Leak detection and management apparatus including a programmable message device for a hot water heater

Claim 3

A leak detection and management apparatus including a programmable message device, for detecting and managing leaks occurring in a hot water heater and providing an audible message to a person informing that a leak has occurred and where to call for service, said apparatus comprising: a liquid pan disposed concentrically beneath said hot water heater and being of a diameter and shape sufficient to circumscribe substantially the entire outer periphery of said hot water heater, for collecting water leaking from said hot water heater; a float disposed at least partially within said liquid pan and operable to rise and descent in response to rising and descending water levels within said liquid pan; an electrical switch operably associated with said float for generating an electrical shut-off signal when said water collected within said liquid pan causes said float to rise to a predetermined level; a first electrically controlled solenoid valve responsive to said electrical shut-off signal and disposed in a cold water supply line of said hot water heater for interrupting a flow of cold water into said hot water heater in response to said electrical shut-off signal; a second electrically controlled solenoid valve disposed in a gas supply line to said hot water heater for interrupting the flow of gas into said hot water heater in response to said electrical shut-off signal; and a programmable magnetic tape message device operable to provide a continuous, pre-programmed audible message in response to the generation of said electrical shut-off signal to thereby audibly inform individuals that a leak in said hot water has occurred and where to obtain service for said hot water heater; wherein said liquid pan includes an overflow aperture mounted in a side wall portion thereof near an upper surface thereof; a secondary overflow aperture disposed in said side wall at a position closer to said upper surface than said overflow aperture; and a secondary overflow reservoir in communication with said secondary overflow aperture for collecting water therewithin which flows through said secondary overflow aperture.

Claim 4

A leak detection and management apparatus including a programmable message device, for detecting and managing leaks occurring in a hot water heater and providing an audible message to a person informing that a leak has occurred and where to call for service, said apparatus comprising: a liquid pan disposed concentrically beneath said hot water heater and being of a diameter and shape sufficient to circumscribe substantially the entire outer periphery of said hot water heater, for collecting water leaking from said hot water heater; a float disposed at least partially within said liquid pan and operable to rise and descent in response to rising and descending water levels within said liquid pan; an electrical switch operably associated with said float for generating an electrical shut-off signal when said water collected within said liquid pan causes said float to rise to a predetermined level; a first electrically controlled solenoid valve responsive to said electrical shut-off signal and disposed in a cold water supply line of said hot water heater for interrupting a flow of cold water into said hot water heater in response to said electrical shut-off signal; a second electrically controlled solenoid valve disposed in a gas supply line to said hot water heater for interrupting the flow of gas into said hot water heater in response to said electrical shut-off signal; and a programmable magnetic tape message device operable to provide a continuous, pre-programmed audible message in response to the generation of said electrical shut-off signal to thereby audibly inform individuals that a leak in said hot water has occurred and where to obtain service for said hot water heater; wherein said liquid pan includes an overflow aperture mounted in a side wall portion thereof near an upper surface thereof; a secondary overflow aperture disposed in said side wall at a position closer to said upper surface than said overflow aperture; and a secondary overflow reservoir in communication with said secondary overflow aperture for collecting water therewithin which flows through said secondary overflow aperture.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said liquid pan includes an overflow aperture disposed in a side wall portion thereof near an upper surface thereof; and a conduit in communication with said overflow aperture, said conduit and said overflow aperture enabling water collected within said liquid pan which has risen to the level of said overflow aperture to be transported through said conduit to an adjacent floor drain.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said programmable message device comprises a magnetic tape player and a magnetic tape medium, said magnetic tape medium being magnetically encoded with a predetermined message advising that a water leak has occurred and where to obtain service for said water heater, said magnetic tape player being responsive to said electrical shut-off signal and operable to play continuously in response to said electrical shut-off signal.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said conduit is comprised of clear plastic tubing to enable visual detection that water is passing therethrough.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said secondary overflow reservoir includes a pump responsive to the accumulation of water within said secondary overflow reservoir for pumping water collected within said secondary overflow reservoir to a remotely located drain.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electrical shut-off signal operates to simultaneously to cause said first and second electrically controlled solenoid valves to interrupt the flow of said cold water and said gas, respectively, to said hot water heater, and to simultaneously initiate operation of said programmable message device.

Claim 10

A water leak detection and management system including a programmable message device for informing of the occurrence of a water leak in a hot water heater and where to obtain service, said apparatus comprising: a liquid pan adapted to be disposed beneath said hot water heater and being of a sufficient diameter so as to circumscribe substantially completely the periphery of said hot water heater for collecting water leaking from said hot water heater; said liquid pan having an overflow aperture located in a side wall portion thereof near an upper surface thereof; a conduit in communication with said overflow aperture for conveying water passing through said overflow aperture to a nearby drain; a secondary overflow aperture disposed in said side wall at a position closer to said upper surface than said overflow aperture for draining water from said liquid pan which rises to the level of said secondary overflow aperture; a secondary overflow reservoir in communication with said secondary overflow aperture for collecting water passing through said secondary overflow aperture; a float disposed within said liquid pan and adapted to rise and descend in response to rising and descending water levels within said pan, to thereby provide a mechanical signal indicative of a water leak condition occurring with said hot water heater when water leaking from said hot water heater collects within said liquid pan; an electrical switch associated with said float for providing an electrical shut-off signal in response to movement of said float to a predetermined position; a first electrically controlled solenoid valve disposed in a cold water supply line of said hot water heater and responsive to said electrical shut-off signal for interrupting a flow of cold water into said hot water heater when said electrical shut-off signal is generated; a second electrically controlled solenoid valve disposed in a gas supply line of said hot water heater for interrupting a flow of gas to said hot water heater in response to the generation of said electrical shut-off signal; a programmable message device responsive to said electrical shut-off signal for generating a preprogrammed audio message in response to the generation of said electrical shut-off signal informing of the occurrence of a water leak in said hot water heater and where to obtain service; and a pump disposed within said secondary overflow reservoir and responsive to the collection of water within said secondary overflow reservoir for pumping water collected within said secondary overflow reservoir to a remote drain.

Claim 11

A water leak detection and management system including a programmable message device for informing of the occurrence of a water leak in a hot water heater and where to obtain service, said apparatus comprising: a liquid pan adapted to be disposed beneath said hot water heater and being of a sufficient diameter so as to circumscribe substantially completely the periphery of said hot water heater for collecting water leaking from said hot water heater; said liquid pan having an overflow aperture located in a side wall portion thereof near an upper surface thereof; a conduit in communication with said overflow aperture for conveying water passing through said overflow aperture to a nearby drain; a secondary overflow aperture disposed in said side wall at a position closer to said upper surface than said overflow aperture for draining water from said liquid pan which rises to the level of said secondary overflow aperture; a secondary overflow reservoir in communication with said secondary overflow aperture for collecting water passing through said secondary overflow aperture; a float disposed within said liquid pan and adapted to rise and descend in response to rising and descending water levels within said pan, to thereby provide a mechanical signal indicative of a water leak condition occurring with said hot water heater when water leaking from said hot water heater collects within said liquid pan; an electrical switch associated with said float for providing an electrical shut-off signal in response to movement of said float to a predetermined position; a first electrically controlled solenoid valve disposed in a cold water supply line of said hot water heater and responsive to said electrical shut-off signal for interrupting a flow of cold water into said hot water heater when said electrical shut-off signal is generated; a second electrically controlled solenoid valve disposed in a gas supply line of said hot water heater for interrupting a flow of gas to said hot water heater in response to the generation of said electrical shut-off signal; a programmable message device responsive to said electrical shut-off signal for generating a preprogrammed audio message in response to the generation of said electrical shut-off signal informing of the occurrence of a water leak in said hot water heater and where to obtain service; and a pump disposed within said secondary overflow reservoir and responsive to the collection of water within said secondary overflow reservoir for pumping water collected within said secondary overflow reservoir to a remote drain.