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:
Jan. 04, 2000
Filed:
May. 21, 1998
Steven E Gardell, No. Andover, MA (US);
David L Gardell, Fairfax, VT (US);
Eric W Gardell, Wapingers Falls, NY (US);
Other;
Abstract
An electronic sensor for detecting when a septic tank reaches it's design capacity. The sensor uses a sonar transponder to measure the thickness of the three layers of material present in a properly operating septic tank. The sonar transponder is encapsulated in a environmentally sealed sensor assembly that floats in a self-orienting fashion at the top of the material contained in the septic tank. The sensor relays signals through a cable harness to a signal interpretation module located in a convenient indoor location. The signal interpretation module contains a digital signal processing (DSP) sub-system and an alarm sub-system. The DSP sub-system interprets the electronic signals from the sonar sensor resulting in a measurement of the relative volume of the material in septic tank as well as measures of the elevation of the bottom of the top (scum) layer and the top of the bottom (sludge) layer. Any of these measures may indicate that the tank has reached it's design capacity and should therefor be pumped. The alarm sub-system provides visual and audio alarms in a escalating fashion providing early warning of the impending need to service the tank.