Clark-reliance Corporation

David E Brown

David E Purcel

Mark A Colman

Michael J Kett

A magnetic float assembly is provided, comprising (i) a generally cylindrical paramagnetic (e.g. stainless steel) float enclosure having first and second closed end portions located at opposite ends of a longitudinal axis running the length thereof, and having a generally cylindrical interior surface located between the end portions, (ii) a first annular magnet disposed within the float enclosure at a first location along the longitudinal axis and having an outer surface which substantially corresponds to the generally cylindrical interior surface, and (iii) and a second annular magnet disposed within the float enclosure at a second location along the longitudinal axis and having an outer surface which substantially corresponds to the generally cylindrical interior surface. The first and second annular magnets are separated by a paramagnetic (e.g. aluminum or titanium) spacer. Ends of the first and second annular magnets facing each other are magnetized in one polarity and ends of the first and second cylindrical magnets facing the end portions of the enclosure are magnetized in an opposite polarity. The magnetic field of an operating pole of the assembly is created by the proximity of like-charged portions of the facing magnets, and is directed radially outward of the longitudinal axis of the float enclosure toward the outside of the enclosure.

Magnetic float assembly

Lighting assemblies are provided for visual indicators which indicate the level of fluid in a container. One such assembly comprises a backlighting assembly for a visual fluid level indicator having front and rear transparent viewing windows for viewing the level of a fluid contained therein, comprising (i) a substantially flat fiber optic panel located proximate the rear transparent viewing window; (ii) an attachment mechanism for attaching the substantially flat fiber optic panel to the visual fluid indicator proximate the rear transparent viewing window; and (iii) an illumination source optically coupled to the substantially flat fiber optic panel. The illumination source is a gas filled light source operating at less than 25 volts A.C. which is enclosed in a waterproof and explosion-proof enclosure, and which is optically coupled to the fiber optic panel by a fiber optic light cable. The lighting assembly may also be used for directly illuminating a magnetic fluid level indicator which indicates the level of fluid in a container to which it is attached.

Illuminated fluid level indicator

A sight flow apparatus includes a body designed to be connected in-line to fluid pipes within a manufacturing plant or other facility. One or more window assemblies are removably mounted on the sides or ends of the body to allow visual inspection of fluid flow through the body cavity. A fluid indicator device i.e., a flapper assembly or a rotor assembly, is mounted within the body cavity and supported by an axle extending between the windows, between the body itself, or between a pair of alignment washers located within the body. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of planar blades which are interconnected to form generally radially extending vanes. An enlarged indicator cap is coupled to each end of the rotor assembly to improve visual examination of fluid flow effects, to lock the interconnected blades together and to prevent the blades from contacting the windows, alignment washer or body. The flapper assembly for the sight flow apparatus includes a single blade which is coupled on each end to the axle with an enlarged indicator cap. The indicator cap on the rotor assembly and the flapper assembly facilitate visually inspecting the fluid flow through the windows in the sight flow apparatus over a wide range of fluid conditions.

Fluid indicator assemblies for sight flow apparatus

A sanitary sight indicator for viewing the contents of a production process is provided. The sanitary sight indicator includes a body, an optical unit, and a sanitary connection between the body and the optical unit. The body includes a process-interfacing portion which is adapted to interface with the production process and an optical-interfacing portion which interfaces with the optical unit. The optical unit includes a viewing portion for viewing the contents of the production process and a body-interfacing portion which interfaces with the optical-interfacing portion of the body. The sanitary connection includes a sanitary gasket having a substantially flat annular portion, and first and second annular projections which are approximately semi-circular in cross-sectional shape and which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the annular portion. The sanitary connection further includes a sanitary gasket-groove in each of the optical unit-interfacing portion and the body-interfacing portion. Each of the sanitary-gasket grooves includes a flat surface supporting the flat annular portion of the sanitary gasket and a channel supporting one of the annular projections of the sanitary gasket. Such a sight indicator may be in the form of a 'sight flow indicator' for installation in a process line or a 'sight window' for installation on a process tank.

Sanitary sight indicator

A sight flow product includes a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet and fluid outlet are designed to be connected in-line to fluid pipes within a manufacturing plant or other facility. A cartridge can be located within and conform substantially to a cavity in the body. One or more window assemblies are removably mounted on sides or ends of the body to retain and locate the cartridge within the body cavity. The cartridge can be removed from the body and replaced when either of the window assemblies has been removed. Each of the window assemblies includes a transparent window to allow visual inspection of fluid flow through the sight flow product. A fluid sensing device e.g., a flapper, rotor or condensation drip tube, can be mounted within the cartridge by connection to the cartridge itself or by connection to opposed alignment washers in the window assemblies to facilitate visually inspecting the fluid flow in the sight flow product.

Growing community of inventors

Brunswick, OH, United States of America

David E Brown