US3625636A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid level regulating system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-07-09
•
Granted: 1971-12-07
•
Expires: 1989-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A liquid level regulating system according to this disclosure includes a duct having a termination in a container, the liquid level of which is to be regulated. The termination of the duct is normally just below the intended liquid level. A fluid displaceable element is in fluid communication with the duct. Electromechanical means is activated by a source of pulsating current to urge the fluid displaceable element into reciprocation. One feature resides in the provision of a plurality of ducts for sensing liquid level, and another feature resides in the use of a valve between the reservoir and the fluid displaceable element for controlling the flow of fluid therebetween.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:32
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D9/00; G05D9/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
Apparatus comprising: a duct having a termination at a location in a container containing liquid and a compressible gas above said liquid, said termination being in fluid communication with said liquid and may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surface in said container; a reciprocable element in fluid communication with said duct, said reciprocable element being in fluid communication with a compressible gas in said duct during normal operating conditions; and a source of pulsating force adapted to urge said element in reciprocation, said source including electromechanical means responsive to a varying current for urging said element in reciprocation and current varying means connected to said electromechanical means for supplying a varying current to said electromechanical means, said varying current varying at such a frequency that said reciprocable element is urged to reciprocate at such a rate as to apply a pulsating force on the fluid closing the termination end of said duct so that when the termination end of said duct is substantially submerged in liquid the pulsating force on the liquid closing the termination does not substantially displace the liquid closing the termination thereby impeding displacement of gas within said duct and impeding reciprocation of said element, and when the termination end of said duct is not substantially submerged in liquid the compressible gas in the duct is vented through said termination to the compressible gas above the level of the liquid surface in said container and said element is not substantially impeded from reciprocation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
Apparatus comprising: a duct having a termination at a location in a container containing liquid and a compressible gas above said liquid, said termination being in fluid communication with said liquid and may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surface in said container; a reciprocable element in fluid communication with said duct, said reciprocable element being in fluid communication with a compressible gas in said duct during normal operating conditions; and a source of pulsating force adapted to urge said element in reciprocation, said source including electromechanical means responsive to a varying current for urging said element in reciprocation and current varying means connected to said electromechanical means for supplying a varying current to said electromechanical means, said varying current varying at such a frequency that said reciprocable element is urged to reciprocate at such a rate as to apply a pulsating force on the fluid closing the termination end of said duct so that when the termination end of said duct is substantially submerged in liquid the pulsating force on the liquid closing the termination does not substantially displace the liquid closing the termination thereby impeding displacement of gas within said duct and impeding reciprocation of said element, and when the termination end of said duct is not substantially submerged in liquid the compressible gas in the duct is vented through said termination to the compressible gas above the level of the liquid surface in said container and said element is not substantially impeded from reciprocation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said duct is in fluid communication with the opposite side of said element from said reservoir, and outlet means in fluid communication with the same side of said element as said reservoir, said outlet means being in fluid communication with said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said duct ascends from the level of liquid in said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said duct is disposed in an attitude which lies in the range from one in which the termination is located vertically below the point of fluid communication of the duct with the reciprocable element to one in which the terminAtion is located approximately at the same horizontal level as the point of fluid communication of the duct with the reciprocable element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including second duct means having a termination at a location in said container in communication with said liquid and which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surfaces in said container, said second duct means being in fluid communication with said reciprocable element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said second duct means is in fluid communication with the opposite side of said reciprocable element from the first-named duct.