Adjustable float tree

Abstract

An adjustable float tree which provides quick, easy, and precise placement and removal of floats or float switches within a liquid medium. The apparatus comprises a tree mount with a removable and easily positioned tree tube and a positioning mechanism communicating there between. Said tree tube slidably fits with said tree mount and allows the float cords to extend from said tree tube. The tree mount securely attaches with a supply or other type of pipe or structure with the tree tube precisely placing and positioning one or more floats.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application #60 / 683,232, filed May 20th, 2005, entitled Adjustable Float TreeBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The art of the present invention relates to float switch positioning devices for septic pump tanks, wells, cisterns, sumps, industrial pits, and other liquid storage facilities in general and more particularly to an adjustable and removable float tree which allows for quick, convenient, and easy installation, removal, or adjustment with the aforesaid facilities. The device and method of use represents an improvement over the prior art, especially the prior art method which often requires manual tying of float cords to a supply pipe. [0003] Within septic pump tanks, wells, cisterns, sumps, industrial pits, and other liquid storage facilities, submersible pumps are often suspended within a liquid, typically water, and connected via piping through the side walls or top of the aforesaid. Often a supply pipe is ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of this invention there is provided an adjustable float tree apparatus and method of use for convenient, secure, and repeatable placement, repair, and removal of floats or float switches. The apparatus and method of use is especially suited for adjustable float placement within septic pump tanks, wells, cisterns, sumps, industrial pits, and other liquid storage facilities.

[0018] The tree tubes, supported by said tree mount, each support one or more floats. In a preferred embodiment, said tree tubes provide approximately 24 inches of float height adjustment with alternative embodiments providing more or less as the application requires. Unique to the present art, once the tree mount is secured with its supporting structure, removal, placement, and positioning of the one or more tree tubes with attached floats is easily and quickly accomplished by hand without the use of specialty tools. Also unique to the present art is the shielding provided by said tree tubes. That is, said float cords preferably run through said tree tubes which provide protection to said electrical wires or float cords in often harsh environments. Furthermore, said tubes minimize the possibility of float or cord impingement, entanglement, or obstruction by self entanglement or other floats or cords.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, each tree tube has one or more three to five inch grooves or retaining slots near the bottom portion for securing and adjusting the float cord(s). That is, typically the float cord threads through the hollow center of the tree tube and extends from said tube onto the surface of or into the liquid to be measured. During setup said cord is extended and pulled through said retaining slots and positioned into a retaining portion of said slot or cord aperture whereby it is secured. This allows a desired length of cord to extend from said tree tube and securely maintain said length without slippage and further provides accurate positioning of said cord or tether length to control float positioning accuracy.

[0021] In all embodiments, the tree tubes typically contain a tree arm near or at the top of each tree. This allows each tree tube to be adjusted with ease, both vertically and rotationally, and further provides a hanger for retention of a roll of excess float cord. In a preferred embodiment a tube cap having a crown with one or more positioning indents is mounted at the top of each tree in order to secure and position the exiting float cords. Also proximate the top of each alternative embodiment tree tube is an enlarged portion having an uppermost shoulder which seats with the tree mount circumference.

[0022] The preferred embodiment of the tree mount contains a positioning mechanism which retains each tree tube via one or more positioning slots within said tree tube. That is, the tree mount has one or more flexible retainers which allow each tree tube to slidably “snap” or position into place. Alternative embodiment tree mounts utilize a fixed positioning mechanism. That is, the aforesaid enlarged portion shoulder gravitationally seats onto a smaller diameter portion of the tree mount circumference surrounding the mount bore. All embodiments of the tree mount have a mount slot in a front side which allows threading of the float cords during placement of said tree tubes without removal of the floats or other cord connections.

Problems solved by technology

This technique is fraught with undesirable placement, adjustability, functionality, and removal problems.

That is, the technician must tie and hold the float at the same time, thereby limiting positional accuracy.

This prior art task is time consuming, inconvenient, and unrepeatable with any precision.

This prior art is limited in its ability to hold onto a supply pipe, requires complete removal of all floats for any single float adjustment and further requires a plumbing technician to crawl or lean into the septic, sump, well, or facility for removal.

The aforesaid limits the repeatability of placement precision available from the prior art.

No prior art apparatus or method provides this level of convenience in conjunction with the aforesaid precision and repeatability.

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