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US3567864A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Monitoring and reporting system

Assignee: Culligan Inc
•
Filing: 1968-02-23
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Granted: 1971-03-02
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Expires: 1988-02-23
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Abstract

Abstract A monitoring and reporting system utilized to check on the condition of a water circulating and treating system by means of a private telephone line where the dialing of the number for a telephone line where the dialing of the number for a telephone set at the situs of the system and the ringing of the telephone sets a control circuit into operation. The circuit includes a timer motor rotating a series of cams for snap switches which, when closed, actuate a circuit to sense a condition of the system and provide a short interval audible signal that is picked up by the telephone receiver. One snap switch actuates a device which lifts the cradle for the telephone handset, and a series of buzzers are positioned adjacent the receiver which are connected to the condition indicators such as for conductivity, pH level, and chemical solution levels in the solution containers. The signals are controlled by the timer motor to be actuated at fixed time intervals.

Inventors

  • 👤 George E Palmer
  • 👤 Peter W Smith

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 17:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/002

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 264 words
A monitoring system for monitoring and reporting the condition of a multivariable control system whereby each variable is checked by a serviceman remotely located from the control system, comprising a telephone located at the control system and having a bell actuated by a bell coil, a cradle and a recievertransmitter, a timer actuated by actuation of the bell coil, a plurality of audible sound devices actuated by the timer in a predetermined sequence at predetermined time intervals over a cycle of the timer, sensing devices for the variable conditions in the system, each sensing device connected in a separate circuit with at least one of the audible sound devices and with the timer, said telephone reciever-transmitter being positioned adjacent the audible sound devices to transmit the signals therefrom to the serviceman, said system monitoring a circulating water system, wherein one of said sensing devices is a conductivity meter for the water, said audible sound devices including a buzzer connected in series with said meter, and said timer includes a cam-actuated snap switch connected in series with said buzzer and said meter to complete the circuit therefor, said buzzer being actuated by said meter when the conductivity of the water exceeds a maximum value, said snap switch being actuated by said timer for a short time interval after the timer has been actuated, and a bleed valve to bleed off water from the circulating system, said bleed valve being actuated by a solenoid connected in series with said buzzer and actuated by said conductivity meter when the conductivity of the water exceeds a maximum level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 264 words
A monitoring system for monitoring and reporting the condition of a multivariable control system whereby each variable is checked by a serviceman remotely located from the control system, comprising a telephone located at the control system and having a bell actuated by a bell coil, a cradle and a recievertransmitter, a timer actuated by actuation of the bell coil, a plurality of audible sound devices actuated by the timer in a predetermined sequence at predetermined time intervals over a cycle of the timer, sensing devices for the variable conditions in the system, each sensing device connected in a separate circuit with at least one of the audible sound devices and with the timer, said telephone reciever-transmitter being positioned adjacent the audible sound devices to transmit the signals therefrom to the serviceman, said system monitoring a circulating water system, wherein one of said sensing devices is a conductivity meter for the water, said audible sound devices including a buzzer connected in series with said meter, and said timer includes a cam-actuated snap switch connected in series with said buzzer and said meter to complete the circuit therefor, said buzzer being actuated by said meter when the conductivity of the water exceeds a maximum value, said snap switch being actuated by said timer for a short time interval after the timer has been actuated, and a bleed valve to bleed off water from the circulating system, said bleed valve being actuated by a solenoid connected in series with said buzzer and actuated by said conductivity meter when the conductivity of the water exceeds a maximum level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 160 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein another of said sensing devices is a pH meter having high and low contacts and a sensor to indicate the pH level of the water as high, low or in range, said audible sound devices including a high pitched buzzer and a low pitched buzzer connected in parallel in a second circuit with the high pitched buzzer connected to the high contact and the low pitched buzzer connected to the low contact of the pH meter, a battery connected in series with the pH meter and with said buzzers, and said timer includes a second cam-actuated switch connected in series with said buzzers and said pH meter and actuated by said timer in sequence with said first mentioned switch, said high pitched buzzer being actuated if the pH of the water exceeds a maximum value and the low pitched buzzer being actuated if the pH is below a minimum value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 115 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, in which at least one chemical solution tank feeds a chemical solution additive to said circulating water system, said sensing devices including a pair of electrodes depending into said tank and said solution to adjacent the bottom thereof, said timer including a cam-actuated switch actuated by the timer in sequence with said first mentioned switch, a circuit connecting said last mentioned switch and said electrodes in series, said audible sound devices including a buzzer in series in said last mentioned circuit, and a battery in series in said last mentioned circuit to energize the buzzer when said chemical solution additive completes the circuit between the electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 180 words
