GB2518624A - Water tank with a limiting assembly - Google Patents

Water tank with a limiting assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2518624A
GB2518624A GB1317031.1A GB201317031A GB2518624A GB 2518624 A GB2518624 A GB 2518624A GB 201317031 A GB201317031 A GB 201317031A GB 2518624 A GB2518624 A GB 2518624A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
container
actuating rod
float
axis
shell
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB1317031.1A
Other versions
GB201317031D0 (en
GB2518624B (en
Inventor
Ming-Tsung Chiu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
New Widetech Industries Co Ltd
Original Assignee
New Widetech Industries Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by New Widetech Industries Co Ltd filed Critical New Widetech Industries Co Ltd
Priority to GB1317031.1A priority Critical patent/GB2518624B/en
Publication of GB201317031D0 publication Critical patent/GB201317031D0/en
Publication of GB2518624A publication Critical patent/GB2518624A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2518624B publication Critical patent/GB2518624B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/22—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/30—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/20—Casings or covers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/12—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
    • F24F3/14—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/0007—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm for discrete indicating and measuring
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/30—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats
    • G01F23/64—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats of the free float type without mechanical transmission elements
    • G01F23/68—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats of the free float type without mechanical transmission elements using electrically actuated indicating means
    • G01F23/683—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats of the free float type without mechanical transmission elements using electrically actuated indicating means using electromechanically actuated indicating means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H35/00—Switches operated by change of a physical condition
    • H01H35/18—Switches operated by change of liquid level or of liquid density, e.g. float switch

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Level Indicators Using A Float (AREA)

Abstract

A water tank has a container (20), a microswitch (30), a limiting assembly (40) and a float (50). The float (50) is mounted slidably in the container (20). The limiting assembly (40) has an actuating rod (41) that slides in a direction perpendicular to the sliding path of the float (50). An inclined guiding track (42) is mounted between the float (50) and the actuating rod (41) to convert the moving direction. Since the actuating rod (41) utilizes the movement to switch the micro switch (30) on and off, the actuating rod (41) and the micro switch (30) need no abutting structures. When the actuating rod (41) is moved by an accidental force, the actuating rod (41) self-moves back to its original position once the accidental force is removed, then the microswitch (30) is switched on again so that the household appliance is restarted.

Description

WATER TANK WITH A LIMITING ASSEMBLY
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water tank, especially to a water tank for household appliances.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
Some household appliances such as dehumidifiers have water tanks to collect water. When the household appliance is operated, the moist air is drawn into the household appliance. Then the moist air is transformed into water and is collected in the water tank. When tile water tank collects a certain amount of water, the household appliance stops operating until the user empties the water tank.
With reference to Figs. 7 and 8, to stop the househoid appliance via change of the water level, a conventional water tank comprises a shell 600, a container 60, a float 70 and a micro switch 80. The container 60 is mounted shdably in the sheli 600. The float 70 is mounted pivotaUy in the top of the container 60. The float 70 has an actuating rod 701 extending from one side thereof The actuating rod 701 protrudes through the container 60. The micro switch 80 is mounted out of the shell 600 and has a pivoting lever 801. The pivoting lever 801 corresponds to the actuating rod 701.
In a normal status, the float 70 is positioned horizontally and the actuating rod 701 presses against the lever 801 such that the micro switch 80 is switched on and the household appliance is operated. Then water is collected continuously in the container 60.
When the coflected water in the container 60 is gradualiy increased, the water lever raises to pivot the float 70 until the actuating rod 701 leaves the lever 801. The lever 801 is pivoted toward the container 60 and the actuating rod 701 abuts between the bottom of the lever 801 and the sidewall of the container 60. Then an open circuit is formed and the household appliance is stopped from operating and the water stops from flowing into the container 60.
The user needs to pull the container 60 out of the shell 600 to empty the water inside so that the float 70 is allowed to pivot back to the horizontal status. Then the container 60 is pushed back into the shell 600 so that the actuating rod 701 presses the lever 801 again. The micro switch 80 is then on and the household appliance is restarted.
However, since the actuating rod 701 abuts between the bottom of the lever 801 and the sidewall of the container 60 when tile float 70 is pivoted, if the float 70 is accidentally pivoted because the household appliance is placed upside down or is vibrated, the float 70 camlot self-pivot back to the original position. Even if the container 60 has no water inside, the actuating rod 701 may abut against the bottom of the lever 801 and cannot press the lever 801 to actuate the micro switch 80. Therefore, the user needs to pull out and push back the container 60 to restart the househoid apphance regardiess that the container is full or not.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a water tank with a hmiting assembly to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a water tank with a Umiting assembly. The water tank has a container, a micro switch, a limiting assembly, and a float. The float is mounted slidably in the container.
The limiting assembly has all actuating rod that slides in a direction perpendicLdar to the sliding path of the float. An incUned guiding track is mounted between the float and the actuating rod to convert the moving direction. Since the actuating rod utilizes the actuating rod's movement to switch the micro switch on and off, the actuating rod and the micro switch need no abutting structures. Therefore, when the actuating rod is moved by an accidental force, the actuating rod self-moves back to its original position once the accidental force is removed. Then the micro switch is switched on again so that the household appliance is restarted without any extra acts by a user.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
IN THE DRAWINGS
Fig. I is a perspective view of a water tank with a limiting assembly in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the water tank in Fig. I; Fig. 3 is another partially exploded perspective view of the water tank in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is still another partially exploded perspective view of the water tank in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an operational side view in partial section of the water tank in Fig. I, showing a closed circuit; Fig. 6 is an operational side view in partial section of the water tank in Fig. 1, showing an open circuit; Fig. 7 is an operational side view in partial section of a convention& water tank in accordance with the prior art, showing a closed circuit; and Fig. 8 is an operational side view in partial section of the conventional water tank in Fig. 7, showing an open circuit.
With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a water tank with a limiting assembly in accordance with the present invention is mounted in a household appliance and comprises a shell 10, a container 20, a micro switch 30, a limiting assembly 40 and a float 50.
With reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the shell 10 is hollow and has an opening II formed through a side of the shell and a gap 12 formed through an opposite side of the shell.
With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the container 20 is hollow, is mounted slidably in the opening II of the shell 10 and has an opening 21 and a gap 22.
The opening 21 of the container 20 is formed through a top of the container 20.
The gap 22 of the container 20 is formed through a side of the container 20 and communicates with the gap 12 of the shell 10.
The micro switch 30 is mounted on an outside wall of the shell 10 near the gap 12 and has a lever 31. The lever 31 is mounted pivotally on the outside wall of the shell 10 and corresponds to and selectively pivots into the gap 12 of the shell 10.
With reference to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the limiting assembly 40 is mounted in the container 20 and has an actuating rod 41 and a guiding track 42.
The actuating rod 41 has an outer end and an inner end, is mounted slidably in the container 20 and selectively slides along a first axis Al. The outer end of the actuating rod 41 selectively abuts a side of the lever 31 of the micro switch 30. in a preferred embodiment, the limiting assembly 40 has a hollow casing 410. The casing 410 is mounted securely in the container 20 and has a top opening, a bottom opening, two limiting holes 411 and multiple ribs 412. The limiting holes 411 are formed respectively through two sides of the casing 410 and align with a first axis Al. The ribs 412 are formed separately on an inside wall of the casing 410. The ends of the actuating rod 41 are respectively mounted through the limiting holes 411. The outer end of the actuating rod 41 selectively protrudes through the gap 22 of the container 20 and the gap 12 of the shell 10.
