Patent Application
20100204839
Water leaks can wreak havoc for homeowners or businesses. If the leak is not discovered quickly, the loss in man hours and repairs can be extensive, in addition to the damage from water leak. There are numerous potential causes and locations of water leaks. These include water accidentally left running, broken fixtures, broken water pipes and/or heating pipes, broken appliances and valve leaks.
As an example, toilets have a stopper valve to prevent water from flowing from the tank to the bowl. Over time the stopper often degrades as the minerals in the water degrade the stopper material. The result is a toilet that runs over an extended period of time and water is wasted. In addition if a toilet or water heater cracks, water may flow out of the fixture not only causing a loss of water but possible damage to the building it is located within. Broken water pipes and/or heating pipes may break due to aging, rust or freezing. In the event a pipe fails there is an uncontrolled flow of water. The wear and tear on dishwashers and washing machines is one of the more common causes of water leakage.
There are several commercial products that are currently available for reducing the risk of water loss and water damage. However, these solutions are often specialized and need to be mounted or placed next to individual appliances in order to detect leakage. Currently devices exist that can be attached to a toilet or other appliance. These devices monitor for overflow or leakage conditions, and shut off the water supply to that fixture in the event moisture is detected. In addition, many of these devices require a powers supply which may be inconvenient.
Theses devices are dependent upon the leaking water coming into contact with the sensor in order to detect a fault. They are susceptible to false triggers, such as the build up of condensation in the summertime heat and humidity. They may also fail to identify the location of the problem.
The current technology requires that multiple devices be placed in areas with a greater likelihood that a water leak “may” occur. However, it does not protect against the water leak in a wall when a frozen pipe cracks or leaks that are contained such as a leaking sink or toilet valve.
According to an embodiment of the present invention is to provide methods to utilize pattern recognition capabilities to detect an excursion of water usage to shut-off water flow and prevent further water loss and/or damage.
A Water Flow Pattern Recognition (WFPR) system as determined by the inventors consists of a flow meter, an on/off valve, a console, an embedded computer and an optional shut-off timer. A flow meter may provide information about the flow rate in gallons per minute as the water enters the building. In one embodiment the flow meter is attached to the pipe (without cutting the pipe) at the main source where it enters the building.
An embedded computer with a processor, collects, records and classifies the flow rate measurement with respect to time (time stamp & per hour interval). The pattern recognition program extracts information to create a baseline and will shut off water flow if there is a water usage excursion. Water usage is classified by average flow rate and time. The flow rate may be calculated as gallons per minute. Time may be determined as the number of days (7 or 14 days intervals) and number of hours (24 hours intervals).
When there is a water usage excursion, in one embodiment the embedded computer sends a signal to the on/off valve to shut off water flow. It also displays the information on a console panel to indicate that there is a water usage excursion. The user may reset the control panel after the water loss/damage is fixed.
Another embodiment of the invention may be for the console is to allow the WFPR system to create a baseline after a 7-14 day period. The user can use the console to increase water usage for a specific day if it is not part of the routine so that the increased water flow is not shut-off. This factor may be built in so that there will be a “tolerance” of increased water usage before the water flow is shut-off.
In another embodiment the pattern recognition may be setup so that the tolerance can become tighter during a period of no water usage. The purpose is to detect minimal water flow over a several hour period when there is supposed to be no water flow.
With reference now to
Controller 130 may include a data collection and recorder 131, to collect and retain the information from flow meter 125. The data collection and recorder 131 may be a hard drive, ram, a magnetic recorder or other means capable of collecting data and providing the data when requested. The data collection and recorder may record both the flow rate and the time the data was collected. Data is provided by the data collection and recorder 131 to a processor to allow water usage classification software 133 to analyze the data and characterize the usage over time and possibly by hour of the day and day of the week. Pattern recognition software 139 analyzes the output from the water usage classification software 133 and determines if the water usage is outside the norm and beyond a cutoff. In the event the cutoff is exceeded, the controller 130 closes valve 120. The cutoff may be manually input by configuration setup software 137 or may be determined by analysis by the pattern recognition software 139. The configuration setup software 137 may be coupled to input means such as a personal computer or a keyboard not shown. The configuration setup 137 and the pattern recognition may provide an output which is displayed by means of a display menu 135 on a monitor or other display apparatus. Controller 130 could for example be contained within a package and may be attached to flow meter 125 and valve 120.
Alternatively activity 330 may be to use the routine baseline for monitoring. Activity 332 may be to collect flow rate data and perform pattern recognition. If the user plans to leave their home for an extended period of time, activity 340 may be to use the vacation baseline. The vacation baseline may be for minimal or no water usage dependant upon whether automated systems such as sprinkler systems may operate. Activity 332 may be to collect data and perform pattern recognition. In the event the user wishes to increase tolerances, either to eliminate false alarms or to the sprinkler system being enabled, activity 350 may be to increase the water usage parameters and activity 352 may be to increase the tolerance. Activity 332 may then collect flow rate data and perform pattern recognition.
Activity 360 may be to take the inputs form either activity 332 and determine if a pattern change indicates a cutoff has been exceeded. If a cutoff has not been exceeded, activity 332 continues to collect flow rate data. If a cutoff has been exceeded, activity 370 may be to shut off the main valve such as valve 120 of
As an example, in
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
