Abstract:
A water leak mitigation device comprising a power supply, a building systems interface, a plumbing interface, and a monitoring device is provided. The monitoring device produces a primary input to the building systems interface. Upon receipt of the primary input, the building systems interface instructs the plumbing interface to restrict water flow to the associated building. Upon receipt of a secondary input produced by a building device when the building device requires water for operation, the building systems interface instructs the plumbing interface to resume the flow of water to the building so as to permit the operation of the building device. After the building device has completed its operation, transmission of the secondary input ceases and the building systems interface instructs the plumbing interface to again restrict the flow of water to the building.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a control device capable of controlling the flow of a liquid. In particular, the present invention relates to a control device capable of both restricting water flow to a building in response to a primary input generated by one or more systems or devices that do not require water for operation and interrupting the water flow restriction in response to a secondary input produced by one or more important building devices that do require water for operation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Water leak detection and control devices capable of restricting water flow to a building in response to the detection of a particular condition, such as one or more water leaks, are known. Current water leak detection and control devices actively detect the presence of water leaks directly by sensing different water parameters or indirectly by monitoring the associated water system. Such detection devices actively sense water parameters or monitor the associated water system through the use of electronic, mechanical and/or electro-mechanical circuits, such as sensors, microprocessors, and drivers. The use of such active monitoring devices makes current water leak detection devices inherently complex and costly. Due to the complexity and cost of current water leak detection devices, their use is impractical in many applications. Moreover, these systems are limited either in the ability to provide protection of the entire building, and/or in the ability to provide water flow for important building systems in the event of a water leak(s). Thus, there is a need for a water leak detection device that provides complete protection, is capable of reducing the possibility of water leaks, and enables water flow to important building systems without the use of costly and complex active monitoring devices. 
     In response to the detection of a water leak, current water leak detection devices entirely restrict water flow to the associated building. Consequently, important building operations that require water to function become inoperable. Examples of important building devices that require water to function include irrigation systems, sump pumps, baseboard heating systems, water softener systems, and fire suppression systems. When these important building devices are not operational, the building is negatively affected. Thus, there exists a need in the art for a device that restricts water flow when water is not needed but resumes water flow when water is needed for operation of an important building device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the prior art deficiencies by providing a water leak mitigation system comprising a power supply, a building systems interface, a plumbing interface such as a water control valve, and pre-existing switching devices. Primary switching devices produce primary inputs to the building systems interface in response to the need to restrict water flow such as when the building is vacated for long durations. Upon receipt of the primary input, the building systems interface instructs the water control valve to restrict water flow to the associated building. The flow of water to the building remains restricted unless the building systems interface receives a secondary input, produced by a secondary switch device associated with an important building device, that requires water to function. Upon receipt of the secondary input, the building systems interface instructs the water control valve to resume the flow of water to the building so as to permit operation of the important building device. After the important building device has completed its operation, transmission of the secondary input ceases and the building systems interface instructs the water control valve to again restrict the flow of water to the building. Thus, the present invention is capable of reducing the possibility of water leaks and the resulting water damage that may occur. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing the general components of the invention, the invention providing a building systems interface, a power supply, a water control valve, a manual primary input, primary inputs, and secondary inputs; and 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic of a building systems interface used by the water leak mitigation system of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a system for mitigating water leaks is shown at  10 . Specifically, the system  10  prevents the flow of water to a building when a particular condition is detected, but resumes water flow when necessary to operate important water dependent building systems. The system  10  is generally comprised of a building systems interface  12 , a power supply  14 , and a plumbing interface, such as water control valve  16 . The components of system  10  are preferably, but not required to be, located within a building (not shown) so as to optimize installation and function and are preferably connected through wiring according to appropriate specifications to meet local building codes. The interface  12 , power supply  14 , and water control valve  16  may be sized to the specifics of the particular application. The three main components of system  10  are described in detail below. 
     The building systems interface  12  provides passive control of water flow to prevent unwanted water leaks. The control is passive in that the systems interface  12  does not monitor water parameters, such as water, water flow, water pressure, etc. Instead, the systems interface  12  provides a connection to numerous building systems that actively or intentionally control water flow. 
