DETECTOR DEVICE FOR DETECTING A LEAKAGE

Abstract

The invention relates to a detector device for detecting a leakage, in particular for a household water-carrying system, the detector device comprising a sensor device having at least two subsets of sensors, the at least two subsets of sensors being provided on or in a housing of the detector device, the subsets of sensors being arranged in different geometric levels of the housing, the detector device detecting a change of an electrical parameter between at least two sensors.

Claims

1. A detector device for detecting a leakage, in particular for a water-carrying system in a household, wherein the detector device comprises a sensor device having at least two subsets of sensors, the at least two subsets of sensors being provided on or in a housing of the detector device, the subsets of sensors being arranged in different geometric levels of the housing, the detector device detecting a change in an electrical parameter between at least two sensors.

2. The detector device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two geometric levels are spaced apart by a distance, the housing having a curved and/or bent wall on or in which the at least two subsets of sensors are provided.

3. The detector device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is suitable and intended to measure an electrical parameter, in the form of an electrical resistance or in the form of a capacitance between at least two sensors.

4. The detector device according to claim 1, wherein the detector device comprises a control device which controls a measurement of the electrical parameter and evaluates the measurement result of the electrical parameter, the control device being connected to the sensor device in terms of signals.

5. The detector device according to claim 1, wherein the detector device comprises a communication device, wherein the communication device is suitable and intended for establishing and/or operating a wireless communication link with a control device or other user device, wherein the wireless communication link comprises a Bluetooth® connection, a Bluetooth® Low Energy connection, a RFID (radio-frequency identification) connection, a NFC (near field communication) connection, a WLAN connection, a mobile radio connection, a connection using free ISM bands or a combination of said connections, wherein the communication device is signal-connected to the control device.

6. The detector device according to claim 1, wherein the first subset of sensors comprises at least two sensors, wherein the second subset of sensors comprises at least one sensor.

7. The detector device according to claim 1, wherein a self-sufficient power supply device is provided in the housing, wherein the housing is sealingly closable.

8. The detector device according to claim 7, wherein the detector device comprises a fixing device by means of which the detector device can be fixed to a tube-like object.

9. A method for monitoring a leakage, in particular for a water-carrying system in a household, using a detector device according to claim 1.

10. A system comprising a water-carrying system in the household, and at least one detector device according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The figures show:

[0029] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a detector device according to one embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 2 a schematic diagram of a circuit arrangement of the detector device;

[0031] FIG. 3 a side view of a detector device according to one embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 4 a top view from below of a detector device according to one embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 5 a top view from below of a detector device according to one embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 6 a view of a detector device according to one embodiment arranged on a tube-like object;

[0035] FIG. 7 a system comprising a household water-carrying system, and at least one detector device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIGS. 1 to 6 show a detector device 1 for detecting a leakage, in particular for a water-carrying system in a household 100. The detector device 1 comprises a sensor device 2, which has at least two subsets 3, 4 of sensors 5, the at least two subsets 3, 4 of sensors 5 being provided on or in a housing 6 of the detector device 1, the subsets 3, 4 of sensors 5 being arranged in different geometric levels 7 of the housing 6, the detector device 1 detecting a change in an electrical parameter between at least two sensors 5.

[0037] The detector device extends along a longitudinal axis X, a width axis Y, and a height axis Z.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows some components of the detector device by means of a schematic diagram. The schematic diagram shows a self-sufficient power supply device 11 which supplies the individual components with voltage. In this embodiment, the power supply device is designed as a battery or a rechargeable battery (accumulator). Furthermore, a voltage conditioning device 15 is connected downstream of the battery or the rechargeable battery (accumulator), which adapts the battery voltage to the voltage required by the other components. The rechargeable battery (accumulator) can advantageously be charged by means of a wireless charging method or a charging cable. Accordingly, the housing could also comprise a corresponding connection device for a charging cable.

[0039] Further, the detector device 1 comprises a communication device 10 suitable and intended for establishing and/or operating a wireless communication link 14 with a control device 101 of the system 100. The wireless communication link 14 may be a Bluetooth® link, a Bluetooth® low energy link, an RFID (radio-frequency identification) link, an NFC (near field communication) link, a WLAN link, a cellular link, a link using ISM bands preferably free ISM bands or a combination of said links. In the present case, wireless communication link 14 is a Bluetooth® link. The communication device 10 thus comprises an antenna 10a and a Bluetooth® driver.

[0040] The communication device 10 is signal-connected to a control device 9. The control device controls a measurement of the electrical parameter by the sensor device 2 and evaluates the measurement result of the electrical parameter. The control device 9 is thus connected to the sensor device 2 in terms of signals.

[0041] The components are arranged in the housing 6 of the detector device 1. Advantageously, the housing can be opened and sealed. This makes it possible, for example, to replace the power supply device 11 if its state of charge is too low. For this purpose, a corresponding monitoring device can be provided which monitors the charge. In the event of a critical state of charge, an output device can be activated or a corresponding signal can be output via the communication device 10. The sealing closure ensures that no liquid enters the housing and damages the components.

[0042] The sensor device 2 is suitable and intended to measure an electrical parameter, in the form of an electrical resistance or in the form of a capacitance between at least two sensors 5. The control device can be designed in the form of a logic which triggers the respective measurement and then evaluates the measurement. Such an evaluation comprises an assessment of whether a change in the respective electrical parameter is sufficiently large. A sufficiently large change is present if the change is greater than the tolerance fluctuations caused by noise or other disturbances. For this purpose, the control device can be given a corresponding lower value which the change in the electrical parameter should exceed. If a change is detected, a further measurement can be initiated and/or a signal transmitted to the communication device 10, which then sends a corresponding warning signal.

