AU2015101058A4 - A system for shutting off mains water supply for a property - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A system for shutting OFF mains water supply for a property, the system including: an electrically controlled valve inserted into a mains water line at an entrance to the property for mains water; and a controller including a wireless receiver, the controller being configured to: receive ARM and DISARM signals from an intruder alarm system of the property wirelessly from the intruder alarm system of the property; operate the valve to turn OFF the mains water to the property in response to receipt of the ARM signal; and operate the valve to turn ON the mains water to the property in response to receipt of the DISARM signal. 10\ 20 | Controller (22 Figure 1 Tx 24 Housing 18 13 __- Alarm 15 20 | Controller 22 14ge Figure 2

Description

1 A system for shutting OFF mains water supply for a property Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a system for shutting OFF mains water supply for a property. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a system for shutting OFF mains water line at an entrance to the property in response to signals from an intruder alarm system so as to prevent water leaks when the occupants of the property are away from the property. Background of Invention [0002] Many existing properties have intruder alarm systems installed to detect whether intruders have entered a property when the occupants are away. The occupants typical ARM the intruder alarm system using, say, a PIN code, when they leave the property for an extended period of time and DISARM the intruder alarm when they return back to the property. While the occupants are away for an extended period of time, however, if a water leak occurs then leaked water will accumulate over time which can cause significant damage to the property. [0003] One existing solution for preventing water damage whilst occupants are away for an extended period of time includes installing a mains water shut OFF switch connected to an electrically controlled valve inserted into a mains water line for the property. In this solution, the occupants switch ON and OFF the mains water supply to the property when they enter and exit the property. [0004] Another existing solution includes connecting the above mentioned intruder alarm system to the electrically controlled valve that is inserted into the mains water line for the property. The switching ON and OFF of the mains water supply to the property is performed automatically based on input from the intruder alarm system. In this solution, however, an additional controller is required to be installed inside the property and significant amounts of electrical cable are required to connect the intruder alarm, controller and a solenoid for operation of the electrically controlled valve that is typically required to be located at an entrance to the property.

