Fluid level activated float switch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fluid level responsive switch apparatus comprising:
- (a) a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, said tubular member having first and second spaced apart, parallel end walls joined thereto and defining a sealed raceway having a floor surface;
(b) a first and second elongated contact elements extending parallel to one another and aligned with said transverse axis and at a first predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface;
(c) a third elongated contact element positioned adjacent to said first end wall at a second predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface;
(d) a fourth elongated contact element positioned adjacent to said first end wall at a second predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface;
(d) a fourth elongated contact element positioned adjacent to said second end wall at said second predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface;
(e) a conductive ball member disposed in said sealed raceway and movable along said longitudinal axis between said first and second end walls to occupy one of a high fluid level position, an intermediate fluid level position and a low fluid level position depending upon the angle of inclination of said longitudinal axis relative to the horizontal, said ball member in said high fluid level position electrically bridging said first and third contact elements, said ball member in said intermediate fluid level position bridging said first and second contact elements, and said ball member in said low fluid level bridging said second and fourth contact elements;
(f) a motor control circuit means electrically coupled to said first, second, third and fourth contact elements for controlling the on-off state of an electric motor, said motor control circuit including;
i. an alternating current supply;
ii. a control relay having at least a first and a second normally open contact, said control relay being connected to said alternating current supply when said ball member is in said low fluid level position and said control relay being disconnected from said alternating current when said ball member is in said high fluid level position; and
(g) means mounting said tubular member to a buoyant object such that said angle of inclination varies in accordance with a fluid level.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid level responsive switch apparatus used in a tank to monitor fluid level in the tank. The apparatus has a float buoy attached to a tilt switch containing three conductors activated by a conductive sphere. The first conductor activates the fluid controller for restoring fluid to the tank when the conductive sphere is in a low fluid level position, the second conductor delays the switching between the activating and deactivating conductors when the conductive sphere is in an intermediate level position and the third conductor deactivates the controller when the conductive sphere is in a high fluid level position.
28 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A fluid level responsive switch apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, said tubular member having first and second spaced apart, parallel end walls joined thereto and defining a sealed raceway having a floor surface; (b) a first and second elongated contact elements extending parallel to one another and aligned with said transverse axis and at a first predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface; (c) a third elongated contact element positioned adjacent to said first end wall at a second predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface; (d) a fourth elongated contact element positioned adjacent to said first end wall at a second predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface; (d) a fourth elongated contact element positioned adjacent to said second end wall at said second predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface; (e) a conductive ball member disposed in said sealed raceway and movable along said longitudinal axis between said first and second end walls to occupy one of a high fluid level position, an intermediate fluid level position and a low fluid level position depending upon the angle of inclination of said longitudinal axis relative to the horizontal, said ball member in said high fluid level position electrically bridging said first and third contact elements, said ball member in said intermediate fluid level position bridging said first and second contact elements, and said ball member in said low fluid level bridging said second and fourth contact elements; (f) a motor control circuit means electrically coupled to said first, second, third and fourth contact elements for controlling the on-off state of an electric motor, said motor control circuit including; i. an alternating current supply; ii. a control relay having at least a first and a second normally open contact, said control relay being connected to said alternating current supply when said ball member is in said low fluid level position and said control relay being disconnected from said alternating current when said ball member is in said high fluid level position; and (g) means mounting said tubular member to a buoyant object such that said angle of inclination varies in accordance with a fluid level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 18)
-
-
7. A fluid level responsive switch apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, said tubular member having first and second spaced apart, parallel end walls joined thereto and defining a sealed raceway having a floor surface; (b) a first and second elongated contact elements extending parallel to said end walls and aligned with said transverse axis and at a first predetermined elevation from said floor surface; (c) a third elongated contact element positioned adjacent to said first end wall at a second predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface; (d) a fourth elongated contact element positioned adjacent to said second end wall at said second predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface; (e) a conductive ball member is disposed in said sealed raceway and moveable along said longitudinal axis between said first and second end walls to occupy one of a high fluid level position, an intermediate fluid level position and a low fluid level position depending upon the angle of inclination of said longitudinal axis relative to the horizontal, said ball member in said high fluid level position electrically bridging said first and third contact elements, and said ball member in said intermediate fluid level position bridging said first and second contact elements, and said wall member in said low fluid level position bridging said second and fourth contact elements; (f) means mounting said tubular member to a buoyant object such that angle of inclination varies in accordance with a fluid level; and (g) a motor control means electrically coupled to said first, second, third and fourth contact elements for controlling the on-off state of an electric motor, said motor control circuit including; i. an alternating current supply; ii. a control relay having at least a first latching contact and a second latching contact, said control relay being connected to said alternating current supply when said ball member is in said low fluid level position and said control relay being disconnected from said alternating current when said ball member is in said high fluid level position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A fluid level responsive switch apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a casing having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, said casing having first and second spaced apart, parallel end walls joined thereto and defining a sealed raceway having a floor surface; (b) a first elongate contact element extending parallel to said end walls and aligned with said transverse axis and at a first predetermined elevation from said floor surface; (c) a second elongated contact element positioned adjacent to said first end wall at a second predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface; (d) a third elongated contact element positioned adjacent to said second end wall at said second predetermined elevation relative to said floor surface; (e) a conductive ball member disposed in said sealed raceway and movable along said longitudinal axis between said first and second end walls to occupy one of a high fluid level position and a low fluid level position depending upon the angle of inclination of said longitudinal axis relative to the horizontal, said ball member in said high fluid level position electrically bridging said first and second contact elements, and said ball member in said low fluid level position bridging said first and second contact elements; and (f) means mounting said tubular member to a buoyant object such that said angle of inclination varies in accordance with a fluid level. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification