Abstract: A new illuminated dipstick. The illuminated dipstick has a handle and an elongated member with a first end and a second end. The first end of the elongated member extends from the handle. The second end of the elongated member is received within a fluid reservoir housing. The elongated member is composed of a heat resistant material to prevent degradation from exposure to high temperatures. The second end of the elongated member measures fluid levels within the fluid reservoir. The handle comprises a housing, a switch disposed on an exterior of the housing opposite the elongated member, a power source enclosed within a waterproof interior volume of the housing and a light source disposed on an exterior of the housing opposite the switch. The switch, the power source and the light source are operably connected to each other. The switch is configured to selectively actuate the light source.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for grease separation during a cooking cycle of a food product in a cooking device. The methods and apparatuses perform grease separation by bifurcating the cooking cycle. In a first portion of the cooking cycle, in which the system is closed to ingress of the atmosphere by creating a water barrier in a collector box to seal a cooking chamber in which the food product is cooking, all cooking fluids exiting the cooking device pass into the water barrier. In a second portion of the cooking cycle, the collector box is emptied and the system is opened to capture all cooking fluids exiting the cooking device in the collector box. During the open portion, a grease/cooking fluid interface is monitored and the captured cooking fluids, containing a high percentage of grease, are pumped out of the collector box.

Abstract: A fluid container measurement system employing a load cell linkage member is disclosed. The fluid container measurement system is configured to suspend a load measurement assembly a distance above a support surface. The load measurement assembly houses a load cell and a measurement control circuit. The measurement control circuit is coupled to the load cell and configured to receive electrical signals indicative of a force imposed on the load cell. The load measurement assembly also includes or is configured to receive a load cell linkage member mechanically linked to the load cell. In this manner, a load placed on the load cell linkage member will be exerted on the load cell. Electrical signals generated by the load cell indicative of the force exerted on the load cell can be used to measure the fluid container attached to the load cell linkage member.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for detecting oil and mineralized water, if it exists, in a well. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly for placing down the well, the sensor assembly having a float therein that rises when fluid is detected and adapted to close an electrical contact of a circuit having a power source. The apparatus also has a base assembly used for raising and lowering the sensor assembly into and out of the well. An alarm is electrically coupled to the circuit that includes the sensor assembly and power source, the alarm operable to indicate when the electrical contact is closed.

Abstract: A dipstick that measures and externally indicates the temperature and level of a fluid within a fluid reservoir. For example, in one embodiment the dipstick measures and externally indicates the oil temperature and oil level of oil within an oil reservoir of a motorcycle or other vehicle. The fluid temperature and level are indicated on an externally viewable portion of the dipstick, such as an exposed end or cap. The viewable portion indicates the fluid level when the fluid temperature is within guidelines recommended by the manufacturer or when the fluid temperature reaches a minimum threshold temperature.

Abstract: This invention discloses a fluid level monitor including a buoyant element suspended from a filament wound on a spool, a load sensor that senses a tensile force in the filament and a rotation sensor that senses the rotation of the spool around which the filament is wound, wherein the buoyant element is adapted to be initially at least partially submerged at an equilibrium position at an initial level of a fluid, thereby creating a nominal tensile force in the filament, wherein a change in the level of the fluid changes the tensile force in the filament, a positive change in the tensile force corresponding to a downward movement of the buoyant element and a negative change in the tensile force corresponding to an upward movement of the buoyant element, wherein the rotation of the spool corresponds to an amount of distance traveled by the buoyant element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting magnetic marks on a wireline logging cable and for more accurately making depth measurements during logging is described. The method uses depth-based, rather than time-based, samples and calculations. A Hall Effect sensor samples the cable at regular depth intervals approximated by an encoder mechanism. The signal values from the Hall Effect sensor are signal processed to better discriminate the precise location of the magnetic marks on the cable. The location of the magnetic marks is used to refine the depth measurements from the encoder mechanism. Depth-based sampling eliminates detection dependence on cable speed, enhances detection ability, reduces computational load, and leads to more accurate determination of the location of magnetic marks.

Abstract: A fishline length measuring device adapted to a fishing reel having a spool rotatably supported on a reel body for winding and unwinding a fishline thereon. The device has a spool rotation sensor for detecting a direction of the rotation of the spool and for detecting a number of the rotation of the spool, and a ultrasonic wave beam sensor for applying an ultrasonic wave beam onto a surface of the fishline wound on the spool and for receiving the ultrasonic wave beam emitted therefrom and reflected by the surface of the fishline wound on the spool. A timer measures a time period .DELTA.T between the emission and reception of the ultrasonic wave beam by the ultrasonic wave beam sensor. The time period .DELTA.T, the direction of the rotation and the number of the rotation are used for calculating a fishline length wound onto or unwound from the spool due to the rotation of the spool.

