Multiple Floats Patents (Class 73/311)
  • Patent number: 4483192
    Abstract: A water level indicator for a pressure vessel is provided which employs a plurality of vertically spaced cantilevered mounted spring members. The free end of each spring member is connected to a depending float member. The float member has sufficient mass and density to depress its spring member when the float member is in a gaseous medium. The float member has sufficient buoyancy to elevate its spring member when the float member is in a water medium. One or more strain gauges is secured to each spring member to indicate the instantaneous position of the spring member and thereby provide an indication of the instantaneous water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventor: William J. Wachter
  • Patent number: 4368640
    Abstract: A liquid level sensing device comprising a load cell supporting a column or stack of segments freely resting on one another. The density of each element is substantially identical to that of the surrounding liquid. The elements are freely guided within a surrounding tube. As each element is exposed above the liquid level, its weight will be impressed through the column to the load cell, thereby providing a signal at the load cell directly proportional to the liquid level elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Richard D. Tokarz
  • Patent number: 4255859
    Abstract: A drop-weight type material level indicator apparatus, method and system wherein an optical disc rotationally coupled to an idler pulley in a modular sensor unit mounted at the top of a material storage bin generates counting pulses as a cable trained over the idler pulley lowers a drop weight. The counting pulses are fed in a remote readout unit to an up/down counter selectively for indicating in an up-counting mode of operation the ullage or head space between the sensor and material level, and in a down-counting mode of operation the level of material in the storage bin. Switches are provided for presetting the counter in the down-counting mode of operation to a value corresponding to bin height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Assignee: Berwind Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Klieman
  • Patent number: 4228427
    Abstract: Audible or visual warning signals are employed in a pump system having a primary and an auxiliary pump to indicate loss of power or a malfunctioning pump. Float switches react to a rising liquid level, thereby opening fail-safe circuits, and closing warning circuits which give sensory perceptible signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1980
    Inventor: Karl O. Niedermeyer
  • Patent number: 4194396
    Abstract: An automobile fuel gauge system comprises a main sensor unit for a main indicating system being provided in a fuel tank, a small chamber with top open fixedly provided at the bottom of the fuel tank and having at its lower side a hole for fuel passage, and an auxiliary sensor unit for an auxiliary indicating system provided in said chamber. The system includes a main dial section and an auxiliary dial section for performing indications according to electric signals transmitted from said main and auxiliary sensor units, respectively, and said auxiliary sensor unit is adapted to operate only when fuel in the fuel tank is running short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: Nissan Shatai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Ohsawa, Yoshiro Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 4155254
    Abstract: A liquid storage tank is provided with an internal fixed support tube. Magnet-bearing liquid level and liquid density indicator floats are concentrically related to the fixed support tube externally thereof. Concentrically related, magnet-bearing indicator tubes are movably disposed within the fixed support tube and furnish liquid level and liquid density readout information when their respective magnets become magnetically latched with the float magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Eugene F. Colditz
  • Patent number: 4154103
    Abstract: A liquid level measuring device for a container is disclosed. The liquid level measuring device has an elongated frame with a lower end insertable into the liquid in the container. Mounted on the frame is a buoyant floats. The floats and frame are constructed so that the floats is movable along the frame by the buoyant forces of the liquid in the container. The measuring device has a manually operable means for selectively holding the floats in a fixed position relative to the frame so that the frame and floats can be withdrawn from the liquid and the level of the liquid read by comparing the position of the floats in relationship to scale indicia on the frame. The elongated frame is made of a plurality of telescopically arranged sections so that the frame can be collapsed to a minimum length for storage and, when the device is to be used for measuring, the frame sections are moved to expand the length of the frame to the total length of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Inventor: William F. Fling
  • Patent number: 4092861
    Abstract: A liquid level measuring device having an elongated frame is disclosed. One or more floats are mounted in the frame on cables mounted between pulleys at each end of the frame. Brake pins frictionally engage the guide cables and means are provided to selectively disengage the brake pins from the guide cables. A thermometer may be attached to the frame to provide temperature readings. Also, a timing device may be attached to the frame to provide the proper duration for obtaining exact temperature and liquid level(s) measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Inventor: William F. Fling
  • Patent number: 4078430
    Abstract: An indicating gauge has dual floats to measure the levels of two liquids contained in the same tank. A separate measuring tape is controlled by each float to provide an indication of the liquid level through a single viewing window above the tank. In certain situations, a single float and measuring tape is used to provide an indication of the level of one liquid within the tank. A wiper is engageable with the viewing window to permit cleaning of the inside surface of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: Dover Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene B. Pemberton, Norman T. Allen
  • Patent number: 3972235
    Abstract: A system including a source of electrical energy, a transformer, a plurality of submerged tanks, each having a perforated container therein, a first multiple switch electrically connected to the transformer, a plurality of conductors, each selectively leading from the first multiple switch to a first conductor in each perforated container in each tank, a second electrical conductor arranged in each perforated container in each tank, a float formed of insulating material arranged in each perforated container in each tank which float is guided vertically by the conductors in the perforated container and each of which has an electrical contact secured to its upper portion which engages the conductors in each perforated container, an electrical conductor connected to the second conductor in each perforated container, each of which leads to a second multiple switch and each of which is capable of being selectively connected by the second multiple switch to the coil of a galvanometer which moves a pointer connected
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1973
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Inventor: David A. Frayer
  • Patent number: 3966175
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for disposing of radioactive waste materials by placing them into a steel drum together with cement and water, mixing the contents, and then storing the drum for a period of time to permit partial decay of radioactive materials. Also disclosed are a decanting tank for forming a dispersion of radioactive resin particles and water in predetermined proportions, said tank having an internal mixer to effect stirring, means for sensing the levels of the water and the resin particles, and means for removing excess water by decanting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1973
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Assignee: Stock Equipment Company
    Inventors: Arthur J. Stock, Donald E. Christofer, Joseph E. Brinza
  • Patent number: 3946625
    Abstract: A detecting float is normally made floating on a first liquid, and when a liquid to be detected having a specific gravity less than the first liquid is oncoming, the detecting float sinks relative to the new liquid level as compared with the position which it assumed relative to the level of the first liquid. When the layer of the liquid to be detected increases to a given thickness, the detecting float sinks by a given distance or amount to permit the ingress of the liquid to be detected into the float, which therefore becomes heavier and sinks further downward. An external float surrounds the detecting float, and is formed with a liquid port at a location slightly below the level of the first liquid for allowing the passage of the liquid which reaches the internally located detecting float, but intercepting the liquid to be detected which is in the form of an oil film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Miyazaki, Narumi Kubota, Kooichi Igarashi, Hiroshi Sato, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Takeshi Maki, Akira Hatano, Masamitsu Kai
  • Patent number: 3942379
    Abstract: A gage mechanism for determining the level of a liquid, comprising a measuring means joined to a liquid level indicating device, a floating stilling chamber circumscribing the periphery of the liquid level indicating device, said stilling chamber having walls extending above wave action of the liquid, and vertical guide means for controlling lateral movement of the chamber at all levels at which the liquid level is to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
    Inventor: Alfred Avery Kanzler
  • Patent number: 3935741
    Abstract: A storage tank liquid level sensor for indicating levels of two immiscible liquids in the tank wherein a first magnet is carried by a float on top of one liquid and a second magnet is carried by a float on top of the other liquid, the first magnet operating a switch to indicate when the one liquid reaches a predetermined level and the second magnet moving a coded tape with respect to a read head in accordance with changes in the level of the other liquid, a transmitter to transmit data from the read head, a receiver for such data, an arithmetic logic unit to convert the data to binary coded decimals, a memory unit for storage of BCD data, and a display unit for selectively addressing the computer and displaying selected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert G. Zinsmeyer, Rodney L. Johnson, Ralph H. Genz