NZ733081A0

NZ733081A0 - A float

Info

Publication number: NZ733081A0
Application number: NZ733081A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Christopher John Trollip
Original assignee: Hansen Developments Limited
Filing date: 2017-06-21
Publication date: 2018-12-04

Abstract

The present invention relates to a float used in tanks and reservoirs to control a float valve. Instead of conventional floats which have one fixed orientation, the float of the present invention has a structure which enables it to be positioned in two different orientations. The float of the present invention may be used in tanks or reservoirs where two different minimum water levels are possible. t invention may be used in tanks or reservoirs where two different minimum water levels are possible.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A float comprising: a hollow body having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, wherein the float is asymmetric along its transverse axis, has a greater volume at or towards one end of its longitudinal axis than at or towards the other end of its longitudinal axis, and comprises two separate volumes extending length-wise of the float, and means along the length of the float for attaching the float to a line.
2. The float as claimed in claim 1 wherein the float is moveable between a first orientation and a second orientation by rotating it 180 about the transverse axis.
3. The float as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means along the length of the float for attaching the float to a line comprises an aperture through the float and along the length of the float.
4. The float as claimed in claim 3 wherein the aperture is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the float.
5. The float as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the float is slideably attachable to the line.
6. The float as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the float further comprises at least one float weighting element.
7. The float as claimed in claim 6 wherein the at least one float weighting element is disposed within the hollow body.
8. A float valve for maintaining a fluid level within a reservoir above a minimum level, the float valve comprising: an actuating arm pivotable between a first pivotal position to open the valve when the minimum fluid level is reached, and a second pivotal positon to close the valve, a weighted element of negative buoyancy, a line coupleable from the actuating arm to the weighted element, and a float comprising a hollow body having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, wherein the float is asymmetric along its transverse axis, has a greater volume at or towards one end of its longitudinal axis than at or towards the other end of its longitudinal axis, and means along the length of the float for attaching the float to a line, the float attachable to the line in either a first orientation or a second orientation, between the actuating arm and the weighted element to cause the arm to pivot to the second pivotal position and open the valve when the minimum fluid level is reached and the float is no longer fully supported by the fluid within the reservoir.
9. The float valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein the line is non-rigid.
10. The float valve as claimed in either claim 8 or 9 wherein the float is slideably attachable to the line.
11. The float valve as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the float is moveable between the first orientation and second orientation by removing it from the line, rotating it 180 about the transverse axis and reattaching it to the line.
12. The float valve as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein the float has at least one float weighting element.
13. The float valve as claimed in claim 12 wherein the at least one float weighting element is disposed within the hollow body of the float. / 10