Patent Abstract:
A liquid flow mitigation system comprising a systems interface, a liquid arresting mechanism operable to impede flow of a liquid, a control device operable to produce an input to the systems interface representing a request to impede flow of the liquid, and a liquid utilizing device operable to produce an input to the systems interface representing a request for liquid flow. The systems interface directs the liquid arresting mechanism to impede liquid flow when the systems interface is in receipt of an input from the control device. The systems interface directs the liquid arresting mechanism to permit liquid flow when the systems interface is in receipt of an input from the water utilizing device.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/216,984 filed on Aug. 12, 2002. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a system capable of controlling the flow of a liquid, such as water. In particular, the present invention relates to a control device capable of restricting water flow in response to an input generated by one or more systems or devices and removing the water flow restriction in response to an input generated by one or more systems or devices that utilize water during operation.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    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 protect the entire building, and/or in the ability to provide water flow for important building systems in the event of one or more water leaks. Thus, there is a need for a water leak mitigation device that provides complete protection from water leaks, 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.  
           [0004]    In response to the detection of a water leak, current water leak detection devices entirely restrict water flow to the associated building. Consequently, building operations that utilize water to function become inoperable. Examples of building devices that utilize water include irrigation systems, sump pumps, baseboard heating systems, water softener systems, fire suppression systems, and central humidification systems. When these building devices are not operational, the building is negatively affected. Thus, there further exists a need for a device that restricts water flow when water is not necessary, but resumes water flow when water is needed for the operation of a device that utilizes water.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides for a liquid flow mitigation system comprising a systems interface, a liquid arresting mechanism operable to impede flow of a liquid, a control device operable to produce an input to the systems interface representing a request to impede flow of the liquid, and a liquid utilizing device operable to produce an input to the systems interface representing a request for liquid flow. The systems interface directs the liquid arresting mechanism to impede liquid flow when the systems interface is in receipt of an input from the control device. The systems interface directs the liquid arresting mechanism to permit liquid flow when the systems interface is in receipt of an input from the water utilizing device.  
           [0006]    The present invention further provides for a water flow mitigation system comprising a systems interface, a water regulation device operable to impede water flow and operable to notify the systems interface as to the position of the water regulation device, a control device operable to provide an input to the systems interface representative of a request to restrict water flow, and a water utilizing device operable to provide an input to the systems interface representative of a request for water flow. The systems interface commands the water regulation device to impede water flow when the systems interface is in receipt of an input from the control device. The systems interface commands the water regulation device to permit water flow when the systems interface is in receipt of an input from the water utilizing device. The water regulation device provides feedback to the systems interface concerning the position of the arresting mechanism.  
           [0007]    The present invention further provides for a water flow mitigation method comprising transferring a water arresting command from a control device to a systems interface to request the systems interface to restrict water flow, setting a water flow regulation device to restrict water flow in response receipt of the water arresting command by the systems interface, transferring a water request command from a water utilizing device to the systems interface to request the systems interface to permit water flow, setting the water flow regulation device to permit water flow in response to receipt of the water request command by the systems interface, and providing feedback to a user concerning the position of the water flow regulation device through at least one of a visual indicator and the control device.  
           [0008]    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  
       [0009]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the general components of the invention; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an exemplary circuit used in the operation of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]    The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0013]    With reference to FIG. 1, a system for mitigating fluid leaks, such as water leaks for example, is shown at  10 . Specifically, the system  10  prevents the flow of water, such as to a building for example, when the system  10  is so set or a particular condition is detected, but resumes water flow when water is required to operate systems or devices that utilize water. The system  10  generally includes an interface, such as a building systems interface  12 , a power supply  14 , and a plumbing interface or liquid arresting device, such as a water control valve  16 . The components of system  10  can be located within a building (not shown), but this is not a requirement. The components of the system  10  can be connected through wiring according to specifications known in the art to, for example, meet local building codes. The interface  12 , power supply  14 , and control valve  16  can be sized to the specifics of the particular application. These components of the system  10  are described in detail below.  
         [0014]    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 flow, water pressure, etc. Instead, the systems interface  12  provides a connection to numerous building systems that actively or intentionally control water flow.  
         [0015]    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 building system  22 , an irrigation system  24 , a drainage/sump pump  26 , a baseboard heating system  28 , a water softener system  30 , a fire suppression system  32 , and a central humidification system  34 . Inputs generated by control devices, such as the security system  20  and the smart home system  22 , are generally classified as primary inputs. Inputs generated by devices utilizing water for operation, such as the irrigation system  24 , the drainage/sump pump  26 , the baseboard heating system  28 , the water softener system  30 , the fire suppression system  32 , and the central humidification system  34  are generally classified as secondary inputs. Inputs generated by manual switch  18 , which also acts as a control device, may be classified as either manual inputs or primary inputs depending upon the particular application. It must be understood that the primary and secondary inputs received by the systems interface  12  may include any one or all of the inputs described above. Further, additional primary and secondary inputs may be added to the system  10 .  
         [0016]    The system  10  can further include a timer  36 . The timer  36  can be an adjustable timer and can be either integrated within the interface  12  or remotely connected to the interface  12 . The timer  36  is operable to delay activation of the water control valve  16 , a bypass  38  to deactivate the water control valve  16  (FIG. 2), an input array  40  for the power supply  14  and primary and secondary inputs, an output array  42  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  75 ,  76 , and  87  (FIG. 2), and mounting provisions (not shown).  
         [0017]    Power supply  14  can 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  34 . 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.  
         [0018]    Water control valve  16  can be any type of valve or arresting device operable to disrupt the flow of water to devices that utilize water, such as devices  24  through  34  described above. For example, the water control valve  16  can be a solenoid valve, a motorized ball valve, or a motorized gate valve. Regardless of the type of valve  16  used, the valve  16  can be sized to the specifics of the application. Further, the valve  16  can be located adjacent and posterior to a water meter (not shown). In some applications, when the valve  16  is not energized, the valve  16  remains closed to prevent water flow. When the water control valve  16  is energized, the valve  16  opens and permits water flow. However, it must be noted that this configuration can be reversed so that the valve  16  is open when not energized, thus permitting water flow.  
         [0019]    Operation of the system  10  will now be described in detail below. System  10  may be operated manually using wall switch  18 . Closure 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 control valve  16  to deenergize and close the valve  16 . This closure of valve  16  prevents water flow to the building and/or select water utilizing devices, such as devices  24  through  34  described above. As long as system  10  is in receipt of the manual input generated by wall switch  18 , the valve  16  remains closed and water is prevented from flowing to the building and/or the water utilizing devices  24  through  34 . However, if systems interface  12  receives a secondary input from one or more of the water utilizing devices  24  through  34 , water control valve  16  is opened to permit water flow to the building and/or to one or more of the water utilizing devices  24  through  34  to permit operation of one or more of the devices  24  through  34 . As described above, the manual wall switch  18  may also be used as a primary input if so desired.  
         [0020]    In addition to manually operating water control valve  16  using the wall switch  18 , the water control valve  16  may be 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, security system  20  or smart home system  22  can be configured, such as being set in an “away” mode, so that when the building is vacated for extended periods of time, the respective devices  20  and  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  to denergize and close the valve  16  and prevent water flow. Valve  16  remains closed as long as the interface  12  is in receipt of a primary input and not a secondary input from the water utilizing devices, such as the devices  24  through  34  described above.  
         [0021]    Timer  36  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  36  permits water flow to the building and/or water utilizing devices  24  through  34  for a set period of time before the water flow is restricted by systems interface  12  and valve  16 . The timer  36  may be set by the user to any suitable time period. In one application, use of the timer  36  is advantageous because it permits water flow immediately following departure of the user from the building for devices or systems that require water, such as washing laundry, dishwashing, etc. The timer  36  may be any suitable timer known in the art.  
         [0022]    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 a water utilizing device requires activation, such as devices  24  through  34 , the water utilizing device sends a secondary input to systems interface  12 . Upon receipt of the secondary input, systems interface  12  activates bypass  38  to open the water control valve  16 , thereby permitting water flow to the building and/or to one or more of the water utilizing devices. The water control valve  16  remains open until the secondary input is eliminated. Once the secondary input is eliminated, the valve  16  closes and water flow is again interrupted unless another secondary input is received.  
         [0023]    A diagram of an exemplary circuit that can be used in the operation of system  10  is illustrated in FIG. 2 at  50 . The circuit  50  can be powered by the power supply  14 , which can take the form of a battery  52  or a transformer  54 . The battery  52  can be used to power the system  10  independently of the transformer  54  to act as a back-up power source. The current supplied by the transformer  54  can be in the form of 24V AC current. However, any suitable voltage can be used and the circuit  50  can be equipped with an AC/DC converter  56  to provide DC current. An indicator, such as LED  55  can be used to indicate to a user that power is being received from the transformer  54 . Another indicator, such as LED  57 , can be used to indicate that power is being sent out to the valve  16 .  
         [0024]    The circuit  50  can further include a plurality of switches associated with the primary inputs  18  through  22  and the secondary inputs  24  through  34 . In particular the circuit  50  can include primary switches  58  through  62  associated with primary inputs  18  through  22  respectively. Circuit  50  can further include secondary switches  64  through  74  associated with secondary inputs  24  through  34  respectively. Depending upon the secondary inputs and the particular application, the secondary switches  64  through  74  can be DC switches or AC switches and can use any suitable voltage, such as 24 volts. Both primary switches  58  through  62  and secondary switches  66  through  74  can include indicators, such as primary light emitting diodes (LED&#39;s)  75  and secondary LED&#39;s  76  to notify the user which switch is activated at a particular time. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and as discussed above, the timer  36  can be used to delay transfer of signals produced by primary inputs  20  and  22  for a set period of time.  
