PROGRAMMABLE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus for regulating water flow to a structure. The apparatus generally comprises an electrically operated valve, sensors for temperature and flow-rate, and a module for communication. The remotely controllable shutoff valve contains a battery backup to provide power in case of an electrical outage. The apparatus is installed downstream from a structure's main water valve, shutting off the water supply according to a schedule that can be programmed into a controller, or smart-home hub.

Claims

1. A remotely controllable water shutoff system usable in a structure with a main water supply and a primary manual water shutoff valve, said system comprising: a secondary shutoff valve located along the structure's main water supply line, directly downstream from the structure's manual shutoff valve and prior to any branching off of the water supply; an electrically operated controller to alter the state of the secondary shutoff valve between open and closed states; a controller comprising: a module for communication to said electronically operated controller to open or close the secondary shutoff valve; a programmable timer schedule, said timer being adapted to actuate the module to communicate to the electronically operated controller to open or close the secondary shutoff valve; means for inputting the timer schedule; and a microprocessor to manage said timer function.

2. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said water shutoff system comprises a means for drainage of water that has already passed through to the primary shutoff valve, said drain means installed at desired point of the main water line downstream from secondary shutoff valve operated via signals from the controller.

3. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said schedule can be manually overridden.

4. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 3, wherein said schedule is re-instated upon next scheduled event.

5. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said secondary shutoff valve comprises a ball valve operable via electrical motor.

6. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said shutoff valve comprises a gate valve operable via electrical motor.

7. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said module for communication is wireless.

8. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said controller is a panel.

9. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said controller is a handheld electronic device.

10. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said secondary shutoff valve contains a flow-rate sensor.

11. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises an ambient temperature sensor.

12. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 2, wherein said system further comprises an ambient temperature sensor.

13. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 12, wherein said system further comprises a means for operating drainage system in accordance with temperature sensor data.

14. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said controller is a smart-home hub.

15. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a means for temporary manual override of timer schedule.

16. The remotely controllable water shutoff system of claim 1, wherein said controller further comprises: a means for receiving data from sensors located at various points throughout the structure, said sensors being able to detect the presence of water; a means for receiving data from flow rate sensors located various points in pipes downstream from main shutoff valve.

17. A remotely controllable water shutoff system usable in a structure with a main water supply and a primary manual water shutoff valve, said system comprising: a secondary shutoff valve located along the structure's main water supply line, directly downstream from the structure's manual shutoff valve and prior to any branching off of the water supply line; an electrically operated controller to alter the state of the secondary shutoff valve between open and closed states; a means for manual operation of the secondary shutoff valve; a means for sensing flow rate through the secondary shutoff valve; a module for sensing ambient temperature; a module for communication of data regarding state of secondary shutoff valve, water temperature and flow rate; a means for battery backup power for operation of secondary shutoff valve in the event of a power outage; a control panel comprising: a module for communication to said electrically operated controller to open or close the secondary shutoff valve; a battery backup to allow operation of said second shutoff valve in the event of a power outage; a programmable timer schedule, said timer being adapted to actuate the module to communicate to the electronically operated controller to open or close the secondary shutoff valve; a means for temporary override of the timer; a means for operating secondary shutoff valve in accordance with the information received from temperature and flow sensing means of remotely controllable shutoff system; means for the input of the timer schedule; and a microprocessor to manage said timer function.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout and in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the preferred embodiment of the programmable shutoff valve system as implemented in a residential structure.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the controller.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a drawing of the preferred embodiment of the remotely controllable shutoff valve.

[0030] FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the programmable shutoff valve that does not require a controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] The detailed description that follows is intended to describe the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by a variety of different embodiments and that they are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention.

[0032] Referring now to FIG.1, the programmable water shutoff system of the present invention is shown to generally comprise a remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 and a controller 24. The remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 is interposed a main water line 12 and main shut off valve 16 and the residential water supply 20 to a residential structure 22. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 is located downstream of a junction 34 that is used for irrigation 32, allowing the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 to shutoff water supply to the residential structure 22 while allowing any irrigation to continue uninterrupted.

