FLOAT LEVEL CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 3,746,035 A
• Filed: 03/24/1971
• Issued: 07/17/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ernst Singer
• Original Assignee: Ernst Singer
• Inventors: Singer, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matthews, David R.
• Application Number:
  US05/127,670
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 137/412,413,416,418,419,422,424,425,434 251/65 73/307,308,317,318,322.5 200/84R,84B,84C
• US Class Current: 137/416
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/08 using a permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 33/00 Floats for actuation of valves or other apparatus float actuated valves F16K31/18
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7381 Quick acting

Abstract

Level control apparatus including a float chamber connected to a vertically adjustable anchor point so that the chamber swings between an upper position and a lower position as the level of the liquid in which the chamber is located rises and falls. An operating unit or ball moves back and forth along a passage connected to the float chamber as the attitude of the latter changes, to operate control means during this movement.

Claims

1. Level control apparatus comprising a float chamber adapted to be placed in a body of liquid, means secured to the chamber for swingably connecting the chamber to an anchor point, said chamber swinging between an upper position and a lower position as the level of the liquid rises and falls, an elongated passage connected to the float chamber so as to move between an upwardly inclined position and a downwardly inclined position as the chamber swings between said upper and lower positions, a ball in the passage adapted to roll back and forth in said passage under gravity respectively towards opposite ends of said passage during said movement thereof, means near each of the opposite ends of the passage for resisting movement of the ball away from said each end until the float chamber has moved a predetermined distance to cause said movement, and control means operated by the ball as the latter moves from one end of the passage to the other end thereof.

2. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said ball is a metal ball, and said resisting means comprises magnet means near each of the opposite ends of said passage for resisting movement of the ball away from said each end.

3. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including means releasably gripping the magnet means near each end of the passage, whereby the position of each magnet means can be adjusted longitudinally of said passage.

4. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said control means comprises an electric switch having an operating lever projecting into the passage to be moved by the ball as the latter moves along the passage and thereby operate the switch.

5. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said control means comprises an air control having a small orifice opening into the passage near an end thereof, said operating unit when the latter is near said one end of the passage covering said orifice, and uncovering the latter when the operating unit is moved away from said one end.

6. Control apparatus as claImed in claim 5 including means for circulating air through said orifice, and a pressure sensitive control device operatively exposed to said circulating air, whereby when the operating unit covers the orifice a back pressure is created in said circulating air and causes said pressure sensitive device to operate.

7. Level control apparatus comprising a float chamber adapted to be placed in a body of liid, means secured to the chamber for swingably connecting the chamber to an anchor point, said chamber swinging between an upper position and a lower position as the level of the liquid rises and falls, an elongated passage connected to the float chamber so as to move between an upwardly inclined position and a downwardly inclined position as the chamber swings between said upper and lower positions, an operating unit in the passage adapted to move under gravity respectively towards opposite ends of said passage during said movement thereof, and control means operated by the operating unit as the latter moves from one end of the passage to the other end thereof, said control means comprising an air control having a small orifice opening into the passage near an end thereof, said operating unit when the latter is near said one end of the passage covering said orifice, and uncovering the latter when the operating unit is moved away from said one end.

8. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including means for circulating air through said orifice, and a pressure sensitive control devicy operatively exposed to said circulating air, whereby when the operating unit covers the orifice a back pressure is created in said circulating air and causes said pressure sensitive device to operate.