Claims
- 1. A switch used in a float switch system, the switch being float actuated, the switch comprising:
- a cage having an inner surface defining a longitudinal raceway, the cage further having an outer surface;
- a first electrical contact;
- means mounting the first electrical contact to the cage, said first contact movable between a first position and a second position relative to the cage;
- an electrical contact block, the electrical contact block including two inwardly opposing biased tabs, and the cage including two notches facing in generally opposite directions on opposing sides of the outer surface of the cage, each notch receiving one of the tabs, the tabs and the notches cooperating to mount the electrical contact block to the cage;
- a second electrical contact mounted to the electrical contact block; and
- means positioned in the raceway for urging the first electrical contact between the first and second positions to make or break electrical contact between the first and second electrical contacts based upon the longitudinal angle of the raceway.
- 2. The switch of claim 1, further comprising a third electrical contact which is mounted to the cage for simultaneous movement with the first electrical contact relative to the cage, the switch further comprising a fourth electrical contact mounted on the electrical contact block, the fourth electrical contact making and breaking electrical contact with the third electrical contact, the contact block including an outer surface between the second electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact defining a non-linear surface, wherein the distance along the outer surface between the second electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact is greater than the linear distance between the second electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact.
- 3. The switch of claim 1, wherein the cage comprises a first material with a first temperature rating, and the electrical contact block comprises a second material having a different temperature rating than the first material.
- 4. The switch of claim 3, further comprising a float housing, the float housing defining a substantially enclosed interior for containing the cage and the yoke, the float housing being movable to actuate the float switch system during operation.
- 5. A switch used in a float switch system, the switch being float actuated, the switch comprising:
- a cage defining a longitudinal raceway;
- a yoke pivotally mounted to the cage and having first and second legs which extend into the raceway, the yoke pivotally movable between a first position and a second position, the yoke including an elongate member having an edge, the edge defining a pivot axis of the yoke, and the cage including an elongate groove having a generally concave outer surface, the groove receiving the elongate member wherein the edge of the elongate member rests on the outer surface of the groove;
- electrical switching means which is electrically open when the yoke is in the first position and electrically closed when the yoke is in the second position; and
- means positioned in the raceway to engage the first and second yoke legs for urging the yoke between the first and second positions based upon the longitudinal angle of the raceway.
- 6. The switch of claim 5, further comprising biasing means biasing the edge of the elongate member of the yoke against the outer surface of the groove of the cage.
- 7. The switch of claim 5, wherein the means for urging the yoke between the first and second positions is a sphere and the raceway has a substantially circular cross-section in the longitudinal direction.
- 8. The switch of claim 7, wherein the cage includes a barrier separating the cage into first and second compartments, the first and second legs of the yoke being positioned in a respective one of the first and second compartments, the barrier having a height preventing movement of the sphere from one of the first or second compartments to the other of the first or second compartments when the longitudinal angle of the raceway is less than or equal to a threshold angle, the barrier permitting movement of the sphere when the longitudinal angle is greater than the threshold angle.
- 9. The switch of claim 6, wherein the electrical switching means is a first stationary electrical contact mounted to the cage and a second pivotable electrical contact mounted to the yoke.
- 10. The switch of claim 9, wherein at least one of the electrical contacts is biased towards the other.
- 11. The switch of claim 6, wherein the biasing means is a spring which passes through the pivot axis of the yoke as the yoke pivots between the first and second positions.
- 12. The switch of claim 5, further comprising a float housing, the float housing defining a substantially enclosed interior for containing the cage and the yoke, the float housing being movable to actuate the float switch system during operation.
- 13. A switch used in a float switch system, the switch being float actuated, the switch comprising:
- a cage defining a longitudinal raceway;
- a yoke pivotally mounted to the cage and having first and second legs which extend into the raceway, the yoke pivotally movable between a first position and a second position, the yoke including an elongate member having an edge, and the cage including an elongate groove having a generally concave outer surface, the groove receiving the elongate member wherein the edge of the elongate member rests on the outer surface of the groove;
- biasing means capable of biasing the yoke in a first direction when the yoke is in the first position and biasing the yoke in a second direction, which is substantially diametrically opposed to the first direction, when the yoke is in the second position, the biasing means further biasing the edge of the elongate member of the yoke against the outer surface of the groove of the cage;
- electrical switching means which is electrically open when the yoke is in the first position and electrically closed when the yoke is in the second position; and
- means positioned in the raceway to engage the first and second yoke legs for urging the yoke between the first and second positions against the bias of the biasing means based upon the longitudinal angle of the raceway.