     The building systems interface  12  provides all electrical inputs and outputs for system  10 . Systems interface  12  includes an input array for interface to external inputs such as, but not limited to, a manual wall switch  18 , a security system  20 , a smart home system  22 , an irrigation system  24 , a drainage/sump pump  26 , a baseboard heating system  28 , a water softener system  30 , and a fire suppression system  31 . Inputs generated by monitoring devices, such as security system  20  and smart home system  22 , are generally classified as primary inputs. Inputs generated by important water dependent building systems, such as irrigation system  24 , drainage/sump pump  26 , baseboard heating system  28 , water softener system  30 , and fire suppression system  31  are generally classified as secondary inputs. Inputs generated by manual switch  18  may be classified as either manual inputs or primary inputs depending upon the particular application. It must be understood that the inputs received by systems interface  12  may include any one or all of the inputs described above. Further, additional inputs may be added at any time after assembly of system  10 . 
     Systems interface  12  further includes an adjustable timer  32  to delay activation of the water control valve  16 , a bypass  34  to deactivate the water control valve  16  (FIG.  2 ), an input array  36  for the power supply  14  and primary and secondary inputs, an output array  38  for interface to the water control valve  16 , an enclosure (not shown), a visual annunciation of the active inputs and outputs in the form of a suitable annunciation device such as LEDs  42 ,  43 ,  44  (FIG.  2 ), and mounting provisions (not shown). 
     Power supply  14  may be any suitable power supply capable of powering water control valve  16  and building systems interface  12 . The transfer of voltage from the power supply  14  to water control valve  16  is controlled by systems interface  12  based on the primary, secondary, or manual inputs that interface  12  receives from the above described devices  18  through  31 . Interface  12  also directs voltage produced by power supply  14  to external devices for feedback as inputs, as the result of the closure of switch or relay contacts. 
     Water control valve  16  preferably includes a water hammer arrestor (not shown). The water control valve  16  and the water hammer arrestor are sized to the specifics of the application. The water control valve  16  and the water hammer arrestor are preferably located adjacent and posterior to a building water meter (not shown). Preferably, when the water control valve  16  is not energized, the valve  16  remains open so as to permit water flow to the building. When the water control valve  16  is energized, the valve  16  closes and prevents water flow to the building. However, it must be noted that this configuration may be reversed so that when the plumbing interface  16  is not energized the valve  16  is closed, thus arresting water flow to the building. 
     Operation of system  10  will now be described in detail below. System  10  may be operated manually using wall switch  18 . Operation of switch  18  transfers a manual input to systems interface  12 . Upon receipt of the manual input, systems interface  12  directs voltage from power supply  14  to water control valve  16  so as to energize and close valve  16 . The closure of valve  16  prevents water flow to the associated building. As long as system  10  is in receipt of the manual input generated by wall switch  18 , the valve  16  will remain energized and water will be prevented from flowing to the building. However, if systems interface  12  receives a secondary input from an important peripheral system or building device, such as irrigation system  24 , sump pump  26 , baseboard heating system  28 , water softener system  30 , or fire suppression system  31 , the water control valve  16  will be de-energized and valve  16  will open to permit water flow to the building so as to permit operation of important peripheral systems such as those described above. Thus, the manual function provides a simple, low cost building interface. As described above, the manual switch may also be used as a primary input if so desired. 
     In addition to manually operating water control valve  16  using wall switch  18 , the water control valve  16  may be automatically operated by systems interface  12  in response to primary inputs generated by one or more suitable active switching devices such as security system  20  or smart home system  22 . For example, once smart home system  22  or security system  20  are placed in the “away” mode, such as when the building is vacated for extended periods of time, the respective devices  20 ,  22  send a primary input to systems interface  12  notifying the interface  12  of the condition. Interface  12  then transfers voltage from power supply  14  to water control valve  16  so as to close valve  16  and prevent water flow to the associated building. Valve  16  remains closed as long as the primary input is received and a secondary input from important building devices  24  through  31  is not. 
