Patent Abstract:
A theft preventative system, such as which is specifically associated with high resale value metals employed in heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) assemblies. A first embodiment utilizes a transformer and relay arrangement creating a closed circuit through the lines of conductive copper pipe, via interconnecting wires, and which is also hooked to an alarm for notifying when the metal conductive circuit to the copper line is opened, either by cutting the copper pipe or the wire connected to it. A second variant discloses incorporating a fluid pressure switch into each of the copper lines, for notifying when fluid pressure within the line decreases, this indicative of the normally fluid filled copper line being sectioned.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a theft preventative system, such as which is specifically associated with high resale value metals employed in heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) assemblies. More specifically, the present invention disclose a copper theft prevention system which, in a first embodiment, utilizes a transformer and relay arrangement creating a closed circuit through the lines of conductive copper pipe, and which is also hooked to an alarm of some type for notifying when the metal conductive circuit (e.g. the copper line or associated connecting wire) is opened, such as by sectioning. A second variant (additional or alternative to the primary) discloses incorporating at least one fluid pressure switch into each of the copper lines, for notifying when fluid pressure within the line decreases, this indicative of the normally fluid filled copper line being sectioned. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The prior art is documented with examples of alarm related systems for protecting valuables. In each instance, the objective of such systems is to deter the theft of typically unattended valuables. 
         [0003]    Kerr et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,289) teaches a pattern of conductors extending in spaced, isolated fashion across each surface of an object, and in order to define a tamper detection area. At least one sensor device is connected to the pattern of conductors and is capable of detecting a change in the continuity of pattern of the conductors. A communication circuit provides at least one signal indicative of a change in the continuity of the pattern of conductors. 
         [0004]    Schnell (U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,663) teaches a conductor loop, such as embedded into a polymer, and including individual wires defining a component of a transport belt and which further includes a conductor loop with a support side, running side and embedded tensile support. U.S. Strader (U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,446) discloses a conveyor belt having an electrically conductive sensor or antenna embedded within and which, in the instance of a rip being detected in the belt, acts to interrupt a repeating sine wave created by the conductor. Finally, the Strelow (U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,634) and Gibbs (U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,941) references are directed to pressure sensor and liquid leak detection systems, respectively, each providing alarm notification in the event of a pipe rupture. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention teaches a theft preventative system associated with protecting valuable metals, such as in particular copper lines incorporated into various HVAC applications, and which have been found to yield high scrap resale. As a result of this, incidences of copper theft have significantly risen, particularly in environments where such materials are loosely attended or completely unattended. 
         [0006]    In a first embodiment, a transformer and relay arrangement is provided which creates a closed circuit through one or more lines of conductive copper pipe, such as extending between a first (interiorly) located piece of equipment, such as a furnace refrigeration coil, and a second (externally) located piece of equipment, such as a ground or rooftop mounted condensing unit. Wires extend from such as a 12 V DC transformer and contact locations associated with each of the copper lines. Owing to the electrically communicative/conductive nature of copper, the closed circuit thereby created extends throughout the entire length of all such lines communicated in this fashion. 
         [0007]    An alarm is further communicated to a relay (such as a 12 V DC coil relay) and, upon detecting an open circuit condition indicative of a copper line being sectioned (such as during unauthorized theft removal) issues an alarm to such as a siren (and which is understood to include any or all of an audio output, a strobe light, and a remote notification of a theft in progres). 
         [0008]    A second variant (additional or alternative to the primary electrically conductive version) incorporates one or more fluid pressure switches into each of the copper lines. As with the electrical lines associated with applying a conductive field to the copper lines, additional lines likewise communicate the fluid pressure switch to the transformer/relay. Upon the switch detecting a reduction or total loss of fluid pressure within a selected line, this indicative of the normally fluid filled copper line being sectioned, the flow sensor switch issues a signal for activating the alarm protocol as previously described. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like references refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an environmental illustration in perspective of an electrical conductive circuit associated with copper lines as part of a theft preventative alarm system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an environmental perspective according to an alternate preferred embodiment and in which substitutes a pressure flow sensor switch for notifying of an alarm situation resulting from cutting of one or more of the copper lines; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of an alarm control interface and exhibiting contact locations for both the circuit associated with the electrically conductive copper lines, as well as for the low pressure switch according to the present inventions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention teaches a theft preventative system associated with protecting valuable metals, such as in particular copper lines incorporated into various HVAC applications. As previously explained, the present inventions are intended to provide an efficient and cost effective solution for addressing an alarm situation involving such as high resale valued copper used in existing HVAC applications. Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to incorporate the alarm capabilities for detecting copper theft into existing intrusion and smoke/fire alarms. 
         [0014]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , an environmental illustration in perspective, at  10 , of an electrical conductive circuit associated a theft preventative alarm system communicated with copper lines  12  and  14 . A transformer  16  and relay arrangement  18  are collectively provided (each typically including a 12V DC power supply). A first contact wire  20  extends from a location associated with the first copper line  12  and branches to further contact (also pressure switch) locations  22  and  24  associated with the relay  18 . A second contract wire  26  extends from a further location associated with the second copper line  14  and branches to a contact location  24  associated with an opposite (+) pole of the relay coil  18  to transformer  16  interface. 
         [0015]    The first  20  and second  26  wires extend from interior locations associated with the HVAC assembly, see wall  2 . A Third  30  and fourth  31  wires are further shown extending from an exterior location of line  12 , such as wire  30  extending in proximity to an exteriorly located condensing unit  4 , and connecting directly, at connection  32 , to the coil relay  18 , as well as wire  31  extending from connection  34 , to the negative pole interface of the transformer  16 . 
