Sump alarm

• US 5,793,294 A
• Filed: 09/18/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Louis F. Schepka
• Original Assignee: Louis F. Schepka
• Inventors: Schepka, Louis F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US08/529,362
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 340/616, 340/612, 340/618, 340/620, 340/604, 340/450, 73/304 R, 73/290 R
• US Class Current: 340/616
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/242 Mounting arrangements for electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/243 Schematic arrangements of probes combined with measuring circuits

Abstract

A galvanic cell is formed when ground water within a sump reservoir, tub or other pool, rises to contact electrodes constructed of dissimilar metals, the electrodes mounted in a bridge, with recessing, expansion brackets, to facilitate covering the sump hole and including an alarm device adapted to provide a warning signal should the water level exceed a predetermined level to contact the electrodes.

Claims

1. A water level detection probe that includes a galvanic cell for sump pumps having a sump reservoir in a sump hole with a sump hole liner forming a sump well to accumulate excess water and for installation of a submersible sump pump in a bottom portion of the well, and a discharge conduit to direct an excess accumulation of water to an outside external drain, the detection probe comprising:

an alarm activation circuitry including a battery operated, solid state alarm device to operate the probe in the event of a prolonged power loss, the alarm having an input threshold;

the probe comprising first and second electrodes suspended in a fixed, essentially parallel position over the well, and extending an essentially equal length into the well;

wherein said first electrode comprises an aluminum rod and the second electrode comprises a brass rod, and each electrode communicating on the circuit with the alarm device for generating a voltage of 0.576 volts DC, due to the ionic differential between the aluminum rod and brass rod electrodes, when excess water of the sump well simultaneously contacts both of the electrodes, whereby the probe provides a water level detection and alarm system for sump wells that remains in a fixed position over the well, that has no moving parts, and that does not impede reuse by requirement for relocation and resetting following a use thereof;

means for suspending the liquid level detection probe in a recessed position near a top of the sump well, for positioning a sump hole cover over the well without interference with the probe, whereby said probe enables well closure and prevents escape of fluids from the well without warning; and

,

means for adjusting the suspending means to fit any size sump hole.

2. A water level detection probe according to claim 1, wherein the sump reservoir contains a volume of ground water containing ions which form an ionic media and a galvanic cell when said ground water contacts both said dissimilar metal electrodes, with an automatic voltage output signal to the alarm, whereby said probe is advantageous for self-activating and de-activating operation without a requirement for manual monitoring for use thereof.

3. A water level detection probe according to claim 2, wherein said electrodes in contact with the ionic media generate a voltage of 0.576 volts DC concomitant with said simultaneous contact, without a necessity for complete immersion of said electrodes in the media.

4. A water level detection probe according to claim 3, wherein the power source comprises a wall mounted battery that is associated with the alarm and positioned above a highest expected water level, to provide a standby voltage for the alarm to offer protection when a power failure occurs, the battery having a range from 7 volts to 11 volts.

5. A liquid level detection probe according to claim 4, wherein the alarm device has an input voltage threshold and when the voltage threshold is exceeded, an audible alarm is sounded.

6. A liquid level detection probe according to claim 5, wherein the input voltage threshold of the alarm device equals 0.1 volts.

7. A water level detection probe according to claim 5, wherein the means for suspending the liquid level detection probe over the sump well comprises a support bracket assembly that spans the sump well and includes a plastic bridge having two ends, each of the ends connected to a repositionable recessed mounting bracket piece, for insulated positioning of said first and second electrodes in the bridge.

8. A water level detection probe galvanic cell according to claim 7, wherein the plastic bridge is formed as an elongate bar 11.5 inches long, 2 inches wide and 3/8 of an inch thick.

9. A water level detection probe according to claim 7, wherein the bridge further comprises a hole drilled therethrough at each bridge end.

10. A water level detection probe according to claim 9, wherein the means for adjusting the suspending means to fit any size sump hole comprises each said mounting bracket piece forming a stepped support bracket rotatably positioned at each end of the bridge and held in place by fastener bolts through said holes of the bridge ends.

11. A water level detection probe according to claim 10, wherein the system produces a zero volts when the ground water does not contact the electrodes;

and the voltage generated when the level of the ground water rises to simultaneously contact the electrodes is 0.576 volts DC immediately upon said contact of the water with said electrodes, whereby the detection probe automatically returns to zero volts following an alarm and a removal of excess water from the well and is thereby advantageous for being repetitively operable without impeding reuse by any requirement of a voltmeter for resetting the probe at zero volts.

12. A water level detection probe according to claim 11, wherein each of the electrodes has a width, and the width of the first aluminum electrode is essentially equal to the width of the second brass electrode.

13. A water level detection probe according to claim 12, wherein said first electrode comprises a lengthwise dimension in a range from 5 to 7 inches and a diameter in a range from 0.150 to 0.200 inches and the second electrode comprises a lengthwise dimension in a range from 5 to 7 inches and a diameter ranging from 0.150 to 0.200 inches.