[0033] In one embodiment, the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 contains an electrically actuated valve 21, an ambient temperature sensor 32, a means for sensing the flow-rate of water 30 from the main supply line 14, a means for manual operation of the valve 19, a means for drainage of water 23 that has already passed through the valve 21, a module for communication 36, and a battery backup 38.

[0034] The controller 24 is preferably located within the living quarters 28 of the residential structure 22. The controller 24 has a module for communication 40 with the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18, a microprocessor 42, a keypad 44 for user input of timing schedules and predetermined events for water shutoff, a display 48 to indicate current status of the shutoff valve 18, as well as other pertinent information, and a battery backup 46.

[0035] Typically, a schedule will be set with the controller 24; the schedule can be set, for example, to turn off the water supply when the structure will be empty, and to turn the supply back on when the structure will be occupied, or water flow is required. The remotely controllable shut off valve 18 will receive signals from the controller 24 in accordance with the schedule. There may be instances when it will be preferable to temporarily override the schedule, such as on a holiday, when a deviation from the schedule will be desired. A temporary override of the schedule will operate as follows: the state of the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 will be changed by use of the controller 24. The state of the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 will be changed from open to closed, or vice versa; the temporary override will cease when the next schedule timer event occurs, and the controller 24 will resume operation of the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 in accordance with the schedule.

[0036] The remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 generally acts an open pipe, receiving water from the main supply 14, and allowing water to flow uninterrupted through to the structure's water supply 20. In normal operation, the temperature sensor 28 and flow-rate sensor 30 relate their respective information to the control panel 24 via the communications module 36. The controller display 48 displays the temperature and flow-rate values, as well as the status of the valve 21. While the battery backup 38 is available in the event of a power outage, one may also use the manual level 19 to close the electric valve 21 should manual operation be desirable; this also works as a fail-safe, allowing one to turn off the water supply to the structure 22 from a location that may not be as remote or hard to find as the main shutoff valve 16.

[0037] Now, referring to FIG. 2, operation of the system 10 is performed primarily via the control panel 24. The keypad 44 is used to activate and deactivate the electric valve 21. When the controller 24 sends the requisite signal to the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18, the electric valve 21 is actuated, turning off the water supply from the main supply line 14. The electric valve 21 may also be operated via the microprocessor 42 according to the user's parameters. The keypad 44 is also used for inputting parameters for autonomous control of the valve, such as a temperature threshold, and/or a flow-rate threshold. If the temperature falls below a user-defined value, the electrically controlled valve 21 can be closed; conversely, the electrically controlled valve 21 can be set to reopen when the temperature reading from the sensor 28 exceeds a user-defined value.

[0038] A flow-rate threshold value is utilized to activate the shutoff valve 18 when a value from the flow-rate sensor 30 is exceeded. With this method of control, the flow of too much water through the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 could indicate that there water is proceeding unabated into the structure 22. Further autonomous control can be accomplished through the use of water sensors 26 that can be placed various rooms of the structure 22. These water sensors 26 are connected to the controller 24 via the communications module 40.

[0039] The keypad 44 is also used to define schedule for operation of the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18. The remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 would then operate in accordance with that schedule, unless an overriding event, such as a drop in temperature, triggers the controller 24 to change the state of the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18.

[0040] Operation of the controller 24 can also be accomplished remotely. The communication module of the 40 may connect to an internet-enabled gateway 42. While an internet connection is not required for the apparatus 10 to function, an internet connection would enable the operator to review information received by the controller 24 from the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18.

[0041] Now, referring to FIG. 4, the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 is able to operate according to instructions from a smart-home hub 56. In this alternative embodiment, the operations of the controller 24 are assumed by the hub 56. The remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 communicates information from its various sensors 28, 30 via its communications module 36. Control of the electric valve 21 is accomplished by communications from the hub 56.

[0042] Now, referring to FIG. 4, the controller 24 can receive instructions from a smart-home hub 56. Thus, in this alternative embodiment, the operations of the remotely controllable shutoff valve 18 may be controlled by the smart-home hub 56 via the controller 24.

[0043] The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combinations described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.