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Activation device for sump pumpsRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, Condition Responsive Control Of Pump Drive Motor, Responsive To Accumulation Of Pumped Liquid In Receiver, By FloatActivation device for sump pumps description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060275136, Activation device for sump pumps. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention concerns a switch for activating a sump pump in the presence of rising water. More particularly the present invention concerns a vertical float switch that causes the activation of a sump pump when an appropriate amount of water has entered a sump and causes a pump to continue to operate until sufficient water has been pumped out to cause the pump to cease operation. The pump is maintained in operation by a spring-loaded switch that is designed to stop the operation of the pump at a desired water level. The switch can be used to operate any pump and is not dependent on use with a particular or designated pump. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] With the need to protect homes from water damage due to the natural rise of the water table the use of sump pumps has become commonplace in many homes, especially those in known flood areas. Sump pumps are typically located in a sump or pit that is excavated at or about the lowest point of the house. Sump pumps are often of the submersible-type, meaning that they operate within a pool of water; which has the added effect of keeping the pump motor cool while running. [0003] While a pump would be able to draw the water out of the sump and into either the waste water system or to an ejection point away from the foundation of the structure, the pump must either be set to run continuously or activated by some means that can detect the presence and rising of water. A pump running continuously wastes energy and runs the risk of burning out from constant action and its activity of removing water in the sump can cause burnout by the removal of all of its surrounding cooling pool of water. It is preferable, therefore, to have a means to detect the presence of water and activate the pump thereafter. Ideally the system permits the pump to draw the water down to a safe point and then deactivate the pump. [0004] The sump is typically below floor level and water rises therein. Sump pumps typically are placed into operation and left alone to operate only on those rare occasions when water enters into a foundation area. Oftentimes a pump can be inactive during an entire dry season; further the pump and switch are typically located in areas of the structure that are dirty, damp or otherwise not conducive to the maintenance of electrical switches, particularly sophisticated switches designed to operate only upon the arising of a designated event (such as the rise of the water table). [0005] Typically, sump pumps are sold as a unit with both the pump and the switch; as such a particular pump manufacturer that makes superb pumps may adopt a type of switch that is poor. Purchasers of pumps typically have no choice in the switch and vice-versa. Often times the manufacturer of an excellent pump will provide a substandard switch, and vice-versa, such that the user has one or both inadequate elements of a pumping and protective system. [0006] Many switches and activation mechanisms are available that permit the activation of a pump at appropriate times during a rising water event. Included in presently available switches are floating switches that trigger the activation of a pump upon rising to a certain level and shutting off the pump upon sinking back to a safer level; or switches floating within a tethered float. Tethered floats typically have a mercury-type switch that is activated and deactivated by the change in angle of the float, returning to a shut off position upon the return of the tethered float to its at rest position. [0007] These switches, while effective, have flaws that can lead to a pump not activating when it is most needed. In particular, the former type of switch is most effected by the dirty conditions of its location as well as has the flaw of often-times shutting the pump off too soon in its cycle of rising and falling. The tether-type switch, because of its more free moving action, can be blocked as it pivots up to its activation level, thus failing to activate the pump. While tethered switches are often sealed away from dirt and dust, they have the same problem of shutting a pump down too quickly as the water recedes as a result of pump activity. [0008] When a pump is shut down too quickly there is a tendency to have the pump activate and shut down often particularly in a rapid water rise cycle, such that the switch and pump are activated and deactivated too often. If the pump is shut down too early the level of water remains high enough that a small influx of water subsequent reactivates the pump quickly, the pump then removes a small amount of water again before it is deactivated again. This cycle is deleterious to the pump and switch mechanism; the nominal state being the activation and appropriate running of the pump to well drain the sump so as to provide an adequate time span before the next cycle. It is well known that pump and switch systems have a certain number of cycles in the life of the system and constant activation and deactivation causing early failure of the system by exhaustion of the life of the system. [0009] There are other pump switches known in the art, however, there is only one other free-standing submersible float switch mechanism on the market that is known. It will be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art that, free-standing, with respect to sump pump switches, means that the switch can be used on any sump pump and is not designed for a particular sump pump of any manufacturer. The one known free-standing switch is by SJE Rhombus of Detroit Lakes, Minn., also known as S. J. Electro. The SJ Electro switch employs magnets to keep the switch in an "on" (closed circuit) position as water is pumped from the pit. The present invention comprises an alternative design offering benefits not available before. [0010] It would therefore be desirable to have a switch system that is better equipped to withstand the ambient conditions in a sump location and provide a means to delay the shutting off of the pump until the sump is substantially emptied. Such a switch should also address the issue of not running the pump for too long such that the pump is removed from its cooling water surroundings so that the danger of pump burn out is lessened. It is desirable to permit the owner of a pump to purchase a switch separate from the pump, so that a desired pump and switch can both be purchased rather than depending on a secondary switch provided with an excellent pump. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] A switch having a watertight housing is provided for use with a sump pump to turn the pump, particularly a submersible pump, on and off automatically. The particular nature of a vertical float switch is that the float assembly moves up and down in a defined path so that very little space is required--it can be used in big sump pits or small sump pits. It will be understood that the switch of the present invention is of the type that when activated permits the flow of electricity to a pump. The activation of the pump, therefore, is determined by conditions that permit electricity to flow from an outlet into a pump ready to work. Such pumps as so called sump-pumps and other self priming pumps of types well known to persons having skill in the art can be used in association with the device of the present invention. [0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pump activation structure, for use with a pump, or other electrical device, is provided. The activation structure includes a housing for maintaining electronic equipment, conceptions and their various activation means in clean and dry conditions for effective activation and working. A float rod is provided having a floating activator riding thereon; the float activator designed to rise and fall depending on the level of water in, for example, a sump. Within the housing, the device includes a switch, capable of being activated and running until a given event or the elapsing of a designated period of time. It will be understood that any number of available switches can be used in the present invention, but that a switch having low power capabilities is preferred. A reed-type switch as often found in present day sump-pump switching-systems is an effective switch for the device of the present invention. [0013] The present invention further includes an actuating member, between the float and float rod and switch. The actuating member operably connects the switch and the float rod, such that a variation in water level moves the float rod and the actuating member and toggles the switch. In a preferred embodiment, the actuating member is a lever pivotably mounted within the switch housing such that the lever toggles between on and off positions. In one embodiment, the switch includes a dead-man type activation means, wherein the switch is activated only when the lever causes a button or pedal to be depressed. Subsequently, upon release of the button or pedal the switch is turned off, causing the pump to turn off. In the device of the present invention, the lever is pushed into position by the rising of the water and thereafter is pulled out of position, at a desired condition, by the pulling caused by the fall of the water, the float and with the means discussed below. [0014] The pump activation device includes means to permit the switch to remain in the on position as the water level falls, so as to permit the accompanying pump to work to drain the sump. In the preferred embodiment, the means includes a spring-biased retaining ball mounted within the switch housing adjacent to the lever, to temporarily retain the lever in a switch activation position. In a preferred embodiment, the retaining ball is biased by a spring against a holding structure such that upon the toggling of the switch to the on position, the ball is pushed into the holding structure preventing the switch from toggling to the off position. The switch remains in the on position until the lever is pulled with sufficient force, at a desired time, to overcome the biasing spring, and permit the lever to be pulled off of the switch activating button. [0015] In a preferred embodiment, the housing is water-tight and the switch is protected from environmental conditions found in a sump location. Further, in one embodiment the biasing spring holds the switch in the toggled on position until a float on the float rod sinks to a desired water level pulling the float rod down to provide sufficient force to overcome the biasing spring pressure. The float rod includes stops at a set high level and a set low level, with a float suspended there between. In an at rest position, the float rests on top of the lower stop and in the presence of some water the float rises off of the lower stop. [0016] In the operation of a device made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, when water rises in the sump, the float rises until it reaches the upper stop and then begins to push on the stop causing the float rod to be pushed up. The rising of the float against the first stop pushes the rod within the float housing such that the lever is moved towards the activation button or pedal. The continued rising of water causes the float rod to push the lever to the activation position, activating the pump while simultaneously permitting the retaining ball into the holding structure; the ball being held in the holding structure by the biasing spring. As the water falls, in response to the activity of the pump, the float is permitted to fall with the level of the water. The biasing spring, however, retains the ball in the holding structure such that the lever is not pulled off of the activation button or pedal, permitting the pump to continue to run. Only upon the draining of sufficient water out of the pump, that is until the float is pushing down onto the lower stop with sufficient force to overcome the biasing spring and pull the ball out of the holding member, will the lever be pulled off of the activation switch causing the pump to cease operation. Power is cut off to the pump placing the pump in its at rest position to await the next rising water situation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an activation device for a pump of the present invention, showing the pump at rest; water is shown at a low level and the switch is in an open circuit, "off" position. [0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an activation device and pump of FIG. 1 in an intermittent position with water at a risen level, as demonstrated by the position of the float, while the switch remains in an open circuit, "off" position. [0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an activation device and pump of FIG. 1; water is shown at a high level, the float has caused a lever arm to move the switch, the switch is in a closed circuit, "on" position. [0020] FIG. 3A is a close-up schematic representation of the switch elements of the activation device as shown in FIG. 1, showing the open circuit position, of FIGS. 1 and 2, where the pump is not activated. Continue reading about Activation device for sump pumps... Full patent description for Activation device for sump pumps Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Activation device for sump pumps patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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