Rainfall actuated switching apparatus

• US 3,309,474 A
• Filed: 01/25/1966
• Issued: 03/14/1967
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1966
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heinrich, Elmer G.
• Original Assignee: Heinrich, Elmer G.
• Inventors: Heinrich, Elmer G.
• Application Number:
  US04/522,951
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• US Class Current: 200/61.07
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/00 Switches operated by change of a physical condition operated by change of magnetic or electric field H01H36/00; thermally-actuated switches H01H37/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7355 In gravitating tank

Claims

1. A RAINFALL-ACTUATED SWITCHING APPARATUS COMPRISING:

A BRACKET;

A LEVER;

MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID LEVER ON SAID BRACKET FOR SWINGING OF THE LEVER THROUGH A VERTICAL PLANE;

A CUP;

READILY RELEASABLE STRUCTURE SECURING SAID CUP TO THE LEVER AT ANY ONE OF A NUMBER OF POSITIONS ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID LEVER, EACH OF SAID POSITIONS CORRESPONDING TO A SELECTIVE DEPTH OF RAINFALL, THE OPEN END OF THE CUP NORMALLY BEING DISPOSED UPWARDLY;

A BALANCING ELEMENT CONNECTED TO SAID LEVER TO NORMALLY YIELDABLY DISPOSE THE CUP IN AN UPPER OPERATING POSITION;

AND A SWITCH POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID LEVER AND ACTUATED THEREBY WHEN THE LEVER AND CUP ARE PIVOTED AGAINST THE RESISTANCE OF SAID BALANCING ELEMENT FROM THE CUP'"'"''"'"'S UPPER OPERATING POSITION TO A PREDETERMINED LOWER OPERATING POSITION IN RESPONSE TO THE WEIGHT OF RAIN FALLING INTO SAID CUP.