Flow switch
AssigneeHydrolevel Corporation
InventorPaul G. Polverari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch is responsive to fluid flow within a conduit. It is highly sensitive to variations in flow and forms an effective seal between the fluid and atmosphere. It includes a plastic pivot ball in a spherical seat. A blade extends from the pivot ball into the conduit where it can be displaced by fluid flow to rotate the ball. A lever is eccentrically connected to the pivot ball and extends upwardly within a closed, non-magnetic, housing. The upper end of the lever carries a magnet which actuates a switch outside the housing. An adjustable spring between the top of the lever and the housing permits adjustment of the sensitivity of the response.
Claims11
Apparatus responsive to fluid flow variations within a conduit which comprises:
- a housing secured to the conduit about an opening communicating with the interior of the conduit and defining an elongated chamber extending outwardly from said conduit opening in substantially perpendicular relationship to said conduit to terminate at a substantially closed chamber end;
- means within said housing for forming a substantially spherical seat adjacent the conduit opening;
- a substantially spherical pivot ball rotatably mounted within said spherical seat;
- a blade secured to said pivot ball and extending through said opening into said conduit for displacement by fluid flow therethrough to rotate said pivot ball;
- a lever having a first end eccentrically secured to said pivot ball and extending through said chamber with a second end positioned within the closed chamber end, whereby said lever is linearly movable along said chamber in response to rotation of said pivot ball;
- and
- means responsive to the position of the second end of said lever for indicating a condition of fluid flow within said conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.