Patents Assigned to Homeserve Plc
  • Patent number: 11299871
    Abstract: A method for testing for a possible water leak in at least a part of a water system, comprising: closing all known water usage taps (42) within the part of the water system to be tested; closing at least one stop cock (14) or valve of the water system to isolate the part of the water system from its replacement water source (12) (or sources), and any external replacement pressure source (or sources); and then a) detecting a first pressure P0 within the isolated part of the water system at a sensor (62, 48) connected to the part of the water system, waiting a period of time t and then detecting a second pressure within the isolated part of the water system at that sensor (62, 48); and b) releasing a volume of water VR from the water system out of the isolated part of the water system via a vent (42) in the isolated part of the water system, before then closing the vent (42), step b) further comprising detecting the pressures either side of that release at that sensor (62, 48); using the pressure drop caused by
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: HOMESERVE PLC
    Inventors: Samuel Bailey, Philip Yorke, Richard Lawrence
  • Patent number: 11209333
    Abstract: A flow detector for detecting flow rates of fluid in pipes by measuring the temperature of the pipe and the ambient temperature and determining from the signals whether there is a flow in the pipe, by the shape of the temperature signals without providing any heat input to the pipe or fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: HomeServe plc
    Inventor: Samuel Bailey
  • Patent number: 10942080
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to fluid flow detection apparatuses and methods for detecting a water leak in a pipe system of a building. A method may: determine that a low flow is present, if absolute values of temperature differences between ambient and pipe temperatures of respective samples of a first monitoring period are above a difference threshold; and perform a high flow test by estimating a temperature profile of water entering the pipe, based on identifying at least one temperature difference maximum of a second monitoring period, wherein each said difference maxima is a maximum temperature difference between ambient and pipe temperatures of a received sample, and determining that a high flow is present by detecting, based on the received pipe temperatures of the second monitoring period, if the pipe temperature is approaching the estimated water temperature profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HomeServe plc
    Inventors: Samuel Bailey, Greer Gray
  • Publication number: 20200340220
    Abstract: A method for estimating a position or height of a leak within at least a part of a water system, the method comprising the use of two pressure sensors and a pump, wherein one of the two pressure sensors is located towards a top of the part of the water system being tested and the other pressure sensor is located towards a bottom of the part of the water system being tested, the pump being for enabling maintenance of a volume of air above the water level within the water system at a pressure greater than atmospheric to make the water in the water system pressurised, the method comprising closing all known water usage taps within the part of the water system to be tested, isolating the part of the water system (50) from its replacement water source, checking the pressures on the sensors and elevating the pressure of the volume of air if needed to pressurise the water system and determining the difference between the pressures sensed by two pressure sensors to determine a head of the water within the system, the
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: HomeServe plc
    Inventors: Samuel BAILEY, Philip YORKE, Richard LAWRENCE
  • Publication number: 20200325660
    Abstract: A method for determining whether water contained within a water pipe system in a building is at risk of freezing is disclosed. The method is carried out by a detector device comprising a processor. The method comprises determining a plurality of pipe temperature measurements using a temperature sensor. The processor analyses the pipe temperature measurements to detect whether a water draw has occurred. An exterior building environment temperature is compared to a predetermined freeze alert threshold. If the processor detects that (i) a water draw has not occurred; and (ii) the indicative temperature of the exterior building environment is lower than the predetermined freeze alert threshold, an alert is transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: HomeServe plc
    Inventors: Samuel BAILEY, Greer GRAY
  • Publication number: 20200326258
    Abstract: A water flow detector is disclosed. The water flow detector comprising a water header tank presence detection module for determining if a water header tank is present in a water system comprising a pipe. The water header tank presence detection module is configured to determine a plurality of pipe temperatures of the pipe, determine a plurality of ambient temperatures of the environment around the pipe, determine a plurality of temperature deltas, each of the temperature deltas based on a difference between a pipe temperature of the plurality of pipe temperatures pipe and a corresponding ambient temperature of the plurality of ambient temperatures, and detect a start of a period of non-usage of the water system, detect a flow of water in the pipe, analyse a rate of change of the plurality of temperature deltas, and output a tank indication to a leak detection module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: HomeServe plc
