Wireless automated shutoff valve

Abstract

A modular water leakage detector includes a housing that carries a plurality of water leakage sensors, an electrical water shutoff valve, and circuitry coupled thereto. In response to sensing water leakage, the circuitry actuates the valve to shut off a water supply. Detectors can communicate alarm indicating signals directly with one another. The detectors can include a wireless transmitter and communicate with a displaced alarm monitoring system.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 providing a housing of a water detector;   an inflow end of the housing carrying a first flow connector;   an outflow end of the housing carrying a second flow connector;   the housing carrying a water presence sensor, a water shutoff element having a first state and a second state, a communications port, and control circuits coupled to the water presence sensor, the water shutoff element, and the communications port; and   the control circuits receiving a leakage indicating signal from the water presence sensor or receiving an alarm indicating signal from another water detector via the communications port and, responsive to either the leakage indicating signal or the alarm indicating signal, transmitting a state signal to the water shutoff element to change the water shutoff element from the first state to the second state.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising coupling the first and second flow connectors to flexible water hoses. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the housing carrying the water presence sensor within the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 the housing carrying the water presence sensor outside of the housing; and 
 a flexible connection member positioning the water presence sensor relative to an ambient environment. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the control circuits transmitting the leakage indicating signal to the another water detector via the communications port to actuate a local water shutoff valve of the another water detector. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the control circuits transmitting the leakage indicating signal to a displaced monitoring system via the communications port. 
     
     
         26 . A water detector comprising:
 a housing;   an inflow end of the housing carrying a first flow connector;   an outflow end of the housing carrying a second flow connector;   a water presence sensor carried by the housing;   a water shutoff element carried by the housing and having a first state and a second state;   a self-contained power supply carried by the housing; and   control circuits coupled to the water presence sensor, the water shutoff element, and the self-contained power supply,   wherein, responsive to a low battery signal from the self-contained power supply, the control circuits transmit a state signal to the water shutoff element to change the water shutoff element from the first state to the second state.   
     
     
         27 . The water detector of  claim 25  wherein, responsive to a leakage indicating signal from the water presence sensor, the control circuits transmit the state signal to the water shutoff element to change the water shutoff element from the first state to the second state. 
     
     
         28 . The water detector of  claim 27  further comprising:
 a communications port carried by the housing and coupled to the control circuits, 
 wherein, responsive to the low battery signal, the control circuits transmit the low battery signal to another water detector via the communications port to actuate a local water shutoff valve of the another water detector, and 
 wherein, responsive to the leakage indicating signal, the control circuits transmit the leakage indicating signal to the another water detector via the communications port to actuate the local water shutoff of the another water detector. 
 
     
     
         29 . The water detector of  claim 27  further comprising:
 a communications port carried by the housing and coupled to the control circuits, 
 wherein, responsive to the low battery signal, the control circuits transmit the low battery signal to a displaced monitoring system via the communications port, and 
 wherein, responsive to the leakage indicating signal, the control circuits transmit the leakage indicating signal to the displaced monitoring system via the communications port. 
 
     
     
         30 . The water detector of  claim 25  wherein the first and second flow connectors are coupled to flexible water hoses. 
     
     
         31 . The water detector of  claim 25  wherein the housing carries the water presence sensor within the housing. 
     
     
         32 . The water presence sensor of  claim 25  further comprising:
 a flexible connection member, 
 wherein the housing carries the water presence sensor outside of the housing, and 
 wherein the flexible connection member positions the water presence sensor relative to an ambient environment. 
 
     
     
         33 . A method comprising:
 providing a housing of a water detector;   an inflow end of the housing carrying a first flow connector;   an outflow end of the housing carrying a second flow connector;   the housing carrying a water presence sensor, a water shutoff element having a first state and a second state, a self-contained water supply, and control circuits coupled to the water presence sensor, the water shutoff element, and the self-contained water supply; and   the control circuits receiving a low battery signal from the self-contained water supply and, responsive thereto, transmitting a state signal to the water shutoff element to change the water shutoff element from the first state to the second state.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising the control circuits receiving a leakage indicating signal from the water presence sensor and, responsive thereto, transmitting the state signal to the water shutoff element to change the water shutoff element from the first state to the second state. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising:
 the housing carrying a communications port coupled to the control circuits; 
 responsive to the low battery signal, the control circuits transmitting the low battery signal to another water detector via the communications port to actuate a local water shutoff valve of the another water detector; and 
 responsive to the leakage indicating signal, the control circuits transmitting the leakage indicating signal to the another water detector via the communications port to actuate the local water shutoff of the another water detector. 
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising:
 the housing carrying a communications port coupled to the control circuits; 
 responsive to the low battery signal, the control circuits transmitting the low battery signal to a displaced monitoring system via the communications port; and 
 responsive to the leakage indicating signal, the control circuits transmit the leakage indicating signal to the displaced monitoring system via the communications port. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising coupling the first and second flow connectors to flexible water hoses. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising the housing carrying the water presence sensor within the housing. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising:
 the housing carrying the water presence sensor outside of the housing; and 
 a flexible connection member positioning the water presence sensor relative to an ambient environment.