Patent ID: 7007312

Claim:
A hydraulic time release system for regulating the flow of a liquid therethrough, comprising: a timer body having a timer inlet for providing the liquid to the timer body at a timer inlet flow rate and a timer outlet for discharging the liquid from the timer body at a timer outlet flow rate, the timer body including a drain tube having a lower end opening to an exterior of the timer body and an upper end positioned in close proximity to the timer inlet; and a timer float assembly disposed within the timer body and operatively connected to a float valve configured to be moveable between open and closed positions in response to variations in a liquid level within the timer body; wherein: the movement of the float valve to the open position results in a substantial portion of the liquid entering the timer body at the timer inlet passing through the drain tube and exiting the timer body, with a remaining portion of the liquid exiting the timer outlet at a flow rate that is substantially less than the timer inlet flow rate; and the movement of the float valve to the closed position results in a blockage of the flow of the liquid into the drain tube which causes the liquid to fill the timer body whereupon the timer outlet flow rate is substantially equal to the timer inlet flow rate.