The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 20, 1989
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1988
Thomas Beauvais, Hamden, CT (US);
Vincent G Krenke, Fairfield, CT (US);
Peter J Lupoli, Hamden, CT (US);
Donald J Mattis, Norwalk, CT (US);
Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, CT (US);
Abstract
A liquid level gauging system and sensor device for installation in the aperture of a wall of a liquid-containing vessel, including a metal fitting having a through bore and a substantially cylindrical body portion with external threads by which it can be secured in the aperture in the vessel wall, a cup-like enclosure disposed in the bore, the enclosure having a bottom wall containing a prism disposed adjacent the inner end of the bore, and a light source and a light-responsive device mounted in the enclosure. The prism has a substantially conical forward end portion for immersion in the liquid to be monitored. The conical forward end portion of the prism is characterized by an axis, and the prism has a light-admitting and light-transmitting conical recess coaxial with the conical end portion of the prism. Light rays from the source that pass into the surface of the conical recess are bent, by refraction, toward the conical end portion. Reflected rays from the conical end portion passing outwardly through the surface of the conical recess are similarly bent, by refraction, toward the light-responsive means. Especially high resolution and accuracy are possible, while maintaining good reliability and repeatability.