Mobile-Automatic Power Supply for Sump Pump

Abstract

An alternative mobile-automatic start and stop power supply for a sump pump includes a mobile enclosure that a person can lift with a battery, a battery charger an electrical inverter disposed in said enclosure. The electrical inverter is sized to energize the sump pump in the sump pump well and to charge the battery. The inverter includes an internal transfer switch for disconnecting electrical power from an existing electrical receptacle that supplies power to the sump pump, and connecting the electrical inverter to the sump pump after disconnecting the existing electrical receptacle from the sump pump; whereupon, the inverter continually lowers the water level in the sump pump well until power to the existing electrical receptacle is restored or until the battery is discharged to voltage levels incapable of energizing the sump pump.

1 . A mobile-automatic start and stop power supply device comprising:
 an enclosure having a handle that cooperates with wheels attached to said enclosure to promote manual movement of said device;   a battery disposed in said enclosure and sized to operate a sump pump in a sump pump well for a predetermined time period after a power outage;   an electrical inverter disposed in said enclosure and sized to energize the sump pump in the sump pump well, said electrical inverter including a battery charger for converting 120 V.A.C. to 12 V.D.C., said electrical inverter ultimately converting 12 V.D.C. to 120 V.A.C. for energizing the sump pump, said electrical inverter including an internal transfer switch for disconnecting electrical power from an existing electrical receptacle that supplies power to the sump pump, said internal transfer switch then connecting said electrical inverter to the sump pump after disconnecting the existing electrical receptacle from the sump pump;   an electrical receptacle disposed upon said enclosure for electrically receiving a plug end of a power cord connected to the sump pump; and   a power cord having one end electrically connected to said inverter and a second plug end for insertion into an existing electrical receptacle that powers the sump pump and charges said battery when power is supplied to the existing electrical receptacle; whereby, said mobile-automatic start and stop power supply device is manually disposed relatively near an existing sump pump to automatically operate the sump pump when power is interrupted to the existing electrical receptacle for the sump pump, whereupon, water is removed from a sump well when a high water level is detected in the sump pump well by a sump pump electrical component electrically connected to the sump pump, said device continually operating the sump pump when a high water level is detected until the water level in the sump pump well is lowered to a predetermined level, said device continually lowering the water level in the sump pump well until power to the existing electrical receptacle is restored or until said battery is discharged to voltage levels incapable of energizing the sump pump.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes a lifting handle for manually carrying said enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes a handle for manually moving said enclosure in a substantially horizontal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said inverter includes an Aims manufactured inverter, part number PWRIC150012W. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said inverter is rated at 1500 Watts and converts 12 Volts DC to 120 Volts AC with a 10 Amp 12 Volt battery charger. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said battery includes a Lithium marine battery. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes a cover detachably secured to an upper portion said enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes upper and lower portions formed via a substantially horizontal dividing member detachably secured at an internal mid-portion of said enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said upper and lower portions respectively receive said inverter and said battery such that said dividing member can be manually removed to allow said battery to be manually disposed in said lower portion, said dividing member then being manually re-positioned to mechanically separate said inverter and battery, and to provide a base for said inverter to be detachably secured upon. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure is electrically non-conductive. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes an aperture for allowing manual access to portions of said inverter. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said portions of said inverter include a power disconnect switch, 12 Volt D.C. input members, an electrical receptacle for receiving a plug portion of a power cord for the sump pump. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes castors secured to the bottom surface of said enclosure for promoting manual movement of the device upon a substantially horizontal surface, thereby enabling manual movement of said device to dispose said device proximate to the sump well. 
     
     
         14 . A manually transported mobile-automatic start and stop power supply device comprising:
 an enclosure having a handle that cooperates with castors attached to said enclosure to promote manual movement of said device;   a battery disposed in said enclosure and sized to operate a sump pump in a sump pump well for a predetermined time period after a power outage;   an electrical inverter disposed in said enclosure and sized to energize the sump pump in the sump pump well upon interruption of power to an electrical receptacle supplying power to the sump pump;   an electrical receptacle disposed upon said enclosure for electrically receiving a plug end of a power cord connected to the sump pump; and   a power cord having one end electrically connected to said inverter and a second plug end for insertion into an existing electrical receptacle that powers the sump pump and charges said battery when power is supplied to the existing electrical receptacle; whereby, said mobile-automatic start and stop power supply device is manually disposed relatively near an existing sump pump to automatically operate the sump pump when power is interrupted to the existing electrical receptacle for the sump pump, whereupon, water is removed from a sump well when a high water level is detected in the sump pump well by a sump pump electrical component electrically connected to the sump pump, said device continually operating the sump pump when a high water level is detected until the water level in the sump pump well is lowered to a predetermined level, said device continually lowering the water level in the sump pump well until power to the existing electrical receptacle is restored or until said battery is discharged to voltage levels incapable of energizing the sump pump.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said electrical inverter includes a battery charger for converting 120 V.A.C. to 12 V.D.C. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said electrical inverter converts 12 V.D.C. to 120 V.A.C. for energizing the sump pump. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said electrical inverter includes an internal transfer switch for disconnecting electrical power from an existing electrical receptacle that supplies power to the sump pump, said internal transfer switch then connecting said electrical inverter to the sump pump after disconnecting the existing electrical receptacle from the sump pump. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said inverter includes an Aims manufactured inverter, part number PWRIC150012W, rated at 1500 Watts and converts 12 Volts DC to 120 Volts AC with a 10 Amp 12 Volt battery charger. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said enclosure includes upper and lower portions formed via a substantially horizontal dividing member detachably secured at an internal mid-portion of said enclosure, said upper and lower portions respectively receiving said inverter and said battery such that said dividing member can be manually removed to allow said battery to be manually disposed in said lower portion, said dividing member then being manually re-positioned to mechanically separate said inverter and battery, and to provide a base for said inverter to be detachably secured upon. 
     
     
         20 . A manually transported mobile-automatic start and stop power supply device comprising:
 an enclosure having a handle that cooperates with castors attached to said enclosure to promote manual movement of said device, said enclosure including a carrying handle and dolly handle cooperating with multiple castors attached to a bottom surface of said enclosure for promoting manual movement of said device upon a substantially horizontal surface and/or up and down stairs leading to and from a sump pump, said enclosure further including a top cover hinged to a top portion of said enclosure such that said cover can be pivoted to promote user access to electrical components disposed inside and in an upper portion of said enclosure, and a hinged front cover for promoting user access to electrical components in said upper portion and in a lower portion of said enclosure;   a battery disposed in said enclosure and sized to operate a sump pump in a sump pump well for a predetermined time period after a power outage;   an electrical inverter disposed in said enclosure and sized to energize the sump pump in the sump pump well upon interruption of power to an electrical receptacle supplying power to the sump pump;   an electrical receptacle disposed upon said enclosure for electrically receiving a plug end of a power cord connected to the sump pump; and   a power cord having one end electrically connected to said inverter and a second plug end for insertion into an existing electrical receptacle that powers the sump pump and charges said battery when power is supplied to the existing electrical receptacle; whereby, said mobile-automatic start and stop power supply device is manually disposed relatively near an existing sump pump to automatically operate the sump pump when power is interrupted to the existing electrical receptacle for the sump pump, whereupon, water is removed from a sump well when a high water level is detected in the sump pump well by a sump pump electrical component electrically connected to the sump pump, said device continually operating the sump pump when a high water level is detected until the water level in the sump pump well is lowered to a predetermined level, said device continually lowering the water level in the sump pump well until power to the existing electrical receptacle is restored or until said battery is discharged to voltage levels incapable of energizing the sump pump.