Activation device for sump pumps

Abstract

An activation device for use with a sump or other type pump is provided. The device includes a switched outlet into which the electrical plug of a pump is plugged. The switched outlet is connected to a switching means that is activated by conditions related to the rising and falling of water in the area about a pump, such as the sump of a home or other building. The activation means has an electrical micro-switch associated with a lever attached to a float rod and float; biasing means, locking the switch into an on position until the occurrence of a predetermined event, are provided. As the float rises the switch is activated allowing electricity to flow to the pump. The biasing means permits the pump to continue to operate as the water level in the sump falls. When the water level falls to a desired low level, the activation means is triggered to cut electricity off to the pump, and return to a standby state.

1 . A pump activation structure, for use with a pump, comprising: 
 a housing;    a float rod;    a switch, within the housing;    an actuating member operably connected to the switch and being operably connected to the float rod, such that a variation in water level moves the float rod and the actuating member and toggles the switch, wherein the actuating member is a lever pivotably mounted within the switch housing such that the lever toggles between on and off positions; and    at least one retaining ball mounted within the switch housing adjacent to the lever, to temporarily retain the lever in a switch activation position, wherein the at least one retaining ball is biased against a ball holding structure such that upon the toggling of the switch to the on position, the at least one ball is biased into the holding structure preventing the switch from toggling to the off position until the lever is subsequently pulled with sufficient force, at a desired time, to overcome the bias.    
   
   
       2 . The pump activation structure of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is water tight and the switch is protected from environmental conditions.  
   
   
       3 . The pump activation structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ball is biased by a spring.  
   
   
       4 . The pump activation structure of  claim 3 , wherein the spring is a coil spring.  
   
   
       5 . The pump activation structure of  claim 3 , wherein the spring biases the ball outwardly against a holding structure until a float on the float rod sinks to a desired water level, designated by a stop affixed to the float rod, the float pushing on the stop to provide sufficient force to overcome the biasing spring and releasing the at least one ball from the holding structure.  
   
   
       6 . The pump activation device of  claim 1 , including a holding structure responsive to a first and second retaining ball, the retaining balls each being located at the ends of a T-shaped lever, each ball being biased outwardly so as to contact and bias against a first and second ball holding structure.  
   
   
       7 . A pump activation structure, for use with a pump, comprising: 
 A water resistant housing;    a float rod having a first stop affixed near the distal end of the rod and a second stop affixed near the proximal end of the rod;    a float freely traversing the length of the float rod between the first and second stops; the float held on the rod by the stops, the float and rod located in a pump well;    a switch, within the housing;    an actuating member operably connected to the switch and being operably connected to the float rod, such that a variation in water level results in the float rod and the actuating member moving to toggle the switch, wherein the actuating member is a lever pivotably mounted within the switch housing such that the lever toggles between on and off positions; and    a retaining ball mounted within the switch housing adjacent to the lever, to temporarily retain the lever in a switch activation position, wherein the retaining ball is biased by a spring such that upon the toggling of the switch to the on position, the retaining ball is pushed into the retaining structure preventing the switch from toggling to the off position until the lever is pulled with sufficient force, at a desired time, to overcome the biasing spring and retaining ball.    
   
   
       8 . The pump activation structure of  claim 7 , wherein the housing is water tight and the switch is protected from environmental conditions.  
   
   
       9 . The pump activation structure of  claim 7 , wherein the float rod and lever are hingedly connected.  
   
   
       10 . The pump activation structure of  claim 8 , wherein the float rod is caused to rise when the float rises in the pump well, as the water in the well rises, and strikes the second stop fixed to the rod.  
   
   
       11 . The pump activation structure of  claim 7 , wherein the biasing spring holds the switch in the toggled on position until the float on the float rod sinks to a desired water level, designated by the first stop, pulling the float rod down to provide sufficient force to overcome the biasing spring pressure.  
   
   
       12 . The pump activation device of  claim 7 , including a holding structure responsive to a first and second retaining ball, the retaining balls each being located at the ends of a T-shaped lever, each ball being biased outwardly so as to contact and bias against a first and second ball holding structure.  
   
   
       13 . The pump activation device of  claim 7 , wherein the retaining structure is shaped as a backwards “3” and the ball on the lever is biased into the upper element of the “3” in a first pump off position and into the lower element of the “3” in a second pump on position.  
   
   
       14 . The pump activation device of  claim 7 , wherein once activated the pump remains powered on throughout the float motion between the first and second stop.