Patent ID: 7009125
Filing Date: 2006-03-07
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. An electrical field activated switch system for allowing a user to safely and conveniently control a fluid level of a container by utilizing an induction switch to control a fluid flow device comprising, in combination: a linear slip to slip coupling fabricated of rigid material having an input portion and a output portion, the input portion having a round tubular configuration with an input opening, the input portion having a horizontal central axis and a first diameter, the output portion having a round tubular configuration with an output opening, the output portion having a horizontal central axis and a second diameter, the axis of the input portion and the axis of the output portion having in a common horizontal centerline; a fluid container with a vertical wall for holding fluid generated by an air conditioner, the vertical wall having a threaded aperture extending there through; a threaded male slip adaptor fabricated of rigid material, the adaptor having a threaded input end releasably coupled to the threaded aperture of the container, the adaptor having an unthreaded output end coupled to the input opening of the coupling for allowing fluid to flow into the coupling in the range of a desired fluid level; a cylindrical unthreaded nipple fabricated of rigid material, the nipple having an input end coupled to the output opening of the coupling, the nipple having an output end; an end cap fabricated of a rigid material coupled to the output end of the nipple to seal the output portion of the coupling and the output end of the nipple; an induction switch subassembly having a vertically disposed tube, the tube having an upper end and a lower end with an exterior surface and a hollow interior, the exterior surface of the tube having an upper extent formed with threads, the exterior surface of the tube having a lower extent formed unthreaded, a support aperture formed in the coupling with the upper extent of the tube extending through the support aperture with threads above exterior of the coupling and threads below the interior of the coupling, an upper support nut adjustably received on the threads of the upper extent of the tube above the support aperture and a lower support nut adjustably received on the threads of the upper extent of the tube below the support aperture and a positioning nut adjustably received on the threads of the upper extent of the tube below the lower support nut, the tube and nuts being fabricated of a rigid material, a torus-shaped float with a flat lower surface slidably received upon the lower extent of the tube, the float being fabricated of a buoyant material to thereby rise and fall as the float slides up and down on the tube in response to an increase and decrease of the water level within the coupling, a magnetic plate in a washer shaped configuration and having a flat upper surface secured to the lower surface of the float for movement therewith and a U-shaped ring secured to the tube adjacent to the lower end of the tube to limit the movement of the float and washer downwardly while the positioning nut limits the movement of the float and washer upwardly, and a pair of internal wires located within the tube with free ends adjacent to the lower end of the tube, the wires extending along the length of the tube upwardly and out of the coupling for allowing the switching for controlling the level of water within the container, a disk being an electrical induction member adapted to create an electrical flow within the wires when the float and magnetic plate rests on the ring with little or no fluid within the coupling, the disk adapted to terminate an electrical flow within the wires when the float and magnetic plate rise above the ring with excess fluid within the coupling, thereby activating and inactivating a switch in response to water within the coupling; and a bleeding port extending through the coupling and positioned above the centerline with the support aperture extending through the housing above the axis of the input portion, the support aperture receiving the tube extending there through.