SEWAGE BASIN PUMP CONTROL SUPPORT

Abstract

A wastewater sump assembly for receiving and disposing of undesired fluid and, in some cases, solid waste (collectively “wastewater”). A sump basin includes an upstanding wall a base and a top. A sensor in the form, e.g., of a float switch extends into the basin and is operable to actuate a pump to remove collective wastewater from the basin. The sensor depends from a sensor support that is supported distally within the basin in a vertical manner and is supported proximately within the basin in a horizontal manner, with securement of the sensor support not requiring traversal of the basin top and with the distal basin support not needing to be accessed vertically through a pump access aperture in the top.

Claims

1-23. (canceled)

24. A pump control comprising: a sensor operable to communicate a level of wastewater in a container to a pump; a sensor support, the sensor secured to the sensor support, the sensor support comprising: a longitudinal extension having a longitudinal axis; a distal sensor support extending radially outward from the longitudinal extension relative to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal extension; and a proximal sensor support comprising an extension extending axially along the longitudinal axis, the extension having a terminal end axially moveable along the longitudinal axis relative to the longitudinal extension.

25. The pump control of claim 24, wherein said extension of said proximal sensor support comprises a spring pin, said sensor support further comprising a spring providing a biasing force to bias said spring pin proximally away from said distal sensor support to a biased position, said spring pin actuatable against the biasing force of the spring distally toward said distal sensor support to an actuated position.

26. The pump control of claim 24, wherein said sensor comprises a float switch tethered to said sensor support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective, partial sectional view of a wastewater sump assembly in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a partial, exploded view illustrating a pump control with sensors, in the form of float switches tethered to a sensor support engageable with a distal basin support in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a partial, sectional view illustrating a proximal sensor support of the pump control of FIG. 2 engaging a proximal basin support in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a partial, sectional view illustrating in detail the distal basin support of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a partial, sectional view illustrating assembly of the distal basin support to the basin of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective, partial sectional view of the wastewater sump assembly of FIG. 1, illustrating an initial step of inserting a pump control of the present disclosure into the wastewater assembly;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective, partial sectional view of the wastewater sump assembly of FIG. 5, illustrating a step of inserting a pump control of the present disclosure into the wastewater assembly subsequent to the step shown in FIG. 6;

[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective, partial sectional view of the wastewater sump assembly of FIG. 5, illustrating a step of inserting a pump control of the present disclosure into the wastewater assembly subsequent to the step shown in FIG. 7;

[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective, partial sectional view of the wastewater sump assembly of FIG. 5, illustrating a step of inserting a pump control of the present disclosure into the wastewater assembly subsequent to the step shown in FIG. 8; and

[0020] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the proximal sensor support of the present disclosure.

[0021] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, the embodiment disclosed below is not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise form disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. The embodiment disclosed below is not intended to be exhaustive or limit the present disclosure to the precise form disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiment is chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings. Therefore, no limitation of the scope of the present disclosure is thereby intended.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, sump assembly 20 includes basin 22 formed from base 24, upstanding wall 26 and top 28. As illustrated, upstanding wall 26 extends axially upwardly from base 24 and top 28 extends radially inwardly from upstanding wall 26. Basin 22 is a rotational molded (sometimes referred to as “roto molded”) polyethylene basin, with an integral, monolithic material forming base 24, upstanding wall 26 and top 28. With base 24, upstanding wall 26 and top 28 roto molded to be formed from an integral, monolithic material, no seams are presented between base 24 and upstanding wall 26. Similarly, no seams are presented between upstanding wall 26 and top 28. Additional details of an exemplification of the present disclosure can be found in FPS V4 POWERSEWER™, which can be found at: http://www.franklinengineered.com/media/35175/996896_PowerSewer_Brochure.pdf, a copy of which is filed in an Information Disclosure Statement filed together with this patent application, the entire disclosure of which is hereby explicitly incorporated by reference herein.

