Liquid level controller

• US 7,284,567 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pong Kit Chan
• Original Assignee: Pong Kit Chan
• Inventors: Chan, Pong Kit
• Primary Examiner(s): Keasel; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRICE, CRAIG JAMES
• Application Number:
  US10/497,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 137/413, 137/414, 137/426
• US Class Current: 137/413
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 1/32 Arrangement of inlet valves devices for reducing noise E03D9/14 ; noise-reducing means E03D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/18 closed when a rising liquid reaches a predetermined level float-actuated valves F16K31/18
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/385 the fluid acting on a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 9/02 without auxiliary power
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7371 Fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7374 Flexible diaphragm valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7413 Level adjustment or selection means

Abstract

A liquid level controller for maintaining the level of liquid in a tank at a predetermined height includes a housing with an upper and lower section wherein the upper section is connected to a liquid supply and the lower section is submerged in liquid the level of which is to be maintained. The upper section includes a pressure chamber and an outlet chamber divided by a resilient material; a bore extending through the resilient material; and an inlet tube extending from the supply to the bore. A control valve controls the liquid flow through a hole providing communication between the pressure chamber and the lower part of the housing.

Claims

1. A liquid level controller comprising:

a housing having an upper and lower section, said upper section being adapted to be detachably connected to a liquid supply, and wherein a portion of said lower section is adapted to be submerged within a liquid the level of which is to be maintained;

a pressure chamber within said upper section, said pressure chamber having a hole to provide liquid communication between the said pressure chamber and an inner part of the lower section of the said housing;

a seal made of resilient material having a bore there through;

an inlet tube having an outlet and extending from the liquid supply to said bore;

said seal located between the inlet tube outlet and the pressure chamber;

an outlet tube within said lower section of said housing;

a displacer slidably along said outlet tube;

a valve assembly for controlling liquid flow, said valve assembly including a control valve and a control pin having one end attached to the control valve and another end coupled to said displacer, wherein said displacer acts as a weight movable to tip said control pin and said control valve to open said control valve when a liquid level is below a level to be maintained, and wherein said displacer floats to remove tipping of the control pin and control valve to close said control valve when the liquid level to be maintained is reached;

wherein said lower section of said housing includes a controller and a thread having one end connected to said controller and another end extending through said control pin and to said displacer for enabling adjustment of a preferred liquid level.

2. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outlet tube has an outlet opening diameter smaller than the diameter of the said displacer.

3. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control valve is a plug with rubber ‘

O’

ring around it and wherein said plug is connected to one end of the control pin; and

a spring associated with the control pin biasing the valve assembly to revert to its original position.

4. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inlet section of the apparatus and the liquid supply is connected by an attachment device having a flexible grip mounted thereon to provide stability when the liquid level controller is mounted to the wall of a liquid container.

5. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said displacer includes a weight at a top part thereof and a float at a bottom part thereof, said float comprising a hollow body providing buoyancy to the said weight when said weight is submerged in water.

6. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control pin comprises a ring for said thread to pass there through so as to reduce the pulling force by the displacer.

7. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure chamber includes projections extending towards a surface of the seal opposite the inlet tube outlet.

8. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pressure chamber includes a pin like structure extending between said projections toward the center of bore in the said seal.

9. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper section of said housing comprises a control chamber at the end of said upper section.

10. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control chamber comprises a limit node protruding into said control chamber for preventing said valve assembly being pulled excessively downward by said displacer.

11. A liquid level controller comprising:

a housing having an upper end attached to a liquid inlet and a lower end adapted to be submerged in liquid;

said housing further comprising a path extending from the inlet to a liquid outlet, and a seal made of resilient material preventing continuous flow between the said inlet and outlet;

said housing further comprising a vertically slidable displacer including weight at an upper section thereof and a float at a lower section thereof to keep the said weight afloat;

said displacer attached to one end of a control pin and the other end of said control pin coupled to a control valve;

wherein when a liquid level is below a level to be maintained, said displacer acts as a weight transmitting motion to tip said control pin and said control valve to open said control valve thereby reducing the pressure on an opposite surface of the seal to permit continuous flow from the liquid inlet to the outlet;

wherein said control pin includes a ring attached at said end of the control pin which is coupled to said displacer.

12. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 11, wherein the upper section of said outlet is blocked by a central portion of said seal.

13. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 11, wherein said inlet is mounted at an outer periphery of said upper section of the outlet facing said seal.

14. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control pin is ‘

L’

shaped.

15. The liquid level controller as claimed in claim 11, wherein said seal is rubber.

16. A liquid level controller comprising:

a housing having an upper end attached to a liquid inlet and a lower end adapted to be submerged in liquid;

said housing further comprising a path extending from the inlet to a liquid outlet, and a seal made of resilient material preventing continuous flow between the said inlet and outlet;

said housing further comprising a vertically slidable displacer including weight at an upper section thereof and a float at a lower section thereof to keep the said weight afloat;

said displacer attached to one end of a control pin and the other end of said control pin coupled to a control valve;

wherein when a liquid level is below a level to be maintained, said displacer acts as a weight transmitting motion to tip said control pin and said control valve to open said control valve thereby reducing the pressure on an opposite surface of the seal to permit continuous flow from the liquid inlet to the outlet; and

wherein said housing is provided with a controller mounted at the lower end of said housing and a thread having one end tied to said controller and the other end extending through the said ring of the control pin and to said displacer for enabling adjustment of a preferred liquid level.