         [0016]    The arrangement of the wires  20 ,  26  [and]  30  and  31  (T1 wire) are such that they create a closed circuit (of sufficiently low voltage and current to avoid inadvertent electrocution or harm) through each of the lines of conductive copper pipe (e.g. again at  12  and  14 ), such as extending between a first (interiorly) located piece of equipment, such as a furnace as generally referenced at  6  and including a refrigeration coil  8 , and a second (externally) located piece of equipment, such as again a ground or rooftop mounted (air conditioning) condensing unit  4 . It is further understood and envisioned that the arrangement of the wires to the various copper lines takes into account the possibility of varied HVAC installation configurations, and which may include multiple numbers of copper lines being used, particularly in situations where multiple condenser units are specified for operating in a parallel arrangement. In such a configuration, additional pairs of wires would be employed and which would extend from such as the 12 V DC transformer  16  and contact locations associated with each of the copper lines. 
         [0017]    Owing to the electrically communicative/conductive nature of copper, and upon providing 12V DC charge from the transformer to the various wires, the closed circuit thereby created extends throughout the entire length of all such lines communicated in this fashion. An alarm, represented by siren  36 , is further communicated to the relay. Upon detecting an open circuit condition, indicative of any of the electrically charged copper lines defining the closed circuit being sectioned (and such as during unauthorized theft removal), the alarm issues output to such as the siren  36 , and which is understood to collectively represent each or all of an audio output, a strobe light, and a remote notification of a theft in progress. As previously described, the copper theft detection system can be configured so as to be seamlessly and effectively incorporated into an existing alarm system and, in a suitable retrofit embodiment, can include such as a kit for installing the desired wires to the existing lines and routed to a relay interface engageable with the existing alarm unit control panel. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an environmental perspective is shown of an alternate preferred embodiment and in which substitutes a pressure flow sensor switch  38 , for the transformer and relay arrangement of  FIG. 1 , and for notifying of an alarm situation resulting from cutting of one or more of the copper lines  12  and  14 . Although not described in specific detail, it is understood that the pressure switch component associated with contact locations of the individual copper lines  12  and  14  contemplates installing a low pressure or micro switch sensor in contact with the fluidic interior of the copper fluid line, this occurring through any one of a number of different installation techniques. Identical features represented in the variant of  FIG. 1  are similarly referenced here, a duplicate explanation of which is not necessary. 
         [0019]    It is also understood that the secondary variant of pressure flow indicating switch can be provided as an additional or alternative to the primary electrically conductive version, and which incorporates one or more fluid pressure switches into each of the copper lines. In certain applications, an exclusively low flow pressure alarm can be substituted, such as in use with non-electrically conducting fluid lines such as constructed of PVC or the like. 
         [0020]    As with the electrical lines associated with applying a conductive field to the copper lines, corresponding or additional lines (referenced at  20 ′,  26 ′ and  30 ′ for purposes of ease and consistency of illustration) likewise communicate the fluid pressure switch  38  to the transformer/relay arrangement (not shown). It is further understood that the pressure switch variant requires only two wires, as opposed to the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 1  as directed to the conductive arrangement of the initially disclosed variant. Upon the flow sensor switch  38  detecting a reduction or total loss of fluid pressure within a selected line, this indicative of the normally fluid filled copper line being sectioned, the flow sensor switch issues a signal for activating the alarm protocol (e.g. siren, retrofitted alarm panel, or the like) and according to a fashion as previously described. 
         [0021]    Referring finally to  FIG. 3 , a sectional view is provided of an alarm control interface  40  (representative of the transformer supplied relay arrangement referenced in  FIG. 1 ) and exhibiting various contact locations for both the circuit associated with the electrically conductive copper lines, as well as for the low pressure switch. In one preferred application, the interlace  40  can be provided as a terminal strip for applying such as to an outside of a siren box or other existing alarm installation. 
         [0022]    A representative copper line is again shown at  20  and from which respective pairs of connective wires (see by example at  26  and  20  in regards to the electrically communicating lines and further at  26 ′ and  20 ′ in regards to the low flow pressure sensing switches) extend. Also referenced at  41  is a low pressure switch  41 , this responding to a gradual or abrupt decrease in pressure in order to close and instruct the relay/transformer and alarm components. A 12 V DC power input is again referenced at  42  and additional features associated with the wiring, relay and siren are disclosed similar to that previously referenced in the description of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]    It is also understood that additional terminal strips can be incorporated into the assembly, as well as adding or substituting a likewise 12 V DC powered strobe light as an additional deterrent. It is further envisioned that the alarm can be wired with an APC chip in substitution for the relay. 
         [0024]    Accordingly, the present invention discloses a novel assembly for protecting against theft valuable copper lines associated with existing HVAC applications. A secondary benefit associated with the present system is the ability to notify of problems associated with the copper fluid lines, not resulting from theft, and such as in instances where inadvertent damage, for example resulting from acts of nature, are inflicted upon the copper lines. In such a secondary application, the use of low flow pressure indicating (micro) switches is of particular value and in order to identify when fluid line integrity has been compromised. It is also envisioned that normally open pressure switches can be employed in another alternate variant. 
         [0025]    Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without department from the scope of the appended claims

Technology Classification (CPC): 6