Not Applicable
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.
In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized, and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention.
The device of the present invention is an automatic backup power controller for aquarium use. The present invention is distinguishable over prior art system, which incorporated uninterrupted power supplies (UPS), invertors, batteries, and related combinations unsuccessfully. The present invention is a 24 volt system, unlike the various attempted prior art solutions which are all 12 volt based systems. Because of the present invention’s design as a 24 volt system, it is designed specifically for DC powered aquarium pumps and does not require an inverter, or transformer like other prior art solutions.
One advantage of the design of the present invention over the prior art is that it uses the same pump that is connected to normal power as well as battery power by incorporating a 24 volt DC powered relay. The present invention does not use multiple pumps and no air pumps like other prior art system and results in a much simpler and direct component and installation compared to those currently offered and known in the prior art.
The present invention also uses an automatic power switch and an 8 point DPDT relay on a 10 amp circuit in comparison to the 6 point relays on 30 amp circuits known in the prior art.
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The normal power connects from the 5.5x2.1 mm jack/connection to the Normally Open contacts on the relay. It also connects to the 12-24 volt coil that pulls the relay in when 12-24 volt DC power is applied. The Battery power from the customers AH battery setup connects on battery connection on the Backup Box which connects to the Normally Closed side of the relay. The output side of the DPDT relay connects to the output port on the Backup Box which connects to the pump or power head.
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In use, when the Backup Box taught by the present invention has normal power applied to it, it energizes the 12-24 volt DC coil and closes the Normally Open side of the relay which sends 12-24 volts through the relay and to the connected pump or power head that is connected to the output port on the Backup Box. When normal power is lost the coil will DE-energize thus opening the Normally Open side of the relay in turn causing the Normally Closed side of the relay to close and send 12-24 volts DC battery power through the Normally Closed side of the relay through the fuse and to the Output connection on the Backup Box.
The Output connection on the Backup Box is common to both the Normally Open and Normally Closed terminals on the Relay depending on the state it is in. So, with a loss of power to the 12-24 volt coil the Backup Box will automatically change from normal “plugged in” power to the battery power with no effort from the user. So, no matter where they may be if the power goes out the aquarium will continue to run for however long the user has set up their AH battery setup. When normal power is restored, it will energize the coil and automatically switch back to normal “plugged in” power again with no effort from the customer. Then if the customers AH battery setup is equipped with a trickle charger and the power is restored it will automatically recharge the batteries again with no effort from the user.
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The Battery setup is totally up to the user. A user can use a simple inexpensive 12-24 volt DC 7AH setup or they can make their setup more expensive and last 100’s of hours. The choice is theirs. This invention will make having backup power available in the event of a power outage affordable as well as easy.
With respect to the construction and physical components, all wiring is 14 gage THHN. All parts are rated for 10 Amps. There is a feed mode button on the side of the unit as shown in
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Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly, and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63241956 | Sep 2021 | US |