Water and gas utility control systems and retrofitting kit

Abstract

A utility control system that includes a switch control unit for selectively controlling a utility. The switch control unit may include a visual indicator configured to illuminate a first color when a switch selection mechanism is in a first position to indicate the on state of the utility and a illuminate a second color when the switch selection mechanism is in a second position to indicate the off state of the utility. Control of the utility may be accomplished through generating low-voltage pulses that cause a latching solenoid to latch to a first state or a second state. The utility system may also be provided as a retrofitting kit for a light switch.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retrofitting kit, comprising:
 an enclosure box, wherein the enclosure box comprise a rear wall and at least one sidewall, and wherein the enclosure box comprises at least one enclosure hole corresponding to at least one threaded hole in a front wall of a single-gang or multi-gang electrical box such that the enclosure box may be secured to the single-gang or multi-gang electrical box with at least one fastener inserted through the at least one enclosure hole and through the at least one threaded hole;   control circuitry for controlling at least one utility and contained at least partially within the enclosure box;   a cover plate; and   a switch, connected to the cover plate and at least partially controlling the control circuitry.   
     
     
         2 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a set of fasteners for securing the cover plate to the enclosure box. 
     
     
         3 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry comprises:
 an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter configured to convert high-voltage alternating current (AC) to a low-voltage direct current (DC);   a first resistor-capacitor (RC) filter configured to output an enable trigger signal when the switch is turned to a first position;   a second RC filter configured to output a disable trigger signal when the switch is in a second position; and   a first timer integrated circuit, powered by the low-voltage DC.   
     
     
         4 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 3 , wherein the timer is configured to:
 receive the enable trigger signal at a first trigger input;   receive the disable trigger signal at a second trigger input;   in response to receiving the enable trigger signal, generate a enable pulse; and   in response to receiving the disable trigger signal, generate a disable pulse.   
     
     
         5 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 4 , wherein the control circuitry further comprises:
 a first relay including a first input to receive the enable pulse, a second input to receive the enable pulse, a first output connected to a positive output terminal, and a second output connected to a negative output terminal.   
     
     
         6 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 5 , wherein the relay is further configured to:
 when the enable pulse is present on the first input, pass the enable pulse from the first input to the first output and connect the second output to ground such that a positive voltage difference is provided between the positive output terminal and negative output terminal for a duration of the enable pulse; and   when the disable pulse is present on the second input, pass the disable pulse from the second input to the second output and connect the first output to ground such that a positive voltage difference is provided between the negative output terminal and the positive output terminal for a duration of the disable pulse.   
     
     
         7 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 6 , wherein the enable trigger signal is a ground pulse and the disable trigger signal is a ground pulse. 
     
     
         8 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 7 , wherein the timer integrated circuit includes at least one 555 timer. 
     
     
         9 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 5 , wherein the positive output terminal is connected to a first input of a solenoid configured to control the flow of gas or water and the negative output terminal is connected to a second input of the solenoid. 
     
     
         10 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 9 , wherein the enable pulse causes the solenoid to latch to a first state, and the disable pulse causes the solenoid to latch to a second state. 
     
     
         11 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry further comprises:
 a second relay configured to receive the enable pulse and generate a positive pulse, wherein the enable pulse received by the first relay is the positive pulse.   
     
     
         12 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 11 , wherein the second relay is a solid-state relay. 
     
     
         13 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a third RC filter configured to generate a second enable trigger signal from the enable pulse;   a fourth RC filter configured to generate a second disable trigger signal from the disable pulse; and   a second timer integrated circuit, powered by the low-voltage DC power.   
     
     
         14 . The retrofitting kit of  claim 13 , wherein the second timer integrated circuit is configured to:
 receive the second enable trigger signal at a first trigger input;   receive the second disable trigger signal at a second trigger input;   in response to receiving the second enable trigger signal, generate a second enable pulse; and   in response to receiving the second disable trigger signal, generate a second disable pulse.   
     
     
         15 . A system for controlling a latching solenoid with low-voltage pulses, comprising:
 an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter configured to convert high-voltage alternating current (AC) to a low-voltage direct current (DC);   a switch configured to select whether utility is on or off;   a first resistor-capacitor (RC) filter configured to output an enable trigger signal when the switch is turned to a first position;   a second RC filter configured to output a disable trigger signal when the switch is in a second position; and   a first timer integrated circuit, powered by the low-voltage DC.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the timer is configured to:
 receive the enable trigger signal at a first trigger input;   receive the disable trigger signal at a second trigger input;   in response to receiving the enable trigger signal, generate a enable pulse; and   in response to receiving the disable trigger signal, generate a disable pulse.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first relay including a first input to receive the enable pulse, a second input to receive the enable pulse, a first output connected to a positive output terminal, and a second output connected to a negative output terminal, wherein the relay is further configured to:
 when the enable pulse is present on the first input, pass the enable pulse from the first input to the first output and connect the second output to ground such that a positive voltage difference is provided between the positive output terminal and negative output terminal for a duration of the enable pulse; and 
 when the disable pulse is present on the second input, pass the disable pulse from the second input to the second output and connect the first output to ground such that a positive voltage difference is provided between the negative output terminal and the positive output terminal for a duration of the disable pulse. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a third RC filter configured to generate a second enable trigger signal from the enable pulse;   a fourth RC filter configured to generate a second disable trigger signal from the disable pulse; and   a second timer integrated circuit, powered by the low-voltage DC power, wherein the second timer integrated circuit is configured to:
 receive the second enable trigger signal at a first trigger input; 
 receive the second disable trigger signal at a second trigger input; 
 in response to receiving the second enable trigger signal, generate a second enable pulse; and 
 in response to receiving the second disable trigger signal, generate a second disable pulse. 
   
     
     
         19 . A method, for retrofitting a light switch with a utility control system, comprising:
 removing a light switch and a light switch cover from a single-gang box or a multi-gang box;   attaching an enclosure box of a utility control system to the single-gang box or the multi-gang box through preformed holes that align with the single-gang box or the multi-gang box;   attaching wiring from an output terminal of the enclosure box to at least one solenoid to establish a connection between control circuitry of the enclosure box and the at least one solenoid;   attaching high-voltage wiring from the single-gang box or multi-gang box to an input terminal of the enclosure box; and   attaching a cover plate having a switch control unit to the enclosure box.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 prior to attaching the cover plate, connecting wiring from the switch control unit to the enclosure box, wherein the wiring from the output terminal of the enclosure box to the at least one solenoid is low-voltage wiring, and a ratio of the length of the low-voltage wiring to the length of high-voltage wiring is at least 100:1.