NO20181004A1

NO20181004A1 - System for preventing water leakage

Info

Publication number: NO20181004A1
Application number: NO20181004A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Stein Hansen
Original assignee: Vks Alarm Og Sikkerhet As
Priority date: 2018-03-19
Filing date: 2018-07-19
Publication date: 2019-09-20
Also published as: NO347609B1

Description

Technical Field

The present invention regards a system for controlling the supply of water to a building, and more particularly a system for shutting of the main water supply in a building in case of a water leakage.

Background of the invention

In the USA, water damage is the second most frequently filed insurance claim and has accounted for more than $9.1 billion of reported claims each year from 2007 to 2009.

Up to 93% of the cost of water damage could have been prevented or minimized if an automatic water leakage detection and shut-off system had been present in the homes.

When considering all pipes, taps, fittings and appliances in use, the real extent of the water lost and damage caused by known and unknown leakages and wastage is measured in billions of litres and billions of dollars. Even tons of CO2emissions can be saved each year by reducing the energy required to purify and pump water.

There are several systems on the market today that can detect water leakage and automatically shuts of the supply in order to minimize the damage and cost.

Common to all of these systems is that they have a detector placed in the vicinity of a water outlet. This detector is connected to an automatic shut off valve. The problem with these solutions is that the user does not have the ability to easily shut of the water manually. In these solutions the water is always on. Even if the main water supply is automatically shut off there is still a water leakage that does damage.

Alternative solutions are in sale today that gives the user the ability to shut of the main water supply when nobody is present in the building. This can be done either by manually by turning the main water valve off before leaving or by a remote switch placed at an easy to reach place that controls a magnetic valve mounted on the main water supply.

A problem with these solutions is that prevent the possibility to have machines on in the building that needs water when no one is present in the building. Sometimes it is necessary to put on the dishwasher or the washing machine while you are out of the house.

Summary of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention, as it is stated in the set of claims, to solve the problems mentioned above.

The present invention has a remote switch that controls a remote controlled valve mounted on the main water supply. The valve can be set to be in a nominal open state or to be in a nominal closed state. In addition, the remote switch has a time delay function that shuts the water supply of after a predetermined period.

This solution can be incorporated into an existing alarm system. In this way the system can be activated automatically when e.g. the alarm system is turned on when leaving the house. An added bonus of connecting this system to an existing alarm system is that if a leakage occurs, a plumber or another qualified person can be alarmed, and the leakage stopped.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows the present invention as a stand-alone system wherein the remote control switch with a timer controls a remote controlled valve connected to the main water supply.

Figure 2 shows the present invention incorporated into a larger alarm system, wherein an automatic shut of valve connected to the main water supply is controlled by a main alarm system.

Figure 3 is an image of the different components of the invention.

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows the present invention as a stand-alone system wherein the remote control switch 1 with a timer 2 controls a remote controlled valve 5 connected to the main water supply 6.

The present invention regards a system for controlling the supply of water to a building. A remote controlled valve 5 is connected to the main water supply 6. The valve 5 can preferably be a magnetic valve or a motor operated valve with a capacitor. The valve 5 is connected to a central receiver 4. This central receiver 4 control if the valve 5 is open or closed. The central receiver 4 gets signals from a set of transmitters. Each transmitter can be attached to at least one sensor 3. The transmitters can also be attached to a remote control switch 1. This remote control switch 1 can have a time delay function 2. This time delay function 2 can be predetermined. Alternatively the time delay function 2 can be set at manually to a wanted period of time at the remote control switch 1.

If the sensors 3 detect a leakage the signal is sent to its transmitter. The transmitter sends a signal to the central receiver 4. The central receiver 4 closes the valve 5 coupled to the main water supply 6.

Alternatively the remote control switch 1 can be pushed. This remote control switch 1 can be placed on a control panel. A signal is sent to the transmitter. The transmitter sends a signal to the central receiver 4. The central receiver 4 shuts of the remote controlled valve 5 coupled to the main water supply 6.

If the user wishes to use a time delay function 2, time delay switch can be pushed on the control panel. If the time delay function 2 is fixed at a predetermined period of time the control panel will wait for the predetermined time period before sending the signal to the transmitter. The transmitter then sends a shut off signal to the central receiver 4. The central receive then shuts off the remote controlled valve 5 coupled to the main water supply 6.

If the time delay function 2 is set manually, the user enters the wanted delayed time period. After that period of time has elapsed, the transmitter sends a shut off signal to the central receiver 4. The central receiver 4 then shuts off the remote controlled valve 5.

