FR2608758A1 - Level-detector and alarm bath accessory device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device obviating, when filling baths, the necessity of watching in the immediate vicinity, as well as wasting hot water in particular, and the risks of damage by water. It consists of a tube 7 guiding floats 8 which close an electric contact 4, triggering an audible alarm 1, when the maximum allowable level is reached. The device according to the invention allows monitoring of the filling of various tanks, but it is especially intended for baths.

Description

 The present invention relates to an accessory level detector and bathtub warning device, this device emitting an audible signal when, when filling a bathtub, the maximum admissible level is reached.

 Traditionally, the filling operation is supervised by a person who must, in principle, remain in the immediate vicinity, which has the disadvantage of mobilizing the person.

 I1 has also been proposed a device for automatic emptying by controlling the bung per solenoid controlled by a level detector.

 This device is integrated into the bathtub and involves its installation and connection to the installation of the bathtub.

 The device according to the invention eliminates these su j were.

 The invention consists of a mobile device intended to be placed in the bathtub during filling and removed when it is full.

 This device consists of a base on which is fixed a vertical element ensuring the maintenance, adjustable height, of a means for detecting the maximum admissible level 1commanding the start-up of an audible signal.

 A handle allows the transport of the device.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the base, wound or not, is surmounted by a tube containing spherical floats. At the top of the tube is fixed a sealed housing containing a battery and an electrical contact of the ILS type actuated by a magnet stuck on a lever which is raised under the push of the floats. A ring is fixed on the cover of the case.

 The base, the tube and the housing can be made of plastic.

 The battery-powered horn is controlled by control means comprising a switch.

 The ILS type electrical contact can be subjected to the action of displacement of an air element either connected directly to a float or to a lever subjected to the action of one or more floats, said floats being guided internally or externally along the vertical support.

 The switch can be a needlestore mercury contector either placed on a lever subjected directly or not to the action of the floats, or disposed inside the head of a float pivoting about an axis at one of its ends.

 The switch may be a mechanical contact, one of the elements of which is integral with a membrane subjected to the action of pressure generated by the rise of the liquid in the vertical support consisting of a tube closed at the top by said membrane and open at its base.

 The control means may consist of electrodes which, when the water level reaches them, close an electronic circuit with amplifier and relay which controls an interrupter; this electrodes being mounted movable inside or outside the vertical element.

 The means for adjusting the height of the level to be checked may consist of a telescopic support element which can be adjusted either by screwing, or by broaching, or by bar clamp system, or by needle screw.

 The height of the level h to be checked can be adjusted by placing a greater or lesser number of floats, for example spherical floats, in the vertical support provided at its lower part with a retaining key.

 The height of the level to be adjusted can be adjusted by placing a sliding rod on the float with fixing means which can be produced by two rings with needle screws blocking these on the rod.

 The support is perforated and consists of rods guiding either internally1 or externally the floats.

as an illustration, drawings are attached:
Figure 1 shows a partial section of the device.

 Ls 2 shows an adjustment of the level height by sliding a graduated cursor on the float.

 The following figures show a level height adjustment by sliding concentric tubes with positioning by bar clamp (fig. 3), needle screw (fig. 4), key (fig. 5) or screw weights (fig. 6) ).

 FIG. 7 represents an adjustment of the level height by sliding of the single contact support.

 FIG. B represents an ILS type contact actuated by a concentric magnet secured to the float.

 FIG. 9 represents an adjustment of the level height by lateral sliding of the housing-level detector assembly.

 FIG. 10 represents an adjustment of the level height by lateral sliding of the single level detector.

 FIG. 11 represents a mercury rocker contact housed in a float.

 Figures 12, 13 and 14 show the different guide modes of the float system.

 Figure 15 shows a pressure h level detector.

 With reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus consists of a base (9) supporting a tube (7) perforated at its base to allow the passage of water, above a housing (11) containing a battery ( 3) and a magnetic contact under bulb (4) and on which are fixed a buzzer (1) and a transport handle (2).

 When the water level rises in the bathtub, the floats (B) are drawn upwards, the air being expelled through an orifice provided at the top.

 At a certain water level height, determined by the variable number of floats (B) introduced by the base into the tube (7), the magnet (5) secured to the lever (6) rises and closes the magnetic contact ( 4) ILS type.

 The buzzer (1) turns on and will not stop until the device is removed from the bathtub.

 A suitable receptacle prevents the device from dripping on the floor.

 One can test the correct operation and the state of the battery by manually lifting the lever (6) thanks to an extension of the latter out of the tube through an opening co @tituant the passage for the exhaust of air.

 The height of the level to be checked determines the number of floats (8) to be introduced into the tube (7) by removing the key (10) arranged transversely to the base of the tube (7).

 Due to the humid atmosphere, all of the component parts of the device are chosen from non-corrodible materials, in particular plastic.

 For these same reasons, the magnetic electrical contact (4) is a sealed bulb and the housing (11) is hermetic.

 According to a large variant (fig. 12 and 13i, the floats (8) can be guided internally by one or more rods.

 According to a second variant (fig. 14) the floats (8) can be guided externally between several rods.

 According to a 3rd variant, (fig. 2) the height of the level h to be controlled can be adjusted by a single float (e) provided with a graduated slider (19) blocked by two screw rings (20a and 20b) moving in the tube (7) instead of using a variable number of floats.