[0024] Top 28 extends from upstanding wall 26 inwardly until terminating at wet well opening 30 (FIG. 6). Wet well opening 30 defines a pump aperture sized to allow passage of submersible pump 32 into basin 22. Top 28 does not travel straight radially inwardly from upstanding wall 26 to wet well opening 30, but rather creates a depression forming a dry well. The dry well formed by top 28 may be occupied by electrical junction box 34, or elements of sump assembly 20 that, desirably, are not exposed to the contents of basin 22, or to the environment outside of sump assembly 20. Electrical junction box 34 and any other elements of sump assembly positioned in the dry well formed by top 28 are sealed from the contents of basin 22 by molded plastic lid 36 and are sealed from the environment outside of sump assembly 20 by molded nylon lid 38.

[0025] Molded plastic lid 36 is positioned atop the vertical wall of top 28 defining wet well opening 30 and molded nylon lid 38 is thereafter positioned atop molded plastic lid 36. In this position, with molded plastic lid 36 sandwiched between top 28 and molded nylon lid 38, molded nylon lid 38 is secured to basin 22 by bolts 40 spaced about the perimeter of basin 22. Typically, a rubber gasket will be positioned between basin 22 and molded nylon lid 38 to create a seal therebetween. The structures of basin 22 described to this point are the same as the corresponding structures found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,208 incorporated by reference above. While only a distal portion of molded plastic lid 36 is shown in FIG. 1, greater illustration of this element (in the form of molded plastic lid 13) can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,208.

[0026] In use, wastewater enters basin 22 through an inlet and collects in basin 22 until submersible pump 32 is energized to expel the contents of basin 22 through outlet 42. Submersible pump 32 may be a Franklin Electric model 9SN-CIM submersible pump, available from Franklin Electric, Co. of Fort Wayne, Ind. The inlet to basin 22 can take the form of any pipe in fluid communication with the interior of basin 22. For example, an inlet such as inlet pipe 41 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,208 incorporated by reference above may be utilized. Submersible pump 32 is energized when a certain level of wastewater is sensed in basin 22. A sensor such as an ultrasonic level sensor, a pressure switch or float switch 44 may be utilized to signal that the level of wastewater in basin 22 is sufficiently high to require removal via submersible pump 32.

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates three float switches 44. Any one of these float switches 44 may be used to energize submersible pump 32 to remove the contents of basin 22. In one embodiment, the proximal most float switch 44 can trigger an alarm indicating that the pump is not functioning properly. For the purposes of this document, proximal/distal references molded nylon lid 36 as the proximal most point of sump assembly 20 and base 24 as the distal most point of sump assembly 20. The intermediate float switch 44 may be a pump on switch indicating that the pump should be energized to begin removal of the contents of basin 22. In this exemplification, the distal most float switch 44 is a pump off switch indicating that the pump should no longer be energized and pumping should cease.

[0028] Each float switch 44 includes electric cord 46 extending therefrom. Each electric cord 46 is tethered to sensor support 48 such that the buoyancy of each float switch 44 on wastewater in basin 22 will cause a change in the attitude of float switch 44 to open or close an electric circuit depending on whether fluid in basin 22 is raising or lowering.

[0029] Float switches 44 may be Franklin Electric Model RFSN series float switches available from Franklin Electric Co., Inc. of Fort Wayne, Ind. Each of float switches 44 includes a float including a sphere positioned within a raceway and operable to open and close an electrical circuit in response to a change in attitude of the float, which causes a repositioning of the sphere. Electric cords 46 extending from and electrically connected to float switches 44 may terminate in electrical junction box 34, which includes a pump control capable of receiving inputs from float switches 44 to operate submersible pump 32. In alternative forms, electric cords may terminate in a piggyback plug having a male electrical connector for connection to a standard wall outlet and a female electrical connector for further connection to a subsequent male connector. With the piggyback plug connected to a wall outlet, float switches 44 are operable to selectively close an electric circuit through the piggyback plug to allow the passage of current therethrough.

