US4065967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Silo level indicating system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-07-29
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Granted: 1978-01-03
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Expires: 1996-07-29
Abstract
Abstract The silo level indicating system includes a plurality of temperature indicating sensor units placed on the outside wall of a silo at vertically spaced positions. Each sensor unit and an adjacent portion of the surrounding sidewall is thermally insulated from the atmosphere so that a sensor unit is responsive to the temperature on the inside of the silo at the thermally insulated wall portion. The air within the silo above the level of material is at the same temperature. Thus, in a comparison of the temperature within the silo opposite each sensor unit to that of a reference sensor unit situated at the top of the silo, so as to be above the uppermost level of the material in the silo, a temperature differential between the reference sensor unit and a compared sensor unit indicates the presence of material at or above the compared sensor unit.
Inventors
- 👤 John T. Beeston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/24; G01F23/246; G01F23/247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for indicating the level of material in a silo or the like having an upstanding sidewall, comprising: a. mounting a plurality of temperature sensors externally of the silo and in a heat transfer relation with the outside surface of the sidewall at vertically spaced portions thereon including mounting a first one of said sensors above the top level of material in the silo, b. a thermal insulation enclosure for thermally insulating each of the sensors and the respective portions of the outside surface of the sidewall from the ambient temperature, whereby the temperature at a sensor outside the silo and the temperature inside the silo opposite the respective wall portion are substantially the same, c. producing a reference signal indicative of the temperature at said first sensor and communicating said reference signal to a level indicator means, d. producing a signal indicative of the temperature at a selected one of the other sensors and communicating said signal to the level indicator means, e. comparing said signal with said reference signal in the level indicator means, and f. visually indicating the existence of a temperature difference between the temperatures at said first sensor and said selected sensor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for indicating the level of material in a silo or the like having an upstanding sidewall, comprising: a. mounting a plurality of temperature sensors externally of the silo and in a heat transfer relation with the outside surface of the sidewall at vertically spaced portions thereon including mounting a first one of said sensors above the top level of material in the silo, b. a thermal insulation enclosure for thermally insulating each of the sensors and the respective portions of the outside surface of the sidewall from the ambient temperature, whereby the temperature at a sensor outside the silo and the temperature inside the silo opposite the respective wall portion are substantially the same, c. producing a reference signal indicative of the temperature at said first sensor and communicating said reference signal to a level indicator means, d. producing a signal indicative of the temperature at a selected one of the other sensors and communicating said signal to the level indicator means, e. comparing said signal with said reference signal in the level indicator means, and f. visually indicating the existence of a temperature difference between the temperatures at said first sensor and said selected sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method for indicating the level of material in a silo or the like, according to claim 1, comprising: a. producing signals indicative of the temperatures at successively selected ones of the other sensors and successively communicating said signals to the level indicator means, b. successively comparing the respective signals of said successively selected sensors with the reference signal in the level indicator means, and c. successively indicating whether there are differences between the temperatures at said first sensor and said successively selected sensors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for indicating the level of material in a silo or the like, according to claim 2, comprising: a. identifying an uppermost one of said successively selected sensors having a temperature different from that of said first sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for indicating the level of material in a silo or the like, according to claim 1, comprising: a. visually indicating the operative condition of the level indicator means when the temperatures of all of the sensors are equal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for indicating the level of material in a silo or the like, according to claim 1, comprising: a. protectively shielding said thermally insulated sensors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
233 words
A material level indicator for a silo or the like having an upstanding sidewall, comprising: a. a plurality of temperature sensors, b. means mounting said sensors each in a thermal insulation enclosure externally of the silo and in a heat transfer relation with selected portions of the outside surface of the sidewall at vertically spaced portions thereon for producing signals indicative of the temperature at the respective sensors, with a first one of said sensors located to produce a reference signal indicative of the temperature of the air inside the silo above the material, c. insulator means for thermally insulating each temperature sensor and the respective selected portion of the outside surface of the sidewall, whereby the temperature at a sensor outside of the silo and the temperature inside the silo opposite said respective portion are substantially equal, d. electrical comparator means connected in an electrical circuit with said first sensor to receive the reference signal, e. means for connecting the electrical comparator means to a selected one of the other sensors to receive the respective signal therefrom, f. said electrical comparator means effective to compare said respective signal with the reference signal to produce an output signal indicative of any difference between the temperature at said selected sensor and the temperature at said first sensor, and g. means energized by said output signal to visually indicate the existence of a temperature difference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
233 words
A material level indicator for a silo or the like having an upstanding sidewall, comprising: a. a plurality of temperature sensors, b. means mounting said sensors each in a thermal insulation enclosure externally of the silo and in a heat transfer relation with selected portions of the outside surface of the sidewall at vertically spaced portions thereon for producing signals indicative of the temperature at the respective sensors, with a first one of said sensors located to produce a reference signal indicative of the temperature of the air inside the silo above the material, c. insulator means for thermally insulating each temperature sensor and the respective selected portion of the outside surface of the sidewall, whereby the temperature at a sensor outside of the silo and the temperature inside the silo opposite said respective portion are substantially equal, d. electrical comparator means connected in an electrical circuit with said first sensor to receive the reference signal, e. means for connecting the electrical comparator means to a selected one of the other sensors to receive the respective signal therefrom, f. said electrical comparator means effective to compare said respective signal with the reference signal to produce an output signal indicative of any difference between the temperature at said selected sensor and the temperature at said first sensor, and g. means energized by said output signal to visually indicate the existence of a temperature difference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A material level indicator, according to claim 6, wherein: a. said insulator means comprises a body of thermally insulative material having a silo engaging surface, a recess formed in said silo engaging surface for receiving said temperature sensor, and means for fastening said body of thermally insulative material to said sidewall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A material level indicator, according to claim 7, wherein: a. the sidewall is generally cylindrical, and b. said silo engaging surface of the insulator means is curved inwardly to conform with said outside surface of the sidewall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A material level indicator, according to claim 6, wherein: a. said means actuated by said output signal comprises an array of lights, each light corresponding to a respective sensor, and b. means automatically electrically connecting a corresponding light with the electrical comparator means in response to the connection of said respective sensor with the electrical comparator means.
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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) | 1981-01-02 | 1981-07-04 | 1982-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-02 | 1985-07-04 | 1986-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-02 | 1989-07-04 | 1990-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |