Maintenance free leak stop valve systems and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for automatically shutting off fluid flow through a fluid inlet line of a water heater upon detection of a leak of the water heater. The system may include an electrically powered shutoff assembly operatively coupled to the fluid inlet line, and a capacitor operatively coupled to the electrically powered shutoff assembly. The electrically powered shutoff assembly may be configured to shut off fluid flow through the fluid inlet line upon detection of a leak of the water heater, and the capacitor may be configured to store power received from an external power source. Accordingly, when the electrically powered shutoff assembly does not have access to electric power, the capacitor may power the electrically powered shutoff assembly to shut off fluid flow through the fluid inlet line.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An automated valve shutoff system for use with a water heater having a fluid inlet line, the system comprising:
 an electrically powered shutoff assembly operatively coupled to the fluid inlet line, the electrically powered shutoff assembly configured to shut off fluid flow through the fluid inlet line upon detection of a leak of the water heater; and   a capacitor operatively coupled to the electrically powered shutoff assembly, the capacitor configured to store power received from an external power source,   wherein, when the electrically powered shutoff assembly does not have access to electric power, the capacitor powers the electrically powered shutoff assembly to shut off fluid flow through the fluid inlet line.   
     
     
         2 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically powered shutoff assembly is configured to be electrically powered via an electrical outlet, and wherein the capacitor powers the electrically powered shutoff assembly when the electrical outlet cannot provide electric power to the electrically powered shutoff assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically powered shutoff assembly comprises an internal battery configured to electrically power the electrically powered shutoff assembly, and wherein the capacitor powers the electrically powered shutoff assembly when the internal battery is dead. 
     
     
         4 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically powered shutoff assembly comprises a sensor configured to detect the leak of the water heater. 
     
     
         5 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically powered shutoff assembly comprises a motor operatively coupled to a valve fluidicly coupled to the fluid inlet line, the motor configured to cause the valve to shut off fluid flow through the fluid inlet line upon detection of the leak of the water heater. 
     
     
         6 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 5 , wherein the valve comprises a ball valve or a gate valve. 
     
     
         7 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitor comprises a supercapacitor. 
     
     
         8 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the external power source comprises a hydroturbine fluidicly coupled to the fluid inlet line and operatively coupled to the capacitor, the hydroturbine comprising a generator configured to generate electrical energy via fluid flow through the fluid inlet let to provide power to the capacitor. 
     
     
         9 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid line comprises a main branch and a secondary branch in parallel to the main branch, and wherein the hydroturbine is fluidicly coupled to the secondary branch of the fluid inlet line. 
     
     
         10 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the external power source comprises a mechanical crank operatively coupled to the capacitor, the mechanical crank comprising a generator configured to generate electrical energy via actuation of the mechanical crank to provide power to the capacitor. 
     
     
         11 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the external power source comprises a solar panel operatively coupled to the capacitor, the solar panel comprising a generator configured to generate electrical energy via light interaction with the solar panel to provide power to the capacitor. 
     
     
         12 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the external power source comprises wireless charger operatively coupled to the capacitor, the wireless charger configured to receive electrical energy from an external wireless energy emitting hub. 
     
     
         13 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the external power source comprises a thermoelectric generator (TEG) assembly, the TEG assembly comprising:
 a hot tank having a first fluid therein and operatively coupled to the water heater, the first fluid comprising a first temperature;   a cold tank having a second fluid therein, the second fluid comprising a second temperature lower than the first temperature;   a TEG array operatively coupled to the capacitor, the hot tank, and the cold tank, the TEG array configured to generate electrical energy based on a temperature differential between the first and second temperatures to provide power to the capacitor.   
     
     
         14 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 13 , wherein the TEG assembly further comprises:
 a circulation pump in fluid communication with the hot tank, the circulation pump having circuitry programmed to cause the circulation pump to pump fluid from the hot tank across a valve to the cold tank to achieve a predetermined temperature differential between the first and second temperatures,   wherein the circulation pump is operatively coupled to the capacitor, such that the capacitor provides power to the circulation pump.   
     
     
         15 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 13 , wherein the TEG array is configured to generate electrical energy based on a temperature differential between the first and second temperatures via the Peltier effect. 
     
     
         16 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitor is operatively coupled to the electrically powered shutoff assembly via an electric circuit configured to transition from an open state to a closed state upon detection of the leak of the water heater, and wherein the capacitor powers the electrically powered shutoff assembly when the electric circuit is in the closed state. 
     
     
         17 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 16 , wherein the electric circuit is disposed within a container in fluid communication with fluid leaking from the water heater, the container comprising a salt material, such that as fluid enters the container, the salt material dissolves thereby forming a conductive fluid mixture configured to transition the electric circuit to the closed state. 
     
     
         18 . The automated valve shutoff system of  claim 17 , wherein the electric circuit comprises an anode and a cathode disposed within the container. 
     
     
         19 . An automated valve shutoff system for use with a water heater having a fluid inlet line, the system comprising:
 an electrically powered shutoff assembly operatively coupled to the fluid inlet line, the electrically powered shutoff assembly configured to shut off fluid flow through the fluid inlet line upon detection of a leak of the water heater; and   a capacitor operatively coupled to the electrically powered shutoff assembly via an electric circuit, the capacitor configured to store power received from an external power source,   wherein, upon detection of a leak of the water heater, the electric circuit is configured to transition from an open state where power is not transmissible from the capacitor to the electrically powered shutoff assembly to a closed state where the capacitor powers the electrically powered shutoff assembly to thereby shut off fluid flow through the fluid inlet line.   
     
     
         20 . A method for automatically shutting off fluid flow through a fluid inlet line of a water heater, the method comprising:
 charging a capacitor electrically coupled to an electrically powered shutoff assembly via an electric circuit, the electrically powered shutoff assembly operatively coupled to the fluid inlet line;   detecting a leak of the water heater;   transitioning the electric circuit from an open state to a closed state upon detection of the leak of the water heater; and   transmitting power from the capacitor to the electrically powered shutoff assembly via the electric circuit in the closed state to thereby shut off fluid flow through the fluid inlet line of the water heater when the electrically powered shutoff assembly does not have access to electric power.