GB2346000A

GB2346000A - Domestic water and liquid fuel/gasses automatic shut off system

Info

Publication number: GB2346000A
Application number: GB9901197A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Angus Alexander Ferrier; James William Beveridge Kerr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-01-21
Filing date: 1999-01-21
Publication date: 2000-07-26
Also published as: GB2346000A8; GB9901197D0

Abstract

This system will automatically interrupt the supply of water or fuel in an emergency. It includes a valve 2 remotely controlled by a micro-controller based electronic system, housed in the control box 1. This control box is mounted in a convenient position which is accessible to the user and is remote from the valve. The box has the facility to attach sensors 5 to detect a water or gas leak, frost or a malfunction of the appliance, which when a sensor is activated will close the valve thus removing the source of danger and potential damage to a building.

Description

Domestic Water and Liquid Fuel/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System Description We have been aware for some time that a high percentage of people living (or workin) in domestic, commercial and industrial premises do not know where to turn off the water or fuel in an emergency. In some cases the occupier does know the location of the valve but is unable to turn of the supply due to some disability or the manual device is just too difficult to move.

This is unlike any other motorised valve produced by Honeywell, Myson as their valves have no features which can monitor the water or gas supply and automatically close the system down when a malfunction has been detected.

As there are instances where the occupier is not aware of the emergency due to a malfunction of an appliance or the dwelling is temporarily empty, then the Domestic Water and Liquid FueUGasses Automatic Shut Off System will actuate and shut off the domestic supply. In addition the system will indicate the source of the problem.

The invention Domestic Water and Liquid Fuet/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System comprises an electronic control box (1) and remote controlled valve (2). Refer to figure 1 which shows the layout of the system. The control box contains a micro-controller based electronic circuit board with all necessary combinational digital circuits to support the micro-controller. The micro-controller is loaded with software appropriate to the application, this software provides all the control signals to drive the motorised valve and sequentially monitors each of the sensors to check the status of the water or fuel supply system (3). The micro controller will make decisions based on the signals received from the remote sensors (5) to activate the valve (2) and close of the water or fuel supply (3) if necessary. The control box (1) is mounted in an easily accessible position for convenience of the user. The low voltage motorised valve (2) is fitted to the water or fuel supply inlet pipe (3) where appropriate within the building. The control box is powered from the mains electricity supply via low voltage adapter (4) for safety purposes and ease of installation. It is intended that the box can be continually powered, however their is provision in the control box (1) using a battery which will allow the system to continue to operate in the event of an electrical power failure. The control box is connected to the valve with a multicore cable which carries all necessary signals to the valve. Sensors (5) are fitted in strategic positions to allow detection of the appropriate malfunction, signal wires are connected back to the controller which periodically monitors each sensor in turn. In the event of a sensor being activated, the control box will be stimulated into closing the valve, interrupting the supply and indicating (7) the sensor zone that caused the problem. A valve position switch (6) is also provided on the control box which overrides the system to allow the water or fuel supply to be turned off and on as and when required.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuel/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System comprises a control box which contains all the electronic circuits to control the valve position and monitor remote sensors. Power to the system is provided by an AC to Low voltage DC adapter from the domestic main supply. The control box is connected via a multicore cable carrying low voltage signals to activate the motorised valve.
2. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuet/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim I wherein the electronic circuit contains a micro-controller which is loaded with software specific to the application.
3. The Domestic Water and Liquid FueUGasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 1 & 2 wherein software will monitor the sensor inputs and actuate the valve to set the valve in the appropriate position, given the signals from the sensors or override switch.
4. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuel/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim I, claim 2 and claim 3 wherein the software will switch offthe power to the motorised valve for power saving and reducing the power consumption of the system.
5. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuel/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 4 wherein the control box contains a backup power source to maintain system operation in the event of a mains electricity power failure.
6. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuel/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 1 wherein the motorised valve is actuated by a low voltage proportional motive device.
7. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuel/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 1 and claim 6 wherein the motive force is transmitted via gear train to a fractional turn valve.
8. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuei/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fractional turn valve used is commonly known as a ball valve.
9. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuel/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 1 wherein the remote sensor function is to detect a fluid leak or the presence of a dangerous gas and send a signal to the control box.
10. The Domestic Water and Liquid FueUGasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 9 wherein the signal is periodically monitored by the micro-controller and action taken on an active signal.
I l. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuel/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 10 wherein the periodically monitored signal can be from a number of sensors placed in different zones through a dwelling, the sensor signals are multiplexed under control of the micro controller. Power is removed from the sensors when they are not actively being monitored, for power saving
12 The Domestic Water and Liquid FueUGasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 11 wherein a sensor zone which has been activated is indicated using LED array on the control box.
1 3. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuel/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 12 wherein a sensor zone having been activated, the micro-controller will log the fault in non-volatile memory and lock the system.
14. The Domestic Water and Liquid Fuel/Gasses Automatic Shut Off System as claimed in claim 13 wherein the locking system is a fail safe device which has to be reset by a competent engineer. This function is particularly appropriate in the event of a dangerous gas presence.