US3632925A - Float responsive switch unit - Google Patents

Float responsive switch unit Download PDF

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Publication number
US3632925A
US3632925A US843591A US3632925DA US3632925A US 3632925 A US3632925 A US 3632925A US 843591 A US843591 A US 843591A US 3632925D A US3632925D A US 3632925DA US 3632925 A US3632925 A US 3632925A
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United States
Prior art keywords
magnetic
float
concave
shaft
switch
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Expired - Lifetime
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US843591A
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English (en)
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Katsuji Fujiwara
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Individual
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Individual
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B49/00—Control, e.g. of pump delivery, or pump pressure of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided for, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B47/00
    • F04B49/04—Regulating by means of floats
    • 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
    • G01F23/32—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 using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements
    • G01F23/38—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 using rotatable arms or other pivotable transmission elements using magnetically actuated indicating means

Definitions

  • a new and improved float responsive switch controls the level of a liquid in a tank.
  • the vertical motion of the float as responding to the liquid level is changed to a rotary motion through use of magnetic responses, which rotary motion in turn activates selectively a microswitch controlling the level of the liquid.
  • the present invention is particularly adapted to be responsive to minor or slight changes in the level of a liquid in a container or tank.
  • Float switches have been known in the prior art.
  • the differences between the instant invention and those of the prior art lie basically in that instead of opening and closing either the liquid intake or outlet .valves directly by means of mechanical linkage operating in response to the float movement, the float movement activates electrical or magnetic control means.
  • the operation of the present invention because it does not rely only on levers and mechanical links, can either be set to closely control minute changes in the liquid level or to respond only to major variations in the liquid level.
  • the instant invention and those of the prior art lie basically in that instead of opening and closing either the liquid intake or outlet .valves directly by means of mechanical linkage operating in response to the float movement, the float movement activates electrical or magnetic control means.
  • the operation of the present invention because it does not rely only on levers and mechanical links, can either be set to closely control minute changes in the liquid level or to respond only to major variations in the liquid level.
  • the rotary shaft is connected to the float, and the float is not directly connected to the activating mechanism. This means that repairs and maintenance are easier and that there is much less danger of repeated breakdowns.
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that the activating mechanism is not subjected to the direct pressure of the raising and lowering float or the liquid.
  • the switch mechanism of the present invention is also useful no matter what the dimension of the float is or what the length of the mechanical linkage is. It has an absence of supporting points and thus is both simple and efficient.
  • FIG, 1 shows a longitudinal section of the float switch according to the invention in an installed state, the float being in the upper position and the circuit being closed.
  • FIG. 2 shows a section similar to FIG. 1, the float being in the lower position, the circuit being opened.
  • FIG. 3 shows the right side view of FIG. I, with a partial section taken along the line A-B of FIG. 1 and the switch cover removed.
  • FIG. 4 shows a partial section along the line C-D of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 5 shows the left side view, wherein a partial section is taken along the line EF of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 7 is a right side view of FIG. 6 with a partial section taken along the line G-H of FIG. 6 and the switch cover removed.
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an application of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a further application of the present invention.
  • valves which are controlled with the floats have been well known.
  • the main valve of prior art liquid level control valves is opened and closed directly by means of a float, responsive to slight or small variations of the water level and consequently the control of liquid level is difficult.
