Measuring and testing – Liquid level or depth gauge – Float
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-04
2004-01-27
Williams, Hezron (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Liquid level or depth gauge
Float
C073S313000, C073S314000, C340S686100, C340S687000, C340S689000, C200S08400B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06681627
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a level sensing safety device, more particularly a level sensing safety device, which is used on a drinking water dispenser for effecting cut-off of electricity when level of water in the dispenser is too low, and which can still function to effect cutting of electricity when the water dispenser is made to fall over to become virtually empty by unexpected external force.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Level sensors are indispensable in drinking water dispensers that are equipped with heating devices to heat and boil water contained therein so that when water is running out, power to the heating devices can be automatically cut off to prevent the heating devices from over-heating or being burnt, avoiding danger and damage to the dispensers.
Referring to
FIG. 7
, a conventional level sensor includes a magnetic tube
21
, and a float
22
.
The magnetic tube
21
is formed with an annular trench
23
a upper end portion, and has a magnet switch
25
, and conducting wires received therein. The conducting wires are connected to the magnet switch
25
, and wires
26
. The float
22
has a central through hole, and has a magnet ring
27
received therein and disposed around the central through hole.
In combination, the magnetic tube
21
is fixedly disposed on the bottom of the water container in an upright position. The float
22
is passed around the magnetic tube
21
at the central hole thereof, and a C-shaped engaging ring
24
is fitted onto the annular trench
23
of the magnetic tube
21
to prevent the float
22
from separating from the magnetic tube
21
.
When level of water contained in the container of the dispenser is high enough to support the float
22
at the upper portion of the magnetic tube
21
, the magnet ring
27
is close to the magnet switch
25
to make the same conductible so that electric current is allowed to travel through the same, thus allowing activation of a heating device (not shown) of the water dispenser. When water is running out, and the float
22
moves down to lower portion of the magnetic tube
21
, the magnet ring
27
is farther away from the magnet switch
25
to become incapable of making the same conductible; thus, undesired activation of the beating device is prevented.
However, the level sensor is found to have a disadvantage that when the water dispenser is made to fall over by unexpected external force, and causes the water to flow out of the container, the float
2
move to the C-shaped ring
24
, causing the magnet ring
27
to be close to the magnet switch
25
to make the same conductible. Consequently, the heating device is activated by mistake to cause danger when there is virtually no water in the dispenser container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a main object of the present invention to provide a level sensing safety device to a drinking water dispenser that can effect cut-off of electricity when level of water in the dispenser is too low, and which can still function to effect cut-off of electricity when the water dispenser is made to fall over to become empty by unexpected force.
The present level sensing safety device for water dispenser includes a magnetic tube, and a float. The tube is disposed on the bottom of a water container of the dispenser. (A first, and a second magnet switches are disposed in the tube, and connected in series. The float is movably fitted around the tube, and has a magnet ring, which can be moved close to the first switch to make the first switch same become conductible if there is sufficient water in the container. A weight is movably fitted around the magnetic tube at a central through hole thereof. The weight has a magnet ring disposed around the central hole thereof, and has bigger density than water. The weighted ring is normally close to the second switch due to gravity to make the same become conductible. Thus, heating device of the dispenser can be activated when there is sufficient water. When the container are made to fall over, the weighted ring moves away from the corresponding switch to make the same become not-conductible to prevent the heating device from being activated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4064755 (1977-12-01), Bongort et al.
patent: 4384184 (1983-05-01), Alvarez
patent: 5281858 (1994-01-01), Langved
patent: 5646601 (1997-07-01), Wallace et al.
patent: 5880423 (1999-03-01), Li
patent: 6230561 (2001-05-01), Li
Rosenberg , Klein & Lee
Williams Hezron
Wilson Katina
Young-G Enterprise Corporation
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