Sump pump activation switch

Abstract

A switching device for submersed sump pump. The switching device employs an internal logic circuit inside a housing having a metallic member extending therefrom for mounting. The member is adapted to engage with the curved surface of a hose and hose clamp engaged to the sump pump. The member is engaged to the electrical ground to communicate a reference ground to the fluid in the sump to allow an impedance sensor to discern the fluid level and cause the logic circuit to energize or de-energize the sump pump.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 937,599 filed Jun. 27, 2007, and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The disclosed device relates to fluid activated switches for electrical devices. More particularly, the disclosed device relates to a switch for a sump pump having a hose mount that imparts a ground reference to the water or fluid while concurrently insuring the user self-installs the device at a proper level in the water to ensure proper operation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Sump pumps are commonly employed on boats and ships to ensure that the bilge tanks do not overflow and are promptly and automatically emptied when needed. Another common function of a sump pump is to protect a basement from flooding.[0004]In such installations, the pump is conventionally activated when water or other fluid reaches a certain level in the sump tank or bilge. Once activated by a switch the pump...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In the current device, the electric property is a capacitance load of the bilge water that is monitored. An analog inverter CMOS chip oscillates at approximately 10,000 hertz. A frequency is generated into the fluid which is referenced at the water sensor. Through the sensor, a logic circuit looks for a change in frequency to activate the pump. Water covering a metallic component will change the frequency sufficiently to flip the logic circuit to turn on power to the pump, however ungrounded tanks such as fiberglass tanks or those on fiberglass boats, and improperly mounted sensor components communicating with the fluid, will cause the switch to malfunction. A ground communicating with the battery providing power to the logic circuit, submersed in the fluid, enhances the performance of the logic circuit by providing a better reference to ground through the fluid.

[0016]The novel casing provided with the device employs two components which enhance performance of the internal electronic switch. First, since the hose bib on sump pumps is conventionally located above the lower water intake which is the lowest point the water will reach, providing a mounting member that extends from the casing to mount the device to the hose bib, inherently mounts the casing, and sensing and monitoring component, just above the lowest point the water can reach. This is exactly the correct placement for the sensor and by providing a mounting member with a curved lower surface, adapted to engage under the hose clamp, the user inherently will mount the casing correctly even if they fail to read the installation directions which is a frequent occurrence.

[0017]Additionally, the mounting member is connected to the battery ground. By mounting it to the mounting member which will encounter the fluid, a very good ground reference is imparted to the fluid before or at the same time the fluid reaches the sensing component looking for an electronic property in the fluid to ascertain fluid levels at or above the sensing component to activate the switch to turn on the pump. On fiberglass boats and tanks, this properly located reference to ground greatly enhances switch performance. On older boats corroded tanks, an equal gain in performance is provided by this novel inherently properly positioned grounding component.

[0020]It is yet another object of this invention to provide a casing to house electronic sensing components which will properly situate broadcasting and receiving electronic elements in the fluid by simply engaging the casing to a hose bib under a hose claim on the pump being switched.

Problems solved by technology

Water covering a metallic component will change the frequency sufficiently to flip the logic circuit to turn on power to the pump, however ungrounded tanks such as fiberglass tanks or those on fiberglass boats, and improperly mounted sensor components communicating with the fluid, will cause the switch to malfunction.

This problem with improperly mounted sensors and poor ground reference has been exacerbated in prior manufactured devices which have employed a casing wherein the two or more metal electronic monitor components communicating through the casing, have to be properly oriented in the fluid.

Users installing such devices frequently do not read the directions and install them incorrectly.

Most such devices employ screw apertures to mount the device in the tank and invite improper installation by installers who assume one or both metal components must be below water level.

Images