US 5,671,562 AGranted

Liquid level control device

OwnerAh N. Fahinventor

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Abstract

A liquid level control device adapted to be located in a vessel comprising a first flow controller (21) having a float (39) located in a chamber (53) which controls a valve (33), the chamber being open at the bottom to allow water ingress and egress and having an air vent (32) and a breather (52), and a second flow controller (22) having a float (69) which controls a valve (63) which is connected to the air vent (32). The first flow controller (21) controls water ingress to the vessel and the second flow controller (22) controls flow of air to the first chamber (53). Both flow controllers (21, 22) work together to maintain a constant level of liquid in the vessel. This liquid level control device is used for automatic watering of plants.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A liquid level control device for controlling the level of water from a water supply, the liquid level control device adapted to be located in a vessel for holding water,

the liquid level control device comprising:
a first flow controller comprising
a first float located in a first chamber moveable between an up position and a down position responsive to a level of water in the first chamber,
the first chamber being open at its bottom to allow water ingress and egress and having a first vent to allow egress of air, and
a first valve communicated to the water supply, the first valve being operatively connected with the first float such that when the first float is at the down position when the level of water in the first chamber is at or below a first predetermined level of water, the first valve opens to allow water into the vessel and into the first chamber to tend to raise the first float and to displace air in the first chamber via the first vent,
and when the first float is at the up position when the level of water in the first chamber is at or above a second predetermined level of water the first valve closes to prevent further water flow into the vessel;
a second flow controller comprising
a second float communicated to the vessel and moveable between an up position and a down position responsive to a level of water, and
a second valve being operatively connected with the second float and being connected to the first vent such that when the second float rises, in consequence of the first valve allowing water into the vessel, the second valve opens to allow air to flow from the first chamber via the first vent and the second valve to escape to atmosphere,
and the second valve being operatively connected to the second float so that when the level of water in the vessel drops to a third predetermined level of water in consequence of water in the vessel being used or being removed, the second float falls to a level of water to close the second valve, before the first float has fallen to a level of water to open the first valve, to thereby prevent air flow via the first vent into the first chamber to establish, as the level of water in the vessel falls still further, a partial vacuum in the first chamber which maintains the level of water therein at a level of water such that the first float will not fall to a level of water to open the first valve;
and
a breather for the first chamber located with an opening such that, when the level of water in the vessel falls to below a fourth predetermined level of water in consequence of water in the vessel being used or being removed air enters through the breather into the first chamber to overcome the partial vacuum to allow water to flow out of the first chamber to allow the first float to fall to a level of water to open the first valve to commence allowing water into the vessel.

9 more elements

A liquid level control device for controlling water level in a vessel, the liquid level control device comprising:

a first flow controller, and
a second flow controller;
each flow controller comprising
a casing having a top, a bottom, and a vent at or adjacent the top of the casing;
an opening adjacent the bottom of the casing,
a valve having an inlet and an outlet,
a float moveable between an up position and a down position, and
a fulcrum on which the float can move to control the valve;
the first flow controller having the fulcrum located such that in down and up positions of the float, the valve thereof is respectively opened and closed;
the second flow controller having the fulcrum located such that in down and up positions of the float the valve thereof is respectively closed and open;
wherein the casing of each flow controller are adapted to be joined together as a unit and optionally at a selected height with respect to one another;
the casing of the first flow controller having a breather adjacent to the bottom of the casing;
the vent of the first flow controller connected to the inlet of the valve of the second flow controller,
the inlet of the valve of the first flow controller connected to a water supply;
and
the vent of the second flow controller being open and with the device in a vessel;
wherein, when water initially commences to flow it will flow into the vessel from the outlet of the valve of the first flow controller to raise the float of the second flow controller to open the valve thereof to allow air to flow from the casing of the first flow controller to allow the float thereof to rise to close the valve thereof to stop water flow;
and when the water level in the vessel falls the float of the second flow controller will fall to close the valve thereof to hold water in the casing of the first flow controller to prevent the float thereof from falling to the down position;
and, when the water level in the vessel falls to a level to uncover the bottom of the breather, to allow air to flow via the breather into the casing of the first flow controller to allow the float thereof to fall to the down position, flow recommences into the vessel.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A liquid level control device for controlling the level of water from a water supply, the liquid level control device adapted to be located in a vessel for holding water,

the liquid level control device comprising:
a first flow controller comprising
a first float located in a first chamber moveable between an up position and a down position responsive to a level of water in the first chamber,
the first chamber being open at its bottom to allow water ingress and egress and having a first vent to allow egress of air, and
a first valve communicated to the water supply, the first valve being operatively connected with the first float such that when the first float is at the down position when the level of water in the first chamber is at or below a first predetermined level of water, the first valve opens to allow water into the vessel and into the first chamber to tend to raise the first float and to displace air in the first chamber via the first vent,
and when the first float is at the up position when the level of water in the first chamber is at or above a second predetermined level of water the first valve closes to prevent further water flow into the vessel;
a second flow controller comprising
a second float communicated to the vessel and moveable between an up position and a down position responsive to a level of water, and
a second valve being operatively connected with the second float and being connected to the first vent such that when the second float rises, in consequence of the first valve allowing water into the vessel, the second valve opens to allow air to flow from the first chamber via the first vent and the second valve to escape to atmosphere,
and the second valve being operatively connected to the second float so that when the level of water in the vessel drops to a third predetermined level of water in consequence of water in the vessel being used or being removed, the second float falls to a level of water to close the second valve, before the first float has fallen to a level of water to open the first valve, to thereby prevent air flow via the first vent into the first chamber to establish, as the level of water in the vessel falls still further, a partial vacuum in the first chamber which maintains the level of water therein at a level of water such that the first float will not fall to a level of water to open the first valve;
and
a breather for the first chamber located with an opening such that, when the level of water in the vessel falls to below a fourth predetermined level of water in consequence of water in the vessel being used or being removed air enters through the breather into the first chamber to overcome the partial vacuum to allow water to flow out of the first chamber to allow the first float to fall to a level of water to open the first valve to commence allowing water into the vessel.

9 more elements