The guiding track 42 has a first end and a second end, is attached securely to the actuating rod 41 and aligns with a second axis A2. The second axis A2 and the first axis Al are not parallel to each other and intersect to form an angle less than 180 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the first end of the guiding track 42 is formed on the actuating rod 41, and the guiding track 42 is inclined such that the second end of the guiding track 42 is away from the outer end of the actuating rod 41 with respect to the first end.
The float 50 is mounted slidably in the container 20 and is limited to selectively shde along a third axis A3. The third axis A3 is perpendicular to the first axis Al such that the third axis A3 and the second axis A2 intersect to form an angle less than 180 degrees. in a preferred embodiment, the float 50 is mounted slidaHy in the casing 410 and has an outside wall and a protrusion 51.
The outside wall of the float 50 abuts the ribs 412 of the casing 410 to limit the float 50 such that the float 50 call oniy slide along the third axis A3. The protrusion 51 is formed on a top end of the float 50 and mounted slidaHy in the guiding track 42 of the limiting assembly 40.
With reference to Fig. 5, in a normal status, the float 50 slides to tile bottom end of its sliding path along the third axis A3 via gravity. The protrusion 5 1 abuts the bottom end of the guiding track 42. The actuating rod 41 protrudes through the gap 22 of the container 20 and the gap 12 of the shell and presses against the side of the lever 31. Therefore, the micro switch 30 is switched on and the household appliance is operated.
With reference to Fig. 6, when the collected water in the container 20 reaches a thresh&d water level to push the float 50 to move upward, the protrusion 51 slides in the guiding track 42 along the third axis A3. Since the float 50 is limited to slide along the third axis A3, the guiding track 42 is forced to move &ong the second axis A2 to allow the float 50 to slide along the third axis A3. Moreover, because the guiding track 42 is attached securely to the actuating rod 41, the actuating rod 41 is forced to slide along the first axis Al when the guiding track 42 slides along the third axis A3. Then the actuating rod 41 gradually leaves the side of the lever 31 to switch off the micro switch 30 and the household appliance is stopped from operating.
With the guiding track 42, the upright movement of the float 50 is converted into the lateral movement of the actuating rod 41 such that the actuating rod 41 leaves the lever 31 when the micro switch 30 is switched off Therefore, if the household appliance is accidentafly moved or positioned upside down to move the float 50 such that the actuating rod 41 is forced to leave the lever 3 1, the lever 31 is not restricted by other elements and is free to be pivoted. Once tile household apphance is reinstated to the originai position, the float 50 "loves back by gravity such that the household appliance is restarted without any extra acts by the user.
Thus, only when the collected water in the container 20 reaches a threshold water level, the float 50 is kept at the top end of its sliding path. Any accidental movement can only move the float 50 temporally. When the external force is ehrninated, the float 50 is reinstated to its original position without any extra acts by the user.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing descTiption, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only.
Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principies of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims (5)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. A water tank comprising: a hollow shell (1 0); a hollow container (20) mounted slidably in the shell (10); a micro switch (30) mounted on an outside wall of the shell (10) and having a lever (31) mounted pivotally on the outside wall of the shell (10); a hinting assembly (40) mounted in the container (20) and having an actuating rod (41) mounted slidably in the container (20), selectively sliding along a first axis (Al) and having an outer end selectively abutting a side of the lever (31) of the micro switch (30); and an inner end; and a guiding track (42) attached securely to the actuating rod (41) and aligning with a second axis (A2); and a float (50) mounted slidably in the container (20), limited to selectively slide along a third axis (A3) and having a protrusion (51) formed on a top end of the float (50) and mounted slidably in the guiding track (42) of the limiting assembly (40), wherein the second axis (A2) and the first axis (Al) intersect to form an angle less than 180 degrees, and the third axis (A3) is perpendicular to the first axis (Al).
  2. 2. The water tank as claimed in claim I, wherein the guiding track (42) has a first end and a second end, the first end of the guiding track (42) is formed on the actuating rod (41), and the guiding track (42) is inclined such that the second end of the guiding track (42) is away from the outer end of the actuating rod (41) with respect to the first end.
  3. 3. The water tank as dairned in claims I or 2, wherein the limiting assembly (40) has a hollow casing (410) mounted securely in the container (20) and having a top opening, a bottom opening, two limiting holes (411) formed respectively through two sides of the casing (410) and aligning with the first axis (Al); the ends of the actuating rod (41) are respectively mounted through the limiting holes (41 1) of the casing (410); and the float (50) is mounted slidably in the casing (410).
  4. 4. The water tank as claimed in claim 3, wherein the casing (410) has multiple ribs (412) formed separately on an inside wall of the casing (410); and the float (50) has an outside wall abutting the ribs (412) of the casing (410).
  5. 5. The water tank as claimed in any claim of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shell (10) has a gap (12) formed through a side of the shell (10); the container (20) has a gap (22) foniied through a side of the container (20) and communicating with the gap (12) of the shell (10); and the outer end of the actuating rod (41) selectively protrudes through the gap (22) of the container (20) and the gap (12) of the shell (10).
GB1317031.1A 2013-09-25 2013-09-25 Water tank with a limiting assembly Expired - Fee Related GB2518624B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1317031.1A GB2518624B (en) 2013-09-25 2013-09-25 Water tank with a limiting assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1317031.1A GB2518624B (en) 2013-09-25 2013-09-25 Water tank with a limiting assembly

