GB2490089A

GB2490089A - Flood detection apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2490089A
Application number: GB1022013.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gregory Johns; Kevin Terence Doherty; David Fancis; Simon Griffiths
Original assignee: AQUA VIGILO Ltd
Current assignee: AQUA VIGILO Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-29
Filing date: 2010-12-29
Publication date: 2012-10-24
Also published as: GB201022013D0

Abstract

A flood detection apparatus comprises a water level sensor and an alarm. The water level sensor includes a housing and an electrical switch. The housing is arranged to allow the entry of water, and the switch and the alarm are electrically connected. The switch may include a buoyant float element that moves between a first and second position in the housing in response to water entering into the housing. Alternatively, the switch may include a capacitive sensing device such that it is actuated in response to a change in capacitance in the region of the sensing device. Alternatively, the switch may include first and second exposed conductors whereby water entering the housing creates an electrical pathway between the conductors. Alternatively, the switch may include first and second electric conductors actuated by a float creating an electrical pathway between the conductors.

Description

PRODUCT DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION

The product is designed to provide an early warning detection and communication to properties when affected by risk of flooding.

The product will look like the below images (Subject to further Value Engineering).

According to the present invention there is a provided apparatus for flood detection. The said apparatus for flood detection comprises of a water level sensor and an alarm.

The water level sensor comprises a housing and an electrical switch, the housing is configured to allow entry of liquid such as water from below the housing, and the switch and the alarm are in electrical communication with each other.

The benefit of the present invention is that the water level sensor will trigger the alarm when the water level at a particular location, such as on the outside of a building, reaches a predetermined level. Ideally the water level sensor is located so that it is lower than the lowest point of entry for water into the building. Accordingly, an owner or occupier of the building will receive a warning of potential flooding before any water enters the building.

The switch may in one embodiment include a buoyant float element that may move, reversibly, between a first and second position in the housingS The float will rest in the first position when there is no water in the housing and rise to the second position when the housing is at least partially full of water.

Movement of the float between the first and second positions actuates a switch.

This preferred embodiment is beneficial because it is highly unlikely that the float will move between the first and second positions unless forced to do so by the presence of water within the housing and rising level of that water within the housing, the housing is configured to prevent unwanted objects entering the housing.

It is preferred that the float is controlled in its movement within the housing. In one preferred embodiment the float is substantially a cylinder. It is preferred that the mouth and air escape for the container are provided with means to prevent the ingress of detritus, animals or insects into the housing. This is particularly desirable as there is otherwise a danger that something will enter the housing which will cause the water level sensor to fail to operate. For example; if the float is the actuation for the switch, a nest of insects may cause the float to become jammed in the first position. This is not desirable.

The means for preventing such ingressions are preferably either metal mesh, or a fibrous bung of some material that will not degrade in the conditions to which the flood detection is expected to be exposed.

I

The alarm for the apparatus of the present invention is preferably in the form of audio alarm such as a siren, bleeper or buzzer, a visual alarm such as flashing lights, or a communication apparatus that causes the transmission of a warning of potential flooding to a remote location. Such communication apparatus may be a dedicated printed circuit board or microchip configured or programmed so as to send a predetermined message to a predetermined location upon actuation of the switch in the water level sensor. In the latter embodiment, the alarm could connect directly with either a computer, or an electronic communication system such as a mobile telephone, or electronic mail system that operates on what is known as the internet, or World Wide Web.

The apparatus of the present invention may be provided as part of a kit for use by a building owner or occupier in which that kit contains one or more apparatus for flood detection as described above and at least one means for inhibiting entry of flood water into a building. Such a flood inhibition may be in the form of sandbags, or some form of water inhibiting flood door that may be placed across the apertures into the building to be protected.

The present invention will be further described and explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings above and below; FIGI -Shows a schematic layout of the apparatus and invention; FIG2 -Shows an embodiment of a water level detection method according to the present invention when in use, and; FIG3 -Shows a partially cut-away exploded view of the water level detection programmed printed circuit board.

Figure 1 shows the layout of the water detection actuating apparatus of the present invention and the layout of the receiving alarm apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows how the water detection actuating apparatus works in connection with two methods of alarm receiving apparatus' of the present invention i.e. the alarm, and the mobile telephone.

Figure 3 shows the actuating water detection apparatus' key internal components i.e. the power source [which may be one or more standard dry cell batteries, or hard wired electricity]. lithe power source is one or more cell batteries then the alarm receiving apparatus may operate on the same voltage. If however, the power source is mains electricity, then it is preferred to include circuitry to reduce the voltage for the water detection actuating apparatus. This reduction in voltage is appropriate for safety reasons. This is because the water level detection apparatus will be close to the ground, or perhaps slightly below ground level and as such accessible to animals and humans.

