The present invention relates to conductive fluid leak detection and specifically to a detector that can be installed in environments that require periodic cleaning and that may be subject to vandalism and abuse such as public restroom facilities. The invention is also suitable for use in institutional kitchens, industrial manufacturing plants, laboratories and clean rooms.
Any equipment that utilizes conductive fluid, such as water has the potential to malfunction which may result in a conductive fluid leak. In addition, the pipes or conduits that supply conductive fluid to the equipment may also be susceptible to damage or wear which similarly results in a conductive fluid leak. If unnoticed or unchecked, such leaks often lead to extensive property damage. Every year, millions of dollars are spent repairing or remediating facilities damaged by conductive fluid leaks, such as water leaks. Often times, the resulting damage from a leak can be mitigated or eliminated had the property manager or owner been timely made aware of the leak.
There are devices and systems available on the market to perform this function. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,147,613; 6,367,096; 6,369,714 and 7,549,435. However, these devices and systems are typically overly complex, require the placement and maintenance of delicate sensors, or are often the target of abuse or vandalism by those that discover the presence of the device. In addition, many environments where a conductive fluid leak detector is desired are also environments which need to be cleaned on a regular basis. The cleaning process can trigger a “false alarm” by the detector. Once a detector or system provides repeated “false alarms” its effectiveness is called into question and future alarms may be simply ignored. Similarly, detectors with fragile components that are subject to abuse and/or vandalism are often rendered inoperable and thus do not perform the detecting function for which they were installed. Complex detectors and systems must often be installed when the environment where they reside is built. Often, post-construction installation processes are overly complicated and costly. All of these factors present shortcomings in the field of conductive fluid detection.
Accordingly, there is a need for a conductive fluid leak detector that is economical, reliable, allows for periodic cleaning of the environment where installed without sending a false alarm, tamper-resistant, and easily installed where needed. The present invention seeks to overcome the shortcomings in the prior art by providing a conductive fluid detector that meets these objectives.
The present invention provides a conductive fluid leak detector that is suitable for use in areas of a building that require frequent cleaning such as public and employee restrooms, commercial kitchens and industrial manufacturing facilities. In one embodiment, the detector includes a housing, at least one fluid sensing probe, a fluid sensing circuit, a switch and a power supply. The fluid sensing circuit further includes a timer whereby when the switch is touched or activated, the fluid sensing circuit is deactivated for a predetermined period of time. The timer and predetermined period of time can be adjusted or varied. In another embodiment, the fluid detecting circuit of the detector has an activation mode and a deactivation mode. In the activation mode, the detector senses for the presence of a conductive fluid at the probe or probes. In the deactivation mode, the detector does not sense for the presence of fluid. The detector changes from the activation mode to the deactivation mode by means of the switch. The duration or length of the deactivation mode is controlled by the timer. In the activation mode and upon sensing the presence of a conductive fluid, the detector output sends an output signal to a remote location.
Thus, the present invention has a mode of operation to allow cleaning without activating the conductive fluid leak detector. The external switch, typically located on the detector housing is activated by cleaning personnel prior to cleaning. Once activated, the conductive fluid leak detector circuit within the detector housing is disabled or deactivated for a predetermined time period. The length of time can be adjusted. Typically, the time period is set at installation but can be changed after installation if necessary. Once the predetermined time period has lapsed, the conductive fluid detecting circuitry is again enabled (or re-activated) and the detector resumes sensing for conductive fluid within the proximity of the probe or probes.
Another feature of the present invention is its vandal resistant construction. All external components of the invention are of robust design. The detector's circuitry is located within a secure housing, such as an extra heavy duty powder coated aluminum housing. A removable cover is secured to the housing with vandal resistant screws. The conductive fluid sensing probes that extend through the housing are securely affixed to the housing and of strong construction. Ideally they are fabricated from stainless steel. The external switch is preferably a piezo electronic switch which has no moving parts. Like the probes, the switch is fabricated from stainless steel too. The cover, the probes and the switch are sealed to the housing so that no conductive fluid or other contaminants can pass into the housing. The entire device is also nondescript; it would not be readily apparent to an occupant of the environment where the device is installed that the device is in fact a conductive fluid leak detector.
Once the presence of conductive fluid is sensed by the device, the detector sends a signal to an alarm system, security system, building management system or monitoring system to trigger an alarm. In addition, a signal may be sent to a remote power relay that in turn controls an electronic conductive fluid shut off valve. Alternatively, the detector may be coupled to a specific monitoring panel, such as the 2100 Series monitoring panel manufactured by Dorlen Products, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis. By utilizing this panel (or an equivalent thereof) a user can test the detector from the panel to insure the detector is working properly.
Common conductive fluids include water, coolants, cleaning solutions and other liquids. This list is not intended to be limiting and conductive fluids is hereby defined to include other fluids as well.
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention.
As shown in
A pair of conductive fluid sensing probes 50 is located on a side 22 of housing 20 near its lower edge 24. The probes 50 could be mounted to other and/or different sides of the housing 20 as well. Each probe 50 is preferably made from stainless steel and is coupled to the circuitry described below with a wire 52. Like the housing 20 and cover 30, the probes 50 are similarly tamper and vandal resistant. The probes 50, like the detector, are also nondescript so that it would not be readily apparent to a person in the vicinity of the device 10 that the function of the probes 50 is to sense the presence of conductive fluid.
A switch 60 is also located on a side 26 of the housing 20. In a preferred embodiment, the switch 60 is a piezo electronic switch that has no moving parts and is conductive fluid resistant. Other switches could also be utilized. The switch 60 is similarly coupled to the circuit 80 by wires 62 within the housing 20. The switch 60 is activated by cleaning personnel to start the inactivation or wash down mode of the device 10. During the wash down mode, the detector 10 will not send an alarm signal (output) to the monitoring system or other device to which it is connected, despite the fact that the sensors 50 detect the presence of a conductive fluid.
A visual indicator 70 may also be located on the exterior of the housing 20, for example in side 22 as shown in
Now referring to
As shown in
The schematic circuit diagram shown in
The schematic shown in
Once installed and in use, the device 10 begins monitoring for the presence of conductive fluid. As shown in
When a janitor or cleaning personnel desires to clean the area immediately surrounding the device 10, there is a high likelihood that the cleaning apparatus, such as a mop for example, and/or the cleaning solution will contact the probes 50 and trigger an alarm. While this would be a false alarm, the system or systems to which the device 10 is connected have no way of discerning what was the cause of the alarm. Accordingly, the present invention 10 is equipped with a wash down mode of operation. This allows the area around the device 10 to be cleaned with conductive fluid or a conductive fluid-based cleaning solution without activating an alarm. The wash down mode is activated by simply touching the piezo electronic switch 60 on the housing 20. As described above, the switch has no moving parts and is touch sensitive. The external visual indicator 70 will illuminate in a predetermined color, green for example, to indicate that the device 10 is now in the wash down mode. The device 10 will remain in the wash down mode for the period of time that was selected and entered at the timer 90. In the preferred embodiment, this time period is between 15 minutes and 2 hours. During this time period, the sensing circuit 80/80a is deactivated and no alarm signals are sent by the device 10. Once the wash down mode time period expires, the sensing circuit 80/80a is re-activated and the device 10 returns to its normal sensing operation.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/467,572, filed 25 Mar. 2011.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61467572 | Mar 2011 | US |