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201317031D0 GB201317031D0 (en) 2013-11-06
GB2518624A true GB2518624A (en) 2015-04-01
GB2518624B GB2518624B (en) 2018-04-18

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GB1317031.1A Expired - Fee Related GB2518624B (en) 2013-09-25 2013-09-25 Water tank with a limiting assembly

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108131817A (en) * 2017-12-15 2018-06-08 芜湖美智空调设备有限公司 Shell and the apparatus of air conditioning

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1496287A (en) * 1965-10-21 1967-09-29 Cory Corp Control device sensitive to a variation of a liquid level
GB2111183A (en) * 1981-10-27 1983-06-29 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Air conditioning apparatus
JPS58158436A (en) * 1982-03-16 1983-09-20 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Stopping device for dehumidifier at full drainage
WO2001093390A2 (en) * 2000-05-26 2001-12-06 Float Rail, Inc. Float switch activation assembly
GB2461729A (en) * 2008-07-10 2010-01-13 New Widetech Ind Co Ltd Dehumidifier with multistage draining
CN202601505U (en) * 2012-05-31 2012-12-12 乳山市黄海汽车配件有限公司 Level control switch of oil cooling tank

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1496287A (en) * 1965-10-21 1967-09-29 Cory Corp Control device sensitive to a variation of a liquid level
GB1155994A (en) * 1965-10-21 1969-06-25 Cory Corp A Control Device for Providing a Signal Responsive to a Variation in a Liquid Level.
GB2111183A (en) * 1981-10-27 1983-06-29 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Air conditioning apparatus
JPS58158436A (en) * 1982-03-16 1983-09-20 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Stopping device for dehumidifier at full drainage
WO2001093390A2 (en) * 2000-05-26 2001-12-06 Float Rail, Inc. Float switch activation assembly
GB2461729A (en) * 2008-07-10 2010-01-13 New Widetech Ind Co Ltd Dehumidifier with multistage draining
CN202601505U (en) * 2012-05-31 2012-12-12 乳山市黄海汽车配件有限公司 Level control switch of oil cooling tank

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108131817A (en) * 2017-12-15 2018-06-08 芜湖美智空调设备有限公司 Shell and the apparatus of air conditioning
WO2019114214A1 (en) * 2017-12-15 2019-06-20 芜湖美智空调设备有限公司 Outer casing and air conditioning device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201317031D0 (en) 2013-11-06
GB2518624B (en) 2018-04-18

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20180718