Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-20
2002-01-08
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S604000, C340S691100, C340S693500, C073S30400R, C200S061040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06337632
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for detecting the presence of moisture, and also for detecting instances where sump pump failure has occurred. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a self-contained apparatus which functions in either of two modes: as a moisture sensor for sensing excessive amount of moisture at floor level; and as a water level sensor for giving an alarm when the water level in a sump well rises beyond a predetermined level.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many, but not all, homes are equipped with a sump well in their basements and a pump within the well which pumps water away when the water level reaches a pre-determined level. Other homes that are not equipped with sump pumps may also be subject to flooding under certain conditions.
In homes which are equipped with sump wells and sump pumps, perimeter drainage is arranged on the inside of the basement walls below the floor, and that perimeter drainage feeds into the sump well. Thus, water which seeps below the basement walls and/or runs below the poured concrete floor of the basement will find its way into the perimeter drainage, which functions somewhat as a weeper bed in reverse in that collects moisture rather than disseminates it, and water which does seep into the perimeter drainage is then fed through the gently sloped tiles into the sump well. The sump pump is usually controlled by a float valve or float control of some sort, so that when water rises beyond a certain level in the sump well, the sump pump turns on and pumps water away from the well to a remote drain located beyond the outside walls of the building—such as into a weeper bed, a septic tank, or into a ditch.
However, sump pumps—or, at least, the controls which turn sump pumps on when the water level in the sump well reaches a predetermined level—are prone to failure. Very often, especially in flooding conditions, the water may rise too quickly and a float valve may jam. Also, in other circumstances, because the sump pump is connected to the electrical supply system for the building, in storm conditions the electrical supply may be off, and, in any event, it is possible that the sump pump, when it starts, may blow a fuse or trip a breaker which is installed for protection purposes in the fuse panel or breaker panel.
Accordingly, there are a number of products in the market and which are found in the prior art which function to provide an alarm when the sump pump has failed to operate properly. Regrettably, many of those products are connected to the same electrical supply as the sump pump, and in conditions of general power failure in the building or region, the alarm will fail to work as well.
Many buildings, particularly large custom homes that are built in rural areas, have sump pumps, and will have an emergency or portable power supply that can be started and utilized in the event of power failure. However, as noted above, if an alarm system is connected to the same power supply as the sump pump, no alarm may be given when it is needed most.
Other circumstances exist in homes that have no basement, or in homes or other buildings that have a basement but do not have a sump well and sump pump. Those homes and other buildings are also subject to flooding, either because of seepage through or under the walls, or sometimes as a consequence of overflow of a water-using appliance such as a clothes washer or dish washer. Sometimes, as well, a water pipe may freeze and break, or other catastrophes occur, whereby the floor is flooded. Usually, however, when a floor starts to flood—particularly as a consequence of seepage of water from the outside, overflow of an appliance, or imminent breakage of a water pipe—there may be just a small accumulation of water in the first instance.
Nonetheless, that small accumulation of water can, in time, amount to a considerable amount of water; and by the time that considerable amount of water is detected, damage may have occurred to walls, furniture, books, boxes, or anything else stored on or in contact with the floor.
There are also a number of products known in the market which sit against the floor and detect moisture—either extremely high relative humidity, or more likely an accumulation of water even to a depth of one or two millimetres.
However, many of those floor-mounted or floor-contacting sensors are self-contained, much the same way as a small smoke alarm is self-contained and, if the rise of water on the floor is too rapid, the moisture sensor may effectively be drowned. Other moisture sensors are capable of floating.
Once again, however, many such sensors are powered by the electrical distribution system in the building. Accordingly, if the electrical power goes out, so does the floor-mounted moisture sensor. Others are battery powered, but typically a battery powered, floor-mounted moisture sensor is one where the electronics are self-contained and it is subject to damage even as it does its job in detecting moisture.
Alarms which are particularly intended for mounting inside a sump well are typically more complicated than those which mount to the floor, so much so that they may require the services of a licensed electrician and/or a licensed plumber to be installed
The present inventors have unexpectedly discovered that a simple, self-contained, foldable apparatus may be provided wherein the apparatus can operate in either of two modes—either as a floor moisture sensor, or a sensor which detects rise of water in a sump well beyond a predetermined level. In either mode, the electrical operating and alarm circuits are raised above the floor in a mast portion of the apparatus, so that they are protected from flooding or drowning. The apparatus is self-contained, so that it is battery powered.
Because the moisture sensing circuits themselves are essentially passive circuits, a battery powered self-contained moisture sensing apparatus in keeping with the present invention will have remarkably long battery life, except if it goes into alarm condition, in which case the operating and alarm circuits become active and power consuming circuits.
Of course, the present invention contemplates that, when moisture is sensed, an audible alarm will be given by such as a horn, bell, or buzzer, which is built into the apparatus. At the same time, additional circuitry can be provided whereby in an alarm condition, a signal is emitted for reception at a remote receiver—which may be as many as 15 or 30 metres away from the moisture sensor, in another part of the building. Nonetheless, an alarm signal is given when moisture is sensed, or when the water level in a sump well reaches a predetermined level. The election as to which mode the moisture sensor of the present invention will operate is, of course, made by the user, at the time that the apparatus is put into its operating configuration, and into place for operation.
A typical sump well installation is such that an apparatus or sensor will be mounted to detect when the water level in the sump well rises to within 20 or 25 centimetres of the floor level of the floor into which the sump well has been sunk. That allowance for rising water assures that, if the water reaches the predetermined level and the alarm is given and heeded, typically there will be quite sufficient time to determine if there has been a pump failure or an electrical failure, and to arrange for repair or the provision of auxiliary power or pumping equipment, if necessary. Typically, the diameter of a sump well is about 80 to 120 centimetres, so it may take some considerable time for water to rise and additional 20 to 25 centimetres before flooding occurs as a consequence of the overflow of the sump well.
Indeed, a principal operating configuration of the apparatus of the present invention is as an alarm device for use in association with sump wells, so as to provide a warning in the event that a level of water in the sump well rises above a predetermined level.
Accordingly, in a simpler embodiment of the present invention intended only for use in associatio
Dickie Robert G.
Orsi Angelo
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