Patents by Inventor Ralph W. Cooper

Ralph W. Cooper has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7574896
    Abstract: Fluid leaks can be detected and controlled in a pressurized piping system. Apparatus for this includes control logic; in communication with the logic, a flow detector and/or a pressure detector, and a control valve. One or more of the following is or are provided also: the flow and pressure detectors are both present, and both as single units; the control logic, the flow and/or pressure detector(s) and the control valve are in close proximity to one another; and the control valve has a baseline condition of being shut off. A remote control device can remotely interact with the control logic. Pressure decay and/or flow properties can be employed. The fluid can be water as, for example, in a residential, commercial or institutional system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Michigan Aqua Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph W. Cooper
  • Patent number: 7174771
    Abstract: A leak detection system capable of automatically detecting a leak in a pressurized piping system. A pressure decay test is utilized to test for leaks in the piping system. Disruption to users of the piping system is reduced by only performing the pressure decay test when there is no user demand on the piping system. Thus, a leakage test is performed by first determining whether there is user demand on the piping system and proceeding with a pressure decay test only if there is no user demand present. If user demand is initiated during the performance of a pressure decay test, the system detects the user demand and halts the pressure decay test until the user demand stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Michigan Aqua Tech
    Inventor: Ralph W. Cooper