Patent attributes
An autofeed mechanism for controlling the flow and level of a fluid. The mechanism includes a body with an inlet chamber and a float chamber. A seat permits fluid communication between the two chambers. A float and a ball cooperate to permit, or deny, access to the seat. Fluid first enters the inlet and fills the chamber and then enters the float chamber by passing through the seat and exiting via the exit. Initially, the weight of the float keeps the ball away from the seat, but eventually the fluid level rises high enough that the action of the float on the ball decreases to a level that is overcome by the buoyant force of the ball and other fluidic forces resulting in the ball moving away from the ball support. Finally, the ball rises enough to seal against the seat thus stopping the flow of fluid.