[0030] Float switches 44 may be made in accordance with the disclosure of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,087,801 and 5,142,108, the entire disclosures of which are both explicitly incorporated by reference herein. For example, each float 44 may include an internal ball which, with floats 44 positioned as illustrated in FIG. 1, with a distal end thereof pointed downwardly toward base 24 of basin 22, is incapable of closing the electric circuit. If the attitude of a float switch 44 is changed such that the distal end thereof points upwardly toward top 28 of basin 22, then the internal ball will actuate to electrically close the electrical circuit. Float switches 44 are “sensors” in that they incorporate a trigger point (i.e., the point at which the circuit is closed) sensing and signaling a certain level of wastewater in basin 22.

[0031] Float switches 44 are suspended from sensor support 48 at the desired height in basin 22 and with the desired length of electric cord 46 spanning each float switch and sensor support 48. A clamp is utilized to secure each electric cord 46 to sensor support 48. In prior configurations, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,208, the sensor support was positioned through an aperture formed in the floor of the dry well, thereby creating an additional leak point requiring sealing. In the present disclosure, sensor support 48 incorporates distal sensor support 48b which cooperates with distal basin support 50 to support sensor support 48 and the float switches 44 tethered thereto vertically above base 24 of basin 22.

[0032] It is important to position float switches 44 in basin 22 such that float switches 44 can articulate between their distal most positions in basin 22 to their proximal most positions without encountering static structures in basin 22, including submersible pump 32, piping, support structures, etc. Utilizing a structure vertically accessible through wet well opening 30 to support sensor support 48 creates difficulty in positioning float switches 44 in operable and unobstructed positions. Therefore, the distal basin support of the present disclosure is offset from vertical alignment with wet well opening 30 such that sensor support 48 is operably positioned below top 28. In this document “vertical” is used in its usual sense to denote a trajectory along a plumb line. In this document “vertical” is determined with respect to basin 22 with reference to base 24 positioned as the distal most aspect of sump assembly 20, i.e., the aspect of sump assembly 20 most deeply buried in the ground.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, sensor support 48 includes longitudinal extension 48a, distal sensor support 48b, and proximal sensor support 48c. Basin 22 includes complementary distal basin support 50 and proximal basin support 52. Distal basin support 50 is positioned vertically under top 28 of sump assembly 20 and is vertically covered by top 28 such that distal basin support 50 is not accessible vertically through top 28, i.e., distal basin support 50 cannot be reached along a vertical trajectory from outside basin 22, as such trajectory is intersected by top 28. In the exemplification illustrated, distal basin support 50 is located in the lower half of the vertical extent of basin 22. Distal basin support 50 includes a support in the form of cross beam 50a which provides vertical support for sensor support 48 above base 24, i.e., it supports sensor support 48 at a vertical distance from base 24.

[0034] Upstanding wall 26 of basin 22 includes a pair of recesses 54 sized to receive opposite ends of cross beam 50a. Referring to FIG. 5, cross beam 50a can be positioned orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of basin 22, owing to the fact that cross beam 50a has a length less than the internal diameter of basin 22. From the position illustrated in FIG. 5, cross beam 50a can be moved from a central position within basin 22 radially outwardly such that opposite ends of cross beam 50a occupy recesses 54 as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6, 7, 8, and 9. As illustrated, cross beam 50a is further secured to C-channel 56 which supports submersible pump 32 and associated outlet piping. When C-channel 56 is secured to basin 22, it retains cross beam 50a within recesses 54 to support cross beam 50a a vertical distance above base 24.

