Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for sensing the temperature of surrounding air. The apparatus is thermally isolated from the external environment and more accurately provides an indication of the medium temperature while providing fast response. The apparatus includes a temperature sensing device whose resistance varies with temperature and a conditioning circuit for measuring the resistance and producing an electrical signal which is insensitive to external resistive loading and which has a magnitude responsive to the sensed resistance. The apparatus includes a non-metallic housing which encapsulates the temperature sensitive device and the conditioning circuit. The housing forms a cage portion which surrounds the temperature sensing device and is adapted to protect and to provide air flow to the temperature sensing device.

Abstract: An apparatus is used for sensing liquid level in a vessel at multiple levels and with variable resolution using optical properties. Known electrical optical sensing devices are not adequate for applications where multiple level, fine or variable resolution sensing are desired. The subject liquid level sensor includes a mounting apparatus adapted for insertion into the vessel, for containing the electric circuit, and for filtering the liquid entering the sensor. In addition, the sensor includes an array of sensing elements electrically connected in parallel and attached along the mounting apparatus spaced from one another at preselected locations. The sensing elements are adapted to deliver a plurality of electric signals in response to the absence of liquid at the level of the respective sensing element. The electric signals are then summed by an amplifier, which then delivers a resultant liquid level signal.

Abstract: An apparatus determines the payload carried in a work vehicle by periodically measuring the pressure of a fluid contained within front and rear suspension struts. The struts are connected in supporting relation between a load carrying portion and a ground engaging portion of the vehicle such that a pressure differential between a loaded and unloaded vehicle can be shown to be indicative of the magnitude of the payload. Moreover, the pressures are a function of the geometry of a suspension means which interconnects the load carrying portion and the ground engaging portion.

Abstract: An apparatus optically detects the position of a movable element through the use of six discrete tracks. Each of the tracks is formed on a glass substrate and has a preselected pattern of optically transmissive and opaque sections arranged thereon. A light source and optical sensors are associated with each of the tracks such that the light is either blocked or passed to the optical sensors respectively responsive to the opaque and transmissive sections. Five of the tracks correspond to form a five bit absolute gray code pattern indicative of the position of the movable element. The sixth remaining track has alternately opaque and transmissive sections arranged to form an incremental track where the count of the number of opaque and transmissive sections travelling past an initial set point is maintained in memory and corresponds to an incremental position within each of the absolute positions.