  • the prior art liquid level control valves have a lever mechanism with many supporting points which often get out of order. Repair or the part exchange is hard work because the main valve is mounted inside of the apparatus.
  • in prior art liquid level control valves in order to open a main valve having a large diameter, it is necessary to make the size of float larger or the length of valves lever larger. Increasing the size of the float or the length of valves lever depending upon the pressure used makes the mechanism more complicated and larger, so that the handling as well as the maintenance becomes more difficult.
  • the present invention aims to avoid the above-mentioned difficulties by transferring the rotary motion imparted to the float-supporting shaft due to raising or sinking of the float out of the apparatus by means of a transmission mechanism utilizing magnetism to actuate a microswitch mounted outside of the apparatus connected to an electromagnetic valve.
  • the rotating float support shaft reacting to raising or rotating action through a lever reacting to raising or sinking of the float surrounded by a casing.
  • a first or outer magnetizable substance is attached to the shaft in such a manner that said substance rotates following said rotary shaft.
  • a second or internal magnetic substance is provided in such a manner that said internal magnetic substance is opposite to said outer magnetizable substance but separated by a partition wall formed on a part of said casing in order to completely bar fluid from entering said casing.
  • two shafts on each of which a magnetic substances is mounted and con nected in such a manner that due to mutual magnetic action'of both magnetic substances, the internal magnetic substances rotates, following up the outer magnetizable substance.
  • the microswitch is actuated through a mechanism, such as a cam situated along the rotation axis of said magnetic substances, so that the electromagnetic valve is opened and closed.
  • Numeral l is a float switch casing and 2 is a rotary shaft, which being rotatably inserted in casing l by means of a bushing 3.
  • One end of said shaft 2 is provided with a concave notch, in which the convex part of the float mount 4 is inserted and both are connected with each other by means of a cotter pin 5.
  • downwardly depending lever arm 6 is secured with screw, with a float 7 connected to the lowermost extremity. As float 7 moves in up or down along line 7a, it will cause shaft 4 to rotate along line of arrow 4a about its longitudinal axis.
  • a flange part 8 On the other end of said rotary shaft 2 is a flange part 8, having a square or otherwise shaped profile, which transmit the rotary motion imparted to shaft 2 by the raising or sinking of the float 7 to an outer or magnetizable substance 9 formed as a hollow cylinder.
  • the outer magnetizable substance 9 is covered with a cylindrical shell 10 consisting of nonmagnetic material attached to shell 10.
  • Numeral 11 is a cap-shaped protecting partition wall consisting of nonmagnetic material, disposed opposite to the outer magnetizable substance 9 defining a small clearance I2 between the magnetic substance 9 and cap 11.
  • Numeral 13 is a slide ring consisting of plastics such as Teflon, provided with a notch, in which the edge of the cylindrical nonmagnetic shell 10 is engaged in such a manner that said cylindrical shell slides smoothly while said clearance 12 is maintained.
  • Numeral 19 is a microswitch, which by means of the cam 17 raises and lowers a switch lever 20 and actuates the on-off operation of the microswitch l9.
  • Numeral 21, 22 are blocks on which the cam and the switch are placed, while 23 is a cover.
  • valve 27 opens when the liquid level rises, and on the other hand, closes when the liquid level lowers.
  • Numeral 24 is a liquid inlet, while 25 is a tank, on the wall of which tank a float switch according to the present invention is attached and the float 7 is installed in said tank.
  • Numeral 26 is a liquid outlet, while 27 is an electromagnetic valve, which is connected with the float switch.
  • the float 7 As the liquid coming in from the inlet 24 is accumulated in the tank 25 and the water level goes up, the float 7 also goes up due to its buoyancy.
  • the rotary shaft 2 FIG. 1 is rotated by the lever 6 due to the buoyancy of the float, and at the same time, the outer magnetizable substance 9 and the cylindrical shell 10 connected with the connection piece of said rotary shaft 2 are rotated.
  • FIG. 8 is best suited for exhausting condensed water for example, from steam machines because it is free from the influence of working pressure.
  • the situation is simply reversed, whereby when the float goes down, the switch is closed, and when the float goes up the switch is opened, which can be used as so-called water supply equipment.
  • the following mechanism is applied.
  • Numeral 30 is a rotary body, while 31 is a shaft on which said rotary body is mounted and to which rotary motion is imparted just as described before with regard to shaft 18.