- 14. The switch of claim 13, wherein the biasing means includes at least one spring mounting the yoke to the cage.
- 15. The switch of claim 14, wherein the spring passes through a pivot axis of the yoke as the yoke pivots between the first and second positions.
- 16. The switch of claim 13, wherein the means for urging the yoke between the first and second positions is a sphere and the raceway has a substantially circular cross-section in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the cage includes a barrier separating the cage into first and second compartments, the first and second legs of the yoke being positioned in a respective one of the first and second compartments, the barrier having a height preventing movement of the sphere from one of the first or second compartments to the other of the first or second compartments when the longitudinal angle of the raceway is less than or equal to a threshold angle, the barrier permitting movement of the sphere when the longitudinal angle is greater than the threshold angle.
- 17. The switch of claim 16, wherein the sphere has a weight greater than or equal to a weight sufficient to urge the yoke between the first and the second positions against the biasing means when the longitudinal angle of the raceway is greater than the threshold angle.
- 18. The switch of claim 13, wherein the electrical switching means is a first stationary electrical contact mounted to the cage and a second pivotable electrical contact mounted to the yoke.
- 19. The switch of claim 13, further comprising a float housing, the float housing defining a substantially enclosed interior for containing the cage and the yoke, the float housing being movable to actuate the float switch system during operation.
- 20. A switch used in a float switch system, the switch being float actuated, the switch comprising:
- a cage defining a longitudinal raceway having a substantially circular cross-section in the longitudinal direction;
- a yoke pivotally mounted to the cage and having first and second legs which extend into the raceway, the yoke pivotally movable between a first position and a second position;
- biasing means capable of biasing the yoke in a first direction when the yoke is in the first position and biasing the yoke in a second direction, which is substantially diametrically opposed to the first direction, when the yoke is in the second position;
- electrical switching means which is electrically open when the yoke is in the first position and electrically closed when the yoke is in the second position;
- a sphere positioned within the raceway, the sphere contacting one of the first and second yoke legs to urge the yoke between the first and second positions against the biasing of the biasing means based upon the longitudinal angle of the raceway; and
- a wedge-shaped barrier defining an annular shape on an interior surface of the raceway, the barrier separating the raceway into first and second compartments, the barrier having a height preventing movement of the sphere from one of the first or second compartments to the other of the first or second compartments when the longitudinal angle of the raceway is less than or equal to a threshold angle, the barrier permitting movement of the sphere when the longitudinal angle is greater than the threshold angle.
- 21. The switch of claim 20, wherein the sphere has a weight greater than or equal to a weight sufficient to urge the yoke between the first and the second positions against the biasing means when the longitudinal angle of the raceway is greater than the threshold angle, wherein the sphere moves across the barrier from one of the first or second compartments to the other of the first or second compartments when the threshold angle is exceeded and wherein the sphere first contacts one of the first and second legs of the yoke in the other of the first or second compartments while the sphere is in contact with the barrier.
- 22. The switch of claim 20, further comprising a float housing, the float housing defining a substantially enclosed interior for containing the cage and the yoke, the float housing being movable to actuate the float switch system during operation.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/540,189, filed Jun. 19, 1990 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,801 on Feb. 11, 1992.
US Referenced Citations (37)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
595900 |
Oct 1925 |
FRX |
316885 |
Apr 1934 |
ITX |
146584 |
Jun 1954 |
SEX |
198280 |
Jun 1938 |
CHX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Solo-float catalog pages from Anchor Scientific Inc., 2 pages, dated Jan. 1987, (Exhibit A). |
Enpo Pump Company catalog pages entitled "Liquid Level Controls For Submersible Non-Clog Pumps", 2 pages, dated May 1982 (Exhibit B). |
Myers catalog page entitled "MFLC Series Mercury Free Mechanical Float Switches", 1-page, dated Mar. 1990, (Exhibit C). |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
540189 |
Jun 1990 |
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