14. A water level detection probe according to claim 13, wherein each said mounting bracket piece is constructed of aluminum.

15. A water level detection probe according to claim 14, wherein each said mounting bracket piece is dimensioned to recess the bridge 2 inches into the sump well.

16. A water level detection probe according to claim 15, further comprising a pair of insulated conductors each of said conductor pair serving to connect the first aluminum rod and second brass rod electrodes to the alarm.

17. A water level detection probe according to claim 16, wherein the alarm device is mounted to a wall in an area remote from the sump reservoir and well above a highest anticipated water level of the ground water.

18. A water level detection probe according to claim 17, further comprising an alarm module having a protective resistor and a transistor in communication with the alarm device and the aluminum electrode.

19. A water level detection probe according to claim 18, wherein the transistor is a negative-positive-negative, NPN, transistor that includes an emitter, a base, and emitter-collector junctions, and the aluminum rod connects to the emitter.

20. A water level detection probe according to claim 19, wherein the power source is a battery having a positive and a negative terminal, and the brass rod connects to the positive terminal through the base of the NPN transistor via the resistor.

21. A water level detection probe according to claim 20, wherein the alarm device connects to the collector of the transistor and to the positive terminal of the battery, whereby when the water rises to contact and bridge the electrodes a voltage comprising 0.576 volts is generated to the base of the transistor that saturates the emitter-collector functions to activate the alarm.

22. A method for detecting that a volume of water within a reservoir has exceeded a predetermined water level, comprising the steps of:

providing a liquid level detection probe comprising a galvanic cell for sump pumps having a sump reservoir that contains a volume of ground water having a water level and further containing ions which form an ionic media;

an alarm activation circuitry including an alarm device, an input threshold of 0.1 volts and a power source;

the probe comprising a first aluminum rod electrode and a second brass rod electrode, each of the electrodes communicating on the circuit with the alarm device;

positioning the liquid level detection probe for sump pumps over a sump reservoir;

contacting the first aluminum rod and second brass rod electrodes in an ionic media when the sump reservoir volume of ground water rises above a predetermined level;

generating a voltage by a galvanic action of the aluminum rod and brass rod electrodes, when the electrodes contact an ionic media; and

,

activating the alarm device.

23. In a sump alarm system composed of two electrodes comprising an aluminum rod and a brass rod and an audible alarm circuitry connected thereto, the improvement comprising means for suspending the two electrodes in a sump reservoir, said means consisting essentially of an elongated non-conductive bar, a stepped support bracket rotationally attached to each end of the bar, and means to hold each of the brackets in place when the electrodes are positioned in a sump reservoir.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the non-conductive bar is plastic, and the stepped support brackets are aluminum.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein each support bracket is secured to the bar by a nut and bolt.

26. In combination, a sump comprising a sump reservoir, a sump pump, an external sump drain, and a sump alarm for detecting a high water level in the sump reservoir, the sump alarm including a detector comprising a first aluminum electrode and a second brass electrode, each of the electrodes parallel, spaced from one another, and extending an essentially equal distance into the well;

and,

an adjustable suspending means for the electrodes comprising an insulated plastic bridge, and repositionable support brackets bolted to each end of the bridge.

27. The combination according to claim 26, further including an alarm comprising an alarm circuitry connected to the two electrodes for activating the alarm when rising water in the sump reservoir bridges the two electrodes.

28. The combination according to claim 27, wherein the support brackets are recessed and are made of aluminum.

29. The combination according to claim 28, wherein said first electrode is constructed of aluminum;

and the second electrode is constructed of brass.

30. Improvements for a water level detection probe supported in a fixed position on a suspension means over a sump pump well of a type that contains a volume of ionized ground water which may exceed a capacity of the well, said water serving as an electrical circuit for the ends of said probe positioned at a predetermined height to be bridged by the water where it rises to exceed the well capacity, said improvements embodied by said probe, communicating on an alarm activation circuitry with an alarm device and a power source, comprising a first aluminum rod electrode and a second brass rod electrode the electrodes in parallel, and of essentially the same length, to form a galvanic cell for galvanic action at the aluminum electrode, and further, at the brass electrode, wherein said ground water normally found in a sump well forms an electrolyte of the galvanic cell for generating a voltage immediately upon contact of the aluminum and brass electrodes with the water of 0.576 volts DC, when the around water rises to a fixed position of the stationary electrodes, due to the ionic differential between the aluminum rod and brass rod electrodes, and 0.0 volts when the probe electrodes are not touching the water, wherein the suspension means comprises a support bracket assembly that spans the sump well and includes a plastic bridge having two ends, each of the ends connected to a rotatable recessed aluminum mounting bracket piece, for insulated positioning of said first and second electrodes in the bridge, and, wherein the alarm having an input voltage threshold of 0.1 volts, provides an alarm when the voltage threshold is exceeded by contact of said probe electrodes with the water.