Alarm System for a Sump Pump Assembly

• US 20110085919A1
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Pumps Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Liberty Pumps Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, David M., Waldron, Ronald D., Goodenbery, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,500,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/63
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/02 Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/025 by means of floats
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/08 for submerged use
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0077 Safety measures F04D15/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0218 the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply

Abstract

An alarm system is provided for generating an alert when a water-powered sump pump is activated and water is being used by the water-powered sump pump. The alarm system includes a water sensor for detecting if water within a sump reaches the sensor and a housing for containing sensor electronics, wherein the water sensor is supported by the housing. In addition, a clamp is attached to the housing for releasably attaching the housing to a pipe such that the alarm system may be positioned to alert a user when water-powered sump pump is activated.

Claims

1. A water-powered sump pump assembly comprising:

a pump for evacuating water from a sump;

a suction pipe operatively attached to said pump, said suction pipe having an inlet end for drawing water out of said sump;

an alarm system for generating an alert when said water-powered sump pump is activated and water is being used by said water-powered sump pump, said alarm system comprising;

a water sensor for detecting if water within a sump reaches the sensor;

a housing for containing sensor electronics, said water sensor being supported by said housing;

a clamp attached to said housing, said clamp having a top edge and a bottom edge and being releasably attached to said suction pipe such that said alarm system may be positioned to alert a user when water-powered sump pump is activated.

2. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 1 wherein said suction pipe includes a foot valve having a ledge positioned on said inlet end of said suction pipe;

3. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 2, wherein a locating member extends from said bottom edge of said clamp for positioning of said water sensor at a predetermined position on said suction pipe, said locating member adapted to abut said ledge of said foot valve.

4. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 1, wherein said water sensor includes two parallel probe sensors that cause activation of said alarm system when water reaches each of the two probe sensors.

5. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 3 wherein said predetermined position on said suction pipe is a position where a water level within a sump basin will reach said alarm system prior to reaching an activation level of said sump pump.

6. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 1 further comprising an alarm panel.

7. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 6 wherein said alarm panel includes an audible signal and light that is activated when water level reaches the probe sensors.

8. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 7 wherein the alarm panel includes a rocker switch for silencing the audible signal.

9. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 1 wherein said clamp is incomplete cylinder that terminates in angled edges, leaving a gap therebetween.

10. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 1 wherein said clamp fits onto a suction pipe having a diameter of between one and one quarter and one and one half inches.

11. An alarm system for generating an alert when a water-powered sump pump is activated and water is being used by a water-powered sump pump, said alarm system comprising:

a water sensor for detecting if water within a sump reaches the sensor;

a housing for containing sensor electronics, said water sensor being supported by said housing;

a clamp attached to said housing, said clamp having a top edge and a bottom edge and being releasably attached to said suction pipe such that said alarm system may be positioned to alert a user when water-powered sump pump is activated.

12. The alarm system of claim 11 wherein said claim includes a locating member extending from said bottom edge of said clamp for positioning of said water sensor at a predetermined position on said suction pipe, said locating member adapted to abut a ledge formed on a foot valve of said suction pipe.

13. The alarm system of claim 11, wherein said water sensor includes two parallel probe sensors that cause activation of said alarm system when water reaches each of the two probe sensors.

14. The alarm system of claim 12 wherein said predetermined position on said suction pipe is a position where a water level within a sump basin will reach said alarm system prior to reaching an activation level of a sump pump.

15. The alarm system of claim 11 further comprising an alarm panel.

16. The alarm system of claim 15 wherein said alarm panel includes an audible signal and light that is activated when water level reaches the probe sensors.

17. The alarm system of claim 16 wherein the alarm panel includes a rocker switch for silencing the audible signal.

18. The alarm system of claim 11 wherein said clamp is incomplete cylinder that terminates in angled edges, leaving a gap therebetween.

19. The alarm system of claim 11 wherein said clamp fits onto a suction pipe having a diameter of between one and one quarter and one and one half inches.

