A water level detection system in a pool, spa, fountain or water feature, the water level detection system being provided with a tap line coupled to a plumbing line on a suction or supply side of a filtration system and admitting water from the pool, spa, fountain or water feature such that the change in level of the water in the tap line corresponds to a change in level of the water in the pool, spa, fountain or water feature. A sensing module has at least one sensor for detecting the height of a column of water or the pressure of a column of air in the water tap line. A controller is coupled to the sensing module and adapted to collect the data from the sensors that detect changes in the level of the water level of the pool, spa, fountain or water feature, communicate the detection of such a change, and report such a change to initiate addition or removal of water from the pool, spa, fountain or water feature body of water to adjust the water level in the body of water to a set point.

A liquid level maintainer for controlling a liquid level in a reservoir. The liquid level maintainer includes an inlet configured to be coupled to a source of pressurized fluid, an opening configured to receive liquid from the reservoir, a first outlet, and a second outlet. A first flow path is defined between the inlet and the first outlet, and a second flow path is defined between the inlet and the second outlet. A constriction is disposed in the second flow path, the constriction configured to provide a pressure differential in the second flow path for drawing the liquid from the opening towards the constriction. A third flow path is defined between the opening and the constriction. A valve is disposed in at least one of the first or second flow paths and configured to selectively open and close the at least one of the first or second flow paths.

An apparatus for controlling a water pump having an engine that drives an impeller, a water storage tank connected to the water pump, a first water level detector that outputs an A signal when a water level is at or higher than a first height and outputs a B signal when lower than the height, a second water level detector that outputs the A signal when the water level is at or lower than a second height and outputs the B signal when higher than the height, a connection switcher that switches connection of the first and second water level detector, and an impeller controller connected to the connection switcher and adapted to control operation of the engine that drives the impeller of the water pump based on the signals outputted from the first and second water level detectors.

A stand alone ice making appliance or an ice maker within an appliance is provided including a water inlet, a water inlet valve disposed within the water inlet configured to allow water passage when in an open position and configured to prevent water passage when in a closed position, a reservoir in fluid communication with the water inlet, a water level sensor disposed in the reservoir, and a control unit in electrical communication with the water level sensor and the water inlet valve. The control unit is configured to calculate a fluid flow rate using the time between the water inlet valve opening and the water level sensor communicating when a first predetermined water level has been reached within the reservoir, and use the calculated flow rate to calculate a total water inlet valve open time to fill the reservoir to a second predetermined water level.

Methods of, and apparatus for, storing and transporting a hazardous fluid, such as a combustible fuel, include methods and means, respectively, for: (a) treating the fluid to reduce its hazardous condition; (b) storing and/or transporting the treated fluid in such a manner that the risk of its hazardous condition remains reduced; (c) thereafter retreating the fluid to restore it to its original hazardous condition so that the fluid may be used in its restored condition. The hazardous fluid may be treated by adding a substance to, or removing a substance from, the fluid, or by changing the state of the fluid. For example, if the fluid is a fuel, it may be treated by cooling it to near or below its freezing temperature to reduce its combustibility, volatility, explosivity and/or ease of ignition.

A staged dry out process and control system for an evaporative media cooling system having a plurality of media stages that are selectively activated and deactivated by a control system is disclosed. The staged dry out process ensures that wet media stages are appropriately dried with minimal disruption to the staging strategy implemented by the control system. In one aspect, the staged dry out process monitors deactivated media stages to determine if the media stages reach a dry state before being activated. In another aspect, the staged dry out process locks out a media stage that has been in a wet state beyond a predetermined maximum time limit until the media stage attains a dry state. With this strategy the cooling system can operate without being required to completely shut down for a drying process.

A cycles of concentration (COC) control process and system for an evaporative media cooling system having a water storage tank in fluid communication with a drain valve and a refill valve is disclosed. In one step, the COC control process includes the step of executing a plurality of discrete refill events to maintain a level or volume of water within the storage tank. In another step, the COC control process includes the step of executing a discrete drain event, equaling the volume of a refill event, after a discrete refill event has been executed when necessary to maintain a target cycles of concentration value of the water within the storage tank. In one embodiment, a discrete drain event is executed when the number of refill events is greater than or equals a target cycles of concentration of the water in the storage tank.

Disclosed is a basement sewer drain pump housing that draws fluid from a drain into a housing, the fluid is discharged from the housing and out of the basement. The device comprises a pickup tube having a fluid level sensor, which is placed within a sewer main drain or floor drain. The housing comprises an enclosed volume, a suction tube connected to the pickup tube, a suction pump, and a discharge pump. The pump is activated by a switch controlled by the pickup tube fluid sensor, the fluid is drawn into the housing from the drain and discharged through a discharge pipe. The device operates from outlet or battery and serves as a basement drain pump that prevents fluid and sewage backflow during power outages and plumbing blockages. Another modification provides two donuts to prevent the flow of fluid blocking both the floor drain and the main sewer drain.

An apparatus for detecting an error in the measurement of a water level in a washing machine includes a water level sensor measuring a water level in a washing tub; a water supply and drain device supplying water to the washing tub or discharging water from in the washing tub; and a control unit controlling the water supply and drain device to adjust the water level in the washing tub, and detecting a measurement error of the water level sensor based on a water level change measured by the water level sensor while the water level is adjusted.

A staging control process for an evaporative media cooling system having a plurality of media stages is disclosed. In one step, a leaving air dry bulb temperature setpoint for air exiting the evaporative media cooling system is received or defined. In one aspect, an expected media exit dry bulb temperature is calculated for each media stage based on a dry bulb temperature and a wet bulb temperature of air entering the media cooling system and based on a measured or assigned condition of the media. In another aspect, an estimated combined leaving dry bulb temperature is calculated for different combinations of activated and deactivated media stages. Once the estimated leaving temperature is known, the method can then activate the media stage(s) associated with the combination that has an estimated combined leaving dry bulb temperature that is nearest to but less than the leaving air dry bulb temperature setpoint.