Johnson Pumps of America Inc.

Stephen R Orth

Burton L Siegal

Roman Buch

An improved switch for bilge and sump pumps which allows a manual override switch to be connected in the positive side of the power supply and which uses a reed switch actuated Darlington type circuit both of which are protected from reversed polarity connection by a current limiting resistor which is buffered with the protective resistor.

Switch for bilge and sump/pump with automatic float control

An automatic control for a liquid pump which assures that the pump starts when the liquid reaches a predetermined level and that the pump is stopped when the level has fallen to a second predetermined level. The control includes a permanent magnet mounted in a float which is contained within a float chamber and which has a bottom opening through which liquid can enter the float chamber. A top portion of the float chamber is provided with a one-way valve which allows air to escape from the float chamber but which prevents air from entering the float chamber so that when the float moves up with the liquid, the magnet actuates a magnetic responsive switch such as a reed switch to cause the motor to drive the pump. As the pump lowers the level of the liquid, the level of the liquid in the float chamber does not fall because of the partial vacuum within the top of the float chamber and the magnetic holds the switch closed so as to maintain energization of the pump. When the liquid falls to the bottom of the float chamber, air passes into the top of the chamber and allows the retained liquid to flow, and the float moves downwardly moving the magnet away from the magnetic responsive switch so that it opens and the pump motor stops. The float chamber and the magnetic responsive switch are remotely located from the pump.

Automatic float control switch for a bilge and sump pump

An automatic control for a liquid pump which assures that the pump starts pumping when the liquid reaches a predetermined level and the pump is stopped when the level has fallen to a second predetermined level. The control includes a permanent magnet mounted in a float that is contained within a float chamber and which has a bottom opening through which the liquid can enter the float chamber. A top portion of the float chamber is provided with a one-way valve so as to allow air to escape from the float chamber, but which prevents air from entering the float chamber such that when the float moves up with the liquid, the magnet actuates a magnetic responsive switch such as a reed switch to cause the motor to start to drive the pump. As the pump lowers the level of the liquid, the level of the liquid in the float chamber does not fall because of the partial vacuum within the top of the float chamber and, thus, the magnet continues to energize the pump. When the liquid level falls to the bottom of the float chamber, air rushes into the chamber and allows the retained liquid within the float chamber to fall out the bottom and the magnet bearing float falls to the bottom which turns off the pump motor.

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Stephen R Orth