Leak detection systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460985-B1
Application number	US-202117550680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 14, 2021
Priority date	Dec 21, 2020
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A leak detection system includes a leak detection sensor assembly configured to be positioned on or within a component of a building. The leak detection sensor assembly includes multiple electrical conductors, an output device, and a fluid-absorber in contact with the multiple electrical conductors and the output device. The multiple electrical conductors, the output device, and the fluid-absorber are configured to define a closed electrical circuit with fluid present at the fluid-absorber and are configured to define an open electrical circuit without the fluid present at the fluid-absorber.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A leak detection system, comprising:
a leak detection sensor assembly configured to be positioned on or within a roofing shingle of a building, the leak detection sensor assembly comprising:
a plurality of electrical conductors;
an output device; and
a fluid-absorber in contact with the plurality of electrical conductors and the output device, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors, the output device, and the fluid-absorber are configured to define a closed electrical circuit with a first volume of fluid present at the fluid-absorber and are configured to define an open electrical circuit with less than the first volume of fluid present at the fluid-absorber, and wherein the fluid-absorber comprises a hydrochromic material that is configured to change colors with a second volume of fluid present at the fluid-absorber;
wherein the output device is configured to provide a first output in response to a change of color of the hydrochromic material and to provide a second output in response to the closed electrical circuit.

2 . The leak detection system of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a light emitter, and the first output, the second output, or both comprises light.

3 . The leak detection system of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a speaker, and the first output, the second output, or both comprises an audible alert.

4 . The leak detection system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-absorber, the plurality of electrical conductors, and the output device are supported by a single housing that is configured to couple to the roofing shingle of the building.

5 . The leak detection system of claim 4 , wherein the single housing comprises a window to enable visualization of the hydrochromic material through the window while the housing is coupled to the roofing shingle of the building.

6 . The leak detection system of claim 1 , comprising one or more processors that are configured to detect the closed electrical circuit based on a change in a resistance and to instruct display of a notification via a display.

7 . The leak detection system of claim 1 , wherein the leak detection system is positioned underneath the roofing shingle of the building.

8 . The leak detection system of claim 1 , wherein the hydrochromic material is applied over a surface of the fluid-absorber.

9 . The leak detection system of claim 1 , wherein the output device is configured to provide the first output when the second volume of fluid is present at the fluid-absorber; and wherein the output device is configured to provide the second output when the first volume of fluid is present at the hydrochromic material.

10 . A leak detection sensor assembly, comprising:
a housing configured to be positioned on or within a roofing shingle of a building; a plurality of electrical conductors supported within the housing; a fluid-absorber supported within the housing in contact with the plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors and the fluid-absorber are configured to define a closed electrical circuit with fluid present at the fluid-absorber and are configured to define an open electrical circuit without the fluid present at the fluid-absorber; a hydrochromic material supported within the housing and configured to exhibit a change in color with fluid present at the hydrochromic material; a detector supported within the housing and configured to generate data indicative of the change in color; processing circuitry within the housing and configured to process the data to determine an occurrence of the change in color; and an output device supported by the housing, wherein the output device is configured to provide a first output in response to the processing circuitry determining a change of color of the hydrochromic material and to provide a second output in response to the processing circuitry determining the closed electrical circuit.

11 . The leak detection sensor assembly of claim 10 , comprising a battery supported within the housing and configured to provide power to the detector, the processing circuitry, and the output device.

12 . The leak detection sensor assembly of claim 10 , comprising a wireless communication component configured to transmit an indication of the occurrence of the change in color to a user device.

13 . The leak detection sensor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a window to enable visualization of the hydrochromic material through the window while the housing is coupled to the roofing shingle of the building.

14 . A leak detection system, comprising:
a computing system comprising one or more processors; and a plurality of leak detection sensor assemblies, wherein a first leak detection sensor assembly of the plurality of leak detection sensor assemblies comprises:
a housing configured to be coupled to a roofing shingle of a building;
a hydrochromic material supported within the housing and configured to exhibit a change in color with fluid present at the hydrochromic material;
a detector supported within the housing and configured to generate data indicative of the change in color; and
a wireless communication component configured to wirelessly transmit the data indicative of the change in color to the computing system;
a plurality of electrical conductors supported within the housing;
an output device supported within the housing; and
a fluid-absorber in contact with the plurality of electrical conductors and the output device, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors, the output device, and the fluid-absorber are configured to define a closed electrical circuit with fluid present at the fluid-absorber and are configured to define an open electrical circuit without the fluid present at the fluid-absorber;
wherein the output device is configured to provide a first output in response to a change of color of the hydrochromic material and to provide a second output in response to the closed electrical circuit;
wherein the one or more processors are configured to create and to instruct display of a map that indicates a leak at a location of the first leak detection sensor assembly in response to receipt of the data indicative of the change in color at the computing system.

15 . The leak detection system of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is transparent to enable visualization of the hydrochromic material through the portion of the housing.

16 . The leak detection system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
detect the closed electrical circuit based on a change in a resistance; and create and to instruct display of the map that indicates an additional leak at a respective location of the second leak detection sensor assembly in response to detecting the closed electrical circuit.

17 . The leak detection system of claim 14 , wherein the output device is configured to automatically provide the first output and the second output.

18 . The leak detection system of claim 14 , wherein the first output and the second output are visible, audible, or both at an exterior of the housing.

Assignees

• Usaa

Inventors

• Hansen Gregory David
• Buentello Andre Rene
• Romero Jr Jose L
• Schuessler Nina
• Alava Galo M

Classifications

• G08B21/182

  Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold · CPC title

• E04D13/00

  Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; {Protection against birds;} Roof drainage {; Sky-lights} (ventilation tiles E04D1/30; ventilation slabs E04D3/40; internal channels E04F17/00) · CPC title

• G08B21/20

  responsive to moisture · CPC title

• G01M3/26

  by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors · CPC title

• E04D13/006

  Provisions for detecting water leakage · CPC title