US 4,225,986 AGranted

Water release mechanism

OwnerEugene M. Maukinventor

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Abstract

A mechanism for releasing a selected volume of water from a tank has a U-shaped bracket which mounts on the interior of the tank via a bushing which passes through a hole in the wall of the tank. A rod is pivotally supported by the bushing and, in turn, supports a valve which mates with the tank drain when the rod is pivoted to raise a valve support arm to which the valve is attached. A key on a latch arm pivotally mounted on the bracket falls into a notch in the periphery of a latch collar on the rod when the rod is pivoted to raise the valve so that water is drained from the tank so long as the key is engaged by the notch. A float collar journally mounted on the rod is positioned by a float as the water level falls to move an electrical contacting member on the float collar along an arcuate path. Two electrical contacted members on a contactor arm pivotally mounted on the bracket are positioned to be sequentially engaged by the contacting member on the float collar and a battery and switch disposed exteriorly of the tank energize an electromagnet to raise the latch arm when a selected one of the contacted members on the contactor arm is engaged by the contacting member on the float collar.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A mechanism for releasing a selected volume of water from a tank, comprising:

a shaft assembly secured to the wall of the tank, comprising:
a bracket inside the tank;
a bushing connected to the bracket and extending through a hole in the wall of the tank;
and
a shaft extending through the bushing and supported thereby for positioning of the shaft in a preselected water release position and for pivotation of the shaft from the water release position;
a valve support arm fixed on the support arm and extending laterally therefrom, wherein a drain for the tank is formed below extensive portions of the valve support arm;
a valve suspended from the valve support arm over the drain in the water release position of the shaft, whereby the weight of the valve urges the shaft to pivot away from the water release position so as to lower the valve to a position wherein the valve closes the drain;
latch means, engagable with the shaft in the water release position of the shaft, for holding the shaft in the water release position in an engaged condition of the latch means with the shaft and for freeing the shaft for pivotation from the water release position in a disengaged condition of the latch means with the shaft;
latch release means for placing the latch means in the disengaged condition thereof with the shaft in response to an electrical signal;
signal generator means responsive to the depth of water in the tank for providing the electrical signal to the latch release means at a preselected water depth;
and
means for introducing water into the tank at such times that the depth of water therein is less than a preselected depth.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.