  • a groove is provided on said rotary body 30 filled by a metal plate 32 consisting of well-conductirig material, such as copper, and secured with bolts and nuts.
  • Numerals 33, 34 are terminal plates which are pressed against the rotary body 30 by springs 35, 36. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the terminal plates 33, 34 are connected with each other through metal plate 32 so that both terminal rods 37, 38 are connected with each other, whereby the switch is closed.
  • said first magnetic means includes a first magnetic member and moving means holding said first magnetic member and responding to movement of said arm for moving said first magnetic member through a circular path, said track means following a circular path for engaging said first magnetic means near said first magnetic member.
  • said first magnetic means includes a first magnetic member rotatable about an axis in response to movement of said arm, said first magnetic member being mounted to travel in a circular path about the axis in response to movement of said arm, said second magnetic means having a second magnetic member mounted for circular movement about the axis, one of said magnetic members being adapted to travel about a larger circular path than the other and surrounding the path of the other, said wall having a cap shaped section with a cylindrical portion extending coaxial to the axis and between the paths.
  • said track means includes a circular track, and wherein the magnetic means having the magnetic member whose path surrounds the other path has a concave shape for receiving the cap-shaped section.
  • said first magnetic member includes a magnetizable material and said second magnetic member includes a permanent magnet.
  • valve means are electromagnetic and said control means include electric switches for actuating said valve means.
  • An apparatus comprising, a tank adapted for containing a flowable liquid, electromagnetic valve means to vary the level of the liquid in the tank, a float adapted to rest on the surface of the liquid and movable in a vertical plane as the liquid level varies, and a float switch mechanism to actuate said valve means, said switch mechanism including magnetic means reflecting changes in the liquid level in the tank, float responsive means connecting said magnetic means to said float, and valve control means connecting said magnetic means to said valve means, said magnetic means including a first magnetic material movable in response to the position of said float in the tank and a second magnetic material outside of said tank movable in response to the shifting position of said first magnetic material, valve control means actuated by said second magnetic material for controlling said valve means to stabilize the liquid level, said first magnetic material being concave and covering said second magnetic means, said tank having a wall including a hollow cylindrical cap disposed between said first and second magnetic materials, said cap including a cylindrical shell, track means on said wall engaging the outer periphery of said concave material
  • said float responsive means includes a shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the vertical plane of movement of said float, one end of said shaft extending outward of said housing and one end extending inward of said switch housing, a float mounting housing affixed to the outwardly extending end of said shaft, a lever fixedly connecting said float to said rotatable shaft in said float housing so that as said float raises or sinks said shaft rotates around its longitudinal axis, a flange on said shaft embedded in said first magnetic material and a bushing in said switch housing supporting said shaft for longitudinal rotation, said valve control means including a second rotatable shaft fixedly connected to said second magnetic material, a cam fixedly mounted to said second rotatable shaft, a microswitch mounted on said switch casing and a switch actuating lever in said microswitch engaging said cam, said track means including a slide ring and a notch in said slide ring, said flange
  • a float-actuated switch mechanism comprising, support means, a rotary shaft rotatably held by said support means, said rotary shaft having mounted thereon a radial arm, said arm carrying a float, said rotary shaft having an end and a concave magnetizable member mounted on said end, said concave member having a circular periphery, said concave magnetizable member having an inner and an outer surface and being rotatable coaxially with said rotary shaft, a cylindrical portion of nonmagnetic material covering said member, a capshaped partition wall extending into the inner surface of said concave magnetizable member and forming an annular clearance therewith, said partition wall having a base portion extending radially outward therefrom, said base portion having a slide ring, said slide ring having an annular notched groove coaxial with said concave member for rotation therein of the periphery of said concave member, said concave member engaging said slide ring so as to form with said partition an enclosure for preventing entrance of

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (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)
  • Sanitary Device For Flush Toilet (AREA)
  • Mechanically-Actuated Valves (AREA)
  • Float Valves (AREA)
US843591A 1968-11-18 1969-07-22 Float responsive switch unit Expired - Lifetime US3632925A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP8429868 1968-11-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3632925A true US3632925A (en) 1972-01-04

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US843591A Expired - Lifetime US3632925A (en) 1968-11-18 1969-07-22 Float responsive switch unit

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US3632925A (OSRAM)
BE (1) BE738315A (OSRAM)
DE (1) DE1957121C3 (OSRAM)
FR (1) FR2023494A1 (OSRAM)
GB (1) GB1263326A (OSRAM)
NL (1) NL6913100A (OSRAM)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4183176A (en) * 1977-04-11 1980-01-15 Barfield William G System for supplying liquids to potted plants
US5374790A (en) * 1993-02-05 1994-12-20 Rochester Gauges, Inc. Liquid level switch assembly
WO2000036381A1 (en) * 1998-12-11 2000-06-22 Ilenaig S.A.S. Di Giannelli Giuseppe A level sensor with a float
US6089086A (en) * 1997-08-26 2000-07-18 Rochester Gauges, Inc. Liquid level gauge
CN100435258C (zh) * 2006-12-08 2008-11-19 王世有 变压器用气体继电器
US20170250041A1 (en) * 2016-02-26 2017-08-31 S.J. Electro Systems, Inc. Magnetically actuated switch
US20220279329A1 (en) * 2021-02-26 2022-09-01 Yixuan Xu Tethered aerostat communication device, network organizing method and data transmission method thereof

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2377607A1 (fr) * 1977-01-12 1978-08-11 Wolford Byron Dispositif d'indication de position d'arbre tournant et de commande
DE3203110A1 (de) * 1982-01-30 1983-08-18 Sunvic Regler Gmbh, 5650 Solingen Elektrischer messumformer fuer fuellstand
DE3240956C2 (de) * 1982-11-05 1986-01-30 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, 8000 München Einrichtung zum Verbinden zweier ineinander schiebbarer sowie lösbarer Bauteile
DE4320480C2 (de) * 1993-06-21 1995-12-21 Uhing Joachim Gmbh & Co Kg Schnellspannvorrichtung zur Erzeugung von axialen Spannkräften auf einer glatten Welle

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2356652A (en) * 1943-03-01 1944-08-22 Rochester Mfg Co Inc Liquid level gauge
US2620412A (en) * 1948-01-16 1952-12-02 Qualitrol Corp Alarm gauge
US2666823A (en) * 1952-05-17 1954-01-19 Boeing Co Float switch
US2717934A (en) * 1951-05-31 1955-09-13 Charles V Collins Automatic switch controlling mechanism
US2822442A (en) * 1955-02-03 1958-02-04 Flight Refueling Inc Electric switches and operating means therefor

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2356652A (en) * 1943-03-01 1944-08-22 Rochester Mfg Co Inc Liquid level gauge
US2620412A (en) * 1948-01-16 1952-12-02 Qualitrol Corp Alarm gauge
US2717934A (en) * 1951-05-31 1955-09-13 Charles V Collins Automatic switch controlling mechanism
US2666823A (en) * 1952-05-17 1954-01-19 Boeing Co Float switch
US2822442A (en) * 1955-02-03 1958-02-04 Flight Refueling Inc Electric switches and operating means therefor

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4183176A (en) * 1977-04-11 1980-01-15 Barfield William G System for supplying liquids to potted plants
US5374790A (en) * 1993-02-05 1994-12-20 Rochester Gauges, Inc. Liquid level switch assembly
US6089086A (en) * 1997-08-26 2000-07-18 Rochester Gauges, Inc. Liquid level gauge
WO2000036381A1 (en) * 1998-12-11 2000-06-22 Ilenaig S.A.S. Di Giannelli Giuseppe A level sensor with a float
CN100435258C (zh) * 2006-12-08 2008-11-19 王世有 变压器用气体继电器
US20170250041A1 (en) * 2016-02-26 2017-08-31 S.J. Electro Systems, Inc. Magnetically actuated switch
US10141141B2 (en) * 2016-02-26 2018-11-27 S. J. Electro Systems, Inc. Magnetically actuated switch
US20220279329A1 (en) * 2021-02-26 2022-09-01 Yixuan Xu Tethered aerostat communication device, network organizing method and data transmission method thereof
US11496876B2 (en) * 2021-02-26 2022-11-08 Yixuan Yu Tethered aerostat communication device, network organizing method and data transmission method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2023494A1 (OSRAM) 1970-08-21
DE1957121C3 (de) 1974-04-25
GB1263326A (en) 1972-02-09
DE1957121A1 (de) 1970-07-09
DE1957121B2 (de) 1973-09-13
NL6913100A (OSRAM) 1970-05-20
BE738315A (OSRAM) 1970-02-16

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