Foundation Water Pressure Sensing for Leak And Damage Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Homeowners face challenges in detecting and addressing water leaks and blockages in pipes due to the difficulty and cost of frequent inspections, leading to potential extensive water damage that may go unnoticed, especially in hard-to-reach areas like under foundations or in secondary homes.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system using sensors and processors to analyze environmental data from various sources, including water pressure, chemical composition, and flow rates, to detect leaks and blockages in pipes, with features like a flushable pill sensor and a robot ball that can travel through piping systems to identify issues and provide alerts and corrective actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If frequent manual inspections of pipes and foundation areas are conducted to detect leaks and blockages, then detection reliability is improved, but loss of time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleak detection reliabilityVSAvoidinspection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs self-monitoring sensors that automatically detect water leaks, blockages, and hydrostatic pressure conditions without requiring manual inspection. The sensors continuously monitor foundation areas, pipes, and water systems, enabling the system to detect and report issues autonomously, thereby eliminating the need for frequent manual inspections while maintaining high detection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical inspection methods are replaced with electronic sensing systems including water pressure sensors, flow sensors, and hydrostatic pressure monitors. These electronic systems automatically detect and report conditions such as leaks, blockages, and pressure anomalies, substituting the need for physical manual inspection with automated electronic monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If manual inspection of hard-to-reach areas under foundations is performed to detect water damage, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater damage detection accuracyVSAvoidinspection accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection function is extracted from manual operations and embodied in deployable robotic devices such as snake bots and spherical robots. These robots can be inserted into pipes and placed in hard-to-reach foundation areas to perform autonomous inspection, extracting the measurement function from human operators and delivering it through specialized robotic inspectors that can access confined spaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Robotic intermediaries (snake bots, spherical robots) are deployed as mediators between the inspector and hard-to-reach areas. These robots navigate pipes and foundation spaces, carrying sensors to measure water damage, pressure, and flow conditions in locations that would be difficult or dangerous for human inspectors to access directly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If comprehensive sensor monitoring systems are deployed to detect leaks and blockages, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater condition monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is segmented into multiple independent sensor modules distributed throughout the water system. Each sensor (water pressure sensor, flow sensor, hydrostatic pressure sensor) operates autonomously and reports to a central system, dividing the complex monitoring task into manageable independent units that can be installed and maintained separately

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor system is designed with multi-functional capabilities where sensors can detect multiple conditions (pressure, flow rate, water presence) and the system can identify various issues (leaks, blockages, hydrostatic pressure problems) using the same sensor network, reducing overall system complexity through universal monitoring components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enables efficient and accurate detection of water damage and blockages, reducing the need for costly inspections and allowing for timely corrective actions, thereby minimizing damage and saving homeowners time and money.

Implementation Method 1

measuring the water pressure on the foundation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Data Source

PatentUS20240141611A1Subterranean Water Pressure Sensors

Publication Date: 2024.05.02 STATE FARM MUTAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY

AI summary

A system and method for measuring water pressure on a foundation. Sensors may provide data related to the environment surrounding a foundation. Analysis of the sensor data determines properties of the environment, which may include a foundation water pressure. The system and method may determine damage to the foundation based upon the foundation water pressure.