Liquid Contact Patents (Class 200/DIG41)
  • Patent number: 6024116
    Abstract: A valve assembly is operative for automatically shutting off both a water supply line and gas supply line to a gas-fired hot water vessel upon detection of water discharge, leak or overflow, from the water vessel. The valve assembly is connected in the water supply line and generally includes a valve body, a sliding valve member which is spring biased to a normally closed position, and a water softenable latch which maintains the valve member in an open position against the bias of the spring. The valve assembly is preferably positioned in a drip pan located under the water vessel such that water leaking from the water vessel will accumulate in the drip pan and submerge the valve assembly. Upon exposure to water accumulated in the drip pan, the water softenable latch at least partially softens and releases the valve member to move from its open position to its closed position to cut off water supply through the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Aquagard, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Almberg, Clyde Baragwanath, Mark Miller, Steven Fielding
  • Patent number: 5632302
    Abstract: An overflow protection shut-off device for use with a water heater for shutting off a supply of water to the water heater when a leaking or an overflow condition occurs, the device including a valve mechanism coupleable to an input water line of a water heater and having an opened orientation for allowing flow of water within the input line and a closed orientation for preventing such flow; a water sensing mechanism positionable at a location proximal to the water heater for providing a signal when it is placed in contact with water when the water heater experiences the leaking or the overflow condition; and a switching mechanism coupled to the valve mechanism and the water sensing mechanism and with the switching mechanism being responsive to receipt of the signal from the water sensing mechanism for placing the valve mechanism in the closed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Robert M. Lenoir, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5188143
    Abstract: A water leakage detector is disclosed herein sensitive to the presence of moisture, having an elongated sensor strip comprising a pair of conductors separated by insulation. Each conductor includes an electrode coupling with a wire lead extending via a cable to an electrical plug. A circuit housing is provided having an audible alarm operably connected to an electrical socket adapted to detachably connect with the plug. A low voltage battery and auxiliary output socket are carried on the housing and connected with the alarm and the first mentioned socket whereby the presence of moisture across the pair of sensor conductors activates the alarm. A battery test pair of electrodes is provided to manually test battery condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventor: Robert G. Krebs
  • Patent number: 4638305
    Abstract: Diesel fuel tends to deposit an insulating coating on surfaces it contacts. A probe, preferably in the form of a siphon tube, is coupled to a detection circuit which is responsive to either low resistance or high capacitance between the probe and ground. The probe is initially uncoated to make a resistive coupling to a fuel container when accumulated water touches the probe. When insulating deposits from the diesel fuel or other fuel oil coat the probe, capacitive coupling will occur between the probe and the accumulated water. In either case the presence of water triggers an output signal by the detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen J. Sutton