2 Summary of Invention [0005] Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a system for shutting OFF mains water supply for a property, the system including: an electrically controlled valve inserted into a mains water line at an entrance to the property for mains water; and a controller including a wireless receiver, the controller being configured to: receive ARM and DISARM signals from an intruder alarm system of the property wirelessly from the intruder alarm system of the property; operate the valve to turn OFF the mains water to the property in response to receipt of the ARM signal; and operate the valve to turn ON the mains water to the property in response to receipt of the DISARM signal. [0006] In an example of the system in use, occupants of the property leave the property for say an extended period of time and ARM the intruder alarm system. The intruder alarm system signals to the controller to operate the valve to turn OFF the mains water to the property so that the property is protected from water damage in the event of a water leak occurring during this period of time. [0007] In an embodiment, the controller and the electrically controlled valve are co-located in a housing at the entrance to the property for the mains water and the housing is configured to receive electrical power for the controller and the valve. For example, the housing is located external to the property at the entrance to the property for mains water and is weather proof. Also, the housing can include a transformer to receive mains AC (e.g. 240V) and supply lower voltage (e.g. 24VAC) for operation of the controller and the solenoid or the transformer or the transformer can be located outside the housing and the low voltage supplied to the housing for the controller and the solenoid. In another example, the transformer produces 12V DC to the controller and the solenoid of the valve. [0008] In an embodiment, the system further includes a wireless transmitter to be connected to the alarm system and the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the ARM and DISARM signals wirelessly from the intruder alarm system to the wireless receiver of the controller. In this embodiment, the intruder alarm system does not have wireless transmission capabilities and the system thus provides a wireless transmitter for use with the alarm system to provide the wireless ARM and 3 DISARM signals. It will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art that the wireless receiver and wireless transmitter can be transceivers configured to both receive and transmit wireless signals. It will also be appreciated that the wireless signals include other signals than ARM and DISARM; for example, the transceiver may signal that the valve is malfunctioning. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that if you the wireless signals are Radio Frequency signals, including Wi-Fi or GSM signals. Nonetheless, in addition or in the alternative, the alarm system is connected to the controller via electrical wire to say provide the functionality of the system when the wireless capabilities fail. [0009] In further embodiments, the intruder alarm system can be ARMED and DISARMED by a PIN pad at the property in the typical manner or can be ARMED and DISARMED remote from the property. In the latter embodiment, the wireless receiver can receive wireless signals from say a smart phone of the occupants to operate the valve or the alarm system has a transceiver connected thereto that can receive input to ARM and DISARM the alarm from say the smart phone. In yet another embodiment, the alarm system and the controller are connected to the Internet and the signals to ARM and DISARM the alarm and to turn ON and OFF the mains water can be provided from a connected device, such as the smart phone. [0010] In an embodiment, the property is one of a plurality of apartments in a building and the entrance to the property for the mains water is inside the apartment. That is, in an apartment, the housing is preferably located internal to the property; for example, under a sink at the entrance point to the property for the mains water. In a stand-alone property, the housing is located externally to the main building of the property; for example, adjacent a water meter at the entrance to the property. Brief Description of Drawings [0011] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0012] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for shutting OFF mains water supply for a property according to an embodiment of the invention; and 4 [0013] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for shutting OFF mains water supply for a property according to an embodiment of the invention. Detailed Description [0014] A system 10 for shutting OFF mains water supply for a property (not shown) according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1. In particular, Figure 1 shows an electrically controlled valve 12 inserted into a mains water line 13 at an entrance to the property for mains water and a controller 14 including a wireless receiver 16. As discussed, the entrance to the property for the mains water can be located outside the property for a stand-alone building on the property and inside the property when the property is an apartment. [0015] The controller 14 is configured to receive ARM and DISARM signals from an intruder alarm system 15 (shown in Figure 2) of the property wirelessly from the intruder alarm system of the property. The controller 14 is also configured to operate the valve 12 to turn OFF the mains water to the property in response to receipt of the ARM signal and to operate the valve 12 to turn ON the mains water to the property in response to receipt of the DISARM signal. In the embodiment, the valve is operated by a solenoid. As discussed, the controller 14 can be configured to receive other signals from the intruder alarm system 15, such as a time signal for the length of time the valve 12 is to be turned OFF. In any event, it will be appreciated by those persons skilled in the art that the controller 14 includes a processor (not shown) and a memory (not shown) in data communication with the processor. The processor is configured to execute a series of instructions stored in the memory to perform the above mentioned control of the valve 12. That is, the memory includes a series of instructions to be implemented by the processor to determine that the controller 14 receives the DISARM and ARM signals, and for the processor to activate and deactivate the solenoid operating the valve 12 in response to these signals to turn ON and OFF the mains water to the property. [0016] In the embodiment, the controller 14 and the electrically controlled valve 12 are co-located in a housing 18 provided at the entrance to the property for the mains water and the housing 18 is configured to receive electrical power for the controller 14 and the valve 12. As above, the housing 18 can include a transformer (not shown) to 5 provide suitable low voltage for the controller 14 and the valve 12 or can be configured to receive low voltage from a transformer not located in the housing 18. In any event, the housing 18 is weatherproof when installed externally to a building, such as the stand-alone house, of the property. In this case, the housing 18 complies with the relevant safety standards for a weatherproof box. [0017] In the embodiment, the valve 12 is inserted into the mains water line 13 and thus has an inlet 20 and an outlet 22 to the valve 12. The inlet 20 in some installations includes a filter 24 for filtering say large debris from the valve 12 that may prevent correct operation of the valve 12. The valve 12 includes a motorised ball valve capable of being oved by the solenoid to the ON and OFF positons for the mains water. The valve 12 further includes a manual bypass valve (not shown) to bypass the valve 12 in the event of say power failure and the water supply being inadvertently maintained in the OFF position when the occupants have returned to the property. [0018] In another embodiment, the system 10 includes a wireless transmitter 26 connected to the alarm system 15 and configured to transmit the ARM and DISARM signals wirelessly from the intruder alarm 15 to the wireless receiver 16 of the controller 14. As discussed, the wireless transmitter 26 and the wireless receiver 16 can be transceivers which can transmit and receive wireless signals. Also, the wireless transmitter 26 can transmit other signals such a time for the controller to maintain the valve 12 in the OFF position. The wireless transmitter 26 is generally connected to the auxiliary outputs of the alarm system 15 and can be retrofitted to an existing alarm system. As above, the wireless transmitter 26 can communicate to the wireless receiver 16 using Radio Frequency signals and it will be appreciated that the wireless transmitter 26 can transmit signals over a large range, such as 50m. [0019] In use, an example of a method using the system 10 for shutting OFF mains water supply for a property includes, firstly, the occupants of the property ARMING the intruder alarm system 15, using say a PIN, when leaving the property for say an extended period of time. The intruder alarm system 15 wirelessly signalling the ARM signal to the controller 14 so that the controller 14 operates the valve 12 to turn OFF the mains water to the property so that the property is protected from water damage in the event of a water leak occurring during this period of time. When the 6 occupants return, the occupants DISARM the intruder alarm system 15 using the PIN and the intruder alarm system 15 wirelessly signals the DISARM signal to the controller 14 so that the controller 14 operates the valve 12 to turn ON the mains water to the property. [0020] Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the above description of the system 10. A person skilled in the art will also appreciate that at least parts of the method could be embodied in program code for implementation on the above mentioned processor. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, such as on the memory of the controller 14 in data communication with the processor, as described. [0021] It will be understood that there may be other variations and modifications to the configurations describe here that are also within the scope of the present invention. [0022] The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Claims (5)

1. A system for shutting OFF mains water supply for a property, the system including: an electrically controlled valve inserted into a mains water line at an entrance to the property for mains water; and a controller including a wireless receiver, the controller being configured to: receive ARM and DISARM signals from an intruder alarm system of the property wirelessly from the intruder alarm system of the property; operate the valve to turn OFF the mains water to the property in response to receipt of the ARM signal; and operate the valve to turn ON the mains water to the property in response to receipt of the DISARM signal.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller and the electrically controlled valve are co-located in a housing at the entrance to the property for the mains water and the housing is configured to receive electrical power for the controller and the valve.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the valve is operated by a solenoid located in the housing.

4. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the system further includes a wireless transmitter to be connected to the alarm system and the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the ARM and DISARM signals wirelessly from the intruder alarm to the wireless receiver of the controller.

5. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the property is one of a plurality of apartments in a building and the entrance to the property for the mains water is inside the apartment.