The system can be constructed in such a way that the owner of the house it is installed in does not have to maintain the system at all. After it is installed it is selfmaintainable. The system and the detectors can all do their own evaluation test and if something is wrong the system alerts the control center which will correct it as fast as possible.

Figure 2 shows the present invention incorporated into a larger alarm system, wherein an automatic shut of valve 5 connected to the main water supply 6 is controlled by a main alarm system 7.

The water leakage detectors 3 can use radio communication to communicate with a main control unit 1. Examples are short range radio communication lines, like e.g. Bluetooth.

The main control unit 1 comprises a small processing unit, a short-range communication unit, a long-range communication unit, a power supply, a back-up power supply, a memory, a test button and LED signal lights.

The long-range communication unit is in communication with a control center that monitors alarms. This control center has people that can respond to an alarm situation.

An example of such a communication channel is mobile telecommunication channel like GSM, GPRS or UMTS or it can communicate using e.g. the Internet.

The water leakage detectors 3 preferably has a power supply e.g. in the form of net electricity. However, the detector also has to have a back-up power supply.

As a security measure during a brown out, the remote controlled valve 5 will automatically shut and close the main water supply 6. If a brown out occurs the valve 5 can be opened manually either by pushing the button or by turning an opening feature on the valve 5.

Figure 3 is an image of the different components of an embodiment of the present invention. On the far left there is presented a moisture sensor 11. This moisture sensor 11 uses a long life battery. This long life battery makes it unnecessary to connect the moisture sensor 11 to the power grid during the lifetime of the product. The moisture sensor 11 is in the housing of the component. Further, it is possible to attach an external moisture sensor in addition to the one in the component itself. The component also has a test button. This test button can check if the detector is working properly. Further this test button can be used for checking the coverage area of the network. As an additional feature the component itself has an alarm. This allows for faster location of the leakage. The component communicates wirelessly with the rest of the system.

The next component is a switch 8. This switch 8 can be mounted e.g. next to the front door, in order to make it easier to remember to switch the water off when there are nobody in the house. The switch 8 is wireless. Further the switch 8 is of a standard size in order to make it possible to be mounted into standard fittings. The switch 8 has a timer function that allows for water supply for a predefined period of time. The switch 8 has an alarm function if a water leakage is detected. The switch 8 also has an indicator in the form of a light that lights up if a water leakage is detected. The switch 8 also has the possibility for turning the water supply on or off directly without any time delay.

The third component is a central 9. The central 9 communicates wirelessly with the switch 8. The central 9 and the switch 8 have the possibility to communicate with each other, both over a wireless LAN, but also over a telecommunication network. The central 9 is connected to the power grid, but it also has a battery that works as a back-up if a blackout occurs. The central 9 can be programmed by the user to either be nominal close, or nominal open. This means the valve 10 will go into its default position if something like e.g. a power out occurs. This default position can be either closed or opened. The default position can be chosen by the user. The benefit of having a default close is that the water is shut off if there is a blackout. The benefit of having a default position as open is that the sprinkler system will still work in a black out if there should be a fire. This central 9 has the possibility to have a moisture sensor 7 connected. The central 9 can also be manually overridden by forcing it to be in the nominal position.

The last component of the system is the valve 10. The valve 10 is a ball valve and it is made of stainless steel. It is a motor-controlled valve but can also be controlled manually via a control wheel. The valve 10 can have one fixed attachment point and one flexible attachment point. The normal is to have two fixed attachment points. The valve 10 is directly connected to the central 9.

Claims

1. System for preventing a water leakage comprising a remote controlled valve (5), connected to a main water supply (6), said valve (5) is controlled by a central receiver (4), said central receiver (4) communicates with at least one transmitter, said transmitter is controlled by at least one signal input device, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said signal input device can have a timer (2) function and the default position of the valve can be chosen to be either open or closed.

2. System as described in claim 1, wherein the signal input device can be a water leakage detector.

3. System as described in claim 1, wherein the signal input device can be a remote control switch (1).

4. System as described in claim 1, wherein the remote controlled valve (5) can be a magnetic valve, or a motor operated valve with a capacitor.

5. System as described in claim 1, wherein the time-delay function (2) can be fixed at a predetermined time period.

6. System as described in claim 1, wherein the time delay function (2) can be set manually to a desired period of time at the remote control switch (1).

7. System as described in claim 1 is part of an alarm system (7).

8. Method for preventing a water leakage comprising a remote controlled valve (5), connected to a main water supply (6), said valve (5) is controlled by a central receiver (4), said central receiver (4) communicates with at least one transmitter, said transmitter is controlled by at least one signal input device, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said signal input device has a timer (2) function that controls when the signal to shut off the main water supply (6) is given.