Patent · US Expired

Water tower assembly with variable water level

US6312311A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
4References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 10, 2000
Grant dateNov 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 10, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA63H17/44
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The present invention provides a water tower generally having a base portion, a tower support attached to the base portion, and a fluid vessel attached to the tower support and containing a fluid. A buoyant vessel having a first magnet attached is contained within the fluid vessel. A first arm defining a cam slot and rotatably attached to the tower support by a first pivot pin guides a second arm, an end of which is disposed within the cam slot. The second arm is rotatably attached to the tower support by a second pivot pin. A second magnet is attached to a second end of the movable arm. In operation, the first arm is rotated to move a second arm, bringing the first and second magnets into alignment. The magnets create an attraction force which sinks the buoyant vessel within the fluid, giving the water tower the appearance of being full. When the first arm is rotated so magnets are taken out of axial alignment, the attraction force of the magnets is diminished, and the buoyant vessel floats. This causes the water tower to have the appearance of being nearly empty.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.