[0043] The sensors can be in the form of electrodes which are connected to the sensor device 2 by means of signals. Electrodes which are provided for resistive measurement can be touched from the outside. Electrodes which are provided for capacitive measurement are covered and cannot be touched from the outside. The sensors 5 can be arranged on or in the housing 6. The sensors 6 could, for example, be arranged on the housing 6 by means of pads.

[0044] The subsets 3, 4 of sensors 5 are arranged at different geometric levels of the housing. According to the embodiments shown in the figures, the geometric levels are spaced apart by a distance h. In FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6 it is readily apparent that the sensors are arranged on or in a lower wall 8 or surface of the housing 6. This wall 11 is curved. The wall corresponds essentially to a section of a circular cylinder jacket. The sensors 5 of the second subset 4 are arranged substantially centrally on or in the curvature of the wall 10. The sensors 5 of the first subset 3 are arranged substantially at the outer edge of the curvature of the wall 10. It is clearly visible in FIG. 3 that the sensors 5 of the second subset 4 are thus spaced apart from the sensors 5 of the first subset 3 by the distance h. Due to the provision of the curvature, the detector device 1 can be used to be operated lying on a flat surface as well as to be arranged on a tube-like object or hose. Such a detector device is thus extremely versatile.

[0045] The first subset 3 of sensors 5 comprises at least two sensors 5. The second subset 4 of sensors 5 comprises at least one sensor 5. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the first subset 3 and the second subset 4 of sensors 5 each comprise two sensors. The total of four sensors are arranged in a cross shape on or in the lower wall 11 of the housing. The sensors of the first subset of sensors 3 are thus arranged opposite each other along the longitudinal axis X. The sensors of the second subset of sensors 4 are arranged opposite each other along the width axis Y.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the first subset 3 comprises two sensors 5 and the second subset 4 comprises one sensor 5. The sensors of the first subset 3 are thus arranged opposite each other along the longitudinal axis X. The one sensor 5 of the second subset 4 is arranged along the longitudinal axis X between the two sensors 5 of the first subset 3. 3 sensors can be sufficient to detect the two different levels of leakage. By providing 4 sensors, additional information can be measured.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows an application where the detection device is placed on a flat area 102, for example the floor of a building. It can be seen that the sensors 5 face the area 14 and are placed at least 2 different distances from the area 14. The measurement detects a change in the electrical parameter caused by a fluid between at least two sensors 5. The sensors 5 of the first subset 3 are thus closer to the area 102 than the sensors 5 of the second subset 4, hence the latter respond first. A liquid between the sensors of the first subset 3 changes the electrical parameter in the form of a resistance or capacitance. As the liquid increases, the sensors 5 of the second subset of sensors 4 also respond. A measurement between the sensors 5 of the second subset 4 or between a sensor 5 of the first subset 3 and a sensor 5 of the second subset 4 therefore shows a corresponding change in the electrical parameter.

[0048] Of course, further geometric levels 7 and further subsets of sensors 5 can also be provided in order to enable a finer gradation of the leakage levels. Advantageously, a certain predetermined combination of detecting sensors 5 at different geometric levels can thus be assigned to certain leakage levels. Accordingly, both a leakage of a small amount of liquid and larger leaks can be detected. Depending on the level of leakage, different warning messages can be transmitted to a user of the household appliance.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a detector device 1 which is arranged on a tube-like object, for example a hose. A fixing device 12 is provided for this purpose, which can be designed as a belt, for example. If a small amount of liquid escapes from the hose, a change in the electrical parameter would be detected by means of the sensors 5 of the second subset 4, as these are arranged centrally. Only when a larger amount of liquid escapes would a change in the electrical parameter also be detected by means of the sensors 5 of the first subset 3.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a total system 200. The total system comprises the water-carrying system 100 in the household. Here, a water-carrying household appliance is shown, for example, as a washing machine or a dishwasher. However, the detector device is also applicable to other water-carrying systems in the household, for example heating and hot water systems or systems for water treatment.

[0051] Due to the self-sufficient power supply device and the wireless communication via the wireless communication link 14, the detector device 1 can be used extremely flexibly. It is also conceivable to use several detector devices 1 together. In FIG. 7, for example, one detector device 1 is arranged on an inlet or outlet of the household appliance and another detector device 1 is lying on the area 14 on which the household appliance is arranged.

[0052] The present invention thus provides a simple and robust detector device for the detection of leakages or leaks, which is capable of detecting multiple levels of leakage.

[0053] The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the application documents as essential to the invention, provided that they are individually or in combination new compared to the prior art. It is further pointed out that the individual figures also describe features which may be advantageous in themselves. The person skilled in the art immediately recognises that a certain feature described in a figure can also be advantageous without adopting further features from this figure. Furthermore, the person skilled in the art recognises that advantages can also result from a combination of several features shown in individual figures or in different figures.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0054] 1 Detector device [0055] 2 sensor device [0056] 3 first subset of sensors [0057] 4 second subset of sensors [0058] 5 sensors [0059] 6 housing [0060] 7 geometric levels [0061] 8 curved and/or bended wall or surface [0062] 9 control device [0063] 10 communication device [0064] 10a Antenna [0065] 10b Bluetooth® driver [0066] 11 Power supply device [0067] 12 Fixing device [0068] 13 tube-like object [0069] 14 wireless communication link [0070] 15 voltage conditioning device [0071] 100 household water-carrying system [0072] 101 control device of the system [0073] 102 Area [0074] 200 total system [0075] h distance [0076] X longitudinal axis of the detector device [0077] Y Width axis of the detector device [0078] Z Height axis of the detector device