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An apparatus and method for a fluid leak detection and shutdown for a fluid distribution system having a total system flow rate. The apparatus includes a solenoid shutoff valve having a normally open state and an activated closed state with a flow capacity matched to the total fluid distribution sys

An apparatus and method for a fluid leak detection and shutdown for a fluid distribution system having a total system flow rate. The apparatus includes a solenoid shutoff valve having a normally open state and an activated closed state with a flow capacity matched to the total fluid distribution system flow rate. The apparatus also has a primary fluid flow line and a smaller capacity secondary fluid flow line. The apparatus includes a flow sensor in fluid communication with the secondary fluid flow line, wherein the flow sensor has a perceptible output and a flow rate capacity less than the solenoid shutoff flow capacity. Operationally, the flow sensor receives a portion of the solenoid shutoff valve flow capacity in priority over the primary fluid flow line, allowing the flow sensor to detect minimal flow rates and using the perceptible output to activate the solenoid shutoff valve into the closed state.

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1. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus for a fluid distribution system having a total fluid distribution system flow rate, said fluid distribution system having an inlet and an outlet, said fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus comprising: (a) a solenoid shutoff valve having a valve

1. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus for a fluid distribution system having a total fluid distribution system flow rate, said fluid distribution system having an inlet and an outlet, said fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus comprising: (a) a solenoid shutoff valve having a valve inlet and an opposing valve outlet along a longitudinal axis, said solenoid shutoff valve having a flow capacity substantially matched to the total fluid distribution system flow rate, said solenoid shutoff valve is adapted to be in fluid communication downstream from the fluid distribution system inlet, said solenoid shutoff valve having an open operational state that allows fluid flow therethrough and a closed operational state that substantially precludes fluid flow therethrough, said solenoid shutoff valve having a default deactivated position of being in said open operational state and said solenoid shutoff valve having an activated position of being in said closed operational state;(b) a housing that is positioned about said longitudinal axis, said housing having a housing inlet and an oppositely disposed housing outlet both along said longitudinal axis, wherein said housing inlet is in fluid communication with said valve outlet and said housing outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid distribution system inlet, a fluid communication path along said longitudinal axis includes said solenoid shutoff valve and said housing that forms a primary fluid flow line having a lengthwise axis that is co-incident to said longitudinal axis, said primary fluid flow line having a primary fluid flow line cross sectional flow area associated with a primary fluid flow rate, said housing having a housing inlet bore extending inward from said housing inlet and said housing having a housing outlet bore extending inward from said housing outlet wherein a circumferential stepped seat is formed at an interface of said housing inlet bore and said housing outlet bore that are in fluid communication with one another, further said housing has an inlet magnet bore that is positioned about a long axis that is parallel to and offset from said lengthwise axis, said inlet magnet bore is in fluid communication with a secondary fluid flow line defined as a flow sensor inlet that is in fluid communication with said housing inlet bore, said housing further has an outlet magnet bore that is positioned about said long axis that is parallel to and offset from said lengthwise axis, said outlet magnet bore is in fluid communication with a secondary fluid flow line defined as a flow sensor outlet that is in fluid communication with said housing outlet bore, wherein an circumferential stepped shoulder is formed at an interface of said inlet magnet bore and said magnet outlet bore that are in fluid communication with one another;(c) a poppet in the form of a disc wherein said poppet has an outer periphery that is removably engaged to said housing stepped seat, said poppet has a poppet open operational state wherein said outer periphery is separated from said stepped seat and a poppet closed operational state wherein said outer periphery is in contact with said stepped seat;(d) a poppet spring disposed between said poppet and said housing, wherein said poppet spring urges said outer periphery to be in contact with said stepped seat thus placing said poppet in said poppet closed operational state, wherein operationally said poppet closed operational state substantially precludes all fluid flow in said primary fluid flow line and said poppet open operational state allows fluid flow in said primary fluid flow line;(e) a magnet that is slidably engaged to said housing outlet magnet bore, said magnet having a magnet closed state when said magnet is in contact with said housing shoulder and said magnet having a magnet open state when said magnet is separated from said housing shoulder,(f) a magnet spring disposed between said magnet and said housing, wherein said magnet spring urges said magnet to be in contact with said housing shoulder thus placing said magnet in said magnet closed state, wherein operationally said magnet closed state substantially precludes all fluid flow in said secondary fluid flow line and said magnet open state allows fluid flow in said secondary fluid flow line;(g) a magnetic switch that is affixed to said housing such that said magnetic switch is placed into a magnetic switch open state when said magnet is in said magnet closed state and said magnetic switch is placed into a magnetic switch closed state when said magnet is in said magnet open state, wherein operationally said poppet in said poppet closed operational state diverts all initial fluid flow from said housing inlet primary fluid flow line to said secondary fluid flow line to create pressure force against said magnet and said magnet spring urging while said magnet is in said magnet closed state, when a first threshold secondary fluid flow line low flow rate is achieved said magnet spring urging is overcome moving said magnet from said magnet closed state to said magnet open state thus placing said magnetic switch from said magnetic switch open state to said magnetic switch closed state to create a flow sensor perceptible output, wherein when said housing inlet primary fluid flow line reaches a second threshold primary fluid flow line high flow rate said poppet goes from said poppet closed state to said poppet open state to allow fluid communication therethrough said primary fluid flow line from said housing inlet to said housing outlet; and(h) a means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve based on said flow sensor perceptible output. 2. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said magnet to housing outlet magnet bore slidable engagement has a clearance as between said magnet and said housing outlet magnet bore of about twenty-five (25%) of a magnet dimension perpendicular to said long axis. 3. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said magnet spring is equal to or less than in size to said magnet dimension perpendicular to said long axis to operationally remove said magnet spring from impeding said first threshold secondary fluid flow line low flow rate around said magnet. 4. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve further includes timing circuitry that is operable upon selectable activation to set a discrete time delay signal and control circuitry that is operative to monitor said discrete time delay signal after a flow sensor signal from said flow sensor perceptible output, wherein said control circuitry will send an activation signal to activate said solenoid shutoff valve into said closed operational state after said time delay. 5. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve further includes temperature sensing circuitry adjacent to said solenoid shutoff valve that generates a temperature signal upon reaching a temperature set-point and control circuitry that is operative to monitor said temperature signal, wherein said control circuitry will send an error perceptible output upon said temperature signal. 6. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve further includes fluid leakage sensing circuitry disposed on said fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus, said fluid leakage sensing circuitry that generates a leakage signal upon detecting fluid leakage and control circuitry that is operative to monitor said leakage signal, wherein said control circuitry will send an error perceptible output upon said leakage signal. 7. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve further includes modem circuitry and control circuitry that is operative to generate a dialer control signal upon said activation of said solenoid valve, wherein said modem circuitry is operable to receive said dialer control signal control to send a notification to an external communications system. 8. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve further includes temperature sensing circuitry adjacent to said solenoid shutoff valve that generates a temperature signal upon reaching a temperature set-point and control circuitry that is operative to monitor said temperature signal, wherein said control circuitry will send an error perceptible output upon said temperature signal and said means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve further includes fluid leakage sensing circuitry disposed on fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus, said fluid leakage sensing circuitry that generates a leakage signal upon detecting fluid leakage and control circuitry that is operative to monitor said leakage signal, wherein said control circuitry will send an error perceptible output upon said leakage signal. 9. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve further includes modem circuitry and control circuitry that is operative to generate a dialer control signal upon said control circuitry receiving said temperature signal or said leakage signal, wherein said modem circuitry is operable to receive said dialer control signal control to send a notification to an external communications system. 10. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve further includes a selectable reset circuit that has a normally open circuit operational state and a selectable momentary closed circuit operational state, wherein operationally said selectable reset circuit in said closed circuit operational state resets said solenoid shutoff valve from said activated state to said deactivated state. 11. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve further includes a selectable reset circuit that has a normally open circuit operational state and a selectable momentary closed circuit operational state, wherein operationally said selectable reset circuit in said closed circuit operational state resets said control circuitry to re-read said temperature signal or said leakage signal. 12. A fluid leak detection and shutdown apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for activating said solenoid shutoff valve further includes cell phone circuitry and control circuitry that is operative to generate a text signal upon said control circuitry receiving said temperature signal or said leakage signal, wherein said cell phone circuitry is operable to receive said text to send a notification to an external communications system.