Patents by Inventor William F. Fling

William F. Fling has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7574912
    Abstract: A liquid level measuring device includes an elongate handle and an elongate frame arranged in telescoping relationship. The frame is movable between a collapsed position for storage and an extended position for usage. A float is movable lengthwise along the elongate frame. A control rod extends lengthwise in the elongate frame and through a passage in the float. The control rod controls movement of the float relative to the elongate frame. An actuator actuates the control arm to move the float from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to a downward pressure between a lower end of the elongate frame and a bottom surface of the container so that the float is free to seek the liquid level in the container and to move the float from the unlocked position back to the locked position when the downward pressure is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Inventors: William F. Fling, John J. Fling
  • Patent number: 7444865
    Abstract: A liquid level sensor for insertion into a tank for measuring the liquid level in the tank comprises an elongate tubular frame and a float movable inside the frame to seek the liquid level. A float lock guide formed as an elongate member is mounted lengthwise inside the frame. A float lock formed as an elongate member is located inside the frame parallel to the float lock guide. A plurality of linkages is pivotally connected between the float lock guide and the float lock such that lengthwise movement of the float relative to the float lock guide causes corresponding lateral movement of the float in the frame between an unlocked position where the float is free to move lengthwise in the frame to seek the liquid level and a locked position where frictional forces retain the float between the float lock and an inner wall portion of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventors: John J. Fling, William F. Fling
  • Patent number: 7418861
    Abstract: A liquid level sensor for measuring liquid levels in underground and above ground containers includes a frame formed to have an elongate hollow tubular configuration that encloses a cavity. A cam pivot has an end extending into the cavity from a first inner wall portion of the frame. A cam is arranged to be pivotal about the end of the cam pivot. A float is placed in the cavity. A spring is arranged to bias the cam arm into contact with the float to force a side portion of the float into a locked position in frictional engagement with the second inner wall portion of the frame. A cam actuator pivotally mounted in a lower end portion of the frame exerts a force on the cam arm to release the float from the locked position when the lower end of the frame contacts the container bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Inventors: John J. Fling, William F. Fling
  • Patent number: 7231821
    Abstract: A system for actuating an indicator in response to a depth change in a liquid that is confined to a container comprises a housing, a float constrained to vertical movement in response to changes in liquid depth in the container, a drive rod arranged to rotate in response to vertical movement of the float, and a coupler mechanism mounted between the drive rod and arranged to transfer movement of the actuator to an indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Inventors: William F. Fling, John J. Fling
  • Patent number: 7188521
    Abstract: A liquid level measuring system includes a housing mounted to a container and a flexible coupling connected between the housing and a tubular frame suspended in a container holding a liquid. The flexible coupling maintains the tubular frame in a vertical orientation in the container. The tubular frame has a pair of 270° rifling grooves therein. A float is mounted in the tubular frame. The float has a pair of projections that extend from opposite sides portion thereof into the rifling grooves so that the float is force to rotate as it moves vertically in the tubular frame to seek the liquid level. A magnetic coupler assembly transfers movement of the float to an indicator. The magnetic coupler assembly includes a pair of facing dielectric discs. Each dielectric disc has three magnets mounted thereon with opposite poles facing one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventors: William F Fling, John J. Fling
  • Patent number: 7043983
    Abstract: A system for actuating an indicator in response to a depth change in a liquid that is confined to a container comprises a housing, a float constrained to vertical movement in response to changes in liquid depth in the container and a drive rod arranged to move in response to vertical movement of the float. A flexible coupling is connected to the actuator and arranged to maintain the actuator in a vertical orientation in the liquid when the actuator and the housing are out of vertical alignment, and a coupler mechanism arranged to transfer movement of the actuator to the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventors: William F. Fling, John J. Fling
  • Patent number: 7043984
    Abstract: A float is arranged in a tubular frame to be unlocked to float in a liquid when the lower end of the frame contacts a bottom surface of a container containing the liquid. A float lock guide and a float lock actuator are mounted in the passage to move the float laterally in the frame as the lower end of the frame is moved away from the bottom surface of the container to lock the float in frictional engagement with the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventors: John J. Fling, William F. Fling
  • Patent number: 6955083
    Abstract: A system for actuating an indicator in response to a depth change in a liquid that is confined to a container comprises a housing, a float constrained to vertical movement in response to changes in liquid depth in the container, an actuator connected to the housing and arranged to move in response to vertical movement of the float, and a coupler mechanism mounted between the actuator and the housing and arranged to transfer movement of the actuator to the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventors: William F. Fling, John J. Fling
  • Patent number: 4802363
    Abstract: A flotation device inside an elongate frame rises to the level of a liquid whose depth is being measured. The flotation device is locked in the frame while the apparatus is withdrawn from the liquid. The liquid level may then read from a scale on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Inventors: John J. Fling, William F. Fling
  • Patent number: 4154103
    Abstract: A liquid level measuring device for a container is disclosed. The liquid level measuring device has an elongated frame with a lower end insertable into the liquid in the container. Mounted on the frame is a buoyant floats. The floats and frame are constructed so that the floats is movable along the frame by the buoyant forces of the liquid in the container. The measuring device has a manually operable means for selectively holding the floats in a fixed position relative to the frame so that the frame and floats can be withdrawn from the liquid and the level of the liquid read by comparing the position of the floats in relationship to scale indicia on the frame. The elongated frame is made of a plurality of telescopically arranged sections so that the frame can be collapsed to a minimum length for storage and, when the device is to be used for measuring, the frame sections are moved to expand the length of the frame to the total length of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Inventor: William F. Fling
  • Patent number: 4147060
    Abstract: An adjustable liquid level measuring device for measuring the level of a liquid in a variety of container configurations. The device has an indicator means for mounting on a container for providing a visual reading related to the level of the liquid in the container. The device has a frame connected to the indicator means and a buoyant float adapted for floating on the surface of the liquid in the container. The device has an endless flexible chain with a first loop adjacent to the indicator means and another portion connected to the buoyant float. The chain also has a loop movably mounted on the frame so that movement of the float moves the first loop relative to the indicator means. The indicator means is connected to have an indicator dial pointer moved by the movement of the first loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Inventors: William F. Fling, Paul A. Stolzke
  • Patent number: 4092861
    Abstract: A liquid level measuring device having an elongated frame is disclosed. One or more floats are mounted in the frame on cables mounted between pulleys at each end of the frame. Brake pins frictionally engage the guide cables and means are provided to selectively disengage the brake pins from the guide cables. A thermometer may be attached to the frame to provide temperature readings. Also, a timing device may be attached to the frame to provide the proper duration for obtaining exact temperature and liquid level(s) measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Inventor: William F. Fling