20. A water-powered sump pump assembly comprising:

a pump for evacuating water from a sump;

a suction pipe having an inlet end with a foot valve positioned thereon;

an alarm system for generating an alert when said water-powered sump pump is activated and water is being used by said water-powered sump pump, said alarm system comprising;

a water sensor for detecting if water within a sump reaches the sensor;

a housing for containing sensor electronics, said water sensor extending downwardly from said housing;

a clamp attached to said housing, said clamp having a top edge and a bottom edge and being releasably attached to said suction pipe;

a locating member extending from said bottom edge of said clamp for positioning of said water sensor at a predetermined position on said suction pipe, said locating member adapted to abut said foot valve of said suction pipe.

21. The sump pump assembly of claim 20, wherein said water sensor includes two parallel probe sensors that cause activation of said alarm system when water reaches each of the two probe sensors.

22. The sump pump assembly of claim 20 further comprising an alarm panel.

23. The sump pump assembly of claim 20 wherein said predetermined position on said suction pipe is a position where a water level within a sump basin reaches said alarm system prior to reaching an activation level of said sump pump.

24. The sump pump assembly of claim 22 wherein said alarm panel includes an audible signal and light that is activated when the water level reaches the probes.

25. The sump pump assembly of claim 24 wherein the alarm panel includes a rocker switch for silencing the audible signal.

26. The sump pump assembly of claim 20 wherein said clamp is incomplete cylinder that terminates in angled edges, leaving a gap therebetween.

27. The sump pump assembly of claim 20 wherein said clamp fits onto a suction pipe having a diameter of between one and one quarter and one and one half inches.

28. A water-powered sump pump assembly comprising:

a pump for evacuating water from a sump;

a suction pipe operatively attached to said pump, said suction pipe having an inlet end for drawing water out of said sump;

a float switch, said float switch comprising a buoyant body, a shaft, and a switch activating member mounted to said shaft, wherein said float switch is adapted to activate said sump pump assembly when a water level reaches an activation level;

an alarm system for generating an alert when said water-powered sump pump is activated and water is being used by said water-powered sump pump, said alarm system comprising;

an alarm switch positioned to be selectively activated by the switch activating member; and

an alarm panel, wherein the alarm switch activates the alarm panel when the switch activating member is in a position consistent with the activation level the pump assembly.

29. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 28, wherein the switch activating member is a disk.

30. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 28, wherein the switch activating member is a float operated magnet.

31. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 30 wherein the switch activating member is a float operated magnet and the alarm switch is a magnetically operated switch for detecting the position of the float operated magnet.

32. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 31, wherein the magnetically operated switch is selected from the group consisting of a reed switch and a Hall Effect switch.

33. The water-powered sump pump assembly of claim 31, wherein the magnetically operated switch is mounted on a shroud enclosing the float operated magnet.

34. An alarm system for use in a water-powered sump pump assembly having a float switch with a buoyant body, a shaft, and a switch activating member mounted to said shaft, wherein said float switch is adapted to activate said sump pump assembly when a water level reaches an activation level, said alarm system adapted to alert an owner when water is being used by said water-powered sump pump assembly, said alarm system comprising:

an alarm switch positioned to be selectively activated by the switch activating member; and

an alarm panel, wherein the alarm switch activates the alarm panel when the switch activating member is in a position consistent with the activation level the pump assembly.

35. The alarm system of claim 34, wherein the switch activating member is a disk.

36. The alarm system of claim 34, wherein the switch activating member is a float operated magnet.

37. The alarm system of claim 36, wherein the switch activating member is a float operated magnet and the alarm switch is a magnetically operated switch for detecting the position of the float operated magnet.

38. The alarm system of claim 37, wherein the magnetically operated switch is selected from the group consisting of a reed switch and a Hall Effect switch.

39. The alarm system of claim 37, wherein the magnetically operated switch is mounted on a shroud enclosing the float operated magnet.