Gems Sensors Inc.

Tennant Company

Imo Industries Inc.

Gem Sensors, Inc.

James B Dockendorff

Kevin Bidwell Downs

George K Lewis

Bryan M LaBarge

David P Curry

Douglas Stetson

Thomas Peter Mathews

Frank A Nemeth

Charles J Sorbo

Bryan M Labarge

A tank and liquid level indicator has first housing that holds a liquid and a second elongated housing in fluid communication with the first elongated housing so that a liquid level in the second housing is approximately equal to the level in the first housing. A float in the second housing cooperates with the circuitry to operate one or more light switches. A light-transmissive cover is disposed over the light source.

Visual liquid level indicator

A fluid detector for determining a presence of a fluid within a container, the detector including a sensor assembly with a lens and a sensor element that outputs a first ultrasonic signal in response to an input electrical signal. A generally cylindrical wall extends outwardly from an outer surface of the container and defines a housing with a cylindrical central bore having a base surface. The sensor assembly is coupled to the lens so that the lens focuses the first ultrasonic signal toward the wall. The sensor assembly is positioned such that it receives a second ultrasonic signal from the wall that results from the first ultrasonic signal. The sensor assembly then generates an output electrical signal corresponding to the second ultrasonic signal.

Fluid level detector

A liquid level sensor for use with a container, including a housing with a body defining an interior volume, a switch actuated by an applied magnetic flux field to a closed position, the switch being disposed within the interior volume of the housing, and a float including a body, a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A pivot assembly includes a magnet and couples the housing and the first end of the float such that the float is pivotable about the pivot assembly between a first position and a second position, and a shunt is disposed within the first end of the float body. The shunt is disposed between the magnet and the switch in the first position of the float, thereby shielding the switch from the magnetic flux of the magnet such that the switch is in the open position.

Pivoted float liquid level sensor having a magnetically actuated switch

A transducer for use in a fluid detector for determining a presence of a fluid within a container, the transducer comprising a piezoelectric element that outputs an ultrasonic signal in response to an input electrical signal, characterized in that said transducer further comprises, a lens with an upper portion, a lower portion, and a focal point, the upper portion including a curved surface with convex side. The piezoelectric element is coupled to the upper portion of the lens so that, when the lens is disposed adjacent an outer surface of a wall of the container such that the lens is intermediate the piezoelectric element and the wall, the lens focuses the ultrasonic signal toward the focal point of the lens and on the inner surface of the wall.

A fluid detector includes a piezoelectric element that outputs a first ultrasonic signal in response to an input electrical signal and a lens with an upper portion and a lower portion. A housing is integral with an outer surface of the wall of a container and defines a cylindrical central bore for receiving the lens. The piezoelectric element is coupled to the upper portion of the lens so that the lens focuses the first ultrasonic signal toward the wall so that it enters the wall. An ultrasonic detector is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the wall, for receiving a second ultrasonic signal from the wall that results from the first ultrasonic signal and that is affected by the presence or absence of fluid. The ultrasonic detector generates an output electrical signal corresponding to the second ultrasonic signal.

A fluid detector for determining a presence of a fluid within a container includes a piezoelectric element that outputs a first ultrasonic signal in response to an input electrical signal and a lens with an upper portion and a lower portion. The piezoelectric element is coupled to the upper portion of the lens so that, when the lens is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the wall such that the lens is intermediate the piezoelectric element and the wall, the lens focuses the first ultrasonic signal toward the wall so that the first ultrasonic signal enters the wall.

Disclosed herein is a fluid level float switch and protective boot therefore. The boot is adapted to engage a detent portion of the float switch in a secure watertight fashion. The boot is adapted to flexibly accommodate movement of the float within the boot in response to changes in the liquid level in the reservoir in one embodiment or to engage contacts in another. The boot has a wall engaging portion for providing watertight engagement with an interior wall of the reservoir. The boot has an accordion shaped stem portion to facilitate insertion of the float switch into the boot and to flexibly accommodate movement of the float within the boot in one embodiment, or a rigid portion attached to the flexible portion in another embodiment.

Float switch with protective boot

In its preferred embodiment, a one-piece optical-prism sensor of liquid level internally incorporates waveguide structure, i.e., within the otherwise conventional conical external profile of the prism, the waveguide being a thin flat member which includes three parallel spaced axes, namely, the axis of light input, the central axis of the cone, and the axis of detection of such light as exits the prism. The conical shape of the prism is essentially a hollow conical shell, within which the waveguide extends in essentially a single diametrical plane, with integral connection of the shell to the diametric limits of the waveguide. The net result is that light enters the waveguide on the input axis and, to the extent that the light is internally reflected, the waveguide so confines internal reflection that scattering is very substantially reduced, and essentially all the internally reflected light will exit on the detection axis. And, for the case of liquid exposure to the outer surface of the prism, refraction into the liquid is more effective, while any internal reflected-light scattering is again very substantially reduced. Thus, by having so materially reduced internally reflected scattering, the sensor offers greatly enhanced sensitivity to the difference between a liquid exposure and a no-liquid (e.g. air) exposure of the prism.

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North Haven, CT, United States of America

James B Dockendorff