Water Powered Sump Pump Flow Control Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional float actuated, water powered sump pumps face issues with corrosion and mineral deposits, leading to increased force requirements and potential failure in opening or closing the control valve, making them unreliable and requiring frequent maintenance, especially due to difficult access for inspection and complex linkages.
Innovation Solution
A water powered sump pump with a flow control apparatus featuring a biased flow valve, a variable pressure chamber, and a control valve actuated by an actuator assembly, which includes a pivotally supported actuator lever and bias member, allowing for reliable operation and reduced maintenance needs by controlling water flow effectively without electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a float actuated control valve is used in a water powered sump pump, then the pump can be controlled to maintain water levels, but corrosion and mineral deposits increase the force required to open and close the valve over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional float-directly-actuating-valve mechanical system with a water pressure actuated diaphragm valve system. The diaphragm valve is opened and closed by water pressure differential rather than direct mechanical float linkage, eliminating the mechanical components that are subject to corrosion and mineral deposits. This substitution of mechanical actuation with hydraulic actuation resolves the contradiction by removing the parts that corrode while maintaining reliable valve operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water pressure (hydraulic principle) to actuate the diaphragm valve through pressure differential across the diaphragm. The control mechanism uses water pressure to open the valve and a spring to close it, replacing mechanical float linkages with hydraulic actuation. This hydraulic approach eliminates the mechanical friction and corrosion issues that would otherwise increase the force required to operate the valve.
2Ease of operation
If complex linkages with multiple components are used in float actuated sump pumps, then the pump can be actuated by float movement, but the initial cost increases and maintenance becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex mechanical linkages, pivots, and multiple moving components from the float actuation system. Instead of using a mechanical linkage system, the invention directly couples the float's vertical movement to the diaphragm valve's opening/closing action through a simplified mechanism. This extraction of unnecessary intermediate components reduces device complexity while preserving the float actuation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the float actuation function with the diaphragm valve actuation into a more integrated system. The float's movement is directly translated to diaphragm valve operation without requiring separate mechanical linkages, pivots, and connecting components. This merging of functions reduces the total number of parts and simplifies the overall system while maintaining the ability to actuate the pump based on water level.
3Extent of automation
If conventional float actuated control mechanisms are used, then the pump can be controlled, but corrosion and mineral deposits on valve components lead to potential failure in opening or closing the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical float-valve linkage system with a water pressure actuated diaphragm valve system. The diaphragm valve responds to water pressure differential rather than mechanical linkage, eliminating the metal components that are subject to corrosion and mineral deposits. This substitution maintains automatic water level control while significantly improving reliability by removing the corroding parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter of the valve from mechanical force transmission to water pressure differential. The diaphragm valve opens when water pressure exceeds the spring force and closes when the spring force exceeds the water pressure. This parameter change from mechanical to hydraulic control eliminates the corrosion issue while maintaining automatic operation based on water level and pressure conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures reliable operation of the sump pump by reducing the impact of corrosion and mineral deposits, simplifying maintenance, and maintaining water levels in the sump without electricity, enhancing the pump's ability to function consistently and efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a bias member pivotably attached to the actuator lever and mounted for movement between a first bias position wherein the biasing member biases the actuator lever to the first position and a second bias position wherein the biasing member biases the actuator lever to the second position
Implementation Method 2
a variable pressure chamber separated from the passage by the valve, a low volume water passage in fluid communication with the inlet port and the variable pressure chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A water powered sump pump (10) is provided and has a flow control apparatus (12) connected to a source of water under pressure and to a suction generator. The flow control apparatus (12) includes a control valve assembly (90) having a drain outlet (99) positioned to drain all or most of the water from the assembly (90). The sump pump (10) also includes an actuator assembly (98) for actuating the control valve assembly via a lever (114) that engages the assembly (90) and a float assembly (138).