    Inventors: Samuel Bailey, Greer Gray
  • Publication number: 20200256042
    Abstract: A method for testing for a possible water leak in at least a part of a water system, comprising: closing all known water usage taps (42) within the part of the water system to be tested; closing at least one stop cock (14) or valve of the water system to isolate the part of the water system from its replacement water source (12) (or sources), and any external replacement pressure source (or sources); and then a) detecting a first pressure PO within the isolated part of the water system at a sensor (62, 48) connected to the part of the water system, waiting a period of time t and then detecting a second pressure within the isolated part of the water system at that sensor (62, 48); and b) releasing a volume of water VR from the water system out of the isolated part of the water system via a vent (42) in the isolated part of the water system, before then closing the vent (42), step b) further comprising detecting the pressures either side of that release at that sensor (62, 48); using the pressure drop caused by
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: HomeServe plc
    Inventors: Samuel BAILEY, Philip YORKE, Richard LAWRENCE
  • Patent number: 10704979
    Abstract: A flow detector for detecting flow rates of fluid in pipes by measuring the temperature of the pipe and the ambient temperature and determining from the signals whether there is a flow in the pipe, by the shape of the temperature signals without providing any heat input to the pipe or fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: HomeServe plc
    Inventor: Samuel Bailey
  • Patent number: 10508966
    Abstract: A location (100) is including an installation (120) associated with a site (102). At the site (102) is a house. A water main (110) forms part of a water distribution network and is buried approximately 1 m below the surface (112) of a road. A ferrule (114) extends from an upper part of the water main pipe and is in fluid communication with a first portion (116) of a service pipe at depth of typically approximately 0.75 m and which extends from the water main (110) to underneath a pavement (118). An outside stop-tap or meter chamber (122) is provided below pavement (118) and includes a pilotable cover (124), which can be opened to provide access to the interior of the chamber (122). A first connector (126) is provided on an upstream side of the chamber and a second connector (128) is provided on a downstream side of the chamber. A stop-tap or stop-tap and meter assembly (130) is provided within the chamber and in fluidic communication with the first and second connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: HOMESERVE PLC
    Inventors: Stephen Tooms, Stuart Trow
  • Publication number: 20190128762
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to fluid flow detection apparatuses and methods for detecting a water leak in a pipe system of a building. A method may: determine that a low flow is present, if absolute values of temperature differences between ambient and pipe temperatures of respective samples of a first monitoring period are above a difference threshold; and perform a high flow test by estimating a temperature profile of water entering the pipe, based on identifying at least one temperature difference maximum of a second monitoring period, wherein each said difference maxima is a maximum temperature difference between ambient and pipe temperatures of a received sample, and determining that a high flow is present by detecting, based on the received pipe temperatures of the second monitoring period, if the pipe temperature is approaching the estimated water temperature profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: HomeServe plc
    Inventors: Samuel BAILEY, Greer GRAY
  • Publication number: 20180313714
    Abstract: A flow detector for detecting flow rates of fluid in pipes by measuring the temperature of the pipe and the ambient temperature and determining from the signals whether there is a flow in the pipe, by the shape of the temperature signals without providing any heat input to the pipe or fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: HomeServe Plc
    Inventor: Samuel BAILEY
  • Publication number: 20180010978
    Abstract: A flow detector for detecting flow rates of fluid in pipes by measuring the temperature of the pipe and the ambient temperature and determining from the signals whether there is a flow in the pipe,by the shape of the temperature signals without providing any heat input to the pipe or fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: HomeServe plc
    Inventor: Samuel BAILEY
  • Patent number: D800591
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Homeserve Plc
    Inventors: Graham Brett, Ben Mahon, Richard Miles