Float valve and method
OwnerRalph A. Ballinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve and method allows efficient closure for a pipe containing liquid. The valve in the preferred form is operated by a float in a sump pit should the sump pump fail to operate. The float is lifted by rising water and an arm attached to the float is supported on rollers when the valve is normally open turns to disengage from the rollers to close the valve. A shaft positioned in the conduit is attached to a cap which reacts to the expansion of a spring to thus close the end of the conduit and prevent further liquid flow therethrough. An audible alarm system sounds as the rising liquid level reaches a water sensor on the valve to warn a homeowner or building occupant. The alarm also sounds when a manual test switch is closed or if the smoke sensor is activated.
Claims13
A float valve comprising:
- a) a liquid conduit;
- b) a shaft, said shaft positioned within said conduit, a first strut, a roller, said roller mounted on said first strut, said first strut affixed to said conduit;
- c) a cap, said cap positioned on said shaft for closing said conduit;
- and
- d) a float, a float arm, said float arm rotatably mounted on said shaft and joined to said cap, said float attached to said shaft, wherein said roller abuts said float arm when said cap is in the fully open position and wherein lifting said float will cause said cap to close said conduit.
A method of closing the end of a drain pipe that empties liquid into a sump pit, the method including the stops of:
- a) providing a float valve having a liquid conduit, a shaft positioned within the conduit, a spring attached to the shaft, a first strut, a roller mounted on the first strut, the first strut affixed to the conduit, a cap positioned on the shaft for closing the conduit, a float, a float arm rotatably mounted on the shaft and joined to the cap, the float arm for engaging the roller when the cap is open;
- b) attaching the conduit of the float valve to the drain pipe;
- c) allowing the sump pit to receive liquid through the drain conduit;
- d) lifting the float with the liquid to rotate the cap along the shaft;
- e) disengaging the float arm from the roller;
- and
- f) urging the cap against the drain conduit with the spring to close the drain conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.