Connected Water Meter Leak Detection With Remote Shut-Off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water leaks in private and public properties due to broken or compromised pipes often go undetected, leading to significant water loss and property damage, which is a major concern for water conservation and insurance agencies.
Innovation Solution
A water meter and leak detection system with integrated sensors, control valves, and communication hubs that utilize various wireless technologies to monitor real-time water use and detect leaks, providing notification and alert systems to property owners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional water meters are used without leak detection capabilities, then the device complexity is low, but water loss goes undetected leading to significant water loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single water meter device: traditional flow measurement, leak detection through acoustic sensors, pressure monitoring, and wireless communication capabilities. This integration allows the system to detect and report water loss while maintaining a unified device structure that manages complexity through functional consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication modules and remote monitoring systems as intermediaries between the water meter and users/authorities. This allows real-time detection and reporting of water loss without requiring complex local intervention mechanisms, transferring the complexity to remote centralized systems.
2Reliability
If real-time monitoring and leak detection systems are implemented, then water loss is minimized, but the device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the leak detection system into separate functional modules: acoustic sensors for leak detection, pressure sensors for monitoring, flow meters for measurement, and wireless communication modules for data transmission. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably while the overall system complexity is managed through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor water flow, pressure, and acoustic signals, and this data is immediately transmitted through wireless communication to remote systems. The feedback loop enables rapid detection and response to leaks, improving reliability while the automated nature of the feedback reduces the need for complex manual intervention systems.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and communication technologies are integrated, then measurement precision and leak detection capability improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the water meter with multi-functional capabilities: it serves as both a traditional flow measurement device and a sophisticated leak detection system with acoustic sensing, pressure monitoring, and wireless communication. This universality allows a single device to perform multiple functions with high precision without requiring separate specialized equipment for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical leak detection methods with electronic and wireless technologies. Instead of complex mechanical indicators or manual inspection systems, the patent uses acoustic sensors, pressure sensors, and wireless communication modules to detect and report leaks, improving measurement precision while reducing mechanical complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a system comprised of a water meter collection node (i.e., water meter or base station) with a water flow rate sensor(s), water valve control mechanism (water shut-off/on), and leak detection capability. The system uses wireless transceiver technology to communicate with a private or corporate network, or to communicate via an internet connection. The system transfers encrypted water data and information via application programming interface to remote computers and/or server, enabling access of the water data and information by remote electronic communication devices. The water meter collection node is configured to communicate with an authenticated communication hub that functions to extend the range of wireless transmissions of the collection node. The communication hub can by wire or wirelessly communicate with an internet router and transfers water data and information to an internet connection. The collection node(s) and/or communication hub(s) can wirelessly communicate with a private or commercial network system, and to a remote computer/server and/or a cloud service. One or more communication hubs can function as repeater apparatuses and/or can perform complex operations such as using mesh technology, or point-to-point or peer-to-peer connections.