Abstract: A fishing line length measuring device to determine the let out or wound up amount of the fishing line based on the number of spool revolutions. The device has a reel, a spool rotatably supported by the reel where the fishing line is wound up, a sensor to detect the revolutions of the spool, an up/down counter to count up or down the pulse signals output from the sensor, a storage means which receives and holds the count values obtained at the up/down counter when the counter counts actual number of spool revolutions during winding or unwinding the fishing line for specified lengths from a certain reference point set on the fishing line, an operation means to determine the line length using the line length formula obtained corresponding to the numbers of spool revolutions for the specified lengths and these actual numbers of revolutions, and an indication unit to indicate the line length determined by the operation means.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the length of fiber optic cable being deployed om a winch to an underwater environment. The cable deployment measuring apparatus of the present invention comprises a constant current generator for generating a direct current, a resistor array having a plurality of series connected resistors and a plurality of trip wires with one of the trip wires being connected across each of the resistors. The trip wires which function as short circuits are also attached to the cable at predetermined locations along the length of the cable. When the fiber optic cable is being deployed, each trip wire will break when the location at which the trip wire is positioned is unwound from the winch for deployment in the underwater environment. This, in turn, will cause flow through the resistor array with a resulting voltage drop across the array.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus (1) for monitoring the level of a liquid within a vessel (3). The apparatus comprises a surface following sensing head (5) adapted to follow the surface (7) of the liquid. A gauging head (9) is mounted outside the vessel (3) at pre-determined fixed distance from the vessel (3). Rotatably mounted within the gauge head (9) is a reel (11) which has wound upon it a flexible elongate tape (13) having its free end (15) connected to the sensing head (5). The flexible tape (13) passes along a defined path of fixed length from the reel (11) to a reference point above the vessel and includes a plurality of level markers (17) which are equally spaced one from another along the length of the tape (13) each pair of adjacent markers (17) being of pre-determined fixed distance apart. A stepper motor (19) is mounted within the gauging head (9) and coupled to the reel (11) to rotate the reel (11) about its axis in two opposite directions.

Abstract: A mobile sewer cleaning apparatus having a rotating drum and a flexible hose wound thereon. Preferably mounted on the sewer cleaning apparatus is a device for measuring the length of hose paid out from the drum. The measuring device may be used, among other things, for measuring the speed of the hose as it is wound or unwound from the drum, and for controlling a safety device intended to stop the flow of water through the hose as the hose is being wound.

Abstract: A probe includes a probe foot which is suspended on a cable or a chain attached to a winding drum mounted in a sealed casing above the furnace and which communicates with the interior of the latter via a vertical sleeve passing through the upper wall of the furnace, an electric motor associated with a reducer for actuating the winding drum, and a device for detecting the unwinding and winding up of the winding drum in order to control the speed and torque of the motor. The motor is a servomotor, the speed and torque of which are controlled automatically as a function of the detection device by comparison of the actual speed of the motor with data of desired values dependent on the position of the probe foot.

Abstract: A depth calculating device is provided wherein the exact depth of a fisherman's bait presentation is calculated while that fisherman is trolling. The invention utilizes an electronic sensing device which determines the deflection of the fishing line away from the line formed between the tip of the fishing pole and the water's bottom. An additional electronic sensing device measures the length of line played out from the reel. Both measurements are processed by a central processing unit which in conjunction with the cosine function stored in the memory of the central processing unit then calculates and displays the exact depth of the bait presentation at any given moment.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a plumb bob device for determining the bed height of bulk material in a shaft furnace. The winding drum 1 for unwidning and rewinding a cable 5 or a chain with a plumb bob 6 suspended at its end is driven by a hydraulic motor 3. A displacement transducer 9 is driven by the shaft of the winding drum 1. The motor for driving the winding drum 1 is a so-called low-speed hydraulic motor 3. The displacement transducer 9 sends a signal associated with the actual measured depth to a pressure-proportional valve 10 directly, i.e., without an electrical control device. This valve presets a plumb bob holding pressure associated with the actual depth for the hydraulic motor 3.