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:
Apr. 08, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1995
Arthur W Shea, Somerville, MA (US);
Scully Signal Company, Wilmington, MA (US);
Abstract
A remote level sensor for a residential fuel oil tank is adapted for a fuel oil gauge with a permanent magnet which changes position with changing fluid levels in the tank. The sensor has a housing with a connector which receives a top portion of the gauge such as to provide an alignment of the sensor with the gauge. The sensor is connected to a telephone line, and makes use of a current from the 'tip' and 'ring' lines of the telephone connection to supplement the power of an on-board battery. The sensor has multiple reed switches each in a different relative position. The reed switches thus each close when the magnet is in a different position, and thereby close when the fluid in the tank is at a different level. The controller has a sampling routine which responds to the detection of a closure of one of the switches by seizing the telephone line, dialing a central monitoring location and transmitting information to the central location indicating which of the switches was closed. A memory unit is provided in which multiple telephone numbers are stored so that the controller can call a second number when no response is received using a first number.