Leak detection and shut-off apparatus

Claim 1

An improvement in a water shut-off system that incorporates, (a) a water shut-off valve adapted for installation in a water supply line, and for turning off a supply of water when a leaking condition exists, (b) a pair of adjacently disposed electrodes which, when in contact with water, conduct an electric current, (c) a radio frequency transmitter adapted to transmit an encoded radio frequency signal in response to the electric current so conducted, and (d) a receiving means adapted to receive the radio frequency signal from said transmitter, and, upon its reception to actuate an electrical current adapted to supply power to close the water supply line shut-off valve, the improvement in said water shut-off system including: (1) a timing logic in the actuated electric circuit adapted to cause current to flow as electric pulses; (2) a motor in the actuated electric circuit adapted to be energized by the electric pulses, said motor having a drive shaft adapted to be driven by each electric pulse when the motor is energized; (3) reduction gearing coupled to the motor drive shaft to convert motor drive shaft speed to a reduction gearing output shaft speed which is reduced; (4) a water shut-off valve in the form of a ball valve adapted to rotate ninety degrees from open to closed positions; (5) coupling means connecting the ball valve to the output shaft of the reduction gearing so that the ball valve is rotated by the motor; (6) cam means coupled to the reduction gearing output shaft, the cam being adapted to trip a switch to prevent current flow to the motor upon completion of a ninety degree rotation; (7) a reset switch adapted to activate the timing logic to cause current flow to the actuated circuit to reopen the ball valve.