AU2011101115A4 - Apparatus and method for detecting fluid back-up - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for detecting and notifying a back-up condition in a substantially vertical pipeline (5) utilise a fluid level sensor (7) in fluid communication with an interior conduit (6) of the pipeline (5). The fluid level sensor (7) detects a predetermined 5 fluid level within the conduit (6), wherein the predetermined fluid level is indicative of a back-up condition in the conduit. A notification means (9) is operatively connected to the sensor (7) and is activated in response to the predetermined fluid level being detected to provide a notification of the back-up condition. (Figure 1) Figure 1

Description

- 1 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicants: Clinton Cowin and David Robbins Actual Inventors: Clinton Cowin and David Robbins Address for Service is: SHELSTON IP 60 Margaret Street Telephone No: (02) 9777 1111 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Facsimile No. (02) 9241 4666 CCN: 3710000352 Attorney Code: SW Invention Title: Apparatus and method for detecting fluid back-up Details of Associated Provisional Application No(s). 2010904013 (dated 07 Sep 2010) The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us : File: 65697AUP00 -2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the detection of a back-up condition in a plumbing system and providing an alert. The invention has been developed primarily for installation in vertically oriented 5 drainage pipes and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be 10 considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field. Multi-storey buildings will typically contain vertical stack pipes which carry soil and waste water from the upper levels of the building down to the ground level and into the sewer or stormwater piping system. 15 Under normal operation, waste solids and water flow down the vertical stack pipe and enter the underground pipes. However, blockages may form within either the building piping system or the underground piping system to which the building system is connected. Common locations for the formation of blockages are the intersection of the building 20 vertical stack pipe and the underground sewer or stormwater piping system, or a short distance downstream from this junction. These locations represent significant weak points, due to the possibility of ground movement and the nonflexible nature of old vitreous clay pipes. As a result, the pipes will typically crack or the joints between connecting pipes will separate. 25 Pipes may become blocked by debris or by the build-up over time of deposits such as grease, silt and litter on the inside of the pipe. Blockages may also form as a result of tree roots growing through a crack in a pipe or a separated joint between pipe sections.

-3 Blockages may also occur where adjacent pipe sections move out of axial alignment with one another, horizontally and/or vertically, thereby creating a lip which catches passing paper and solids. When a pipe becomes blocked, waste solids and water build up inside the pipe until it 5 reaches the lowest opening in the piping system and overflows. This opening can be any drain opening, such as a floor waste drain located in a bathroom or laundry, the top of a toilet bowl, a sink or a bath. In a multi storey building, residents on upper floors are unlikely to be aware of flooding occurring on a lower level. If these residents continue to use their fixtures (toilets, sinks, 10 showers etc.), the waste water will continue to overflow out of the drainage point until the downstream blockage is cleared. It is not unheard for a blockage like this to result in the flooding of an entire unit with sewerage. This may cause thousands of dollars of damage to the property structure, electrical wiring, furniture and floor coverings. Potential impacts on health and safety 15 must also be addressed by sanitising the affected areas of the property once the blockage has been cleared. Flooding may also cause significant emotional distress, often resulting in tenants vacating and owners selling the property. A number of sewer line back-up detection devices exist. However, these devices are usually installed in underground sewer lines. Because the detection devices operate by 20 detecting downstream blockages, these existing devices are unable to warn of potential tenancy flooding resulting from a blockage occurring within a building piping system or at an upstream junction of a building drainage pipe and the underground sewer line. Additionally, these devices are typically not well-suited to installation directly into a vertical pipe of a multi-storey building piping system to detect a potential blockage 25 substantially adjacent to the point of overflow. One type of detection device is typically installed in place of or attached to a trap or cleanout access cap of a conventional sewer line. This device generates an alarm signal when sewerage in the horizontal pipeline rises to contact a fluid level sensor located at or below the access cap.

-4 These devices are not well suited for installation in a vertical pipeline and would likely require the addition of an access point or the insertion of a closed side branch. This necessarily requires the main pipe to be cut and resealed, resulting in an inconvenient, time consuming, and unsightly retrofit. They may also require modification in order to 5 measure rising fluid level in a flowing stream of fluid in a vertical pipeline. Other devices exist where the sensor and/or other components of the device are disposed totally inside the pipeline. These may include, for example, devices incorporating a float sensor, or a sensor and alarm device contained wholly within the pipe. In these devices, the internally mounted components are difficult to position and fix to the inside of the 10 pipe, making these devices extremely difficult to install. Additionally, the presence of the components inside the pipe provides an obstruction to fluid flow and may also trap debris inside the pipe, causing a blockage which may not be detected by the alarm device. The internally mounted components may also become dislodged from the sensing location by fluid flowing through the pipe and thus provide an incorrect signal or 15 no warning signal of fluid back-up in the pipe. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the invention provides a fluid back-up detection and warning apparatus 20 for detecting a back-up condition in a substantially vertical pipeline and providing a notification thereof, the apparatus including: a fluid level sensor in fluid communication with an interior conduit of the pipeline for detecting a predetermined fluid level within the conduit, wherein the predetermined fluid level is indicative of a back-up condition in the conduit; and 25 a notification means operatively connected to the sensor, wherein the notification means is activated in response to the predetermined fluid level being detected to provide a notification of the back-up condition. Preferably, the fluid level sensor includes a device selected from the group consisting of: a float switch, two electrodes suspended in a housing, and a diaphragm and sensor 30 switch.

