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:
Jul. 09, 1996
Filed:
Jan. 10, 1994
Joseph R Read, Chesterfield, MO (US);
Michael S Windham, O'Fallon, MO (US);
Novus International, Inc., St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
A system for monitoring use of a liquid, such as a liquid animal feed ingredient, including at least two storage and dispensing systems, a central station remotely located from the storage and dispensing systems and a communications link interconnecting the storage and dispensing systems and the central station. Each of the storage and dispensing systems comprises: an enclosure formed at least in part by a liquid containment structure; an opening in the enclosure providing access to the interior of the enclosure; a closure for the opening movable between open and closed positions; a tank inside the enclosure for holding a supply of liquid; an infeed line for flow of liquid into the tank; an outfeed line for discharge of liquid from the tank; a pump inside the enclosure at a side of the tank for pumping liquid from the tank via the outfeed line; a heater inside the enclosure for heating the interior of the enclosure; a level sensor within the tank for sensing the level of liquid in the tank, the level sensor generating a level signal indicative of the level of liquid; and at least one temperature sensor for sensing a temperature indicative of the temperature of the liquid in the tank. The level of liquid and the operation of the heater are monitored by the central station so that operators at the central station can respond to a low level of liquid or a malfunctioning heater in any of the storage and dispensing systems.