Patents by Inventor Linze Hoekstra

Linze Hoekstra 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: 7779858
    Abstract: A valve assembly, such as a tap for a liquefied gas cylinder, includes an overfill protection device and a liquid level gauge having an electrode assembly comprising a pair of lamellar electrodes mounted closely adjacent a housing member of the overfill protection device and deflectable into close proximity with a float of the overfill protection device for insertion into the gas cylinder. A circuit board is provided, preferably mounted on the electrode assembly, and has an electronic converter circuit for measuring the electrical capacitance between the electrodes and producing in response to the measured capacitance an output signal representative of the liquid level in the container. A display means is mounted on a body of the valve assembly or remote therefrom, to indicate the liquid level in the container in response to the output signal from the electronic converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Torrent Trading Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Schmitz, Linze Hoekstra
  • Publication number: 20090139584
    Abstract: A valve assembly, such as a tap for a liquefied gas cylinder, includes an overfill protection device and a liquid level gauge having an electrode assembly comprising a pair of lamellar electrodes mounted closely adjacent a housing member of the overfill protection device and deflectable into close proximity with a float of the overfill protection device for insertion into the gas cylinder. A circuit board is provided, preferably mounted on the electrode assembly, and has an electronic converter circuit for measuring the electrical capacitance between the electrodes and producing in response to the measured capacitance an output signal representative of the liquid level in the container. A display means is mounted on a body of the valve assembly or remote therefrom, to indicate the liquid level in the container in response to the output signal from the electronic converter circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: TORRENT TRADING LTD.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Schmitz, Linze Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 7487793
    Abstract: A valve assembly, such as a tap for a liquefied gas cylinder, includes an overfill protection device and a liquid level gauge having an electrode assembly comprising a pair of lamellar electrodes mounted closely adjacent a housing member of the overfill protection device and deflectable into close proximity with a float of the overfill protection device for insertion into the gas cylinder. A circuit board is provided, preferably mounted on the electrode assembly, and has an electronic converter circuit for measuring the electrical capacitance between the electrodes and producing in response to the measured capacitance an output signal representative of the liquid level in the container. A display means is mounted on a body of the valve assembly or remote therefrom, to indicate the liquid level in the container in response to the output signal from the electronic converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Torrent Trading Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Schmitz, Linze Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 7240690
    Abstract: A valve assembly, such as a tap for a liquefied gas cylinder, includes an overfill protection device and a liquid level gauge having an electrode assembly comprising a pair of lamellar electrodes mounted closely adjacent a housing member of the overfill protection device and deflectable into close proximity with a float of the overfill protection device for insertion into the gas cylinder. A circuit board is provided, preferably mounted on the electrode assembly, and has an electronic converter circuit for measuring the electrical capacitance between the electrodes and producing in response to the measured capacitance an output signal representative of the liquid level in the container. A display means is mounted on a body of the valve assembly or remote therefrom, to indicate the liquid level in the container in response to the output signal from the electronic converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Torrent Trading Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Schmitz, Linze Hoekstra
  • Publication number: 20070107786
    Abstract: A valve assembly, such as a tap for a liquefied gas cylinder, includes an overfill protection device and a liquid level gauge having an electrode assembly comprising a pair of lamellar electrodes mounted closely adjacent a housing member of the overfill protection device and deflectable into close proximity with a float of the overfill protection device for insertion into the gas cylinder. A circuit board is provided, preferably mounted on the electrode assembly, and has an electronic converter circuit for measuring the electrical capacitance between the electrodes and producing in response to the measured capacitance an output signal representative of the liquid level in the container. A display means is mounted on a body of the valve assembly or remote therefrom, to indicate the liquid level in the container in response to the output signal from the electronic converter circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: Torrent Trading Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Schmitz, Linze Hoekstra
  • Publication number: 20060112992
    Abstract: A valve assembly, such as a tap for a liquefied gas cylinder, includes an overfill protection device and a liquid level gauge having an electrode assembly comprising a pair of lamellar electrodes mounted closely adjacent a housing member of the overfill protection device and deflectable into close proximity with a float of the overfill protection device for insertion into the gas cylinder. A circuit board is provided, preferably mounted on the electrode assembly, and has an electronic converter circuit for measuring the electrical capacitance between the electrodes and producing in response to the measured capacitance an output signal representative of the liquid level in the container. A display means is mounted on a body of the valve assembly or remote therefrom, to indicate the liquid level in the container in response to the output signal from the electronic converter circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Schmitz, Linze Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 4730489
    Abstract: Sensor for an apparatus for measuring the level and/or the quantity of a liquid medium in a vessel, for example a pressure vessel, provided with a carrier which may be mounted in the wall of the vessel, a first pipe fastened to the carrier and a second pipe positioned concentrically and insulated within the first pipe, which second pipe may be connected through a bushing member positioned in the carrier, wherein a conductor is wound at least locally on the first pipe, which conductor is insulated with respect to the first pipe and may be connected through a bushing member positioned in the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Mutech Holland B.V.
    Inventor: Linze Hoekstra