-5 Preferably, the notification means includes one or more devices selected from the group consisting of: audible alarm, siren, speaker, strobe, light, wireless mobile notification, visual alarm, a display module for displaying a visual warning message, and radio transmitting means. The notification means may also include a device capable of 5 sending a notification to a mobile phone or e-mail account. In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a second sensor for detecting a second fluid level within the conduit, wherein the second fluid level is higher than the predetermined fluid level indicative of a back-up condition in the conduit. Preferably, the system includes multiple sensors located at spaced intervals along the 10 pipeline. At least one of these sensors is utilised to detect the predetermined fluid level within the conduit, while at least one other sensor detects a higher fluid level. This configuration is utilised to identify the speed of the rising fluid. Advantageously, this will provide useful information in determining the severity of the blockage and the urgency of clearing the blockage to prevent flooding. 15 Preferably, where the apparatus includes more than one sensor, a different type of notification occurs in response to the detection by each of the sensors of a corresponding fluid level. The notifications may be audible sounds at different frequencies or a flashing light which generates different colours corresponding to each sensor. Preferably, the apparatus is integrated with a building management system. Information 20 regarding the presence and location of the fluid build-up is sent to the building management system in response to the predetermined fluid level being detected. Preferably, the apparatus is integrated with a water supply interrupting element for interrupting an associated supply of incoming water in response to the predetermined fluid level being detected to thereby prevent further back up of the conduit. This 25 integration may be in the form of a signal sent from the notification device to the water supply interrupting element. Preferably, the apparatus includes a body having a passage extending from the conduit to the fluid level sensor for providing the fluid communication between the conduit and the fluid sensor. The body is preferably a tubular body. The body is preferably configured -6 to be sealably fitted against an aperture formed in an external wall of the pipeline such that the passage is fluidly connected to the internal conduit of the pipe. Preferably, when the apparatus is mounted to the pipe, the inlet of the passage is located adjacent the conduit of the pipe. The passage inlet is preferably upwardly inclined to the 5 conduit. This advantageously reduces the likelihood of a blockage occurring at the inlet to the passage. In one preferred embodiment, the passage is a blind passage. Preferably, the fluid sensor is located at the end of the passage. Preferably, the fluid sensor extends partially into the fluid conduit. This advantageously positions the sensor in direct communication with 10 the fluid in the conduit. Alternatively, the sensor is located at least substantially externally to the conduit. This will advantageously ensure that the sensor provides minimal obstruction to fluid flow through the conduit. Alternatively, the passage is open ended. Preferably, the open ended passage has an inlet and an outlet. When mounted, the inlet and outlet are each fluidly connected to the 15 internal conduit of the pipe. Preferably, the inlet and outlet, when installed, are each located adjacent the conduit. The fluid sensor is preferably located intermediate the inlet and the outlet of the passage. Advantageously, as fluid enters the passage inlet, any gas inside the passage is displaced through the outlet. This configuration advantageously avoids any build-up of pressure in the passage which may adversely affect the fluid 20 sensor or result in damage to the passage or the mounting between the passage and the pipe. In some preferred embodiments, both the sensor and the notification means are installed in one location. Preferably, the apparatus includes a housing for the sensor and the notification means. 25 However, in other preferred embodiments, the notification means is located remotely from the installed location of the sensor. In this case, the notification means is ideally positioned for easy access and viewing. The notification means may be installed at a central monitoring location. The apparatus preferably includes a connector adapted to support the fluid level sensor 30 in fluid communication with the interior conduit of the pipeline.

