EP0794381A2 - Water damage protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

An installation comprises: (a) moisture sensors (4) located in the floor section of a space to be protected e.g. a building with several taps; and (b) the closing device positioned in the central supply line (1) leading to the taps.

Description

The invention relates to a device with a closure member for automatically closing a hose or pipe for the transport of liquid media, in particular water, when a signal occurs which, for. B. if a predeterminable limit value monitored by a sensor is exceeded by this sensor or electronics connected downstream of the sensor.

Such a device is known from DE 27 49 159.

In pipeline installations for liquid media - e.g. B. in drinking water or service water installation networks, damage occurs due to pipe or hose breaks or leaky connecting parts, fittings or devices. The damage to the installation network is usually small, but the consequential damage is often large due to the loss of large amounts of water and, above all, the water damage caused by the leaked water. The main problem is to identify and eliminate a leak as quickly as possible after it occurs.

Corresponding water damage protection devices for individual devices connected to a water supply network are e.g. B. from US-PS 5 086 806 and EP 0 222 174 known. A disadvantage of these devices, however, is that they are designed to protect only a single device. With several devices in e.g. B. an apartment or a house, of course, several such protective devices must be installed.

Another similar device is known from EP 0 257 575, which is however intended for the protection of entire pipeline systems and thus requires complex monitoring lines along the entire main and branch lines.

A further device is described in the as yet unpublished German patent application 195 08 114.5 with the title "Water damage protection device", with a central locking of the water pipe taking place as soon as an unusual water withdrawal is found via the water meter. However, this is an unreasonable restriction of comfort To avoid for the water user, the permissible water withdrawal should be defined as generously as possible, whereby inevitably a certain amount of water must escape in the event of damage before the closure member closes the water pipe.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to present a device and a method of the type described at the outset which, in the event of damage, reliably shut off the water supply line, the escaping water volume and the restriction in comfort being minimized.

This object is achieved in that at least two moisture sensors are arranged in the floor area of a room to be protected or a building with several tapping points, and in that the closure member is located in the central feed line to the tapping points.

The provision of several moisture sensors distributed in the floor area of the premises to be protected practically guarantees comprehensive water damage monitoring. Since the closure element controlled by the moisture sensors is located in the central feed line to the tapping points, it is ensured that the entire line is closed immediately after the detection of punctual water damage, so that no further consequential damage can occur.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention it is provided that in the central feed line, in addition to or in front of the closure member in the hose or pipeline, a volume flow meter is arranged which measures electrical measurement signals as a function of the volume flow through the hose or pipeline of the flow duration, and that an electronic control device is provided, to which the measurement signals are supplied, and which, based on a predefinable, stored program, depending on the measurement signals received, for example when a limit value is exceeded, control signals either directly to the closure member or to an actuating device emits that cause a closing or opening of the closure member.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensors used are connected via fixed housings, for example in the wall, to a low-voltage network which establishes a connection to the electronic control device and the closure member. If the extra-low voltage network is flush-mounted, the connection points on the wall are visually covered by the housing and there is a possibility of providing strain relief for the connecting lines to the sensors.

The electrical contact between the moisture sensor and the housing is preferably pluggable, which simplifies assembly.

In a particularly comfortable embodiment of the invention, one or more of the sensors used can be connected to the electronic control device by radio. This eliminates the need to lay a low-voltage network for signal transmission in the building.

Alternatively, in another embodiment, one or more of the sensors used can be connected to the electronic control device via the electrical power network of the building in question. This also saves a radio system as in the previous embodiment.

In particularly advantageous developments of this embodiment, the sensors have a standardized electrical socket connection with which they can be simply plugged into a socket located in the room in question.

In other developments of this embodiment it is provided that the communication between the sensor and the electronic control device is effected by frequency modulation of the electrical mains voltage.

It is also advantageous if the moisture sensor and / or the wall housing is equipped with a reset switch for reopening the closure member. As a result, after the central supply line has been closed, the closure member can be opened again from the installation location of the sensor (or the housing) by manually operating the switch.

An embodiment of the invention is also preferred in which, in addition to the moisture sensors, a central sensor is provided for monitoring the time-dependent volume flow in the feed line. The number of moisture sensors required to monitor an entire house, for example, can thus be kept relatively low.

A development of this embodiment is particularly preferred, in which the volume flow sensor, in cooperation with the electronic control device, causes the closure member to close when a volume flow specified as a limit value is exceeded, when the duration of an uninterrupted water withdrawal exceeds a predetermined limit value or when the water volume tapped without interruption exceeds a predefinable limit.

One-piece devices are preferably provided on the electronic control device, with which the limit values can be preset, so that the system can be set according to the operator's particular needs.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, moisture sensors are used which change their electrical conductivity when wetted with water. In this way, the corresponding electrical control signals can be generated directly by the action of moisture.

In a further embodiment it is provided that the moisture sensors each have two electrodes, between which electrical current can only flow if there is water as an electrolyte between them. This prevents the corresponding moisture sensor from responding to a liquid other than water.

