Method and Apparatus for Detecting Leaks in a Building Water System

Abstract

A system and method for detecting multiple incidents in a set of flow meter units attached to a set of water consuming units. A plurality of uniquely identified flow meter units are operatively connected to a central control unit. The control unit is programmable to send alerts based on leaking incident status of particular flow meter units so that a responder may receive the alert and timely address the alert. The central control receives and stores data from the multiple flow meter units, including volumetric flow, time, and status and location of each alert. A method of detecting leaking in a building having multiple separate units, each unit having a unit water supply, includes placing a specially configured controller having a flow meter and automatic shut-off valve in each unit of the building. Leak sensors are positioned in water-leak risk areas wherein the controller communicates with both the flow meter and the sensors. A communication is established in between the controller and the sensors. One or more individuals are identified to receive an alert when leakage (or over-pressure conditions) occurs. Water flow is measured with the controller in multiple of the units and using one or more of the sensors. The measurements detect changes when compared to earlier established baseline parameters. An alert is sent to one or more of the individuals (e.g. owner(s), maintenance staff, management) when an abnormal water flow valve is measured.

1 . A method of detecting leaking in a building having multiple separate units, each unit having a unit water supply, comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing a controller having a flow meter and automatic shut-off valve in each unit of the building;   (b) placing remote leak sensors in water-leak risk areas wherein the controller communicates with both the flow meter and the sensors;   (c) establishing a communication between the controller of step “a” and the sensors of step “b”;   (d) identifying one or more individuals to receive an alert when leakage occurs;   (e) measuring water flow with the controller of step “a” in multiple of the units and using one or more of the sensors of step “b” wherein the measurements detect changes when compared to earlier established baseline parameters; and   (f) sending an alert to one or more of the individuals of step “d” when an abnormal water flow valve is measured in step “e”.   
     
     
         2 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flow meter includes a nutating disk. 
     
     
         9 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of claim  13 , wherein in step “f” the controller shuts off water flow with the shut off valve when flow valves exceed or drop below selected parameters. 
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controller records one or more normal water flow events and sends an alert in step “f” when water flow deviates from the water flow recorded in said normal water flow event. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurements of step “e” include measuring water flow at a building water flow influent line and measuring water flow in the water supply of each unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurements of step “e” include measuring water flow when no individual occupies at least one of the separate units. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the normal water flow event is an event wherein there is normally no water flow in the unit. 
     
     
         21 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A water leak detection device for a unit of a multi-unit building, comprising:
 (a) an enclosure;   (b) a flow meter housing mounted within the enclosure;   (c) the flow meter having a header with a U shape having a water-flow bore, the header having a flow inlet and a flow outlet;   (d) a valve mounted on the header to valve flow through the header;   (e) the flow meter housing including the flow meter that includes a nutating disk; and   (f) a controller mounted on the flow meter housing externally of the water flow bore, said controller enabling communication with one or more remotely placed flow sensors; and   (g) a transmitter that sends an alert to a selected individual or individuals when the controller detects:   (i) a leak as detected by one or more of the remote sensors and communicated to the controller, or   (ii) a change in flow detected by the main flow meter when compared to one or more previously recorded base line flow parameters.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the valve is moved with a valve motor drive between open flow and closed flow positions. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the motor drive is positioned in between the flow inlet and flow outlet. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the flow meter includes a nutating disk. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein sensors on the controller are used to measure water flow in the water flow bore. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the nutating disk has a magnet and the sensors sense movement of the magnet. 
     
     
         31 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A method of identifying a leaking condition of a water consuming unit comprising the steps of:
 (a) receiving water usage data from a flow meter unit that monitors usage of the water consuming network;   (b) processing the water usage data to determine if a leaking condition exists in the water consuming network; and   (c) wherein the water usage data is processed relative to a set of predefined leaking conditions for the water consuming network.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein in step “a” the water consuming network includes a plurality of water consuming units, and separate water usage date is provided for each of the plurality of water consuming units, and in step “b” the processing each separate water usage data is performed to determine if a leaking condition exists in the water consuming unit; and in step “c” the separate water usage data is processed separately for each of the plurality of water consuming units relative to a set of predefined leaking conditions for the water consuming unit. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , where the predefined leaking conditions are indicated in levels of magnitude. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , where the predefined leaking conditions are indicated in at least a predefined number of levels of magnitude. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , where water usage patterns are determined on a moving time scale and compared to the predefined leaking conditions. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 60 , where the predefined leaking conditions comprise a flowrate in the water consuming network. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 61 , where the predefined leaking conditions comprise a flowrate in one or more of the plurality of water consuming units. 
     
     
         67 . (canceled)