US3429334A

US3429334A - Water level control device

Info

Publication number: US3429334A
Application number: US599602A
Authority: US
Inventors: Giovanni C Ziliotto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-12-06
Filing date: 1966-12-06
Publication date: 1969-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1986-02-25

Description

Feb. 25, 1969 G, Q Z|L|OTT0 3,429,334

WATER LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE Filed DeO. 6, 1966 United States Patent O 3,429,334 WATER LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE Giovanni C. Ziliotto, 120 S. Broadway, Lake Orion, Mich. 48035 Filed Dec. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 599,602 U.S. Cl. 137-386 Int. Cl. F16k 21/20 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Where it is necessary to accurately control the level of water in a device to have it operate satisfactorily, diculty has always been experienced when the inflow is reduced and causes the level of the water to drop. The device may be applied on any water-carrying member where the level is critical and the operation becomes defective when dropped below a predetermined point. For the purpose of clearly illustrating the advantage of the device, it is shown in combination with an air cleaner which employs water in a manner to produce a film over the surface of the air passageway to entrain the particles from the air when the air is brushed thereover. It will readily be understood that if the film becomes broken or too thin that the particles will not be efficiently removed from the air and will carry over with the exhaust air stream.

To prevent this from occurring, the device of the present invention immediately senses the lowering of the water and responsive to pressure or partial vacuum within the cleaning device a differential switch is operated to complete a circuit for energizing a solenoid valve which immediately supplies water at a predetermined rate to quickly bring up the level to the desirable point,

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide a device responsive to the lowering of a water level for supplying water to reestablish the level; to provide a tube having one end connected to a differential switch and the opposite end extending below the surface of the water which when uncovered by a drop in the water level permits the pressure of air or partial vacuum to operate the switch and provide water for reestablishing the level; to provide a device for operating a differential switch which is ineffective when an open end extends below the level of the water, and in general, to provide a water level control device which is simple in construction, positive in operation and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of an air cleaner with a water level control device thereon embodying features of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the level control device illustrated in FIGURE l, with an electric and fluid circuit shown in connection therewith.

In FIGURE 1, an air cleaner is illustrated of the wet collector type which separates the particles from the air by centrifugal action as the water wets and entraps the particles. The device embodies a base in the nature of a tank 5 having a pear shaped barrel 6 thereon containing a stationary screw 7 forming a helical path of a plurality of revolutions. The exhaust end 8 is connected to an air suction device which draws in air at the opposite end of the screw through an opening in the duct 9. It is to be understood that in some instances it is desirable to force the air through the device to have the air in the device under pressure rather than suction. Water is contained within the base tank 5 and the lower part of the helical path where it is in contact with the moving air and is carried therewith around the wall -of the screw path. The water at the bottom and on the wall is swept by the air stream and the centrifugal force created 4by the air moving in a curved path throws the dust particles in the air against the water which traps them.

Tank 5 may be continuously cleaned for removing the collected sludge by a water flow through drain 30 or this may be done periodically. A cover 10 is provided on one end of the tank which is removable for cleaning when the device is out of operation. On the wall of the barrel 6 a reservoir 11 is provided communieating with the tank 5 through an opening 12. An air tube 13 communicates the interior of the barrel 6 with the interior of the reservoir 11 above the water level therein. A-n overflow pipe 14 extends upwardly from the bottom of the reservoir into which water above a desired level flows to drain.

To prevent any substantial drop in the level of the water, which might occur if too much water is used `for continuous cleaning, the device 16 of the present invention is employed located in a housing 17 attached to the top portion of the reservoir 11. The device ernbodies a tube 18 having an exterior thread in contact with an internal thread of a collar 19 by which the end 21 is adjusted relative to the water level height 23 of the water. This level is normally maintained by the regulation of the intake water at a rate which will produce a small overflow from the top of the drain tube 14. The tube 18 has a tube 24 in extension thereof which is attached to a differential pressure switch 25 of conventional form. The switch 25 is preferably of a type to which the tube 24 may be attached to either of two orifices, one when a suction is present within the spiral path 7, the other when a pressure is present therein, depending on whether the separator is operated as a vacuum or pressure type.

When the end of the tube 18 is closed by the water, the pressure or partial vacuum within the helical path 7 will be prevented from operating the switch 25. However, should the level drop so that the water no longer closes the end of the tube 18, the pressure or partial vacuum within the spiral path, being the same as that within the housing 17 in the presence of a tube 13 will be applied through the interior of the tubes 18 and 24 to the switch 25 to produce its actuation. The switch is energized from a source 26 and when actuated energizes the solenoid 27 of a water supply valve 28 which rapidly returns the water level to the height 23. This closes off the tube 1S which causes the switch 25 to return to open position and deenergize the Solenoid Z7 which closes the valve 28.

A circuit 29 to a lamp 31 gives visual indication of the operation of the valve 28. The device 16 provides assurance that the water level height 23 will always be maintained. If the normal ilow of Water is reduced or the level drops because too much is used for cleaning, the water level will be maintained by the valve 28 preferably operating from a different source so that the failure of one source can have no effect upon the flow of water through the valve 28 from a second source.

What is claimed s:

1. In a device actuated rby a change in water level, tube means having an open end, a support for the tube means for mounting the open end below a water level established by an overflow conduit, a differential pressure switch connected to the other end of said tube means operated by sub-atmospheric pressure when the water level drops below the open end of the tube means, and a solenoid valve operated when the differential pressure switch is actuated to reestablish the level of the water which closes said open end of the tube means and opens the contacts 0f said switch.

2. In a device as recited in claim 1, wherein the open end of the tube means is adjusted to be below the water level for interrupting communication of the 15 air at sub-atmospheric pressure with the interior of the tube means which is established when the water level drops -below the open end to permit the direct contact of the air to operate the dilerential pressure to closed contact position.

3. In a device as recited in claim 2, wherein a pressure of air is provided above the water level which pressure is applied to the differential pressure switch when the water level drops to uncover the open end of the tube means.

4. In a device as recited in claim 2, wherein the air above the water level is at vacuum pressure which will be applied to the differential pressure switch when the open end of the tube means is uncovered through the lowering of the water level.

5. In a device as recited in claim 2, wherein means are provided for indicating the actuation of the supply valve.

6. In a device as recited in claim 1, wherein the tube means is adustable to have the open end extend below the level of the water, whereby when the differential pressure switch is actuated to closed position directly by the presence of air at sub-atmospheric pressure the solenoid valve will supply water to reestablish the water level which closes the open end of the tube means and permits the switch to open and shut ol the flow of water.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,931,459 4/1960 Wiles et al 137-386 X 3,344,804 10/1967 Lyman 137-453 X FOREIGN PATENTS 466,765 7/ 1950 Canada. 632,678 12/1961 Canada. 795,096 9/1956 Great Britain,

WILLIAM S. BURDEN, Primary Examiner.