Patent ID: 6148852
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: E03F,F04D,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A fail-safe sump pit regulating valve assembly for controlling flow of groundwater entering a sump pit when a sump pump in the sump pit fails to operate in order to prevent overflow water in said sump pit, the regulating valve assembly comprising:a valve body portion in the form of a hollow, tee-pipe section having first, second and third free end portions, a first of the three free end portions being closed with a cap member, a second of the free ends being positioned opposite to and below said first free end and a third of said three free ends being interposed between said first and second free ends, the third free end extending in a direction generally traverse to said first and second free ends, said third free end being matable to a sump pipe entering said sump pit;said valve assembly further including a float member, and a plunger member for selectively closing said second free end shaft, the plunger member being oriented horizontally and movably mounted in an interior portion of said tee-pipe section near said tee-pipe section second free end thereof, said plunger member being movable between a first operative position wherein said second free end is open to the passage of water thereinto, and a second operative position wherein said plunger member closes off said second free end to prevent entrance of water into said second free end, said plunger member being biased into said first operative position by a spring connected to and extending between said plunger member and an interior portion of said valve body tee-pipe section proximate to said second free end thereof, said float member being moveably connected to said valve body portion first free end at one end of said float member and being tethered to said plunger member at another end of said float member, said float member being interposed between said valve body portion first free end and said valve body second free end when said plunger member is in said first operative position, such that water rising in said sump pit will raise said float member to a level above said valve body portion first free end, thereby tensioning said tether and exerting a closing force on said plunger member that exceeds the biasing force applied to said plunger member by said spring, the raising of said float member not requiring any electricity for an electrical power source to effect said raising of said float member.