[0035] Cross beam 50a features shark fin extension 50b extending vertically upward from cross beam 50a. Sensor support 48 features distal sensor support 48b extending radially outward from longitudinal extension 48a. Referring, e.g., to FIGS. 1 and 2, the distal sensor support 48b is exemplified as a metallic beam bolted to longitudinal extension 48a, which takes the form of a plastic tube such as a PVC pipe. Distal sensor support 48b includes aperture 48b.sub.1 (FIG. 2) sized to receive shark fin extension 50b to index sensor support 48 relative to distal basin support 50. More particularly, with shark fin extension 50b received in aperture 48b.sub.1, sensor support 48 is restrained from translating horizontally relative to distal basin support 50. However, owing to the size and geometry of aperture 48b.sub.1 and shark fin extension 50b, sensor support 48 is rotatable about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of distal basin support 50 and intersecting shark fin extension 50b. This axis of rotation will intersect upstanding wall 26 of basin 22 twice, adjacent to the opposite ends of distal basin support 50. The relative rotation allowed by the interaction of aperture 48b.sub.1 and shark fin extension 50b also allows sensor support 48 to be engaged with distal basin support 50 in a non-vertical manner. Specifically, sensor support 48 can be inserted through wet well opening 30, as shown in FIG. 6, and shark fin extension 50b piloted into aperture 48b.sub.1, as shown in FIG. 7, without requiring a vertical orientation of longitudinal extension 48a.

[0036] With shark fin extension 50b occupying aperture 48b.sub.1, as illustrated in FIG. 7, sensor support 48 is free to rotate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of distal basin support 50 and intersecting shark fin extension 50b; therefore, sensor support 48 is not yet secured against movement to positively retain float switches 44 in their desired positions. From the position illustrated in FIG. 7, sensor support 48 may be rotated into its final secured position illustrated in FIG. 9, with proximal sensor support 48c engaging proximal basin support 52.

[0037] Proximal sensor support 48c includes stop pin 48c.sub.1 positioned orthogonally through longitudinal extension 48a and intersecting the central longitudinal axis of longitudinal extension 48a. In the exemplification illustrated, stop pin 48c.sub.1 is a bolt that extends through a transverse aperture in longitudinal extension 48a and is secured by a nut. Spring 48c.sub.2 is positioned within the longitudinal space formed in longitudinal extension 48a and positioned atop stop pin 48c. Spring pin 48c.sub.3 is positioned atop spring 48c.sub.2 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Actuator pin 48c.sub.4 extends radially outward from spring pin 48c.sub.3, occupying longitudinal slot 48c.sub.5 formed through the wall of longitudinal extension 48a and intersecting the longitudinal space therein. While illustrated as being integral with spring pin 48c.sub.3, actuator pin 48c.sub.4 may be a separate element threadedly connected to or otherwise (see also FIG. 10) selectively secured to spring pin 48c.sub.3. Longitudinal slot 48c.sub.5 limits the travel of actuator pin 48c.sub.4 and thereby limits the travel of spring pin 48c.sub.3. Cap 48c.sub.6 may be positioned over and secured to the proximal end of longitudinal extension 48a as illustrated in FIG. 3. In embodiments in which actuator pin 48c.sub.4 is integrally formed with spring pin 48c.sub.3, longitudinal slot 48c.sub.5 may intersect the proximal most end of longitudinal extension 48a and thereby be open proximally. In such a configuration, cap 48c.sub.6 will provide an upper boundary of travel for actuator pin 48c.sub.4. In alternative configurations, spring pin 48c3 could be replaced by a spring biased ball. Furthermore, while the detent mechanism defined by proximal sensor support 48c and proximal basin support 52 incorporates a detent in the basin and a spring biased element in the sensor support, these features of the detent mechanism could be reversed, with the spring biased element extending downwardly from undersurface 28a of top 28 of basin 22 to cooperate with a recess formed in the proximal end of sensor support 48.

