US3696362A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low electrolyte level alarm devices
Assignee: Dual Lite Inc
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Filing: 1970-09-14
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1990-09-14
Abstract
Abstract Two electrodes immersed in an electrolyte solution shunt the gate of a ''''Triac'''' solid state switching device connected in parallel with a current-limiting resistor which is connected via an alarm device across a power source. When the electrodes are immersed below the surface of the electrolyte, they serve as a closed switch drawing minimum current through the current limiting resistor, thus biasing the ''''Triac'''' in its nonconductive mode and trickling through the alarm device at amperage levels so low that the alarm device does not respond. When the electrolyte level falls, leaving the electrodes above the electrolyte solution, they become an open circuit. This reduces the trickle current to zero and applies full power source voltage to the gate of the ''''Triac,'''' triggering the ''''Triac'''' from a current blocking mode to a conductive mode. This permits an alarm current to pass through the ''''Triac,'''' thereby drawing this higher amperage current through the alarm device, producing an alarm signal indicating the level of the electrolyte.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L Sieron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/24; G01F23/241; H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/48; H01M10/484; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device comprising: A. a source of alternating current electrical energy; B. electrical warning alarm means for gaining attention of operating personnel; C. two electrodes normally conductively immersed in said electrolyte; and D. automatic switching means connecting the warning means to the energy source, incorporating a thyristor device having a first main terminal connected to said alternating current source and a second main terminal connected through said alarm means to said source, and having a control terminal connected through a current-limiting resistor to said second main terminal, with the two electrodes being directly connected respectively to said first main terminal and to said control terminal, 1. switchable from a non-conductive mode to a conductive mode in response to interruption of electrolyte conduction of resistor-limited alternating monitoring current between the electrodes, 2. thereby removing the electrolyte conduction shunt across the first main terminal and the control terminal, applying full triggering potential to the control terminal and completing a conductive circuit through the thyristor, the warning means and the energy source and initiating warning alarm operation of the warning means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device comprising: A. a source of alternating current electrical energy; B. electrical warning alarm means for gaining attention of operating personnel; C. two electrodes normally conductively immersed in said electrolyte; and D. automatic switching means connecting the warning means to the energy source, incorporating a thyristor device having a first main terminal connected to said alternating current source and a second main terminal connected through said alarm means to said source, and having a control terminal connected through a current-limiting resistor to said second main terminal, with the two electrodes being directly connected respectively to said first main terminal and to said control terminal, 1. switchable from a non-conductive mode to a conductive mode in response to interruption of electrolyte conduction of resistor-limited alternating monitoring current between the electrodes, 2. thereby removing the electrolyte conduction shunt across the first main terminal and the control terminal, applying full triggering potential to the control terminal and completing a conductive circuit through the thyristor, the warning means and the energy source and initiating warning alarm operation of the warning means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
thereby removing the electrolyte conduction shunt across the first main terminal and the control terminal, applying full triggering potential to the control terminal and completing a conductive circuit through the thyristor, the warning means and the energy source and initiating warning alarm operation of the warning means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
thereby removing the electrolyte conduction shunt across the first main terminal and the control terminal, applying full triggering potential to the control terminal and completing a conductive circuit through the thyristor, the warning means and the energy source and initiating warning alarm operation of the warning means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said warning means is a buzzer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
175 words
thereby completing a conductive circuit through the warning means and the energy source and initiating warning alarm operation of the warning means, wherein the warning means includes an electromagnetic relay coil connected to be energized by the energy source upon switching of the energy source upon switching of the switching means to its conductive mode, with first normally open relay contacts interposed to connect a warning alarm device to a power source when said relay coil is energized to close said first contacts, and wherein a manual double pole silencer switch is connected with a normally closed pole in series with the normally open first relay contacts, permitting the user to open said closed pole and to disconnect the warning alarm device while the relay coil is energized, and with a normally open pole connected in series with the normally closed first relay contacts, whereby the user is enabled to re-arm the device while the relay coil is de-energized leaving only the normally open relay contacts as the sole break in the alarm device circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
175 words
thereby completing a conductive circuit through the warning means and the energy source and initiating warning alarm operation of the warning means, wherein the warning means includes an electromagnetic relay coil connected to be energized by the energy source upon switching of the energy source upon switching of the switching means to its conductive mode, with first normally open relay contacts interposed to connect a warning alarm device to a power source when said relay coil is energized to close said first contacts, and wherein a manual double pole silencer switch is connected with a normally closed pole in series with the normally open first relay contacts, permitting the user to open said closed pole and to disconnect the warning alarm device while the relay coil is energized, and with a normally open pole connected in series with the normally closed first relay contacts, whereby the user is enabled to re-arm the device while the relay coil is de-energized leaving only the normally open relay contacts as the sole break in the alarm device circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
thereby completing a conductive circuit through the warning means and the energy source and initiating warning alarm operation of the warning means, wherein the warning means includes an electromagnetic relay coil connected to be energized by the energy source upon switching of the switching means to its conductive mode, with first normally open relay contacts interposed to connect a warning alarm device to a power source when said relay coil is energized to close said first contacts, further including a fuse and second normally closed relay contacts connected in series with the fuse socket terminals of a battery charger which is operatively connected to charge the battery whose electrolyte level is being sensed, automatically providing circuit breaker disconnection of the charger from its power supply when energization of the relay coil opens said second normally closed contacts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
137 words
thereby completing a conductive circuit through the warning means and the energy source and initiating warning alarm operation of the warning means, wherein the warning means includes an electromagnetic relay coil connected to be energized by the energy source upon switching of the switching means to its conductive mode, with first normally open relay contacts interposed to connect a warning alarm device to a power source when said relay coil is energized to close said first contacts, further including a fuse and second normally closed relay contacts connected in series with the fuse socket terminals of a battery charger which is operatively connected to charge the battery whose electrolyte level is being sensed, automatically providing circuit breaker disconnection of the charger from its power supply when energization of the relay coil opens said second normally closed contacts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrolyte comprises an acid solution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device as defined in claim 3, wherein said electrodes each comprise an elongated tungsten conductive portion surrounded by a thin layer of a nonconductive polymer material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrolyte comprises an alkaline solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device as defined in claim 5, wherein said electrodes each comprise an elongated stainless steel conductive portion surrounded by a thin layer of a non-conductive polymer material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device as defined in claim 5, wherein said electrodes each comprise an elongated conductive nickel plated steel portion surrounded by a thin layer of a non-conductive polymer material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said thyristor device comprises a ''''Triac,'''' incorporating a gate control terminal shunted to the first main terminal by the electrodes normally conductively immersed in the electrolyte.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein the current drawn from said power source and limited by said current-limiting resistor does not exceed 1 ma. when said electrodes are transferring monitoring current through said electrolyte.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The low electrolyte level alarm device defined in claim 1 wherein the two electrodes are positioned in spaced-apart relation depending from the underside of a storage battery fill cap for immersion side-by-side through the same battery fill port into the battery electrolyte.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
The low electrolyte level alarm device defined in claim 1 wherein the warning means includes an electromagnetic relay coil connected to be energized by the energy source upon switching of the switching means to its conductive mode, with first normally open relay contacts interposed to connect a warning alarm device to a power source when said relay coil is energized to close said first contacts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 11 further including a visible warning Device connected in parallel with the relay coil to be actuated when the coil is energized.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device comprising: A. a source of electrical energy; B. electrical warning alarm means for gaining attention of operating personnel; C. two electrodes normally conductively immersed in said electrolyte; and D. automatic switching means connecting the warning means to the energy source
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device comprising: A. a source of electrical energy; B. electrical warning alarm means for gaining attention of operating personnel; C. two electrodes normally conductively immersed in said electrolyte; and D. automatic switching means connecting the warning means to the energy source
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device comprising: A. a source of electrical energy; B. electrical warning alarm means for gaining attention of operating personnel; C. two electrodes normally conductively immersed in said electrolyte; and D. automatic switching means connecting the warning means to the energy source
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
A low electrolyte level alarm device comprising: A. a source of electrical energy; B. electrical warning alarm means for gaining attention of operating personnel; C. two electrodes normally conductively immersed in said electrolyte; and D. automatic switching means connecting the warning means to the energy source
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3498131A
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US3584643A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |