Abstract: A waste handling system includes a urinal having a urinal outlet and first and second urine storage containers. Each of the first and second urine storage containers includes a cavity having a bag. A distribution system fluidly interconnects the urinal to the first and second urine storage containers. The distribution system includes a switching system selectively fluidly connecting the urinal outlet to at least one of the first and second urinal storage containers in response to an input. The switching system includes a flow diverter valve. The input corresponds to a command signal to the flow diverter valve. The command signal commands the flow diverter valve between first and second positions. The first position corresponds to a fluid connection between the first urine storage container and the urinal while blocking a fluid connection between the second urine storage container and the urinal.

Abstract: A liquid level measuring device includes an elongate handle and an elongate frame arranged in telescoping relationship. The frame is movable between a collapsed position for storage and an extended position for usage. A float is movable lengthwise along the elongate frame. A control rod extends lengthwise in the elongate frame and through a passage in the float. The control rod controls movement of the float relative to the elongate frame. An actuator actuates the control arm to move the float from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to a downward pressure between a lower end of the elongate frame and a bottom surface of the container so that the float is free to seek the liquid level in the container and to move the float from the unlocked position back to the locked position when the downward pressure is released.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor for insertion into a tank for measuring the liquid level in the tank comprises an elongate tubular frame and a float movable inside the frame to seek the liquid level. A float lock guide formed as an elongate member is mounted lengthwise inside the frame. A float lock formed as an elongate member is located inside the frame parallel to the float lock guide. A plurality of linkages is pivotally connected between the float lock guide and the float lock such that lengthwise movement of the float relative to the float lock guide causes corresponding lateral movement of the float in the frame between an unlocked position where the float is free to move lengthwise in the frame to seek the liquid level and a locked position where frictional forces retain the float between the float lock and an inner wall portion of the frame.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor for measuring liquid levels in underground and above ground containers includes a frame formed to have an elongate hollow tubular configuration that encloses a cavity. A cam pivot has an end extending into the cavity from a first inner wall portion of the frame. A cam is arranged to be pivotal about the end of the cam pivot. A float is placed in the cavity. A spring is arranged to bias the cam arm into contact with the float to force a side portion of the float into a locked position in frictional engagement with the second inner wall portion of the frame. A cam actuator pivotally mounted in a lower end portion of the frame exerts a force on the cam arm to release the float from the locked position when the lower end of the frame contacts the container bottom.

Abstract: A float is arranged in a tubular frame to be unlocked to float in a liquid when the lower end of the frame contacts a bottom surface of a container containing the liquid. A float lock guide and a float lock actuator are mounted in the passage to move the float laterally in the frame as the lower end of the frame is moved away from the bottom surface of the container to lock the float in frictional engagement with the frame.

Abstract: A non-fouling liquid level detector and control especially for a sealed system likely to have iron particle contaminants. The device employs a float projecting above the liquid level and bearing above the liquid level a unmagnetized ferromagnetic tell-tale. A magnetic field is generated by a magnet positioned outside the sealed system. The magnetic field extends around the float and tell-tale through a magnetically permeable partition comprising a wall of the sealed system that is positioned between the magnet and the float. The float position is monitored by a magnetic field sensor such as a Hall Effect device positioned adjacent the magnet, outside the sealed system. The sensor responds to the movement of the tell-tale. The output of the sensor is employed to control the monitored liquid level.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid-level gauge for accurately measuring a liquid-level height of fluid to be measured. In the liquid-level gauge, a float having a uniform cross-sectional form in the height direction and a specific weight value small than that of liquid is dipped in the liquid. The float is supported by an optical fiber at a constant height such that its upper end always projects from the liquid level. One end of the optical fiber is connected to an optical fiber strain gauge and a strain detector is turned round between fiber support members. When the float receives buoyancy from the liquid, tension is applied to the strain detector of optical fiber to generate strain therein. By detecting the strain by means of an optical fiber strain gauge, a liquid-level height can be measured.

Abstract: A fuel gauging system for a motor vehicle fuel tank, including a housing (100) supporting a resistive element (200), an arm (300) pivotally mounted on the housing (100) and comprising at least one cursor (350) engaging the resistive element (200), and a lever (400) provided with a float connected to the arm (300) for monitoring the movements thereof. The system includes a housing (100) and an arm (300) which comprise complementary rotational guides (120, 310) and structure (316, 317, 318, and 319) to enable translation of the arm (300) on the housing (100). The arm (300) is combined with an L-shaped lever (400) so that one of the sections (420) defines the pivot axis of the device.

Abstract: A filling level sensor for generating electrical signals as a function of the filling level, in which a regulator is integral to a guider of a carrier part, (6). An actuator of the regulator is connected to a mounting arm. (9) via a coupling element (8). As a result, the mounting arm (2) can bend transversely with respect to its direction of movement without the actuator (9) lifting off from a fixed resistor network (7) of the regulator (5).

Abstract: A float for a liquid level detection apparatus including a tube extendable through liquid in a tank. The float is a buoyant body slidably mounted about the tube and having a diameter passable through an aperture in the tank. The float is preferably formed of two separate bodies joined by spacers positioned to allow the body to pivot from a first position substantially axially in line with the tube for insertion and removal of the float with respect to the tank to a second position substantially perpendicular to the tube in operative floating engagement with the liquid surface in the tank. The spacers, in one embodiment, are in the form of pins arranged in pairs along opposite side edges of the two bodies and spaced apart along the length of the two bodies such that the innermost pins of the two pairs of pins define an aperture for mounting the bodies transversely about the tube in the second, floating position.

Abstract: A micromachined integrated opto-thermal sensor having a rapidly intensity varying or pulsing light source, an interference filter, shadow masking or reflective blocking of light from thermal sensors, or differential operation, a gas cavity into which the detected gas can flow into via a channel or filter, and a thermal detector elements to sense the heating of the gas caused by the absorption of light at a particular wavelength by the specific gas to be detected. Another version of the sensor is one with a dual cavity. One cavity contains the gas to be detected and the other cavity is sealed from the ambient environment and contains no gas. Signals from the detectors from the cavities are subtracted from each other resulting in the elimination of a fixed signal due to radiation impinging the detectors.

Abstract: In a device for monitoring the liquid level in a tank, utilizing a reed switch projecting into the tank in an internally cylindrical hollow rod and a float provided with a permanent magnet and guided on the hollow rod, the reed switch is constructed as an independent exchangeable part introducible into the hollow rod with an accurate fit and with a small assembly outlay. The slide-in part has three radially resilient abutment zones distributed uniformly around the circumference. In order to accurately introduce the slide-in part into the hollow rod, with a minimum of force, three axial guide grooves associated with the resilient abutment zones are formed radially outwards in the inner envelope surface of the hollow rod. In order to achieve the final accurate fit, the slide-in part, introduced completely into the hollow rod, is rotated until the resilient abutment zones are located in regions between the guide grooves of the hollow rod.

Abstract: A flotation device inside an elongate frame rises to the level of a liquid whose depth is being measured. The flotation device is locked in the frame while the apparatus is withdrawn from the liquid. The liquid level may then read from a scale on the frame.

Abstract: This guage is adapted to measure the depth of fluid flowing past a flume or weir in a generally horizontally disposed conduit. It comprises a transparent tube or stilling well which contains a float, and which is adjustably secured by a pair of clamps to an elongate supporting rod. The float can be clamped against movement in the well by a hose, which extends downwardly in the bore of the well, and which is sealed at its lower end. The hose is connected at its upper end to a manually-operable vacuum device which can be manipulated either to collapse or expand the hose. In use the hose is collapsed and the lower end of the supporting rod is inserted downwardly into a conduit to support the lower end of the well a predetermined distance above the bottom of the conduit, and in advance of the associated weir or flume.

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.

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.

Abstract: An indicator mounted on a receptacle for determining the proportion of the liquid mixture components in the receptacle of a liquid dispensing apparatus, such as a rug or carpet shampoo device. Even if the receptacle is partly filled with a liquid mixture, the present indicator shows the correct amount to be added to each of the components to thereby fill the receptacle to a given level.