     Timer  32  may be used to delay the closure of valve  16  in response to the receipt of a primary input by systems interface  12 . The use of timer  32  allows water to flow to the building for a set period of time before the water flow is restricted by systems interface  12 . The timer  32  may be set by the user to any suitable time period. Use of timer  32  is advantageous as it permits water flow immediately following departure of the user from the building for such events as laundry, dishwashing, etc. 
     Water flow previously interrupted due to the receipt of a primary input by systems interface  12  is restored upon the receipt of a secondary input by systems interface  12 . For example, if an important water dependent building peripheral system requires activation, such as irrigation system  24 , sump pump  26 , baseboard system  28 , water softener system  30  and/or fire suppression system  31 , the water dependent device sends a secondary input to systems interface  12 . Upon receipt of the secondary input, systems interface  12  activates bypass  34  so as to de-energize the water control valve  16 , thereby permitting water flow to the building. The water control valve  16  remains de-energized until the secondary input is eliminated. Once the secondary input is eliminated, water flow is again interrupted unless another secondary input is received. 
     An exemplary circuit diagram of the operation of system  10  is shown in FIG. 2 at  45 . Power supply  14  provides power to a power leg  46  and a switching leg  48  of the circuit  45 . Power supply  14  is preferably in the form of a 24V AC power supply as the power leg  46  requires AC voltage. However, power supply  14  may take the form of any suitable power source, such as a cell battery or a DC power supply equipped with a DC-AC converter  50 . Further, fuses  52  may be provided to protect the circuit from power surges or other electrical malfunctions. 
     When open, primary input switch  54  associated with wall switch  18 , primary input switch  56  associated security system  20 , and primary input switch  58  associated with smart home system  22  prevent power flow to activation relay  60 . When any one of the primary input switches  54 ,  56 , or  58  receive a primary input to activate, the particular switch  54 ,  56 , or  58  is closed. The closure of switch  54 ,  56 , or  58  directs power to activation relay  60  thereby causing the activation relay  60  to trip and permit power from the power leg  46  to energize and close the water control valve  16 . Primary LED&#39;s  42  visually indicate which primary input switch is activated. 
     When the primary input is from the security system  20  or the smart home system  22 , timer  32  may be used to delay the transfer of current from switch  56 ,  58  to relay  60 , thus delaying the energizing of valve  16 . The period of time for which the current is delayed may be set to any suitable period of time according to user preference and the capabilities of the particular timer  32  used. The duration of the timer  32  may be altered by way of a variable time delay switch  33 . Any suitable timer  32  as is known to those skilled in the art may be used to provide the delay function. 
     A bypass circuit  34  is provided to process the above described secondary inputs. When a secondary input is received from water dependent peripheral systems  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and/or  31 , a corresponding switch is activated. Specifically, irrigation system  24  activates switch  62 , sump pump system  26  activates switch  64 , baseboard heat system activates switch  66 , water softener system activates switch  68  and fire suppression  31  actuates switch  71 . Activation of any switch  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  or  71  causes the bypass relay  70  to trip, which causes power to bypass switches  54 ,  56 , and  58 . When bypass  34  is activated, the activation relay  60  resets, and the valve  16  de-energizes so as to permit water flow to the associated building. An LED  43  visually indicates that the power leg portion of the circuit is active. Secondary LED&#39;s  44  visually indicate which secondary input switch resulted in the activation of the bypass circuit. 
     After the secondary input ceases, the bypass  34  and relay  70  both deactivate. If switches  54 ,  56 , or  58  are active, the relay  60  will again activate and cause valve  16  to be energized. If switches  54 ,  56 , or  58  are not active then relay  60  will not be activated and valve  16  will not be energized, thus permitting water to flow to the associated building. 
     A battery backup circuit  72  is provided to maintain logic control in the event of main power loss. Should the building lose power, the circuit will maintain logic control so that when power is restored, the water control valve will return to the proper state. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.