A monitoring system for monitoring and reporting the condition of a multivariable control system whereby each variable is checked by a serviceman remotely located froM the control system, comprising a telephone located at the control system and having a bell actuated by a bell coil, a cradle and a receiver-transmitter, a timer actuated by actuation of the bell coil, a pair of audible sound devices comprising a signalling device and an alarm connected in parallel, each powered by a separate battery and actuated at predetermined time intervals over a cycle of the timer, said signalling device indicating an acceptable condition and said alarm indicating a condition requiring correction, sensing devices for the variable conditions in the system, including a pH meter, a conductivity meter and a float-actuated switch in at least one chemical solution tank, each sensing device connected in parallel in a first circuit to said signalling device and connected in parallel in a second circuit to said alarm, said telephone receiver-transmitter being positioned adjacent said signalling device and said alarm to transmit the sounds therefrom to the serviceman.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 180 words
A monitoring system for monitoring and reporting the condition of a multivariable control system whereby each variable is checked by a serviceman remotely located froM the control system, comprising a telephone located at the control system and having a bell actuated by a bell coil, a cradle and a receiver-transmitter, a timer actuated by actuation of the bell coil, a pair of audible sound devices comprising a signalling device and an alarm connected in parallel, each powered by a separate battery and actuated at predetermined time intervals over a cycle of the timer, said signalling device indicating an acceptable condition and said alarm indicating a condition requiring correction, sensing devices for the variable conditions in the system, including a pH meter, a conductivity meter and a float-actuated switch in at least one chemical solution tank, each sensing device connected in parallel in a first circuit to said signalling device and connected in parallel in a second circuit to said alarm, said telephone receiver-transmitter being positioned adjacent said signalling device and said alarm to transmit the sounds therefrom to the serviceman.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 134 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 4, in which said pH meter has high, low and in range contacts, a first relay connected to said high and in range contacts, a second relay and a latching relay in parallel and connected to said in range and low contacts, said timer including a first cam-actuated switch connected in series with a switch arm of said latching relay and with said signalling device and said alarm, said relay having separate contacts connected in the circuits to said signalling device and to said alarm to be engaged by said switch arm whereby closing of said first cam-actuated switch by said timer actuates said signalling device if the pH has been in proper range and actuates said alarm if the pH range has ever been low.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 130 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 5, in which said first relay and said second relay each has a switch arm and a pair of spaced contacts, said timer including a second cam-actuated switch wired in series with said first relay switch arm and with said signalling device and said alarm, one of said first relay contacts connected to said alarm and the other contact connected in series with said second relay switch arm, and one of said second relay contacts connected to said alarm and and the other contact connected to said signalling device, whereby closing of said second cam-actuated switch by said timer actuates said signalling device if the pH is presently in range and actuates said alarm if the pH is either high or low.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 152 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 4, in which said conductivity meter has high, low and in range contacts, a first relay connected to said high an in range contacts and a second relay connected to said in range and low contacts, each relay having a switch arm and a pair of spaced contacts, said timer includes a cam-actuated switch connected in series with said first relay switch arm and with said signalling device and said alarm, one of said first relay contacts connected to said alarm and the other contact connected in series with said second relay switch arm, one of said second relay contacts connected to said alarm and the other contact connected to said signalling device, whereby closing of said cam-actuated switch by said timer actuates said signalling device if the conductivity is in range and actuates said alarm if the conductivity is either high or low.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 92 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 4, in which said float-actuated switch has a switch arm, a high level contact connected to said signalling device and a low level contact connected to said alarm, said timer including a cam-actuated switch connected to said switch arm and to said signalling device and said alarm, whereby closing of said cam-actuated switch by said timer actuates said signalling device if the float-actuated switch arm engages the high level contact and actuates said alarm if the float-actuated switch arm engages the low level contact.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 63 words
A monitoring system as set forth in claim 4, in which said timer includes at least one cam-actuated switch connected in series with said signalling device and said alarm and connected to each of said pH meter, said conductivity meter and said float-actuated switches, said cam-actuated switches being actuated by said timer in sequence at spaced intervals during a cycle of the timer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-03-01 1974-08-31 1975-03-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-03-01 1978-08-31 1979-03-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-03-01 1982-08-31 1983-03-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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