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including a reservoir, containing liquid pump means for regulating flow of liquid between said reservoir and said reciprocable element, said pump means including a housing having a bore having one end in fluid communication with said reservoir and the other end in fluid communication with said reciprocable element, piston means slidably mounted in said bore and coupled to said element for reciprocation with said element, seal means, and bias means for biasing said seal means against said piston means to provide a fluid seal between said piston means and said bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, further including a valve seat in said bore between said piston means and said reservoir, valve means in said bore adapted to seal against said valve seat, and second bias means for biasing said valve means against said valve seat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said piston means is loosely coupled to said element so that said piston means does not reciprocate with minor fluctuations of said element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said piston means is loosely coupled to said element so that said piston means does not reciprocate with minor fluctuations of said element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said electromechanical means includes a solenoid having a winding in electrical communication with said current varying means, a core magnetically coupled to said winding for urging said element in one direction upon energization of said winding, and bias means urging said element in the opposite direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said bias means is a spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said current varying means includes astable multivibrator means adapted to be connected to a source of current, and switch means operable by said multivibrator means for intermittently connecting said source of current to said winding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said switch means is a transistor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said switch means is a controlled rectifier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said controlled rectifier has a controllable element, and delay means connected to said controllable element and said multivibrator means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 further including means connected to said winding for dissipating current surges.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
188 words
A system for regulating the level of liquid in fluid communication with said a container comprising a duct having a termination at a location in said container in communication with said liquid and which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surface in said container, a reservoir containing liquid, a reciprocable element in fluid communication with said duct, and a source of pulsating force adapted to urge said element in reciprocation, the improvement comprising: pump means controlling fluid communication between said reservoir and said element, said pump means including a housing having a bore having one end in fluid communication with said reservoir and the other end in fluid communication with said element, piston means slidably mounted in said bore and coupled to said element for reciprocation with said element, seal means, and bias means for biasing said seal mEans against said piston means to provide a fluid seal between said piston means and said bore, said piston means being loosely coupled to said element so that said piston means does not reciprocate with minor fluctuations of said element.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
188 words
A system for regulating the level of liquid in fluid communication with said a container comprising a duct having a termination at a location in said container in communication with said liquid and which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surface in said container, a reservoir containing liquid, a reciprocable element in fluid communication with said duct, and a source of pulsating force adapted to urge said element in reciprocation, the improvement comprising: pump means controlling fluid communication between said reservoir and said element, said pump means including a housing having a bore having one end in fluid communication with said reservoir and the other end in fluid communication with said element, piston means slidably mounted in said bore and coupled to said element for reciprocation with said element, seal means, and bias means for biasing said seal mEans against said piston means to provide a fluid seal between said piston means and said bore, said piston means being loosely coupled to said element so that said piston means does not reciprocate with minor fluctuations of said element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 further including a valve seat in said bore between said piston means and said reservoir, valve means in said bore adapted to seal against said valve seat, and second bias means for biasing said valve means against said valve seat.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for regulating the level of liquid in a container comprising a first duct having a termination at a first location in said container in communication with said liquid and which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surface in said container at said first location, a second duct having a termination at a second location in said container in communication with said liquid and which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surface in said container at said second location, a reservoir containing liquid, a reciprocable element in fluid communication with said first and second ducts, and a source of pulsating force adapted to urge said element in reciprocation, the improvement comprising: pump means controlling fluid communication between said reservoir and said element, said pump means including a housing having a bore having one end in fluid communication including a housing having a bore having one end in fluid communication with said reservoir and the other end in fluid communication with said element, piston means slidably mounted in said bore and coupled to said element for reciprocation with said element, seal means, and bias means for biasing said seal means against said piston to provide a fluid seal between said piston means in said bore.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for regulating the level of liquid in a container comprising a first duct having a termination at a first location in said container in communication with said liquid and which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surface in said container at said first location, a second duct having a termination at a second location in said container in communication with said liquid and which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surface in said container at said second location, a reservoir containing liquid, a reciprocable element in fluid communication with said first and second ducts, and a source of pulsating force adapted to urge said element in reciprocation, the improvement comprising: pump means controlling fluid communication between said reservoir and said element, said pump means including a housing having a bore having one end in fluid communication including a housing having a bore having one end in fluid communication with said reservoir and the other end in fluid communication with said element, piston means slidably mounted in said bore and coupled to said element for reciprocation with said element, seal means, and bias means for biasing said seal means against said piston to provide a fluid seal between said piston means in said bore.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said second duct means is in fluid communication with the opposite side of said element from the first-named duct.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
