A liquid level control module comprising an elongated tubular housing immersible through a surface of a liquid and into a bulk volume of the liquid, and first, second, and third electrical switches, and first and second floats movable along the tubular housing. The first electrical switch is disposed within a lower portion of the tubular housing, the second electrical switch is disposed within an intermediate portion of the tubular housing, and the third electrical switch is disposed within an upper portion of the tubular housing. Each of the switches has an open state and a closed state. Motion of the first float relative to the first switch changes its state. Motion of the second float relative to the second switch changes its state, and motion of the second float relative to the third switch changes its state. Thus a two-float module may provide three level control signals.

An oil stop valve assembly for allowing a flow of water and blocking a flow of oil has a body having an inlet and an outlet, a seat formed adjacent to the outlet of the body, and a float positioned in the body. The float has a specific gravity of between 0.90 and 0.95 so as to be buoyant in water and to sink in oil. The float is away from the seat when a level of water within the body is above the seat. The float is seated in the seat when the level of water in the body is adjacent to the seat. The body is positioned in a container having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid outlet of the container is connected to the outlet of the body.

A shut-off valve system includes a tank having an inlet and an outlet with a flow path defined therebetween. A float within the tank occludes the tank outlet at a first fluid level under positive G forces and unoccludes the tank outlet at a second fluid level under positive G forces. A flow restricting orifice and/or a hydraulic fuse is downstream of float and tank outlet to restrict fluid communication between tank outlet and an ejector pump. A method for restricting flow in an ecology fuel return system includes recovering fuel from engine components, communicating the fuel to an inlet of a fuel tank, pumping the fuel from an outlet of fuel tank to an inlet of an engine when a float within tank unoccludes the outlet of the fuel tank, and restricting fluid flow from tank outlet to an ejector pump with a flow restricting orifice and/or a hydraulic fuse.

Disclosed is a basement sewer drain pump housing that draws fluid from a drain into a housing, where after 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 locking both the floor drain and the main sewer drain. Another embodiment show an inflator to stop the flow of fluids.

A shut-off valve includes a float and a negative G control component. The float is configured to occlude a tank outlet at a first fluid level and 1 G and unocclude the tank outlet at a second fluid level and 1 G. The negative G control component is operatively connected to the float to limit fluid, e.g. liquid or gas, communication between a tank outlet and an ejector pump during negative G events. An ecology fuel return system includes a tank, an ejector pump, a float, and a negative G control component, as described above. The tank has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to be in fluid communication with components of an engine. The ejector pump is in fluid communication with the tank outlet and is configured to pump fuel from the tank to a fuel pump inlet of an engine.

A liquid level control module comprising an elongated tubular housing immersible through a surface of a liquid and into a bulk volume of the liquid, and first, second, and third electrical switches, and first and second floats movable along the tubular housing. The first electrical switch is disposed within a lower portion of the tubular housing, the second electrical switch is disposed within an intermediate portion of the tubular housing, and the third electrical switch is disposed within an upper portion of the tubular housing. Each of the switches has an open state and a closed state. Motion of the first float relative to the first switch changes its state. Motion of the second float relative to the second switch changes its state, and motion of the second float relative to the third switch changes its state. Thus a two-float module may provide three level control signals.

A shut-off valve includes a float and a negative G control component. The float is configured to occlude a tank outlet at a first fluid level and 1 G and unocclude the tank outlet at a second fluid level and 1 G. The negative G control component is operatively connected to the float to limit fluid, e.g. liquid or gas, communication between a tank outlet and an ejector pump during negative G events. An ecology fuel return system includes a tank, an ejector pump, a float, and a negative G control component, as described above. The tank has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to be in fluid communication with components of an engine. The ejector pump is in fluid communication with the tank outlet and is configured to pump fuel from the tank to a fuel pump inlet of an engine.

An oil stop valve assembly for allowing a flow of water and blocking a flow of oil has a body having an inlet and an outlet, a seat formed adjacent to the outlet of the body, and a float positioned in the body. The float has a specific gravity of between 0.90 and 0.95 so as to be buoyant in water and to sink in oil. The float is away from the seat when a level of water within the body is above the seat. The float is seated in the seat when the level of water in the body is adjacent to the seat. The body is positioned in a container having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid outlet of the container is connected to the outlet of the body.

A method is provided for controlling the fluid level in an ebb and flow watering system control bucket that is in fluid communication with at least one fluid holding apparatus such as a plant container with connecting water lines, causing hydraulic delays in changes in the fluid level in the control bucket when fluid is pumped to or from the control bucket, typically from a fluid reservoir. The method involves pumping fluid to or from the control bucket to achieve a target fluid level in the control bucket; upon the fluid reaching the target fluid level, starting a timer for a short period of time to allow for the hydraulic delays, and continuing to pump fluid while the timer runs; restarting the timer and continuing to pump fluid if the fluid level in the control bucket recedes from the target fluid level; and discontinuing pumping if the timer runs for the full period of time.

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.