Fluid flow control systems

Claim 2

The combination of a receptacle and means for controlling the level of the liquid in said receptacle, comprising: a fluid conduit means communicating with said receptacle; valve means for controlling the flow of fluid through said conduit means; valve actuating means operable in a first mode of operation to actuate said valve means automatically upon a change of the level of fluid in the receptacle at any time, said valve actuating means being operable in a second mode of operation to actuate said valve means upon a change of the level of fluid in the receptacle within a selected time period, and said valve actuating means being operable in a third mode of operation to actuate the valve means at any time and irrespective of whether there is a change in the level of fluid in the receptacle; and means for selecting the one of said first, second, and third modes in which it is desired that said valve actuating means be operable.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, together with means for pumping the fluid through the conduit means and wherein said valve actuating means includes means for actuating said pumping means at the same time that it actuates the valve to a condition in which fluid can flow through said conduit means.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1, wherein said valve actuating means includes a sensing means responsive to a condition other than the level of the liqUid in the receptacle which is operable in at least one of said first and second modes of operation of said actuating means to control the actuation of the valve means.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3, wherein said sensing means is responsive to the presence of a conductive fluid thereon to effect actuation of said valve means.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1, wherein said valve actuating means includes electrically operated control circuitry and including means which is selectively operable to supply at least two different operating voltages to said circuitry.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1, wherein said valve means includes an electrically operated actuator and wherein said valve actuating means includes a manually operable switch for completing a circuit between said actuator and an electrical power source in the third of the modes of operation of said valve actuating means.

Claim 8

The combination of a receptacle and means for controlling the level of fluid in said receptacle, which comprises: a fluid conduit means communicating with said receptacle; an electrically operated means which, when actuated, will result in a flow of fluid through said conduit means; means for actuating said electrically operated means upon a change in the level of fluid in the receptacle which includes a planimetric switch means located in said receptacle; and means including a detector responsive to a change in a variable fluid condition other than the level of the fluid in the receptacle for automatically overriding said planimetric switch means and thereby altering the operation of the electrically operated means upon the occurrence of a change in said variable condition.

Claim 9

The combination of a receptacle and means for controlling the level of fluid in said receptacle, which comprises: a fluid conduit means communicating with said receptacle; an electrically operated means which, when actuated, will result in a flow of fluid through said conduit means; means for actuating said electrically operated means upon a change in the level of fluid in the receptacle which includes a planimetric switch means located in said receptacle; and means including a detector responsive to a change in a variable fluid condition other than the level of the fluid in the receptacle for automatically overriding said planimetric switch means and thereby altering the operation of the electrically operated means upon the occurrence of a change in said variable condition.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7, wherein the condition responsive detector included in the means for overriding said planimetric switch means and thereby altering the operation of the actuating means is a planimetric switch means located other than in the receptacle.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7, wherein said actuating means also includes a timer for limiting the periods in which said electrically operated means can be actuated.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9, together with means for bypassing said timer.

Claim 13

The combination of a receptacle and means for controlling the level of liquid in said receptacle, comprising: a fluid conduit means communicating with said receptacle; electrically operated means which, when actuated, will result in a flow of fluid through said conduit means; actuating means operable in a first mode of operation to actuate said electrically operated means automatically upon a change of the level of fluid in the receptacle at any time, said actuating means being operable in a second mode of operation to actuate said electrically operated means upon a change of the level of fluid in the receptacle within a selected time period, and said actuating means being operable in a third mode of operation to actuate the electrically operated means at any time and irrespective of whether there is a change in the level of fluid in the receptacle; and means for selecting the one of said first, second, and third modes in which it is desired that said actuating means be operable.

Claim 14

The combination of a receptacle and means for controlling the level of liquid in said receptacle, comprising: a fluid conduit means communicating with said receptacle; electrically operated means which, when actuated, will result in a flow of fluid through said conduit means; actuating means operable in a first mode of operation to actuate said electrically operated means automatically upon a change of the level of fluid in the receptacle at any time, said actuating means being operable in a second mode of operation to actuate said electrically operated means upon a change of the level of fluid in the receptacle within a selected time period, and said actuating means being operable in a third mode of operation to actuate the electrically operated means at any time and irrespective of whether there is a change in the level of fluid in the receptacle; and means for selecting the one of said first, second, and third modes in which it is desired that said actuating means be operable.

Claim 15

The combination of a receptacle and means for controlling the level of liquid in said receptacle, comprising: a fluid conduit means communicating with said receptacle; electrically operated means which, when actuated, will result in a flow of fluid through said conduit means; a first control means operable to actuate said electrically operated means automatically upon a change of the level of the fluid in the receptacle; a second control means operable independently of the level of the fluid in the receptacle for overriding the operation of the first control means; a third, control means for establishing and/or limiting the periods during which said first control means is operable to actuate the electrically operated means; and means which can be selectively actuated to make said third control means inoperablE without making the first or second control means inoperable or changing the operational relationship therebetween.

Claim 16

The combination of a receptacle and means for controlling the level of liquid in said receptacle, comprising: a fluid conduit means communicating with said receptacle; electrically operated means which, when actuated, will result in a flow of fluid through said conduit means; a first control means operable to actuate said electrically operated means automatically upon a change of the level of the fluid in the receptacle; a second control means operable independently of the level of the fluid in the receptacle for overriding the operation of the first control means; a third, control means for establishing and/or limiting the periods during which said first control means is operable to actuate the electrically operated means; and means which can be selectively actuated to make said third control means inoperablE without making the first or second control means inoperable or changing the operational relationship therebetween.

Claim 17

The combination of a receptacle and means for controlling the level of liquid in said receptacle, comprising: a fluid conduit means communicating with said receptacle; electrically operated means which, when actuated, will result in a flow of fluid through said conduit means; a first control means operable to actuate said electrically operated means automatically upon a change of the level of the fluid in the receptacle; a second control means operable independently of the level of the fluid in the receptacle for overriding the operation of the first control means; a third, selectively actuatable timer means for establishing and/or limiting the periods during which said first control means is operable to actuate the electrically operated means; and a fourth control means for bypassing said first, second, and third control means to provide manual control over the actuation of said electrically operated means.

Claim 18

The combination of a receptacle and means for controlling the level of liquid in said receptacle, comprising: a fluid conduit means communicating with said receptacle; electrically operated means which, when actuated, will result in a flow of fluid through said conduit means; a first control means operable to actuate said electrically operated means automatically upon a change of the level of the fluid in the receptacle; a second control means operable independently of the level of the fluid in the receptacle for overriding the operation of the first control means; a third, selectively actuatable timer means for establishing and/or limiting the periods during which said first control means is operable to actuate the electrically operated means; and a fourth control means for bypassing said first, second, and third control means to provide manual control over the actuation of said electrically operated means.