-7 In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus is mounted substantially externally to the pipe. Preferably, the connector includes at least one curved flange located around the end of the passage. More preferably, the connector includes a pair of curved flanges. The connector is preferably mounted to the pipe by fastening means. The fastening 5 means is preferably a clamping element for clamping each flange to the outside of the pipe. Preferably, the mounting does not compromise the integrity of the pipe. Advantageously, this embodiment is well suited for retrofitting to existing pipework and is also suitable for installation in the pipeline at construction of a new piping system. In this embodiment, an aperture is preferably formed in the pipeline to provide fluid 10 communication between the conduit and the passage of the device. In another preferred embodiment, the connector includes a piece of hollow tube connected to at least one end of the passage, the hollow tube being adapted to form part of the vertical conduit. Advantageously, in this embodiment, the hollow tube may be installed in the pipeline at construction of a new piping system. Alternatively, the 15 apparatus may be retrofit into existing pipework by shutting off the water supply, removing a section of the pipeline and installing the hollow tube in place of the removed section. However, it will be appreciated that retrofitting the hollow tube may be time consuming and labour intensive. Preferably, the body and the connector as formed of injection moulded plastic. The 20 connector may be formed integrally with the body, or as a separate component. Preferably, the apparatus includes a selectively activatable self -test switch, operatively connected to a test notification means, the test notification means being capable of being automatically activated to provide a notification whenever the self-test circuit is selectively activated. The test notification means may be the notification means utilised 25 for notifying of a back-up condition or another device. The apparatus preferably includes a power supply for supplying power to at least one of the sensor and the notification means. The apparatus preferably includes a low power detection circuit capable of being automatically activated to emit a warning system whenever the low power detection circuit detects a low power condition in the power 30 supply. Preferably the low power detection circuit includes an override circuit which ignores detection of the low power condition whenever the predetermined fluid level and -8 the lower power condition are detected substantially simultaneously so that the notification means is activated in response to detection of the predetermined fluid level. In another aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting a back-up condition in a vertical pipeline and providing an alert, the method including: 5 detecting a predetermined fluid level within an interior conduit of the pipeline, wherein the predetermined fluid level is indicative of a back-up condition in the conduit; and activating a notification means in response to the predetermined fluid level being detected, wherein the activated notification means provides an alert of the back-up 10 condition. Preferably, the method also includes the step of interrupting an associated supply of incoming water in response to the predetermined fluid level being detected to prevent further back-up of the conduit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15 Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the 20 invention; Figure 3 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. 25 PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring first to Figure 1, a first embodiment of the apparatus I includes a housing 2 connected to a blind passage 3. The inlet 4 of the passage is connected to the vertical pipeline 5. In the illustrated embodiment the inlet is perpendicular to the pipe conduit 6, however in other embodiments (not shown), the inlet is preferably inclined to the 30 conduit to reduce the likelihood of blockage occurring at the inlet to the passage.

-9 A fluid sensor in the form of a float switch 7 is located inside the housing. The float switch extends through the housing wall 8 into the passage 3 and is in fluid communication with the conduit 6. It will be appreciated that any suitable fluid level detection device may be used. 5 Notification means 9, a power supply in the form of a battery 10 and associated circuitry 11 are also contained within the housing 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing includes a removable cap 12. The cap is openable to access the internal components. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, one or more of these components may be located externally to the housing. For example, where the location of the sensor is 10 not easily accessible, the notification means is advantageously able to be used as a remote unit with, for example, the siren or strobe located in an accessible, visible and audibly clear area. It is very important that the alarm or strobe be heard or seen to ensure that the warning unit is effective. The battery may advantageously be removed and replaced. Alternatively, the battery 15 may be recharged through the housing. Additionally, the device may be powered by an external power source. A curved flange, in the form of a boss connector 13, is located around the inlet to the passage 4. To mount the apparatus I to the pipe 5, an aperture 14 is formed in the vertical pipeline corresponding to the inlet 4 of the passage 3. The boss connector is 20 placed adjacent the external wall of the pipeline and the inlet of the passage aligned with the aperture 14 to provide fluid communication between the conduit 6 of the pipe 5 and the fluid sensor 7. Silicon sealant is then applied around the aperture in the vertical pipe and between the pipe and the boss connector. Clamps (not shown) are then used to secure the boss connector around the external wall of the pipe to sealingly fix the 25 apparatus in place. Alternatively, the apparatus may equally conveniently be incorporated into the pipeline at installation of the piping system. This may be achieved, for example by integration of the apparatus with a segment of pipe in place of the boss connector or by attaching the apparatus to a segment of pipe by clamps as described above prior to construction of the 30 piping system.