 According to a 4 th variant, the height adjustment of the level 8 to be checked can be achieved by a single float (8) per concentric sliding of the tube (7) then produced in telescopic parts (7a and 7b) with blocking between the parts, either: ( fig.3) by screw connection (12) crushing a seal (2i) on the inner tube (7a) thus forming a bar clamp type system.

 or (fig.4) by needle screw, (12a) on the inner tube (7b).

 or (fig. 5) by key (12b) introduced into a hole in the element t7a) and one of the spaced holes made in the element (7b).

 or (fig. 6) by screwing the tube (7b) into the tube (7a).

 According to a 5th variant, (fig. 7) the height adjustment of the level h to be checked can be carried out by concentric sliding of a tubular element (22) supporting the interrupter system (4) with blocking by water screw (12a).

 According to a 6th variant (fig. 9), the height of the level to be checked can be adjusted by lateral sliding of the entire housing and its contents (11) and of the switch system (4) on the vertical support. (7).

According to a 7th variant (fig. 10), the height of the level to be checked can be adjusted by lateral sliding of the only switch system (4) connected to the housing (11) by flexible electrical connection. (24) O
As for the 6 th variant, it is possible as shown in the dotted view (fig. 9) to insert an arm between the vertical support (7) and the housing (11) it is also possible, for the 7 th variant , insert an arm between the vertical support (7) and the switch system (4). (fig.10)
The addition of this arm allows the device to be placed on the floor, in the immediate vicinity of the bathtub, instead of placing it in the bathtub.

 According to an 8 th view, (fig.8) the contect (4) can be an ILS type bulb placed inside the tube (7) around which the float (S) slides support a concentric magnet (5) and coming to abut on a ring (13) integral with the tube (7).

 The level adjustment to be checked will be done according to figures 3,4,5,6,9 and 10.

According to a 9 th variant, the contact (4) can be a set of electrodes shunted together by water when the level reaches them, thus closing an electronic circuit with amplifier and releis controlling the switch (4)
The adjustment of the level h to control will be done according to figures 3,4,5,6,7,9 and 10.

 According to a 10th variant (fig. 11) the contact can be a mercury rocker fixed inside a float (8) retained at one end through which the electrical wire (23) acting as a pivot exits.

 The level to be checked will be adjusted according to Figures 3,4,5,6,9 and 10.

 According to an 11 th variant, the contact @ (4) can be a mercury rocker secured to the lever (6) in place of the magnet (S) shown in FIG.

 The adjustment of the level b to be checked will be done according to Figures 1,2,3,4,5,6,9 and 10.

According to a 12 th variant (fig. 15) the contact (4) can close when the water rising in the tube (7e) compresses the mem brane (16) and the spring (17)
The level to be checked will be adjusted by pressing the knurled screw (16) or according to Figures 3,4,5,6,9 and 10.

 According to a 13th variant, the contact (4) can be with silver pellets, for example, a mobile uoe operating by direct action of the float pDuseum.

 The level to be checked will be adjusted according to figures 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9 and 10.

 According to a 14th variant * the horn (1) can be a siren, a buzzer or an electronic device emitting a modulated sound.

 According to a 15th variant, a socket can be provided on the device so as to postpone the signal given by the closing of the contact (4) and to select any system even independent of the device (tape recorder for example).

 The device according to the invention is intended 9 to avoid wasting hot water in particular as well as the risk of water damage.

Claims (10)

 1) Device consisting of a ballasted embase intended to be placed at the bottom of the bathtub or laterally thereto, supporting a vertical element ensuring the maintenance at adjustable height of the means for detecting the predetermined maximum level, said means controlling the ise in action an audible warning device arranged in the upper part, a handle intended for carrying the entire device being furthermore provided.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the horn powered by battery and control means comprises a switch.  3) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the switch is of the ILS type subjected to the action of displacement of a magnet is connected directly to a float, or to a lever subjected to the action of one or more floats, said floats being guided internally or externally along the vertical support.  4) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that oue the switch is a tilting contactor h mercury either disposed on a lever subjected directly or not to the action of the floats, or disposed inside a pivoting float h one of its ends.  x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x  5) Device according to claims i and 2 characterized in that the switch is a mechanical contact one of the elements of which is integral with a membrane subjected to the action of the pressure generated by the rise of the liquid in a tube closed at the top by said membrane and open at its base.  6) Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the switch control means consist of electrodes which, when the weary level reaches, close an electronic circuit with amplifier and relay which controls the switch, these electrodes being mounted displaceable inside or outside of the vertical member.  7) Dispositi @ sel @ n l @@ e @@ elconq @ e revandicetions 3,4, 5,6, characterized in that it includes reg @ mens of the height of the level to control co-set an adjustable telescopic vertical support element, for example by screwing, pinning, bar clamp system or needle screw.  8) Device according to any one of the claims 1,3,4 characterized in that the height of the level to be checked is effected by placing a more or less large number of floats, for example spherical, dens the vertical support po @ r- seen at its lower part of a retaining cup.  9) Device according to one q @ elconque of claims 1,3,4 characterized in that the m @ ye @ s of adjusting the level to be controlled s @ nt constit @ és by the establishment, on the float, of 'a rod co @ smooth with @@ yen of fixing which can be carried out by @ x beg @ es with @ screw pointea @ x blocking these s @ r the rod.  10) Device according to @ ne q @ elco @ q @ e of claims 1,3,4,8 and 9 characterized in that the vertical support is perforated and consisting of rods g @@ dant either internally @ rement, or ex  térie @@ ement the floats.