The alarm receiving apparatus includes circuitry [as per FIG2 picture 5 ghostedj that causes the alarm to produce whatever alarm signal that has been determined upon, for example an audio alarm [pictured FIG2 picture 4], a visual alarm [not shown], or a transmission of a warning to a remote location [pictured FIG2 picture 6] upon actuation of an electrical switch contained within the water detection apparatus [pictured F103].

The water detection apparatus comprises a hosing comprised of a tube and an end cap. The apparatus is mounted against a surface of a building by fixing screws as detailed in FIG3. The tube is orientated so the longitudinal axis of the tube and end cap is engaged with the end of the tube that is vertically uppermost. The open end of the tube is facing the ground! Preferably the tube is mounted in such a position that there is a gap between the lower end of the tube and the ground. That gap is preferably large enough to prevent the lower end of the tube being covered or blocked by detritus, fallen leaves, or other materials.

Within the housing of the actuating apparatus there is an electrical switch unit comprised of a float and a guide!switch housing. Within the switch housing is a magnetically actuated electrical switch which make or break an electrical connection or activate a communication which is communicated with the alarm receiving apparatus' as pictured in FIG2.

The float is substantially cylindrical with a narrow central axis bore. The bore is adapted to fit around the switch housing. The float may travel along the switch housing taking with it a ring magnet which is mounted on a float. When the ring magnet reaches the region of the switch housing this activates the communication. The switch is ensured that the float and ring magnet are not separated.

The tube of the actuating apparatus is provided with plurality of small diameter bores passing through the wall of the tube to allow the exit of air from the housing when water enters the housing through the open end of the tube. It is preferred though not illustrated that at least the open end of the tube and possibly bores as well as if they are of sufficient diameter to merit it, are fitted with some sort of screen or plug that allows the passage of water!gas but prevents the ingress of insects, small animals, or general detritus such as twigs and leaves.

In use when the water level in the region of building rises, flood water commences entry into the tube through the open end of the tube expelling air through bores. The float comes into contact with the surface of the rising flood water and rises with the flood water. The magnetic ring rises [with the float] into the region of the switch housing and causes an electrical connection to by way of actuating the switch. The making and or breaking of the switch causes alarm activation or communication to the alarm receiving apparatus. The occupier or owner of the building may then decide what course of action to take.

If the flood detection apparatus as described is part of a kit that also includes one or more means for blocking the doorway(s) of the building to the flow of water, that apparatus can be deployed in response to the alarm.

Claims

Claims 1. Apparatus for flood detection comprising of water level sensor, and an alarm, in which the water level sensor comprises a housing, and an electrical switch. The housing is configured to allow the entry of liquid from below the housing, and the switch and the alarm are in electrical communication with each other.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the switch includes a buoyant float element that may reversibly move between a first and second position in the housing, in which the float, in the absence of water within the housing, rests in the second position in the housing when the housing is at least partially full of water, and the movement of the float between the first and second positions actuates the switch.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which there is further provided a longitudinal guide element within the housing and the float is adapted to travel along the element between the first and second rest positions.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the float is attached to a first end of a lever, and the second end of the lever may pivot about a pivot point located on the housing.
5. Apparatus according to any of the claims 2 to 4 in which at least part of the float is magnetised and in which the switch is actuated by the movement of that magnetised part of the float moving into a predetermined region relative to the switch.
6. Apparatus according to claims 1 to 4 in which the switch includes a capacitated sensing device, and actuation of the switch occurs when the capacitance in the region of the sensing device changes.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which actuation of the switch occurs when there has been a predetermined amount of change in the capacitance in the region of the sensing device.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the switch includes first and second exposed electric conductors which are electrically isolated from each other, and in which actuation of the switch is caused by water within the housing creating an electrically conductive pathway between the conductors.
9. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the switch includes first and second electric conductors which are electrically isolated from each other, and which actuation of the switch is caused by the float creating an electrically conductive pathway between the conductors.
10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the housing is an open mouthed container, and in which the switch is mounted within the container, the housing is adapted and configured to be orientated in use with the open mouth facing downwards, and the container includes means to allow the escape of air from the mouth of the container if water is entering the container via the open mouth.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the mouth and air escape of the container are provided with a means to prevent the ingress of detritus, animals, or insects.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the ingress prevention is metal mesh or a fibrous bung.
13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claim in which the alarm is one or more of an audio alarm, a visual indicator, or an apparatus for electronically communicating with a remote location.
14. A kit for the protection from flooding including at least one apparatus for flood detection according to any preceding claim, and at least one means for inhibiting entry of water into a building.
15. A method of mitigating damage incurred by flooding of a building in which at least one apparatus for flood detection according to claims 1 to 13 is attached to or located adjacent to the outside of the building in a position vertically lower than the lowest aperture in the skin of the building, and the occupants or owners of the building are warned if the water level adjacent to the building is sufficient to actuate the switch in the apparatus for flood detection, and are thus provided with a warning of potential flooding by way of alarm, whether audio, visual or remote communication.