- 10 In preferred embodiments, the apparatus is installed between the base of the vertical pipe and the floor level of the unit above. This may sometimes be inside a duct, in a subfloor area, or inside a garage. It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be suitable for installation in other locations and for applications other than detecting fluid back-up in 5 vertical pipelines. Following a downstream blockage in the pipeline 5, rising fluid in the vertical conduit 6 reaches the inlet 4 to the passage 3 and flows into the passage. When fluid reaches the predetermined level it is detected by the float switch 7. This activates the notification means 9 which, in the embodiment shown, emits an audible alarm. The alarm will 10 continue to sound until the blockage is cleared or the notification means is disarmed. It will be appreciated however, that the notification may be in the form of, for example, flashing lights, a musical tune, sirens, strobes, or a warning message. Additionally, the notification means may be connected to a building management system and, upon activation, sends a warning signal to the building management system indicating the 15 presence and location of the blockage. Furthermore, the notification means may send a signal to a remote device, via, for example a message to a mobile phone or email account. In a alternative embodiment (not shown) the notification means is located remotely from the installed location of the sensor. This may occur, for example, where the sensor 20 location is difficult or inconvenient to access. In such cases, the notification means is ideally positioned for easy access and viewing. The notification means may be installed at a central monitoring location. In addition, upon detection of the predetermined fluid level, a water supply interrupting element (not shown) may be activated to interrupt the supply of incoming water to the 25 pipeline, for example, by shutting off a water supply valve, to prevent further back-up of the conduit. The notification means can be tested periodically by pressing the text button 15. In the illustrated embodiment, pressing the test button activates the notification device 9 which emits an audible alarm.

- 11 Preferably, the apparatus will be installed with a notice mounted close by advising of the reason for the apparatus and to contact a plumber as soon as possible if the notification means is activated. Referring to Figure 2, a second embodiment of the invention includes an open ended 5 passage 16 fluidly connected at each end to the vertical pipe 5. Corresponding apertures 17, 18 are formed in the vertical pipeline and the inlet 19 and outlet 20 of the passage are aligned respectively with the apertures to mount the apparatus. A curved flange 21 is located around each of the inlet 19 and the outlet 20 to the passage 16 for secure connection of the passage to the external wall of the pipe. In this embodiment, the inlet 10 19 is shown inclined to the pipe conduit 6 to reduce the likelihood of blockage occurring at the inlet to the passage. Following a downstream blockage in the pipe, the fluid level in the vertical pipe 5 rises, and the fluid enters the inlet 18 of the passage 16. Air is pushed out of the passage through the outlet 20, advantageously preventing pressure build up in the passage. The 15 rising fluid reaches the predetermined fluid level and raises the float switch 7, activating the notification means, in the form of an audible alarm 9 located in the housing 2. Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention including a single curved flange 22 extending between the inlet 19 and outlet 20 of the passage. This advantageously provides for easier installation of the apparatus to the external wall of the pipe 5. It will 20 be appreciated that the apparatus may alternatively include a pipe segment in place of the flange for direct installation into the conduit. Referring to Figure 4, a fourth embodiment of the invention includes a detection device 23 for detecting fluid at a higher level than the predetermined fluid level detected by the fluid sensor 7. Following detection at the predetermined fluid level, the fluid continues 25 to rise within the passage 16 until it reaches the second detection device. Upon detection of the higher level, the detection device 23 activates a second notification means 24. The second notification means preferably provides a different notification to the notification provided in response to detection of the predetermined fluid level. For example, the notifications may be in the form of different tones or different sounds.

- 12 In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus includes a second notification means 24 for providing the notification in response to detection of the higher fluid level. Alternatively, the apparatus may include a single notification means which provides both notifications. This configuration advantageously provides an indication of the speed at which the fluid 5 is rising in the pipe. This will provide useful information as to the speed at which the blockage must be cleared. The back-up detection and warning apparatus is intended to create an early warning system for the building to notify that a downstream blockage is present in the pipeline. This will ideally provide the residents with sufficient warning to cease using the upper 10 floor fixtures and contact a plumber to clear the blockage before flooding occurs. It is envisaged that the apparatus will either be installed after the occurrence of a blockage to assist with prevention of a re-occurrence, or installed as a precautionary measure to ensure a blockage and associated overflow never occurs. In this regard, the alarm may be adapted to be retrofit to existing vertical pipe work. However, the alarm 15 may equally likely be installed as part of a new piping system. Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (2)

1. A fluid back-up detection and warning apparatus for detecting a back-up condition in a substantially vertical pipeline and providing a notification thereof, the apparatus 5 including: a fluid level sensor in fluid communication with an interior conduit of the pipeline for detecting a predetermined fluid level within the conduit, wherein the predetermined fluid level is indicative of a back-up condition in the conduit; and a notification means operatively connected to the sensor, wherein the notification 10 means is activated in response to the predetermined fluid level being detected to provide a notification of the back-up condition.

2. A method for detecting a back-up condition in a vertical pipeline and providing an alert, the method including: 15 detecting a predetermined fluid level within an interior conduit of the pipeline, wherein the predetermined fluid level is indicative of a back-up condition in the conduit; and activating a notification means in response to the predetermined fluid level being detected, wherein the activated notification means provides an alert of the back-up 20 condition.