US 11,749,478 B1 · Magnetic latching float switch

A magnetic latching float switch assembly used in an electrical circuit with a fluid-producing system to abruptly and definitively interrupt an electrical circuit for shut-off of the fluid-producing system until restoration of a continuity of the electrical circuit is accomplished by a manual reset of said magnetic latching float switch assembly, the electrical circuit interruption occurring when said magnetic latching float switch assembly detects an amount of fluid produced by the fluid-producing system predetermined to be a risk for a damage to the fluid-producing system or its surroundings, said magnetic latching float switch assembly comprising:

an upper cap having a switch assembly comprising a toggle bar with opposing ends positioned for repetitive pivoting movement within said upper cap, a toggle bar magnet supported by one of said opposing ends for movement between raised pre-tripped positioning and lowered tripped positioning, and a float assembly rotationally connected to said upper cap for movement between a lowered pre-tripped position and a raised tripping point, said float assembly comprising a float magnet, said toggle bar magnet in said raised pre-tripped positioning and said float magnet in said lowered pre-tripped position offset from one another, minimizing magnetic attraction therebetween;
a lower housing configured for support of said upper cap and disconnection from said upper cap, said lower housing having a hollow interior with an open end, said hollow interior sized and configured for rotational movement of said float assembly therein between said lowered pre-tripped position and said raised tripping point, said lower housing also configured with a bottom fluid collection reservoir in fluid communication with said open end;
and
a connection means located between said upper cap and said lower housing, adapted to provide a secure connection between said upper cap and said lower housing for unobstructed rotation of said float assembly within said hollow interior of said lower housing, said connection means also adapted to allow rotational movement of said upper cap relative to said lower housing between a fully closed position and a fully open position where said float assembly is exposed and available for manual manipulation from said raised tripping point position to said lowered pre-tripped position, as well as said connection means further adapted to allow rotational movement of said upper cap from said fully closed position to positions between said fully closed and said fully open positions while concurrently preventing release and separation of said upper cap from said lower housing, wherein when a fluid enters said reservoir through said open end of said lower housing and accumulates beyond the amount of fluid predetermined to be a risk for damage to the fluid-producing system or its surroundings, contact of the fluid that is accumulated in said reservoir with said float assembly causes a rotation of said float assembly from said lowered pre-tripped position toward said raised tripping point, and thereafter increasing magnetic attraction between said toggle bar magnet and said float magnet further multiplies as said float magnet continues movement closer to said toggle bar magnet, and when said float magnet reaches said raised tripping point, multiplied magnetic attraction between said toggle bar magnet and said float magnet abruptly and pulls said toggle bar magnet in a downwardly direction toward said float magnet while said float magnet remains at said raised tripping point, causing a snap-locked latching magnetic connection of said toggle bar magnet and said float magnet together until said magnetic connection ends by a manual reset of said float assembly to said lowered pre-tripped position, said manual reset recreating said offset positioning between said float magnet and said toggle bar magnet, minimizing magnetic attraction therebetween and allowing a repeat use of said magnetic latching float switch assembly for said fluid-producing system shut-off should fluid accumulation in said reservoir again reach said predetermined threshold amount.

1 more element

A device comprising:

a threaded portion;
a first housing coupled to the threaded portion,
a second housing pivotally coupled to the first housing such that the second housing is configured to pivotally move relative to the threaded portion and the first housing between a first position and a second position;
a float hosting a first magnet, wherein the second housing pivotally houses the float such that the float is configured to pivotally move relative to the threaded portion, the first housing, and the second housing between a third position and a fourth position;
and
a toggle hosting a second magnet, wherein the second housing hosts the toggle, wherein the threaded portion is configured to thread with a port of a pan configured to receive a liquid such that the liquid urges the float to pivotally move relative to the threaded portion, the first housing, and the second housing from the third position to the fourth position while the second housing is positioned in the first position such that the first magnet is attracted to the second magnet when the liquid enters the first housing from the threaded portion as input from the pan via the port, wherein the float is configured to avoid contact with the liquid in the first housing when the second housing is positioned in the second position and the liquid enters the first housing from the threaded portion as input from the pan via the port.

3 more elements

A method comprising:

causing a user to access a device, wherein the device includes a threaded portion, a first housing, a second housing, a float, and a toggle, wherein the first housing is coupled to the threaded portion, wherein the second housing is pivotally coupled to the first housing such that the second housing is configured to pivotally move relative to the threaded portion and the first housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the float is hosting a first magnet, wherein the second housing pivotally houses the float such that the float is configured to pivotally move relative to the threaded portion, the first housing, and the second housing between a third position and a fourth position, wherein the toggle is hosting a second magnet, wherein the second housing hosts the toggle;
and
causing the user to thread the threaded portion with a port of a pan configured to receive a liquid such that the liquid urges the float to pivotally move relative to the threaded portion, the first housing, and the second housing from the third position to the fourth position while the second housing is positioned in the first position such that the first magnet is attracted to the second magnet when the liquid enters the first housing from the threaded portion as input from the pan via the port, wherein the float is configured to avoid contact with the liquid in the first housing when the second housing is positioned in the second position and the liquid enters the first housing from the threaded portion as input from the pan via the port.

Magnetic latching float switch

Life of this patent

Magnetic latching float switch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24