Bindicator Company

Berwind Corporation

Ronald G Brenton

Robin B Runck

Apparatus for indicating the level of flowable material in a storage bin that includes a motor mounted within a protective enclosure and coupled by a shaft and clutch arrangement to a paddle disposed within the bin to engage material therewithin. When the material reaches the level of the paddle, drag on the paddle causes the motor to rotate within the enclosure against the force of an adjustable spring to activate switches disposed within the enclosure for indicating material level. The switches also remove power from the motor and apply power to an electrical resistance heater to warm the enclosure and help prevent condensation at low external ambient temperature. The paddle is constructed to enhance drag when used in conjunction with low-density materials.

Rotating paddle bin level indicator

A system and probe for indicating the level of material in a vessel as a function of material capacitance comprising a resonant circuit including a capacitance probe adapted to be disposed in a vessel so as to be responsive to variations in capacitance as a function of material level. An rf oscillator has an output coupled to the resonant circuit and to a phase detector for detecting variations in phase angle as a function of probe capacitance. Level detection circuitry is responsive to an output of the phase detector and to a reference signal indicative of a predetermined level of material for indicating material level as a function of a difference between capacitance at the probe and the reference signal. In the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed, an automatic calibration circuit adjusts the resonance characteristics of the parallel resonant circuit of the reference signal indicative of a predetermined reference material level.

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Marysville, MI, United States of America

Ronald G Brenton