Patent Publication Number: US-2003221732-A1

Title: Flood protection system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/347,598, filed on Jan. 12, 2002, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for shutting off fluid flow in a conduit, and more particularly to an improved flow control device for stopping fluid flow in a conduit when a predetermined time interval is exceeded.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] Most boats, especially smaller private recreational boats, have a limited amount of storage space. Furthermore, most boats have a limited amount of storage space for fresh water. Typically, the size of a fresh water tank depends on the available space and the occupant&#39;s needs. It is common for one person to consume one to ten gallons of water per day for drinking, washing, bathing, etc.  
       [0006] Therefore, due at least in part to this limited storage space, many boat owners, when tied up to a dock, connect to a fresh water supply at the side of the dock. More specifically, boat owners connect a hose (typically a common rubber garden hose) from the boat&#39;s plumbing system to a water faucet on the dock. This connection provides a continuous fresh water supply to the fresh water system on the boat. Pressurized water systems make life aboard a boat more comfortable by providing fresh water on tap for dishwashing, showering and more. Typical components of a fresh water system on a boat include a fresh water tank, hoses, a strainer, filters, a pump, an accumulator tank, a water heater, a municipal water inlet connection, faucets and a shower head.  
       [0007] Although the connection to the dockside fresh water supply fulfills an important need for the boat owner, it is not without potential drawbacks. That is, this configuration is susceptible to a failure of the water supply hose and/or any of the associated components which could prove to be devastating to the boat and/or the occupants on the boat. A leak in, or failure of, any of the components of the fresh water supply system that goes undetected could fill the boat with more water than the bilge pumps and/or electrical supply system can handle, thereby ultimately causing the boat to flood and sink.  
       [0008] It is therefore apparent that a need exists for an apparatus which would prevent such a devastating result even in the event of a failure of the water supply hose or related components.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] The present invention provides apparatus and methods for preventing a flood in a boat resulting from an undetected leak in the fresh water supply system.  
       [0010] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a dockside water shutoff system for a boat is provided which includes a shutoff valve connected on an inlet end thereof to a fresh water supply. A conduit is connected to an outlet end of the shutoff valve for transferring water from the water supply to a plumbing system on a boat. A timer mechanism is operatively connected to the shutoff valve. The timer mechanism is configured to cause the shutoff valve to close after a predetermined period of time. Therefore, in the event of a leak, the water will only leak for the period of time permitted by the timer mechanism.  
       [0011] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012]FIG. 1A is an illustration of the valve assembly connected to a fresh water supply on the dock;  
     [0013]FIG. 1B is an illustration of a typical pressurized freshwater system on a boat;  
     [0014]FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of the flood protection system in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a processing device for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the wiring associated with the flood protection system in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the components of the flood protection system in accordance with the present invention; and  
     [0018]FIG. 5 is a side view of the shutoff valve assembly with the cover of the enclosure removed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0019] Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals refer to like or similar elements, and initially to FIG. 1A, there is shown an illustration of a valve assembly  100  connected to a fresh water supply  110  on a dock  120 . Valve assembly  100  is preferably installed on the dock  120  at the source of the fresh water supply  110  to maximize amount of protection provided by the valve. That is, since the valve is located at the source of the water supply, it will shut off the water to each of the elements of the fresh water system on and off of the boat. A conduit  130  is connected to an outlet side of the valve  100  and carries water to a boat.  
     [0020] A timer mechanism which is operatively connected to the valve assembly may be mounted in the vicinity of the valve  100  and is preferably mounted in a wall within a boat. Preferably, the timer mechanism is installed in the proximity of a sink or other fresh water source (e.g., a water faucet or shower) on the boat. Therefore, it will be convenient for the boater to energize the flood protection system as necessary. The timer mechanism is preferably connected to a solenoid which causes the valve to open and close. The valve will remain open for a predetermined period of time such as, for example, 30 minutes. It is contemplated that the predetermined period of time may be adjustable.  
     [0021]FIG. 1B is an illustration of a typical pressurized freshwater system on a boat. Typical components of a fresh water system on a boat include a fresh water tank  135 , hoses  140 , a strainer  145 , filters  150 , a pump  155 , an accumulator tank  160 , a water heater  165 , a municipal water inlet connection  170 , faucets  175  and a shower head  180 . As shown, the freshwater system on the boat includes several different components all connected by rigid and/or flexible conduit. Each of the connections are susceptible to leaking. Thus, the flood protection system in accordance with the present invention advantageously provides the protection required.  