Alternatively, there are embodiments in which the moisture sensors used contain a body which changes its volume when it comes into contact with water, an electrical switch being actuated via this volume change.

In a further alternative embodiment it is provided that the moisture sensors used contain a float switch which floats at a liquid level which is formed and actuates an electrical switch.

The scope of the invention also includes a method for operating a device of the type described above, in which the central closure member is automatically closed when one of the installed moisture sensors detects moisture. As a result, if there is a leak in the water network, for example a pipe rupture, further afterflow of water is prevented, so that the extent of the water damage which has occurred can be considerably limited.

A method variant is particularly preferred in which the closure member is opened again with a reset switch if a moisture sensor has been accidentally brought into contact with water.

In a further variant of the method, the central closure member is controlled on the one hand by the moisture sensors, but is also closed when a central volume flow meter detects that the limit value has been exceeded. In this way, for example, the escape of water to the outside in the event of a water line break in an outer wall of a building can be stopped without the need for moisture sensors in the outside area.

A further development of this method variant is particularly preferred, in which the closure member, which is closed by exceeding a limit value, is automatically opened again after a certain shutter time and kept open If the volume flow after opening is smaller than before closing or has dropped to 0 l / h, it is closed again immediately if this is not the case, this test being repeated at least once, preferably several times, at intervals . This enables the user to communicate with his water damage protection device. If, for example, he tapped water for too long or exceeded a maximum permissible volume flow, the water damage protection device initially closes the supply line, but can release the water network again after a short time as soon as it has registered that there is no real damage.

Further advantages of the invention result from the description and the drawing. Likewise, the features mentioned above and those listed further can be used according to the invention individually or in combination in any combination. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as an exhaustive list, but rather have an exemplary character for the description of the invention.

Fig. 1

ein Schema einer einfachen Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Wasserschadenschutzvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Anwendung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in einem Gebäude, welches im Vertikalschnitt dargestellt ist;

Fig. 3

einen Feuchtigkeitssensor mit Wandanschlußgehäuse;

Fig. 4

eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit Volumenstromsensor und Grenzwerteinstellung; und

Fig. 5

ein Flußdiagramm für den Funktionsablauf der erfindungsgemäßen Wasserschadenschutzvorrichtung.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing and is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

a diagram of a simple embodiment of the water damage protection device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

is a schematic representation of the application of the device according to the invention in a building, which is shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3

a humidity sensor with wall junction box;

Fig. 4

an embodiment of the device according to the invention with volume flow sensor and limit value setting; and

Fig. 5

a flowchart for the functional sequence of the water damage protection device according to the invention.

Example 1:

A preferred variant has in the central water inlet (1) z. B. behind the water meter of the public water supplier and in front of the water distributor (2) a central closure member (3) (Fig. 1) z. B. a diaphragm valve which is controlled by a solenoid valve. However, any other type of electrically controllable closure member is also possible.

In the rooms to be protected from a water pipe break or other leaks in the water network (Fig. 2), moisture sensors (4) are installed in the most critical areas (tapping points, washing machine, dishwasher, etc.), which can detect moisture occurring in the floor area (11) and, in cooperation with an electronic control device (5), cause the central closure member (3) to stop the water supply when moisture occurs. The sensors (4) (Fig. 3) are connected to the electronic control device (5) via electrical extra-low voltage lines (6, 6a).

Example 2:

The sensors (4) are particularly preferred (Fig. 3) via a fixed z. B. in the wall (12) installable housing (7) connected to the low voltage network (6). The electrical contact between the (sensor) line (6a) and the housing (7) is very particularly preferably produced with the aid of an easily separable plug device.

Example 3:

The sensors (4) or the connection housing (7) are very particularly preferably equipped with a reset switch (8), so that after the closure member (3) has been closed, it can be opened again from the installation site of the sensor.

Example 4:

In order to be able to limit the number of required moisture sensors (4), the water damage protection device is additionally equipped with a central sensor (9) for monitoring the volume flow flowing in the feed line (1). B. a water meter (Fig. 4). In cooperation with the electronic control device (5), this triggers a closure of the closure member (3) if a volume flow specified as a limit value is exceeded or if the duration of an uninterrupted water withdrawal exceeds a predetermined limit value or if the water volume tapped without interruption exceeds a predetermined limit value . These limit values can very particularly preferably be set on the electronic control device (5) with corresponding setting devices (10).

Example 5:

A preferred moisture sensor (4) works on the basis of an electrical conductivity change by wetting the sensor with water.

The moisture sensor (4) particularly preferably contains an arrangement of two electrodes, between which electrical current can only flow if (in the event of damage) there is water as an electrolyte between them.

Example 6:

Another preferred type of moisture sensor contains a body that changes its volume when it comes into contact with water and actuates an electrical switch via this change in volume.

Example 7:

Another preferred type of moisture sensor includes a float switch that floats at a liquid level being formed and thus actuates an electrical switch.

Example 8:

A water damage protection device according to Examples 1-3 is particularly advantageously operated as follows:

If one of the moisture sensors (4) detects the occurrence of moisture at its installation location, it emits a signal to the electronic control device (5) via the low-voltage line (6, 6a), which in turn the shut-off device (3) closes. If there is a broken pipe or another leak in the water network, further flow of water is prevented. However, if water has only been accidentally spilled (e.g. in the bath area), the user can open the closure element (3) again using the reset switch (8).

Example 9:

In a particularly preferred development (Fig. 3), the moisture sensor (4) from the housing (7), for. B. be disconnected by means of a plug-in connection in order to avoid a hindrance to floor cleaning work by the sensor and also to prevent signal triggering by cleaning water.

A system that tolerates a certain amount of time (e.g. a few minutes) during which the sensor is unplugged is particularly advantageous, but in the event that the sensor is forgotten, the operator by closing the locking element (3rd ) forces or at least prompts with an optical or acoustic signal to reinsert the sensor and thus to ensure monitoring again.

Example 10:

A water damage protection device according to example 4 is operated particularly advantageously as follows: The sensors (bath, shower, toilet, kitchen, etc.) installed at locations with a particularly high probability of damage monitor the unwanted escape of water from the installation network as described in example 9. Those areas that are not or only with great effort using moisture sensors can be monitored such. B. cable shafts, garden connections, living rooms with floor or wall-mounted water pipes, etc. are monitored via the time-dependent total volume flow, which is determined centrally via the sensor (9). If the sensor detects that a predetermined limit value has been exceeded, the closure member (3) is closed by the electronic control device (5).

If the closure member (3) was closed by exceeding a limit value, in a particularly advantageous method it is activated by the electronic control device (5) after a certain time, e.g. B. opened a few seconds. If the measured volume flow after opening is smaller than before closing (as an alternative, the volume flow can drop to 0 l / h as a criterion), then the closure member (3) remains open. If this is not the case, the closure member (3) closes again immediately. This test is carried out at intervals of e.g. B. repeated several times a few minutes. This enables the user to communicate with his water damage protection device. In other words, if he accidentally tapped water for too long or exceeded the maximum permissible volume flow or the maximum uninterrupted tap volume, the water damage protection device according to the invention closes the feed line (1). If, however, one or all of the water taps are then closed, the device registers this when the closure member (3) is reopened as described above and can thus be informed that there is no damage, but rather that the user has only caused a controlled limit violation (Fig. 5).

Claims (10)

Device with a closure member for automatically closing a hose or pipe for the transport of liquid media, especially water, when a signal occurs, which, for. B. If a specifiable limit value monitored by a sensor is exceeded, this sensor or electronics connected downstream of the sensor are generated,
characterized,
that at least two moisture sensors (4) are arranged in the floor area (11) of a room to be protected or a building with several tapping points, and that the closure member (3) is located in the central feed line (1) to the tapping points. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a volume flow measuring device is arranged in the central feed line (1) in front of or behind the closure member (3) in the hose or pipeline, which measures electrical measurement signals as a function of the volume flow through the hose or pipeline and of the flow duration, and that an electronic control device (5) is provided, to which the measurement signals are supplied, and which, on the basis of a predefinable, stored program, outputs control signals either directly to the closure member (3) or to an actuating device, depending on the measurement signals received , which cause the closing member (3) to open or close. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensors used via fixed, for. B. in the wall, installable housing (7) are connected to a low-voltage network, which connects to the electronic control device (5) and the closure member (3). Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the electrical contact between the moisture sensor (4) and the housing (7) is designed to be pluggable. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one or more of the sensors used is connected to the electronic control device (5) by radio. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one or more of the sensors used is connected to the electronic control device (5) via the electrical power network of the building in question, and in that the communication between the sensor and the electronic control device (5) is effected by frequency modulation . Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the moisture sensor (4) and / or the housing (7) is equipped with a reset switch (8) for reopening the closure member (3). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in addition to the moisture sensors (4), a central sensor (9) for monitoring the time-dependent volume flow in the supply line (1) is provided, and that the volume flow sensor (9), in cooperation with the electronic control device (5), causes the closure member (3) to close when a volume flow specified as a limit value is exceeded when the duration of an uninterrupted water withdrawal exceeds a predetermined limit value or if the water volume tapped without interruption exceeds a specifiable limit. Method for operating a device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central closure member (3) is automatically closed when one of the installed moisture sensors (4) detects moisture, and in that the central closure member (3) is also closed if a central volume flow meter detects that the limit value has been exceeded. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the closure member (3), which is closed by exceeding a limit value, is automatically opened again after a certain shutter time and is kept open, provided the volume flow after opening is smaller than before the closure or has dropped to 0 l / h is closed, however, immediately if this is not the case, this test being repeated at least once, preferably several times, at intervals.

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