GB2493521A

GB2493521A - System for shutting off utility valves

Info

Publication number: GB2493521A
Application number: GB1113593.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard Maxwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-08-08
Filing date: 2011-08-08
Publication date: 2013-02-13
Also published as: GB201113593D0

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid through an underground pipework. The apparatus includes an array of valves each of which includes electric circuitry to transmit and receive a signal unique to the valve, and each having means to control the opening and closing of the valve on receipt of the signal from a control unit. The valves may be operated by an electric motor, and each valve may have a unique reference code and individually controllable by using GSM or RF signals. A later embodiment relates to an apparatus for controlling the supply of water or gas to a premises comprising at least one valve capable of being operated remotely on receipt of a signal from a control unit. The control unit has means to record and store a set-up and de-activation tone sequence of an intruder alarm, and a means to compare the stored sequences with sounds subsequently received by the control unit, and a means to transmit the signal to the valve when the subsequent sequence sounds received match a stored sequence.

Description

A system for shutting off valves

Field of the Invention

D

The present invention relates to a system for shutting off valves.

More especially the invention relates to a system for shutting off or limiting through-flow of water or gas valves to residential and commercial premises.

Background of the Invention

The flow of water to commercial and residential premises is currently controlled via an extensive underground pipe work and valve system directing flow to various locations. The flow can be shut off to a specific property or street area manually using stop oooks to turn meohanical valve located at various junctures within the pipe work.

Valves are known which can be activated at a distance from the valve using a wired switch.

The current system of water suffers from many disadvantages. One such problem is that the supply of water can generally be only shut off to a specific residence in the case of an emergency such as, for example, a flood in the premises. In many occasions, by the time the stop cook and key are located, the flood of water has already caused extensive damage.

In the event of a rupture within the water pipe work, large-scale flooding often occurs across large areas, often with serious consequences and disruption. The flood is not usually bought under control until the pipe work has been repaired.

A gas supply may also be shut off by appropriate personnel in the event of an emergency such as a gas leakage or suspected leakage within a premises.

Summary of Invention

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided, apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid through pipes, the apparatus comprising at teast one valve including electric circuitry to transmit and receive a signal unique to the valve, and means to control the opening and closing of the valve on receipt of signal.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus to control the supply of water or gas to a premises, the apparatus comprising at least one valve capable of being shut or opened remotely on receipt of a signal from a control unit, the control unit including means to record and store a set-up and de-activation tone sequence of an intruder alarm, and further comprising means to compare the stored sequences with sounds subsequently received by the control unit and means to transmit the signal to the valve when the subsequent sounds received match a stored sequence.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

One embodiment of a valve system according to the invention comprises at least one remote controlled valve linked to a premises and located in underground pipe work providing flow of liquid, such as water or gas, to that premises.

Each valve is a mechanical design with an electric motor to open and close, or partially open or close the valve by automatic means utilising both wired and/or wireless technology.

S Each valve includes means to receive a signal from a control unit to initiate opening or closure.

The control unit transmits a signal to the electric circuitry of the valve when a pre-determined or pre-programmed criteria are met. The control unit may, for example, transmit a signal to the valve in accordance with a pre-programmed timer, equivalent to, for example, a timer system for heating, such that the valve will automatically shut or partially shut off, thereby restricting or stopping the flow of water or gas to the premises, during times IS when the gas or water is not required, for example in the middle of the night, or during hours of the day when no person is in the residence.

If the residence has an intruder alarm, the control unit may be linked to that alarm. The valve may, for example, be activated to shut off during the time when the intruder alarm is set (indicating that no person is in residence) . To avoid the need to adapt the existing intruder alarm system, which would more often than not remove any warranty and cause issues with the supplier of the alarm system, the control unit includes a sound recorder.

The recorder is initially set to record the unique sound output of the alarm when the alarm is set and dc-activated. The recorder will record, log and store the precise series of tones, specifically their frequency, pitch, gaps between tones and duration, during the set-up and deactivating sequence of the a 1 arm.

The control unit further includes means to compare any sound signals received from the alarm at a later date with the sequences logged and, when matching the signals received to either the set-up or dc-activation sequence, will transmit a signal to the valve to cause the valve to close or open accordingly.

A second embodiment of the invention comprises a system that include an array of valves located within an underground pipe work providing flow of fluid, such as water or gas, to residential or commercial premises or locations.

Each valve includes electric circuitry to allow that valve to be remotely opened or closed, fully or partially. The circuitry of each valve includes a transmitter and receiver to transmit and receive a signal unique to each valve.

Each valve, having a unique reference code, is individually controlled remotely by a control unit using GSM and RF' technology.

The control unit may be located an a specific location such as a control room of an emergency service provider covering a specific area or may be portable so to be carried in an emergency services vehicle. Individualised control units may be incorporated into a hand held device usable by specifically trained and authorised personnel.

In uso, the control unit rocoivos a signal transmittod from each valve within a pre-determined and area and, in the event of the need to shut off one or more valves, sends a signal to the relevant valves to cause them to shut off. The operation system may be simplified for rapid operation by using a touch screen for example to select valves.

This would allow emergency services to isoiate an area of a cracked pipe for example to prevent flooding, or, to cut off the supply of water or gas to a residence as soon as an emergency situation is identified to allow the emergency services to act quickly and deal with the emergency more effectively on arrival The control units may be used to remotely restrict flow of water at certain times to premises within a drought identified area.

In certain circumstances, the control units may be used to shut off the supply of water or gas to speoifio premises in which the owner of the residence has defaulted on payment for such services.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing are merely an examples of embodiments of an alert system and just some examples of its use. The skilled reader will readily understand that modifications can be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. Apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid through pipes, the apparatus comprising at least one valve located in an underground pipe network and including electric circuitry to transmit and receive a signal unique to the valve, and means to control the opening and closing of the valve on receipt of the signal.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the or each valve is a mechanical valve with an electric motor to open and/or close the valve, or partially open and/or close the valve by automatic means.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the or each valve includes means to receive a signal from a control unit to initiate opening or closure.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit o transmits a signal to the electric circuitry of one or more selected valves when pm-determined or pre-programmed o criteria are met.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 comprising an array of valves located within the underground pipe network, each valve having a unique reference code and being individually controllable by the control unit using GSM or RF signals.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the control unit is portable.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. Apparatus to control the supply of water or gas to a premises, the apparatus comprising at least one valve capable of being shut or opened remotely on receipt of a signal from a control unit, the control unit including means to record and store a set-up and dc-activation tone sequence of an intruder alarm, and further comprising means to compare the stored sequences with sounds subsequently received by the control unit and means to transmit the signal to the valve when the subsequent sounds received match a stored sequence.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. Apparatus to oontroi the supply of water or gas to premise as hereinbefore described.IS (4 Co</claim-text>