Back to results
US 10,006,191 B1Granted
Fill valve switch
OwnerStu Lieberman, Geoffrey Schoonmakerinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shelf is arranged to pivot about a pivot zone. The shelf has a center of gravity offset from the pivot zone. The shelf has a first angular range about the pivot zone configured to situate a linkage in a valve activation position. The shelf has a second angular range about the pivot zone mechanically configured to situate the linkage in a valve de-activation position. An interaction portion is mechanically configured to urge the shelf from the first angular range to the second angular range by a float moving in a first direction.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- a valve comprising a valve actuator;
- a shelf;
- and
- a linkage extending from the valve actuator towards the shelf;
- and
- wherein the shelf:
- is arranged to pivot about a pivot zone of the shelf;
- has a center of gravity offset from the pivot zone;
- has a first angular range about the pivot zone mechanically configured to situate the linkage in a valve activation position that places the valve in an open position;
- has a second angular range about the pivot zone mechanically configured to situate the linkage in a valve de-activation position that places the valve in a closed position;
- and
- has an interaction portion mechanically configured to urge the shelf from the first angular range to the second angular range by a float moving in a first direction;
- and
- wherein the center of gravity is positioned to bias the shelf toward the first angular range when:
- the linkage is moved away from the shelf so that the linkage no longer contacts the shelf;
- and
- the shelf is able to freely rotate about the pivot zone.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.