Valve with Magnetically Actuated Indicator
AssigneeEco-Values Ltd.
InventorsReuven PEREZ, Hen BENJAMIN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve for draining a heavier liquid from a lighter liquid includes a valve body with an inlet and a drain outlet passing through a valve seat. A main float within the valve body seals the drain outlet when the level of the heavier liquid drops. An indicator assembly signals when the valve body is full of the heavier liquid. The indicator assembly includes an indicator float, an indicator element, and two magnets that interact via magnetic repulsion to cause a visible displacement of the indicator element as the indicator float rises and falls. A non-magnetic sealing partition maintains the sealed closure of the valve body while allowing magnetic interaction between the two magnets.
Claims11
A valve for draining a quantity of a first liquid having a first specific gravity from a second liquid having a second specific gravity lower than the first specific gravity, the first and second liquids being immiscible, the valve comprising:
- (a) a valve body defining an internal volume, the valve body having an inlet and a drain outlet passing through a valve seat;
- (b) a main float disposed within the internal volume, the main float being configured to float on the first liquid and to sink in the second liquid, wherein the main float seals against the valve seat when a level of the first liquid within the internal volume drops below a predetermined level;
- (c) an indicator assembly for indicating when the internal volume is substantially full of the first liquid, the indicator assembly comprising:
- (i) an indicator float disposed within the internal volume and configured to float on the first liquid and to sink in the second liquid;
- (ii) an indicator element;
- (iii) a first permanent magnet coupled to the indicator float;
- and
- (iv) a second permanent magnet coupled to the indicator element;
- and
- (d) a non-magnetic sealing partition disposed between the first and second permanent magnets so as to maintain sealing closure of the valve body, wherein vertical motion of the indicator float causes, via magnetic repulsion between the first and second permanent magnets, a visible displacement of the indicator element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.