Potter Electric Signal Company, LLC

Taco, Inc.

Jeffrey C Merwin

Roberto Zarate

A water feed controller which can provide for the addition of a preset fixed amount of water to be added after a low water condition is removed. This system provides for a preset fixed amount of water to be added to a boiler above the amount which triggers the low water condition. This generally inhibits excess cycling from the boiler operating at its minimum safe water level as well as inhibiting overfilling of the boiler. Further, there is discussed a water feed controller which can measure the amount of water added over a prior predetermined period (such as 30 days) which serves as a floating window of time so that a leak or other condition resulting in overly frequent filling can be detected quickly.

Water feed controller for a boiler

Systems and methods for evaluating probe signal level readings in a manner that allows a low water detector to distinguish between a probe that is under a fluid level, or is above the fluid level and either being splashed or is within a foam. Low water detectors which utilize these systems and methods are also provided. The detectors generally utilize a representative probe reading, and a dynamic indicator between probe readings, for a set of probe readings taken in a time period to detect low water levels, foam, or surge.

Methods for detecting fluid surge conditions

Fluid detector recognizing foam and surge conditions

A low-water cut-off system [A] determines if fluid [W] within a boiler or other enclosure drops below a predetermined level within the enclosure. A signal generator introduces a signal into the enclosure so that the signal is present for sensing at the predetermined level, where a probe is provided for sensing the signal if present as occurs if the water is at the predetermined level. A control, which includes a microcontroller, is responsive to the probe for providing a control function in response to whether the signal is so sensed by the probe, and so to determine if water has dropped below the predetermined level. The function may be causing alarm signalling or boiler heating cut-off. Self-test and time delay features are also included. Provision is made so that the control compensates for variation in electrical conductivity of the water through which the probe signal is sent, including circuitry to adjust for a wide range of possible purity levels. Provision is included such that the low water cut-off system is fault tolerant no matter at what water purity it is adjusted to operate.

Low-water cut-off system

A low-water cut-off system [A] determines if fluid [W] within a boiler [] or other enclosure drops below a predetermined level within the enclosure. A signal generator introduces a signal into the enclosure so that the signal is present for sensing at the predetermined level, where a probe [] is provided for sensing the signal if present as occurs if the water is at the predetermined level. A control [], which includes a microcontroller [], is responsive to the probe for providing a control function in response to whether the signal is so sensed by the probe, and so to determine if water has dropped below the predetermined level. The function may be causing alarm signalling or boiler heating cut-off. Self-test and time delay features are also included. Provision is made so that the control compensates for variation in electrical conductivity of the water through which the probe signal is sent.

Growing community of inventors

St. Charles, MO, United States of America

Jeffrey C Merwin