         [0025]    The circuit  50  can further include a jumper, such as a three position programmable jumper  78 . The jumper  78  is operable to select and/or recognize the type of valve  16  used with the system  10 . For example, the valve  16  may be at least one of a solenoid valve, a motorized ball valve, a motorized gate valve, etc. The valve  16  receives voltage inputs from the circuit  50  via terminals  80 . Further, depending on the type of valve used, the valve  1 . 6  can include a switch, such as an integral limit switch  81  positioned within the valve. The integral limit switch  81  can provide feedback to the circuit  50  on the position of the valve  16 , such as whether the valve  16  is open or closed. As illustrated, valves in the normally closed position are powered using terminals  80   a  and  80   b , leaving terminal  80   c  free. Valves in the normally open position are powered using terminals  80   a  and  80   c , which leaves terminal  80   b  free.  
         [0026]    The circuit  50  further includes a relay  82  in connection with the jumper  78  and the integral limit switch  81 . The relay  82  includes a first set of terminals  84 , a second set of terminals  85 , and a third set of terminals  86 . The first set of terminals  84  convey the position of the valve  16 , supplied to the circuit  50  via the integral limit switch, to a monitoring device, such as security system  20  or smart home system  22 . The second set of terminals  85  and the third set of terminals  86  both provide power to an indicator  87 , such as an LED  87 , and provide connections to the integral limit switch  16 . The indicator  87  can be used to convey the position of the valve  16  to the user.  
         [0027]    The operation of the circuit  50  will now be described. When open, primary input switches  58 ,  60 , and  62  prevent power flow to activation relay  90 . When any one of the primary input switches  58 ,  60 , or  62  receive a primary input from, for example, the wall switch  18 , security system  20 , or smart home system  22 , the particular switch  58 ,  60 , or  62  closes. The closure of switch  58 ,  60 , or  62  directs power to activation relay  90  thereby causing the activation relay  90  to trip and de-energize the valve  16  to arrest water flow. The LED&#39;s  75  visually indicate which primary input switch is activated and the LED  87  indicates that there is power to the valve  16 . Because de-energizing the valve  16  closes the valve and arrests water flow, the LED  87  provides feedback to the operator indicating the position of the valve. The presence of LED  87  as a feedback mechanism is especially useful when the valve  16  does not have an integral limit switch  81 .  
         [0028]    When the primary input is from the security system  20  or the smart home system  22 , the timer  36  may be used to delay the transfer of current from switch  60  or  62  to relay  90 , 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  36  used. The duration of the timer  36  may be altered by way of a variable time delay switch included within the timer  36 . Any suitable timer  36  as is known to those skilled in the art may be used to provide the delay function.  
         [0029]    The bypass circuit  38  is provided to process the above described secondary inputs from water utilizing devices  24  through  34 . When a secondary input is received from devices  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  and/or  34 , a corresponding switch is activated. For example, irrigation system  24  can activate switch  64 , sump pump system  26  can activate switch  66 , central humidification system  34  can activate switch  74 , baseboard heat system  28  can activate switch  70 , water softener system  30  can activate switch  72 , and fire suppression system  32  can activate switch  68 . Activation of any switch  64  through  74  causes a bypass relay  88  to trip, which causes power to bypass switches  58 ,  60 , and  62 . When the bypass  38  is activated, the activation relay  90  trips, and the valve  16  energizes so as to permit water flow to the water utilizing devices  24  through  34 . Secondary LED&#39;s  76  visually indicate which secondary input switch resulted in the activation of the bypass circuit.  
         [0030]    After the secondary input ceases, the bypass  38  and relay  88  both deactivate. If switches  64  through  74  are active, the relay  88  will again activate and cause valve  16  to be energized. If switches  64  through  74  are not active then relay  88  will not be activated and valve  16  will not be energized, thus preventing water to flow to the associated building.  
         [0031]    Using the integral limit switch  81 , the position of the valve  16  can be transmitted to the circuit  50 . The status of the valve  16 , such as whether it is open, closed, or at some point between being open or closed, can then be relayed to a user using a suitable device, such as either the security system  20  or the smart home system  22  via terminals  84  of the relay  82 . The status of the valve  16  can also be conveyed to a user via an illuminated indicator  87 . For example, the indicator  87  can illuminate when the valve  16  is energized, indicating that water flow is enabled, and can be dark when the valve  16  is not energized, indicating that water flow is restricted. Depending on the configuration of the circuit  50 , this configuration can be reversed such that the indicator  87  illuminates when the valve  16  is de-energized, indicating that the valve  16  is closed and water flow is restricted.  
         [0032]    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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8