US4262216A — Float switch

Claim 1

Independent Claim 126 words

A float switch comprising, in combination: a hollow liquidtight housing having an axis, and arranged to float in a liquid; electrical conducting means extending axially from said housing in a flexible liquidtight cable; and electrical switching means mounted within said housing and including a relay, having a pair of contacts connected to said conducting means, for opening and closing the circuit therebetween in accordance with changes in the orientation of said housing, and sets of gravity responsive switching means having working axes extending obliquely with respect to said axis in at least three planes containing said axis for controlling said relay, the switching means of one of said sets being connected in series and the switching means of another of said sets being connected in parallel.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 126 words

A float switch comprising, in combination: a hollow liquidtight housing having an axis, and arranged to float in a liquid; electrical conducting means extending axially from said housing in a flexible liquidtight cable; and electrical switching means mounted within said housing and including a relay, having a pair of contacts connected to said conducting means, for opening and closing the circuit therebetween in accordance with changes in the orientation of said housing, and sets of gravity responsive switching means having working axes extending obliquely with respect to said axis in at least three planes containing said axis for controlling said relay, the switching means of one of said sets being connected in series and the switching means of another of said sets being connected in parallel.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

A float switch according to claim 1 in which the switches of said sets are arranged symmetrically and alternately about said axis on a conical surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

A float switch according to claim 1 in which said relay includes a winding, connected in a first series circuit with said sets of gravity responsive switching means, said first series circuit being connected to two of said conducting means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 73 words

A float switch according to claim 3 in which a first of said contacts is connected to one of said two conducting means and a second of said contacts is connected to a third of said conducting means, and unidirectional conductive means connected from said second contact to said first series circuit at a point between said first switching means and said winding but not between said second switching means and said winding.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 143 words

In a control system, in combination: (a) a source of electrical energy; (b) first and second circuits energized from said source, said first circuit including the winding of a DC relay, a first unidirectional conductor, and first and second switching means having states of open circuit and closed circuit and interconnected in a series circuit so that unidirectional current flows through said winding and said first unidirectional conductor when said switching means are in said closed circuit state, and said second circuit including a utilization device and a pair of contacts actuated by said relay between open and closed circuit states; (c) and a second unidirectional conductor connected from one of said contacts to a point in said first circuit to provide a holding circuit for said relay regardless of the state of one of said switching means and mutually isolate said circuit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 143 words

In a control system, in combination: (a) a source of electrical energy; (b) first and second circuits energized from said source, said first circuit including the winding of a DC relay, a first unidirectional conductor, and first and second switching means having states of open circuit and closed circuit and interconnected in a series circuit so that unidirectional current flows through said winding and said first unidirectional conductor when said switching means are in said closed circuit state, and said second circuit including a utilization device and a pair of contacts actuated by said relay between open and closed circuit states; (c) and a second unidirectional conductor connected from one of said contacts to a point in said first circuit to provide a holding circuit for said relay regardless of the state of one of said switching means and mutually isolate said circuit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

A control system according to claim 5 in which said first switching means includes a plurality of switches connected in series.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

A control system according to claim 5 in which said second switching means includes a plurality of switches connected in parallel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

A control system according to claim 5 in which said first switching means includes a plurality of switches connected in series, and second switching means includes a plurality of switches connected in parallel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

A control system according to claim 5 in which said point in said first circuit means is between said relay winding and said first switching means, but not between said relay winding and said second switching means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 177 words

A self-contained float switch for controlling the electrical energization of a device having a connection plug adapted for insertion into a power outlet, comprising, in combination: a hollow, liquidtight housing having an axis and arranged to float in liquid; electrical conductors extending axially from said housing in a flexible liquidtight table; connector means insertable between said connection plug and said power outlet, for continuing a first conduction path directly therebetween and making a connection thereto along one of said electrical conductors, and for interrupting a second conducting path directly therebetween and continuing it along a pair of said electrical conductors; and electrical switching means mounted within said housing and energizable through said one of said conductors for opening and closing a circuit, including said pair of conductors, in accordance with changes in the orientation of said housing, said switching means comprising a relay and a pair of gravity responsive switch means extending obliquely with respect to said axis in a common plane, and in which said housing is externally configured to indicate the location of said plane.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 177 words

A self-contained float switch for controlling the electrical energization of a device having a connection plug adapted for insertion into a power outlet, comprising, in combination: a hollow, liquidtight housing having an axis and arranged to float in liquid; electrical conductors extending axially from said housing in a flexible liquidtight table; connector means insertable between said connection plug and said power outlet, for continuing a first conduction path directly therebetween and making a connection thereto along one of said electrical conductors, and for interrupting a second conducting path directly therebetween and continuing it along a pair of said electrical conductors; and electrical switching means mounted within said housing and energizable through said one of said conductors for opening and closing a circuit, including said pair of conductors, in accordance with changes in the orientation of said housing, said switching means comprising a relay and a pair of gravity responsive switch means extending obliquely with respect to said axis in a common plane, and in which said housing is externally configured to indicate the location of said plane.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 121 words

A system for controlling the level of a body of liquid comprising, in combination: electrically energizable pump means for changing the level of said liquid; a source of electrical energy; and self-contained switch means connected for energizing said pump means from said source when said liquid reaches a first level and for deenergizing said pump means when said liquid reaches a second level, said switch means comprising float means and electrically conducting means extending from said float means for mechanically mounting said float means in said liquid, said float means comprising floats mounted at said first and second levels and containing gravity responsive switch members, one of said floats containing a relay actuable to energize said pump means from said source.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 121 words

A system for controlling the level of a body of liquid comprising, in combination: electrically energizable pump means for changing the level of said liquid; a source of electrical energy; and self-contained switch means connected for energizing said pump means from said source when said liquid reaches a first level and for deenergizing said pump means when said liquid reaches a second level, said switch means comprising float means and electrically conducting means extending from said float means for mechanically mounting said float means in said liquid, said float means comprising floats mounted at said first and second levels and containing gravity responsive switch members, one of said floats containing a relay actuable to energize said pump means from said source.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-04-13	1984-10-13	1985-04-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-04-13	1988-10-13	1989-04-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-04-13	1992-10-13	1993-04-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Float switch

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