203 words
A system for regulating the level of liquid in a container comprising a duct having a termination at a location in said container in communication with said liquid and which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surface in said container, a reservoir containing liquid, a reciprocable element in fluid communication with said duct, a source of pulsating force adapted to urge said element in reciprocation, said duct being in fluid communication with the opposite side of said element from said reservoir, and outlet means in fluid communication with the same side of said element as said reservoir, said outlet means being in fluid communication with said container, the improvement comprising: pump means for controlling fluid communication between said reservoir and said element, said pump means including a housing having a bore having one end in fluid communication with said reservoir and the other end in fluid communication with said element, piston means slidably mounted in said bore and coupled to said element for reciprocation with said element, seal means, and bias means for biasing said seal means against said piston means to provide a fluid seal between said piston means and said bore.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
203 words
A system for regulating the level of liquid in a container comprising a duct having a termination at a location in said container in communication with said liquid and which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of the liquid surface in said container, a reservoir containing liquid, a reciprocable element in fluid communication with said duct, a source of pulsating force adapted to urge said element in reciprocation, said duct being in fluid communication with the opposite side of said element from said reservoir, and outlet means in fluid communication with the same side of said element as said reservoir, said outlet means being in fluid communication with said container, the improvement comprising: pump means for controlling fluid communication between said reservoir and said element, said pump means including a housing having a bore having one end in fluid communication with said reservoir and the other end in fluid communication with said element, piston means slidably mounted in said bore and coupled to said element for reciprocation with said element, seal means, and bias means for biasing said seal means against said piston means to provide a fluid seal between said piston means and said bore.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus comprising: a container adapted to hold a body of liquid having a liquid level surface and a compressible gas above that surface, a reciprocable fluid displacement element, a source of pulsating force adapted to urge said element in reciprocation, including a. electromechanical force means and b. current varying means for supplying a pulsating electric current to said electromechanical means, a duct adapted to receive the displacement of said element and having an open termination in said container which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of said surface, said duct being normally filled with a compressible gas which, when said termination is not submerged in liquid, may exchange through said tErmination with the gas in said container thereby permitting motion of said element under the urging of said source of pulsating force; and when said termination is submerged in the liquid in said container, liquid closing said termination prevents gas in said duct from continued exchange with gas in said container, the frequency of said source of pulsating force being such to permit only minor pulsating displacement of the liquid closing said termination, whereby the gas in said duct is substantially prevented from displacement at said termination when said termination is closed by liquid, and said gas in said duct correspondingly opposes displacement of said element under the urging of said source of pulsating force.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus comprising: a container adapted to hold a body of liquid having a liquid level surface and a compressible gas above that surface, a reciprocable fluid displacement element, a source of pulsating force adapted to urge said element in reciprocation, including a. electromechanical force means and b. current varying means for supplying a pulsating electric current to said electromechanical means, a duct adapted to receive the displacement of said element and having an open termination in said container which may or may not be submerged by said liquid according to the level of said surface, said duct being normally filled with a compressible gas which, when said termination is not submerged in liquid, may exchange through said tErmination with the gas in said container thereby permitting motion of said element under the urging of said source of pulsating force; and when said termination is submerged in the liquid in said container, liquid closing said termination prevents gas in said duct from continued exchange with gas in said container, the frequency of said source of pulsating force being such to permit only minor pulsating displacement of the liquid closing said termination, whereby the gas in said duct is substantially prevented from displacement at said termination when said termination is closed by liquid, and said gas in said duct correspondingly opposes displacement of said element under the urging of said source of pulsating force.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US440218A
Cited
US3118383A
Cited
US730465A
Cited
US2801591A
Cited
US3221798A
Cited
US3194446A
Cited
US3319577A
Cited
US3381616A
Cited
US3411704A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-06 | 1975-06-07 | 1975-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-06 | 1979-06-07 | 1979-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-06 | 1983-06-07 | 1983-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |