Abstract: A liquid level indicator for a fire suppression system includes a guide. A slide is selectively movable along the guide to a fixed position associated with a fill range. The slide includes a plurality of sense elements configured to indicate a level of liquid.

Abstract: A system for power and data communications within a fuel tank and across a wall of the fuel tank includes an optical hybrid fuel height sensor and a sealed connector extending through a wall of the fuel tank. The system also includes an electric power connection between the optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed connector. The electric power connection includes a resistive non-metallic wire. The system also includes a sealed optical connector extending through the wall of the fuel tank. The system further includes an internal data communications connection between the optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed optical connector. The internal data communications connection includes an optical signal out connection.

Abstract: A flow sensing system capable of improving the monitored range of a flow sensing system. The flow sensing system has a transparent tube, an upper edge sensing assembly, a lower edge sensing assembly and a floating buoy. Under normal operating conditions, the lower edge sensing assembly detects the buoy exactly once during a first timing session, detects no buoy during a second timing session and detects the buoy exactly once during a third timing session. If one of the conditions is violated, a warning signal is issue to a station operator. The upper edge sensing assembly should not detect the buoy throughout the three timing sessions; otherwise, an abnormality has occurred and a warning signal is sent to the station operator. The sensing system prevents the size and length of buoy from interfering with the monitored range so that a more stable flow system is maintained.

Abstract: Liquid, such as milk, enters the sealed container from an inlet at the top of the container and exits through an outlet at the bottom of the container. The quantity of liquid in the container is sensed and a microprocessor calculates the total volume of liquid. During periods of low flow, such as at the beginning and at the end of the milking cycle, the outlet is automatically closed, partially or completely, by a motorized valve connected to the microprocessor, or by a weighted float situated within the container, so as to accumulate the liquid during those periods thereby enhancing the accuracy of the measurement.

Abstract: A self-contained symmetrical outflow meter for resting on a non-skid surface such as pavement and timing the rate of water drainage from the surface. The outflow meter is characterized by a circular base, a pair of handle supports which extend upwardly from the base and a handle which spans the top end portions of the handle supports. A funnel is mounted between the handle supports beneath the handle and a vertical water discharge tube for containing water is mounted in the base, beneath the funnel. A spring-loaded plunger is mounted in the discharge tube for selectively sealing a water discharge opening provided in the base. Upper and lower adaptors are suspended from the funnel inside the water discharge tube, and upper and lower switch floats are vertically displaceably mounted on the respective upper and lower adaptors. A timer is provided on a timer support which spans the upper ends of the handle supports, and is wired to the switch floats.

Abstract: A volumetric flow meter that includes a defined volume and sensors that detect when liquid begins to fill the defined volume and when that volume is full. A circuit or equivalent logic is preferably provided to generate a signal representative of flow rate based on the size of the defined volume and time required to fill that volume. The flow meter is constructed of economical and durable components. A method of flow metering is also disclosed.

Abstract: A viscosimeter comprising a Zahn cup, a supply tank arranged to supply a liquid, the viscosity of which is to be measured, to the Zahn cup, a control mechanism operable to stop the supply of liquid to the Zahn cup once the latter has been filled to overflowing, and a timing mechanism arranged to measure the time taken for the Zahn cup to empty following operation of the control mechanism. The timing mechanism comprises an emitter-detector pair positioned to direct a sensing beam across the flow path of liquid which leaves the Zahn cup and a timer connected to commence a time measurement at the instant of operation of the control mechanism, and to stop the measurement at the instant the detector of the emitter-detector pair indicates an absence of liquid therebetween.Such a viscosimeter may be used in the measurement of the viscosity of ink used in a printing process, and the control of the viscosity in dependence upon that measurement.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for metering a flow of a liquid, such as a milk flow in a milking system. The liquid is passed into a metering or measuring chamber from which it is discharged in portions having substantially the same mass or weight, and the total number of liquid portions discharged is counted whereafter the total mass or weight of the liquid flow may be calculated on the basis of that count.The discharge operation is controlled by a float member arranged within the metering chamber and containing a magnet which may actuate reed switches positioned at different levels along the metering chamber. Each liquid portion is discharged from the metering chamber by exposing the chamber to a gas pressure substantially exceeding the pressure at the discharge end of a metering chamber outlet. The metering chamber is preferably partly defined by a bell-shaped valve body controlling the metering chamber inlet and being movable to its closed position under the influence of said gas pressure.

Abstract: A liquid metering device comprises a sealed housing which defines a reserve chamber adjacent the bottom of the housing, and a measuring chamber within the housing above the reserve chamber. The measuring chamber has a pair of liquid-level sensors therein in spaced vertical relation to one another which cooperate with a control mechanism to feed liquid to be measured into the measuring chamber when the liquid level in the measuring chamber is adjacent the lower sensor, and to terminate the feeding of liquid into the measuring chamber while substantially simultaneously dumping liquid from the measuring chamber into the reserve chamber when the level of liquid in the measuring chamber rises to the level of the upper sensor.

Abstract: An automatic, temperature-compensated liquid or fuel metering device comprises a measuring chamber having a pair of magnetically responsive vertically spaced reed switches therein which are selectively actuated by a magnetcarrying float to control valves associated with the chamber to supply a predetermined increment of liquid to the chamber and thereafter to drain that increment from the chamber into a reservoir. The volume of each increment is dependent upon the spacing between the reed switches, and that spacing is controlled by a bellows having a sample of the liquid being measured sealed therein, the bellows being disposed in the path of flow of liquid to the chamber and being operative to vary the volume of said increments with variations in the temperature of the liquid being measured.

Abstract: A water purification apparatus is disclosed having an aeration chamber for aerating unpurified water from a source. A filter chamber is provided beneath the aeration chamber containing granular media for filtering the aerated water and having spaced apart headers for introducing backwash water as well as removing filtered water for storage in a reservoir beneath the filter chamber. A float actuated valve controls the flow of filtered water from the header to the reservoir in response to the water level of aerated water in the filter chamber. A float actuated timing device is provided for controlling the introduction of backwash water to the headers for a predetermined duration in response to the frequency the reservoir has been filled and emptied of purified water.