U.S. patent application number 12/552529 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for apparatus for controlling a pump.
Invention is credited to Robert M. Keener.
Application Number | 20110052414 12/552529 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43625215 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110052414 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Keener; Robert M. |
March 3, 2011 |
Apparatus for Controlling a Pump
Abstract
Disclosed is a controller for controlling a pump. The controller
includes a sensor unit and a buoy unit. The sensor includes a base,
a cylinder extended from a lower side of the base, a micro-switch
provided on the base, a ferromagnetic tag connected to the
micro-switch and a switch provided on the base. The switch is
connected to the micro-switch on one hand and to the pump on the
other hand. The buoy unit includes a buoy, a rod inserted through
the buoy and a magnet connected to the rod. The rod is movably
inserted in the sensor unit through the cylinder so that the magnet
attracts the ferromagnetic tag to actuate the micro-switch when the
level of sewage reaches an upper limit and that the magnet releases
the ferromagnetic tag when the level of sewage reaches a lower
limit.
Inventors: |
Keener; Robert M.; (Ashland,
OH) |
Family ID: |
43625215 |
Appl. No.: |
12/552529 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 23/021 20130101;
F04B 49/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/1 |
International
Class: |
F04B 49/00 20060101
F04B049/00 |
Claims
1. A controller for controlling a pump, the controller comprising:
a sensor unit comprising a base, a cylinder extended from a lower
side of the base, a micro-switch provided on the base, a
ferromagnetic tag connected to the micro-switch and a switch
provided on the base, wherein the switch is connected to the
micro-switch on one hand and to the pump on the other hand; and a
buoy unit comprising a buoy, a rod inserted through the buoy and a
magnet connected to the rod, wherein the rod is movably inserted in
the sensor unit through the cylinder so that the magnet attracts
the ferromagnetic tag to actuate the micro-switch when the level of
sewage reaches an upper limit and that the magnet releases the
ferromagnetic tag when the level of sewage reaches a lower
limit.
2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the rod is formed
with a slide movably inserted in the sensor unit through the
cylinder, and the magnet is magnet is connected to the slide.
3. The controller according to claim 2 comprising a screw driven in
the cylinder, thus keeping the slide in the cylinder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for
controlling a pump used in a sewage tank.
[0003] 2. Related Prior Art
[0004] A tank is often used to contain sewage. A pump is often used
in the tank to control the level of the sewage under an upper
limit. A controller is often used to control the pump. When the
level reaches the upper limit, the controller turns on the pump to
pump the sewage out of the tank. Installation and maintenance of
the controller are however troublesome and time-consuming. In
addition, the controller could soon malfunction after some time of
use.
[0005] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a
pump with a controller that can easily be installed and
maintained.
[0007] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
a pump with a reliable controller.
[0008] To achieve the foregoing objectives, the controller includes
a sensor unit and a buoy unit. The sensor includes a base, a
cylinder extended from a lower side of the base, a micro-switch
provided on the base, a ferromagnetic tag connected to the
micro-switch and a switch provided on the base. The switch is
connected to the micro-switch on one hand and to the pump on the
other hand. The buoy unit includes a buoy, a rod inserted through
the buoy and a magnet connected to the rod. The rod is movably
inserted in the sensor unit through the cylinder so that the magnet
attracts the ferromagnetic tag to actuate the micro-switch when the
level of sewage reaches an upper limit and that the magnet releases
the ferromagnetic tag when the level of sewage reaches a lower
limit.
[0009] Other objectives, advantages and features of the present
invention will be apparent from the following description referring
to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will be described via detailed
illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the
drawings.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sewage tank equipped
with a pump and a controller according to the preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the controller shown in FIG.
1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the controller shown in FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the controller shown in FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the control shown in FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a tank 7 for containing
sewage. In the tank 7, there are provided a pump 6 and a controller
for controlling the pump 6. When the level of sewage in the tank 7
reaches an upper limit, the controller turns on the pump 6 to pump
some of the sewage out of the tank 7. When the level sewage in the
tank 7 reaches a lower limit, the controller turns off the pump 6
to stop pumping the sewage out of the thank 7.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the controller includes a sensor
unit 4 and a buoy unit 5 according to the preferred embodiment of
the present invention. The sensor unit 4 includes a base 10, a
micro-switch 1 provided on the base 10, a ferromagnetic tag 8
connected to a trigger of the micro-switch 1, a switch 11 provided
on the base 10 and a cover 3 for covering the micro-switch 1, the
ferromagnetic tag 8 and the switch 11. The switch 11 is
electrically connected to the micro-switch 1 on one hand and to the
pump 6 on the other hand. The base 10 includes a cylinder 12
extended from a lower side thereof. The sensor unit 4 is securely
provided in the tank 7.
[0018] The buoy unit 5 includes a buoy 5, a rod 2 and a magnet 22.
The rod 2 is inserted through the buoy 51. The rod 2 includes a
slide 21 formed at an upper end thereof. The size of the slide 21
is larger than the remaining portion of the rod 2. The magnet 22 is
located in an aperture defined in the slide 21 before the slide 21
is movably inserted in the sensor unit 4 through the cylinder 12. A
screw 9 is driven into the cylinder 12, thus keeping the slide 21
within the sensor unit 4. A ring 41 is secured to a lower end of
the rod 2.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, when the level of the sewage in the
tank 7 reaches the upper limit, the buoy unit 5 goes up accordingly
so that the magnet 22 reaches and attracts the ferromagnetic tag 8,
thus actuating the micro-switch 1. The micro-switch 1 sends a
signal to the switch 11 which in turn actuates the pump 6 to pump
some of the sewage out of the tank 7.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, the level of the sewage in the tank 7
goes down as some of the sewage is pumped out of the tank 7.
Accordingly, the buoy unit 5 goes down so that the magnet 22
releases the ferromagnetic tag 8, thus stopping the micro-switch 1.
Therefore, the switch II turns off the pump 6 to stop pumping the
sewage out of the tank 7.
[0021] The present invention has been described via the detailed
illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art
can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without
departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the
preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present
invention defined in the claims.
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