[0038] From the position illustrated in FIG. 7 (with the proximally terminal end of spring pin 48c.sub.3 abutting undersurface 28a of top 28), sensor support 48 can be rotated toward the positioned illustrated in FIG. 8, with spring pin 48c3 moving distally to compress spring 48c.sub.2. From the position illustrated in FIG. 8, sensor support 48 can be further rotated into the position illustrated in FIG. 9, with spring pin 48c3 extending proximally from the position illustrated in FIG. 8 to occupy proximal basin support 52. In the illustrated embodiment, proximal basin support 52 defines a recess which cooperates with spring pin 48c.sub.3 to define a detent mechanism horizontally indexing sensor support 48 within basin 22 in the installed configuration illustrated in FIG. 9. Stated another way, engagement of proximal sensor support 48c with proximal basin support 52 horizontally supports the pump control (in the form of sensor support 48 and depending float switches 44) within the interior volume of basin 22, i.e. engagement of proximal sensor support 48c with proximal basin support 52 resists horizontal translation of sensor support 48. In this configuration, sensor support 48 is vertically supported above base 24 of basin 22 by engagement of distal sensor support 48d with distal basin support 50 and sensor support 48 is horizontally supported by engagement of proximal sensor support 48c with proximal basin support 52 such that sensor support 48 is secured in a defined position within basin 22. In the illustrated embodiment, distal sensor support 48d also provides horizontal support to sensor support 48. With the sensor support of the present disclosure, float switches 44 can be suspended within basin 22 without requiring a support vertically accessible through wet well opening 30 and without requiring the sensor support to be positioned through the floor of the dry well.

[0039] In operation of the illustrated embodiment, movement of spring pin 48c.sub.3 to allow engagement and disengagement of proximal sensor support 48c with proximal basin support 52 can be effected by either manual movement of actuator pin 48c.sub.4 or by the automatic interaction between spring pin 48c.sub.3 and undersurface 28a of top 28 when sensor support 48 is moved between its position illustrated in FIG. 7 and its position illustrated in FIG. 9. In the latter case, actuator pin 48c.sub.4 and longitudinal slot 48c.sub.5 could be eliminated and, instead, travel of spring pin 48c.sub.3 could be limited, for example, by a shoulder on spring pin 48c.sub.3 that abuts the underside of cap 48c.sub.6. The detent mechanism defined by proximal sensor support 48c and proximal basin support 52 and, in particular, spring 48c.sub.2, spring pin 48c.sub.3, and the recessed defined by proximal basin support 52, can be appropriately designed so that proximal sensor support 48c easily disengages with proximal basin support 52 when sensor support 48 is pivoted without using actuator pin 48c.sub.4. Therefore, actuator pin 48c.sub.4 can be eliminated in alternative embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0040] In an alternative methods of assembly, proximal sensor support 48c can first be engaged with proximal basin support 52 and distal sensor support 48b thereafter engaged with distal basin support 50. In this method of assembly, spring pin 48c.sub.3 is inserted into the depression that defines proximal basin support 52. Thereafter, with the technician grasping longitudinal extension 48a, spring pin 48c.sub.3 is pressed against undersurface 28a of top 28 to compress spring 48c.sub.2 and allow distal sensor support to be moved into position with shark fin extension 50b vertically aligned with aperture 48b.sub.1 of distal sensor support 48b. From this position, distal sensor support 48b can be lowered onto distal basin support 50, with shark fin extension 50b occupying aperture 48b.sub.1 of distal sensor support 48b and spring pin 48c.sub.3 occupying proximal basin support 52 to secure sensor support 48 in basin 22 as further described above.

[0041] Removal of sensor support 48 from basin 22 can be effected in similar fashion. Specifically, with the technician grasping longitudinal extension 48a, spring pin 48c.sub.3 is pressed against undersurface 28a of top 28 to compress spring 48c.sub.2 and allow distal sensor support 48b to be raised from abutment with distal basin support 50 while also removing shark fin extension 50b from aperture 48b.sub.1 of distal sensor support 48b. From this position, sensor support 48 can be rotated such that distal sensor support 48b is no longer vertically above distal basin support 50 and sensor support 48 can be lowered to remove spring pin 48c.sub.3 from proximal basin support 52.