Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for monitoring a plurality of grinder pumps, and in particular, remotely over a communications network. Aspects of the invention include an alarm panel having a modular configuration, a modem board which allows use of a single telephone line and use by the homeowner in an emergency, the transmission of data over a high voltage AC line, and recharging of a sensing tube for measuring the level of wastewater in a tank.

Abstract: A modular system for monitoring a hydrogen-cooled generator includes a skid having a platform and an upwardly extending support. The support is attachable to a hydrogen gas purity monitoring module, a generator overheat monitoring module, a hydrogen gas dryer module, a gas/generator monitoring module, and a gas manifold. The gas/generator monitoring module allows monitoring the operation of the hydrogen-cooled generator and generating data regarding the performance of the hydrogen-cooled generator. The gas/generator monitoring module may display an optimization factor or data regarding the performance of the hydrogen-cooled generator, and/or may be connected via a communications link to a remote control center.

Abstract: A sensor for use in determining a level of a medium or detecting an object includes a plurality of spaced-apart electrically conductive members disposed on a nonconductive support. Each of the conductive members are connected to an astable multivibrator for selectively generating a first plurality of signals each having a frequency based on a capacitive value due to a respective conductive member, an at least one ground member, and at least one of an absence of the medium and a presence of the medium. A microcontroller enables determining the level of the medium or detection of the object based on the frequencies of the first plurality of generated signals. The microcontroller may be configured for compensating for buildup of a material on the sensor to enhance the accuracy of the sensor. Self-correcting features and safety features employed in the sensor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A modular system for monitoring a hydrogen-cooled generator includes a skid having a platform and an upwardly extending support. The support is attachable to a hydrogen gas purity monitoring module, a generator overheat monitoring module, a hydrogen gas dryer module, a gas/generator monitoring module, and a gas manifold. The gas/generator monitoring module allows monitoring the operation of the hydrogen-cooled generator and generating data regarding the performance of the hydrogen-cooled generator. The gas/generator monitoring module may display an optimization factor or data regarding the performance of the hydrogen-cooled generator, and/or may be connected via a communications link to a remote control center.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for monitoring a plurality of grinder pumps, and in particular, remotely over a communications network. Aspects of the invention include an alarm panel having a modular configuration, a modem board which allows use of a single telephone line and use by the homeowner in an emergency, the transmission of data over a high voltage AC line, and recharging of a sensing tube for measuring the level of wastewater in a tank.

Abstract: A self-contained, indoor wastewater disposal system for collecting, grinding, and pumping wastewater is readily installed within a building such as in the basement thereof by connecting to a wastewater feed pipe, to a wastewater discharge pipe, and to an electrical power supply such as a standard 120 volt or 220 volt electrical outlet. The system generally includes a tank, a grinder pump, and an alarm unit for indicating a problem with the operation of the system. The alarm unit is desirably operable to indicate loss of electrical power to the grinder pump, indicate an overflow water level in the tank, and/or indicate adegradation of performance of the grinder pump. The tank may be configured for receiving the wastewater feed pipe from the building at either of two orientations which are disposed ninety-degrees from each other so that the system may be easily and closely positioned adjacent to a wall of the building and so that the connection of the wastewater feed pipe to the tank is obscured from view.

Abstract: A grinder pump station is capable of having its height adjusted in the field during installation, and includes a substantially cylindrical inner wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the inner wall defines a cavity for insertion and mounting of a grinder pump therein. In addition to the substantially cylindrical inner wall, there is a substantially cylindrical outer wall having an inner surface and outer surface, wherein the outer wall has a diameter greater than the inner wall. For increasing the structural integrity of the grinder pump station, a plurality of rigid members extend between the substantially cylindrical inner wall and the substantially cylindrical outer wall, each of the plurality of rigid members being affixed to the inner wall and each of the plurality of rigid members being engaged to the inner surface of the outer wall. A base disposed is located adjacent to a lower portion of the inner and outer walls.

Abstract: A grinder pump station capable of having its height adjusted in the field during installation has a longitudinal tank having a substantially cylindrical non-corrugated inner wall secured to a substantially cylindrical corrugated outer wall, a separate transition section for mounting a grinder pump unit within the longitudinal tank, a removable lid assembly attached to the top of the longitudinal tank, and a base attached to the bottom of the tank. A grinder pump unit may be mounted inside of the tank. The removable lid assembly includes an electrical and ventilation interface for the grinder pump unit mounted in the tank, thereby facilitating adjustment of the height of the tank through variation in its longitudinal extent without interference with the electrical and ventilation interface. The transition section separates an upper tank portion from a lower tank portion, preferably has a non-corrugated side wall, and includes a sewage inlet opening and a sewage outlet opening through its side wall.

Abstract: An integral, readily installed, universal pump assembly has an integral, liquid-tight outer housing for supporting within a single liquid-tight containment vessel an electric motor driven pump, and discharging liquid from a discharge outlet of the pump. The assembly includes at least one normal high and low liquid level sensing control pneumatic pressure operated electric switch supported within the housing for deriving on-off switching control signals for controlling normal on-off operation of the pump. At least one liquid level sensing diving bell is supported on the housing and has at least one lower open end exposed to the liquid in the collection tank for deriving varying pressure pneumatic liquid level indicating signals for application to the pressure operated switch for deriving the on-off control signal.

Abstract: A narrow accessway sewage pump remotely operable, multi-part, quick connect/disconnect slide coupling comprising a fixed portion that forms a first part of a slide-together, bayonet-type coupling with a movable portion forming a second part of the coupling. The movable part of the coupling supports a liquid pump and slides together with and is physically supported by the fixed portion. A third slide stop valve portion is positioned intermediate both the fixed and movable portions and all three portions of the coupling have interiorly formed open passageways for passage of liquid therethrough. The passageways in the three portions all come into alignment upon the three portions being properly seated together in assembled relation.

Abstract: An anti-flooding sewage grinder pump liquid level control system in a separately mounted canister is provided for installation within and controlling operation of a sewage grinder pump installed within a sewage collection tank. Within the control canister, pneumatically operated electric control switches for controlling on/off operation of the sewage grinder pump and for redundant pump down of alarm high level flooding conditions, are provided. The control switches are mounted within one or more diving bell-type containment vessels for preventing flooding of the electric control switches in case of surge overloads of liquid sewage or failure of the primary on/off pneumatic/electrical control switch. In the event of flooding, the containment vessel will pressurize air in the top of the containment vessel and will actuate the alarm level control switch. The alarm level control switch is wired to provide redundant excitation to the sewage grinder pump motor.

Abstract: A narrow-accessway sewage collection tank assembly and system using a remote operated, two-part, slide coupling for supporting a sewage pump within an enlarged collection tank for installation outside below normal ground level of residences, commercial and industrial buildings for use in the collection and disposal of sewage produced in the buildings. The narrow accessway tank system can be installed with minimum cost and impact on the environment while maintaining proper operating conditions, good scouring of the collection tank bottom and facilitating below ground installation and subsequent maintenance and servicing of the sewage pump unit form the surface. The system comprises an enlarged sewage collection tank to be planted below level in the ground near a building and connected to suitable gravity drain conduits interconnected between the facility to be serviced and the collection tank for collecting raw sewage.

Abstract: An improved incipient fire detector that employs a sub-micrometer size particle detector of the Wilson cloud chamber type in conjunction with a continuous on-the-fly sequential selector valve assembly and sample gas conduit system for monitoring a plurality of different enclosed spaces (zones). The sampling line for each zone can have up to ten heads, and delivers air or other gaseous atmosphere samples from the respective parts of the zone to the centrally located particle detector at a continuous flow rate of about 14 liters a minute. Each zone line is sampled sequentially by an electronically controlled selector valve assembly for a 15 second interval, once a minute. The cloud chamber particle detector operates at a cycling rate of about once per second and provides a continuous analog voltage corresponding to small particle concentration in the portions of the zone being sampled.

Abstract: A metal based cookware induction heating apparatus having an improved power supply and control circuit comprised of a chopper inverter including a gate controlled power thyristor coupled to and supplying an induction heating coil with periodic energization currents. A full wave rectifier supplies rectified, unfiltered, unidirectional high voltage excitation potential to the chopper inverter which converts the excitation potential to a comparatively high frequency of the order of 20 kilohertz for supply to the induction heating coil. A gating circuit is provided for driving the chopper inverter directly from the rectified high voltage excitation potential supplied by the rectifier.

Abstract: A sewage grinder pump and access manway assemblage comprising a lower collection tank having a watertight and airtight cover and at least one sewage grinder pump unit suspended from a top cover plate for the collection tank and extending into the tank for grinding and pumping under pressure sewage collected in the tank. An integral manway housing member fabricated from fiberglass or other similar non-corrosive material is mounted over the collection tank and has enough enclosed space to accommodate a workman. The bottom cross-sectional dimensions of the manway housing member are slightly less than the cross-sectional dimensions of the collection tank. The collection tank has an upper peripheral wall section which coacts with a corresponding lower peripheral wall section of the manway housing member for securing the manway housing member and the collection tank together in a substantially airtight and watertight manner.

Abstract: An induction heating unit is provided having an essentially zero stand-by power requirement and comprised by a high power solid-state inverter for supplying relatively high frequency excitation currents to an induction heating coil, and including inhibit, delay, and starting and stopping gating circuits to control the operation of the high frequency power inverter. An induction heating load sensing device senses the presence of a load such as a pan or other metal base cookware located in induction heating relationship with respect to the induction heating coil. The pan presence sensing device comprises a very low power oscillator coupled to a load sensing coil for exciting the load sensing coil with high frequency oscillatory signals which preferably are in the range of two to three times the frequency at which the power inverter operates.

Abstract: An optical oil monitor that measures particle contamination in oil by passing light through an oil sample and picking up the light that is scattered at 90.degree. by the particle contamination and measures chemical breakdown by the attenuation of the light passing substantially straight through the oil with a second sensor. Alternately a sample and a reference are passed between the light responsive sensors for error correction and calibration so that each sensor will have an output signal alternating between a sample signal and a reference signal. A control signal of the same frequency is provided in combination with a plurality of gates to separate the sample and reference signals. The attenuation reference signal is compared to a standard signal to produce an error output for regulating the intensity of the light source to compensate for power source fluctuations, lamp characteristic changes, window soiling and the like.

Abstract: A system for producing a continuous high pressure fluid jet stream useable in underground and above ground mining and drilling for cutting a variety of different materials such as coal, mineral ore, rocks and the like. The system includes a hydroelectric pulsed liquid jet fluid pressure intensifier which employs a high energy electric arc that acts upon liquid to both heat and pressurize it to form a high energy pulsed liquid jet. The high energy pulsed liquid jet is then supplied to a pressure vessel that serves as an accumulator through a substantially zigzag tortuous path and one way check valve. The pressurized liquid is then drawn off as needed in a continuous high pressure fluid jet for performing work.

Abstract: A metal based cookware induction heating apparatus having an improved power supply and control circuit comprised of a chopper inverter including a gate controlled power thyristor coupled to and supplying an induction heating coil with periodic energization currents. A full wave rectifier supplies rectified, unfiltered, unidirectional high voltage excitation potential to the chopper inverter which converts the excitation potential to a comparatively high frequency of the order of 20 kilohertz for supply to the induction heating coil. A gating circuit is provided for driving the chopper inverter directly from the rectified high voltage excitation potential supplied by the rectifier.The gating circuit includes an additional low voltage, direct current excitation potential connected to supply to a timing circuit charging capacitor.