     [0022] Referring now to FIG. 2A, a schematic diagram of the flood protection system in accordance with the present invention is shown. As shown, a two conductor cable  205  is connected at one end to the boat&#39;s power supply  210  and at a second end to a timer  215 . On the other end of the timer  215 , another two conductor cable  220  is run to a bulkhead fitting  225  and ultimately to an electric solenoid that controls the shutoff valve  230 . It is also contemplated that the shutoff valve may be controlled by any other means known to one having ordinary skill in the art such as, for example, via pneumatic controls. It is further contemplated that the timer may be initiated by a momentary pushbutton or by a wireless signal. The shutoff valve  230  is connected to a dockside water supply  235  on an inlet side and to a conduit  240  on an outlet side. Conduit  240  is preferably a garden hose which is clean so that it will not contaminate the drinking water for the boat. Alternative materials may be utilized for conduit  240  such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or copper. An outlet end of conduit  240  is connected to a water inlet connection  245  associated with the boat.  
     [0023]FIG. 2B shows an example of a processing device  260  that may be used to implement the functions of the timer mechanism in accordance with the present invention. The device  260  includes a processor  262  and a memory  264  which communicate over at least a portion of a set  265  of one or more system buses. Also utilizing at least a portion of the set  265  of system buses are a control device  266  and a network interface device  268 .  
     [0024] For example, the processor  262  may represent a microprocessor, central processing unit (CPU), digital signal processor (DSP), or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), as well as portions or combinations of these and other processing devices. The memory  264  is typically an electronic memory, but may comprise or include other types of storage devices, such as disk-based optical or magnetic memory. The control device  266  may be associated with the processor  262 . The control device  266  may be further configured to transmit control signals to, e.g., the water shutoff valve.  
     [0025] The flood protection techniques described herein may be implemented in whole or in part using software stored and executed using the respective memory and processor elements of the device  260 . For example, the timer functions may be implemented at least in part using one or more software programs stored in memory  264  and executed by processor  262 . The particular manner in which such software programs may be stored and executed in device elements such as memory  264  and processor  262  is well understood in the art and therefore not described in detail herein. It should be noted that the device  260  may include other elements not shown, or other types and arrangements of elements capable of providing the functions described herein.  
     [0026]FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of the wiring associated with the flood protection system in accordance with the present invention. In general, the two conductor wire  320  is connected to the boat power supply  310 , timer  315  and bulkhead fitting  325 . In a preferred embodiment, the flood protection system utilizes the electrical supply system  310  from the boat. More specifically, utilizing the boat&#39;s 12 or 24 volt D.C. electrical system, a two conductor cable  320  is run through a 1.5 amp fuse and into an electrical box which is housing the timer mechanism  315 . A second two conductor cable is run from the electrical box which is housing the timer mechanism  315 , to an outlet in the bulkhead of the boat. Within the electrical box, the conductors of the cables are connected to the timer from the electrical supply as shown in an exploded view in FIG. 3.  
     [0027]FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the components of the flood protection system in accordance with the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the components illustrated in FIG. 4 include a brass adapter  405 , an electric valve  410 , a PVC coupling  415 , a brass adapter  420 , a marine gang box  425 , a marine gang box cover  430 , box  435 , a timer mechanism  440 , a switch plate  445 , 20 gage 2 conductor wire  450  and a bulkhead fitting  455 . Additional components of the present invention which are not shown include a junction box, a 24 volt transformer and a 30 psi regulator. It is contemplated that alternative sizes and materials may be substituted for any or all of the exemplary parts.  
     [0028]FIG. 5 is a side view of the shutoff valve assembly in accordance with the present invention with the cover of the enclosure removed to permit viewing of the valve assembly. As shown, shutoff valve  505  is positioned within enclosure  510 . An electric solenoid  515  is operatively connected to shutoff valve  505  to cause shutoff valve  505  to open and close in response to a signal from a timer (not shown). A PVC coupling  520  is connected to one end of shutoff valve  505 . On either end of the enclosure is a brass adapter fitting  525  configured to connect to the dockside water supply (not shown) and the conduit (not shown).  
     [0029] The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be illustrative only. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that numerous alternative embodiments may be devised by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For example, although the present invention was described with reference to its application to boats, the invention has additional applications such as, for example, recreational vehicles.