Fluid condition responsive switch unit

Claim 2

A fluid condition responsive switch comprising an axially elongated hollow support member haivng a generally axially disposed slot opening through the inner end thereof, means for mounting said support member at its outer end and in fixed position relative to a fluid container, an axially elongated tubular magnet carrier coaxially slidably received on said support member externally thereof for limited travel therealong in one and an opposite axial direction, said magnet carrier having a radially disposed annular cam surface at the inner end thereof, a magnet mounted on said magnet carrier for movement therewith, a magnetically responsive reed switch contained within said hollow support member and having a plurality of electrical contacts adapted for connection in an electrical circuit externally of said support member, at least one of said contacts comprising an elongated reed extending in a generally longitudinal direction and movable between open and closed positions relative to another of said contacts, said one contact being within the effective magnetic scope of said magnet during a portion of said travel and movable from one to the other of said positions in response to the magnetic influence of said magnet to alter the condition of the circuit, a cam partially disposed within said slot and mounted on said support member for pivotal movement in one and an opposite direction about an axis generally normal to said support member axis, means for biasing said magnet carrier toward said cam to maintain said cam surface in engagement with said cam, and fluid condition responsive means carried by said cam for pivoting said cam in said one direction to move said magnet carrier in response to one condition of the fluid in the container and for pivoting said cam in said opposite direction to move said magnet carrier in response to another condition of the fluid in the container.

Claim 3

A fluid condition responsive switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam axis intersects said support member axis and said cam is generally symmetrical about an axial plane which extends through said cam axis.

Claim 4

A fluid condition responsive switch as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cam is further characterized as an eccentrically mounted circular cam.

Claim 5

A fluid condition responsive switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reed switch is axially movable relative to said support member and said fluid condition responsive switch includes means for releasably retaining said reed switch in preselected axial position relative to said support member.

Claim 6

A fluid condition responsive switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fluid condition responsive means conprises a float connected to said cam and responsive to the level of fluid in the container.

Claim 7

A fluid condition responsive switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container comprises a fluid conduit defining a fluid flow path and said fluid condition responsive means comprises a vane connected to said cam and disposed within said conduits, said vane having a surface thereof disposed generally transversely of the fluid flow path.

Claim 8

A fluid condition responsive switch comprising a housing for mounting said switch in a fixed position relative to a fluid container and having a generally cylindrical axially inwardly opening bore, an axially elongated stem mounted at one end in said housing and extending coaxially inwardly through said housing bore, said stem having a generally cylindrical coaxial blind bore opening through the outer end of said housing and an axially disposed slot opening through its inner end, a pivot pin mounted in said stem inner end and extending transversely of said slot, a cam partially disposed in said slot and journalled on said pin for pivotal movement in one and an opposite direction relative to said stem and about an axis extending transversely of the axis of Said stem, an axially elongated generally cylindrical tubular sleeve slidably received on said stem for limited sliding movement in one and an opposite axial direction therealong, said sleeve having a generally radially disposed annular cam surface at its inner end, a spring surrounding a portion of said stem and biasing said sleeve toward said cam to maintain said cam surface in engagement with said cam, an annular magnet surrounding a portion of said sleeve and mounted thereon for movement therewith a magnetically responsive encapsulated reed switch contained within said stem bore and having a plurality of electrical contacts adapted for connection in an electrical circuit externally of said housing, at least one of said contacts comprising an elongated reed extending in a generally axial direction relative to said stem and movable between open and closed positions relative to another of said contacts, said one contact being within the effective magnetic influence of said magnet during a portion of the movement of said magnet and being movable from one to the other of its positions in response to said magnetic influence to alter the condition of the circuit, and fluid condition responsive means carried by said cam for pivoting said cam in one direction to move said sleeve in response to one fluid condition and for pivoting said cam in an opposite direction to move said sleeve in response to another fluid condition.

Claim 9

A fluid condition responsive switch comprising a housing for mounting said switch in a fixed position relative to a fluid container and having a generally cylindrical axially inwardly opening bore, an axially elongated stem mounted at one end in said housing and extending coaxially inwardly through said housing bore, said stem having a generally cylindrical coaxial blind bore opening through the outer end of said housing and an axially disposed slot opening through its inner end, a pivot pin mounted in said stem inner end and extending transversely of said slot, a cam partially disposed in said slot and journalled on said pin for pivotal movement in one and an opposite direction relative to said stem and about an axis extending transversely of the axis of Said stem, an axially elongated generally cylindrical tubular sleeve slidably received on said stem for limited sliding movement in one and an opposite axial direction therealong, said sleeve having a generally radially disposed annular cam surface at its inner end, a spring surrounding a portion of said stem and biasing said sleeve toward said cam to maintain said cam surface in engagement with said cam, an annular magnet surrounding a portion of said sleeve and mounted thereon for movement therewith a magnetically responsive encapsulated reed switch contained within said stem bore and having a plurality of electrical contacts adapted for connection in an electrical circuit externally of said housing, at least one of said contacts comprising an elongated reed extending in a generally axial direction relative to said stem and movable between open and closed positions relative to another of said contacts, said one contact being within the effective magnetic influence of said magnet during a portion of the movement of said magnet and being movable from one to the other of its positions in response to said magnetic influence to alter the condition of the circuit, and fluid condition responsive means carried by said cam for pivoting said cam in one direction to move said sleeve in response to one fluid condition and for pivoting said cam in an opposite direction to move said sleeve in response to another fluid condition.

Claim 10

A fluid condition responsive switch as set forth in claim 7 wherein the axis of said cam intersects said support member axis and is generally normal thereto and said cam is generally symetrical about an axial plane relative to said cam axis.

Claim 11

A fluid condition responsive switch as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for releasably retaining said reed switch comprises a set screw threadably engaging said mounting means.

Claim 12

A fluid condition responsive switch as set forth in claim 8 wherein the container comprises a conduit defining a fluid flow path and said fluid condition responsive means comprises a vane extending radially outwardly from said cam and disposed within said conduit, said vane having the surfaces thereof disposed generally transversely of the fluid flow path.

Claim 13

A fluid condition responsive switch as set forth in claim 8 wherein said fluid condition responsive means comprises a rod attached to said cam and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom and a float mounted on said rod and responsive to the level of the fluid in the container.