Liquid level actuator

Claim 1

An apparatus for sensing changes in liquid level in a reservoir and adjusting flow of liquid into said reservoir to maintain said level at a selected height, said apparatus comprising a base member adapted for connection to a lip portion of a wall of said reservoir, said base member comprising a generally U-shaped member having a base portion, an upper leg portion, and a lower leg portion, each of said leg portions being provided with threaded holes, upper and lower screws disposed, respectively, in said upper and lower leg portions and extending toward upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said lip portion to connect said base member to said lip portion, a bracket fixed to said U-shaped member, said bracket comprising a wall portion adjacent said base member base portion and a retaining portion extending outwardly from said wall portion and having an opening therethrough, a vertical conduit member disposed in said retaining portion opening and being retained therein, a connector portion disposed at an upper end of said conduit member and adapted to receive a liquid delivery hose, a lower end of said conduit member comprising an outlet for flow of liquid therefrom into said reservoir, an arm hingedly mounted on said bracket proximate said conduit member lower end, a stopper fixed to said arm and arcuately moveable between a first position in which said stopper is adjacent said outlet and partially disposed within said outlet, whereby to close said conduit member outlet, and a second position in which said stopper is removed from said conduit member outlet, and a flotation body fixed to a free end of said arm and adapted to be engaged by the surface of said liquid in said reservoir, and further adapted to move arcuately to a position beneath the lower surface of said lip and a lower surface of said base member lower leg portion, said arm being moveable between a first portion in which said arm is substantially horizontal to a second position in which said arm is substantially vertical.

Claim 2

An apparatus for sensing changes in liquid level in a reservoir and adjusting flow of liquid into said reservoir to maintain said level at a selected height, said apparatus comprising a base member adapted for connection to a lip portion of a wall of said reservoir, said base member comprising a generally U-shaped member having a base portion, an upper leg portion, and a lower leg portion, each of said leg portions being provided with threaded holes, upper and lower screws disposed, respectively, in said upper and lower leg portions and extending toward upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said lip portion to connect said base member to said lip portion, a bracket fixed to said U-shaped member, said bracket comprising a wall portion adjacent said base member base portion and a retaining portion extending outwardly from said wall portion and having an opening therethrough, a vertical conduit member disposed in said retaining portion opening and being retained therein, a connector portion disposed at an upper end of said conduit member and adapted to receive a liquid delivery hose, a lower end of said conduit member comprising an outlet for flow of liquid therefrom into said reservoir, an arm hingedly mounted on said bracket proximate said conduit member lower end, a stopper fixed to said arm and arcuately moveable between a first position in which said stopper is adjacent said outlet and partially disposed within said outlet, whereby to close said conduit member outlet, and a second position in which said stopper is removed from said conduit member outlet, and a flotation body fixed to a free end of said arm and adapted to be engaged by the surface of said liquid in said reservoir, and further adapted to move arcuately to a position beneath the lower surface of said lip and a lower surface of said base member lower leg portion, said arm being moveable between a first portion in which said arm is substantially horizontal to a second position in which said arm is substantially vertical.

Claim 3

An apparatus for sensing changes in liquid level in a reservoir and adjusting flow of liquid into said reservoir to maintain said level at a selected height, said apparatus comprising a base member adapted for connection to interior walls of said reservoir, said base member comprising a rigid, substantially circular collar member having threaded holes therein, screws disposed in said holes and directed outwardly to impinge upon said interior walls of said reservoir to fix said collar member in said reservoir, a bracket fixed to said collar member, said bracket comprising a wall portion adjacent said collar member and a retaining portion extending inwardly from said collar member and having an opening therethrough, a vertical conduit member disposed in said retaining portion opening and being retained therein, a connector portion disposed at an upper end of said conduit member and adapted to receive a liquid delivery hose, a lower end of said conduit member comprising an outlet for flow of liquid therefrom into said reservoir, an arm hingedly mounted on said bracket proximate said conduit member lower end and extending inwardly of said collar member, a stopper fixed to said arm and arcuately moveable between a first position in which said stopper is adjacent said outlet and partially disposed within said outlet, whereby to close said conduit member outlet, and a second position in which said stopper is removed from said conduit member outlet, and a flotation body fixed to a spindle mounted on a free end of said arm, said flotation body being disposed beneath said collar member, said flotation body being adapted to be engaged by the surface of said liquid in said reservoir, and further adapted to move arcuately between a position inward of said interior walls of said reservoir and a position adjacent one of said interior walls of said reservoir.

Claim 4

An apparatus for sensing changes in liquid level in a reservoir and adjusting flow of liquid into said reservoir to maintain said level at a selected height, said apparatus comprising a base member adapted for connection to interior walls of said reservoir, said base member comprising a rigid, substantially circular collar member having threaded holes therein, screws disposed in said holes and directed outwardly to impinge upon said interior walls of said reservoir to fix said collar member in said reservoir, a bracket fixed to said collar member, said bracket comprising a wall portion adjacent said collar member and a retaining portion extending inwardly from said collar member and having an opening therethrough, a vertical conduit member disposed in said retaining portion opening and being retained therein, a connector portion disposed at an upper end of said conduit member and adapted to receive a liquid delivery hose, a lower end of said conduit member comprising an outlet for flow of liquid therefrom into said reservoir, an arm hingedly mounted on said bracket proximate said conduit member lower end and extending inwardly of said collar member, a stopper fixed to said arm and arcuately moveable between a first position in which said stopper is adjacent said outlet and partially disposed within said outlet, whereby to close said conduit member outlet, and a second position in which said stopper is removed from said conduit member outlet, and a flotation body fixed to a spindle mounted on a free end of said arm, said flotation body being disposed beneath said collar member, said flotation body being adapted to be engaged by the surface of said liquid in said reservoir, and further adapted to move arcuately between a position inward of said interior walls of said reservoir and a position adjacent one of said interior walls of said reservoir.