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:
Dec. 10, 2013
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2010
Herbert G. Ross, Jr., Argyle, TX (US);
Herbert G. Ross, Jr., Argyle, TX (US);
Texas LFP, LLC, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A system and method for remotely determining a liquid level condition within a tank includes a liquid level gauge connectable to the tank, a dial assembly associated with the liquid level gauge and an optical transceiver for determining a reflectivity of the dial assembly. The dial assembly includes a reflective layer, a blocking layer positioned over the reflective layer for blocking at least a portion of the reflective layer, and a disk that is magnetically coupled to the liquid level gauge. One of the reflective and blocking layers is associated with the disk for rotation therewith. The optical transceiver is positioned for projecting radiant energy toward the reflective layer and detecting the presence or absence of reflected radiant energy and for generating a signal indicative of a low liquid level condition within the tank when at least a substantial portion of the reflective layer is covered by the blocking layer or when a failure occurs in the system to thereby provide a fail-safe mode of operation.