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US3597973A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Combined level indicator and hydrometer

Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
•
Filing: 1969-09-08
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1989-09-08
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates generally to a combined liquid level indicator for indicating levels of liquid subject to fluctuation and hydrometer means for indicating the specific gravity of the liquid with the device adapted to be mounted in the upper wall of a liquid container, as for example the upper wall of a conventional storage battery. The embodiments of the invention disclosed in the present application include a visual liquid level indicating device having a reflecting surface at the inner end of a transparent body member and the upper end of the transparent body member is adapted to the concentrate light rays reflected from the inner end of the body member from different positions. The liquid level indicator is provided with a groove at its lower end and adapted to receive a pair of identical halves of the hollow body section of the hydrometer means. In another embodiment the hollow body section of the hydrometer means comprise two identical halves which are hinged together to accept a grooved indicator and having a female and male fastening means on the respective halves. The hydrometer means of the various embodiments are provided with chamber means and means for admitting liquid thereto and indicating ball float means operatively mounted within the chamber means for indicating the specific gravity of the liquid within which the hydrometer means is inserted. The different chamber means of the various embodiments comprise substantially parallel and inclined walls between which the indicating ball float means is operatively mounted for indicating the specific gravity of the liquid. When the liquid level of the battery or radiator with which the combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer means is utilized covers the end of the indicator one will obtain a normal black or dark pattern at the upper end. If the specific gravity is low, the orange or red colored ball will not float and will drop down and provide an indicia at the end of the indicator.

Inventors

  • 👤 Francis E Ryder

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 23:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N9/00; G01N9/10; G01N9/12; G01N9/18; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/28; G01F23/284; G01F23/292; G01F23/2921; G01F23/2922; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 171 words
A combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer comprising a light transmitting member having an outer indicating surface and reflector surface means adapted to be submerged in liquid for reflecting light to the indicating surface when the liquid is below a predetermined level, chamber means comprising an upper means and a lower means, the upper means connected with said member and the lower means defining a chamber which is connected to said upper means and having access means of a predetermined size in alignment with said member and Positioned for submersion in said liquid, and a float larger than said predetermined size and of predetermined specific gravity captured in said lower chamber and movable between upper and lower positions in accordance with the relative specific gravity of the liquid, said chamber means including means for locating said float in one of said positions adjacent said access means for viewing the float through said indicating surface and for locating said float in the other of said positions for obscuring the float from view.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 171 words
A combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer comprising a light transmitting member having an outer indicating surface and reflector surface means adapted to be submerged in liquid for reflecting light to the indicating surface when the liquid is below a predetermined level, chamber means comprising an upper means and a lower means, the upper means connected with said member and the lower means defining a chamber which is connected to said upper means and having access means of a predetermined size in alignment with said member and Positioned for submersion in said liquid, and a float larger than said predetermined size and of predetermined specific gravity captured in said lower chamber and movable between upper and lower positions in accordance with the relative specific gravity of the liquid, said chamber means including means for locating said float in one of said positions adjacent said access means for viewing the float through said indicating surface and for locating said float in the other of said positions for obscuring the float from view.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 56 words
A combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the chamber means comprises spaced substantially parallel and inclined walls symmetrically disposed about the axis of said indicator member and said chamber means between which the indicating ball float means is operatively mounted for indicating the specific gravity of the liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
A combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the walls of the chamber means are inclined vertically permitting the ball float means to be guided vertically upwardly and downwardly through the liquid in the chamber means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
A combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the walls of the chamber means are downwardly inclined and conically shaped and vertically spaced apart and between which the indicating ball float means is operatively mounted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the chamber means is formed in symmetrical halves and affixed together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
A combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the chamber means is provided by symmetrical halves, hinge means for mounting the symmetrical halves, and latching means for affixing the symmetrical halves together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 54 words
A combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the chamber means is formed in symmetrical halves, and latching means for affixing the symmetrical halves together comprising a latching pin formed on one half and the other half provided with a complementary opening to receive the latching pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 79 words
A combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the chamber means and the member of light transmitting means are complementally formed for affixing together, said light transmitting means comprising an annular recess and a conical-shaped member for mounting within the chamber means, and said chamber means formed with an annular lip complementary to the annular recess of the light transmitting means for affixing the chamber means and the light transmitting means together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 60 words
A combined liquid level indicator and hydrometer means as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light transmitting means is complementary to an opening provided in the casing in which the liquid level indicator and hydrometer are operatively mounted, and support means formed on the light transmitting means to position the liquid level indicator and hydrometer operatively within the liquid.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US829460A Cited
US1424730A Cited
US1583859A Cited
US1648412A Cited
US2469560A Cited
US3362224A Cited
US3417614A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-08-09 1975-02-08 1975-08-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-08-09 1979-02-08 1979-08-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-08-09 1983-02-08 1983-08-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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