and control device for interrupting undesirable water discharge.

The device includes a housing that has a cubic shape and a plurality of monolithically formed walls sized and shaped for fitting adjacent to a water-activated appliance. Selected ones of the walls are provided with inlet and outlet ports respectively wherein the inlet port effectively introduces water into the housing and the outlet port directs water away from the housing.

Such a housing includes a coupling in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, a mechanism for detecting a fluctuation in water pressure as water is passed through the housing, and a mechanism for selectively prohibiting water from exiting the outlet port. The prohibiting mechanism may include an electrically operable valve housed within the coupling and located downstream of the sensor. Such a prohibiting mechanism cooperates with the detecting mechanism such that a supply of water can advantageously be automatically interrupted and reinstated when a predetermined event occurs respectively. Such a predetermined event can be manually reset as desired by the user.

The detecting mechanism preferably includes a sensor positioned on a top surface of the coupling and partially extending downwardly therethrough in such a manner that the sensor effectively intersects a flow path of the water medially between the inlet and outlet ports. A processor is electrically mated to the sensor and a memory is electrically mated to the processor. Such memory bears software instructions for enabling the device to perform predetermined operations. The operations include the steps of determining a time interval in which a volume of water has been transferred between the inlet port and outlet port and generating and transmitting a control signal to the processor for instructing the processor to toggle the prohibiting mechanism to a closed position when the time interval extends beyond a predetermined threshold.

The housing also includes a mechanism for providing an audible notification to a user when the water supply is toggled between interrupted and reinstated modes and a mechanism for manually controlling the prohibiting mechanism. Such a manually controlling mechanism is electrically coupled to the prohibiting mechanism for allowing the user to manually control a volume of water passing through the housing.

The audible notification mechanism preferably includes a control circuit electrically mated to the processor and a speaker electrically mated to the control circuit. Such a speaker transmits an audible message when the electric valve is toggled between open and closed positions. The manually controlling mechanism preferably further includes a timer and a timer control electrically coupled thereto, a display screen connected to one of the walls of the housing, and a reset button electrically coupled to the processor such that the user can manually reset the timer by viewing the display screen in such a manner that a volume of water is allowed to flow through the coupling during emergency situations.

An internal power source supplies power to the detecting mechanism, the prohibiting mechanism, and the manually controlling mechanism. A diode is operably attached to the housing and is conveniently illuminable when the internal power supply source reaches a minimum threshold level.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device of this invention is referred to generally inFIGS. 1–3by the reference numeral10and is intended to provide an automated water shut-off valve. It should be understood that the apparatus10may be used to shut off water flow for many different types of applications and should not be limited in use to only detecting and interrupting leaks in irrigations systems.

Referring initially toFIG. 1, the device10includes a housing20that has a cubic shape and a plurality of monolithically formed walls21sized and shaped for fitting adjacent to a water-activated appliance11, including but not limited to an icemaker, toilet and sprinkler system. Of course, such a housing20may be alternately sized and shaped, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Selected ones21A of the walls21are provided with inlet22and outlet23ports respectively wherein the inlet port22effectively introduces water into the housing20and the outlet port23directs water away from the housing20. This feature is convenient and critical for not interrupting the overall flow of water.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, such a housing20further includes a coupling24in fluid communication with the inlet22and outlet23ports, a mechanism30for detecting a fluctuation in water pressure as water is passed through the housing20, and a mechanism40for selectively prohibiting water from exiting the outlet port23. Of course, a variety of different couplings24suitable to the specific appliance11may be attached to the inlet22and outlet23ports, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

The prohibiting mechanism40includes an important electrically operable valve41housed within the coupling24and located downstream of the sensor31(described herein below). Such a prohibiting mechanism40cooperates with the detecting mechanism30such that a supply of water can advantageously be automatically interrupted and reinstated when a predetermined event occurs respectively, which is essential and advantageous for preventing damage to the appliance11and its surroundings due to overexposure to water. The predetermined event can advantageously be manually reset as desired by the user, thus increasing the versatility of the device10.

Referring toFIG. 2, the detecting mechanism30includes a sensor31positioned on a top surface of the coupling24and partially extending downwardly therethrough in such a manner that the sensor31effectively intersects a flow path of the water medially between the inlet22and outlet23ports, which is critical for accurately detecting the flow path. A processor32is electrically mated to the sensor31and a memory33is electrically mated to the processor32. Such memory33bears software instructions for enabling the device10to perform predetermined operations, advantageously allowing the device10to operate automatically. The operations include the steps of determining a time interval in which a volume of water has been transferred between the inlet port22and outlet port23, and generating and transmitting a control signal to the processor32for instructing the processor32to toggle the prohibiting mechanism40to a closed position when the time interval extends beyond a predetermined threshold.

Still referring toFIG. 2, the housing20also includes a mechanism50for providing an audible notification to a user when the water supply is toggled between interrupted and reinstated modes and a mechanism60for manually controlling the prohibiting mechanism40. Such a manually controlling mechanism60is electrically coupled to the prohibiting mechanism40for allowing the user to manually control a volume of water passing through the housing20. The audible notification mechanism50conveniently alerts a user that an inappropriate amount of water flow is occurring, thus allowing the user to correct the problem before significant damage occurs.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 3, the audible notification mechanism50includes a control circuit51electrically mated to the processor32and a speaker52electrically mated to the control circuit51. Such a speaker52transmits an audible message when the electric valve41is toggled between open and closed positions. The manually controlling mechanism60further includes a timer61and a timer control62electrically coupled thereto, a display screen63connected to one21B of the walls21of the housing20, and a reset button64electrically coupled to the processor32such that the user can manually reset the timer61by viewing the display screen63in such a manner that a volume of water is allowed to flow through the coupling24during emergency situations.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, an internal power supply source25advantageously supplies power to the detecting mechanism30, the prohibiting mechanism40, and the manually controlling mechanism60. A diode26is operably attached to the housing20and is conveniently illuminable when the internal power supply source25reaches a minimum threshold level for conveniently notifying a user that same needs to be replaced.