US5347864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid level measuring apparatus
Assignee: REMOTE OPERATING SYSTEMS Inc
•
Filing: 1993-04-12
•
Granted: 1994-09-20
•
Expires: 2013-04-12
Abstract
Abstract An improved liquid level measuring apparatus having a plurality of spaced reed switches having a microprocessor attached to the liquid level measuring sensor apparatus. The switches are wired together in parallel and in sets and are addressed by a shift register for providing a parallel to serial shift of the switch status position to the microprocessor. This allows a reduction in the number of conductors existing the sensor and providing an output signal indicating the vertical position of a float relative to the switches. A microprocessor control notes any inoperative switches, disregards the reading of the inoperative switches in calculating liquid level, and provides stored information to the measurement process for compensating for defective switches.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl A. Senghaas
- 👤 Peter Senghaas
- 👤 Jing Wang
- 👤 Pete T. Kolonko, Jr.
- 👤 Jerzy Michalec
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/30; G01F23/64; G01F23/72; G01F23/74; G01F23/80; G01F23/802; H; H01; H01H; H01H36/00; H01H36/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S73/00; Y10S73/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
In a liquid level measuring apparatus having a plurality of spaced reed switches vertically aligned for positioning in a liquid, each reed switch vertically overlapping the adjacent above and below reed switches, the longitudinal axis of said reed switches being at an angle to the vertical axis of the apparatus and a float carrying magnetic means movably positioned adjacent said plurality of switches, said magnetic means having a magnetic field for sequentially actuating switches as the float moves relative to the switches, the improvement comprising, a microprocessor attached to the liquid level measuring apparatus, said switches electrically connected together in parallel in a plurality of sets, a plurality of shift registers, each register connected to one of the sets of switches, said registers connected together and to the microprocessor for supplying a parallel to serial conversion of the open or closed status of each switch, and said microprocessor providing an output signal indicating the vertical position of the float relative to said switches.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a liquid level measuring apparatus having a plurality of spaced reed switches vertically aligned for positioning in a liquid, each reed switch vertically overlapping the adjacent above and below reed switches, the longitudinal axis of said reed switches being at an angle to the vertical axis of the apparatus and a float carrying magnetic means movably positioned adjacent said plurality of switches, said magnetic means having a magnetic field for sequentially actuating switches as the float moves relative to the switches, the improvement comprising, a microprocessor attached to the liquid level measuring apparatus, said switches electrically connected together in parallel in a plurality of sets, a plurality of shift registers, each register connected to one of the sets of switches, said registers connected together and to the microprocessor for supplying a parallel to serial conversion of the open or closed status of each switch, and said microprocessor providing an output signal indicating the vertical position of the float relative to said switches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a closed housing enclosing the switches, and a ground electrode a bottom of the housing and below the switches for detecting any moisture inside the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a liquid level measuring apparatus having a plurality of spaced reed switches vertically aligned for positioning in a liquid, each reed switch vertically overlapping the adjacent above and below reed switches, the longitudinal axis of said reed switches being at an angle to the vertical axis of the apparatus and a float carrying magnetic means movably positioned adjacent said plurality of switches, said magnetic means having a magnetic field for sequentially actuating switches as the float moves relative to the switches, the improvement comprising, a microprocessor electrically connected to the liquid level measuring apparatus, said switches electrically connected together in parallel in a plurality of sets, a plurality of shift registers, each register connected to one of the sets of switches, said registers connected together and to the microprocessor for supplying a parallel to serial conversion of the open or closed status of each switch, said microprocessor providing an output signal indicating the vertical position of the float relative to said switches, and said magnetic field is effective for providing a sequential activation of at least two and then at least the next three switches of said plurality of switches at all times.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a liquid level measuring apparatus having a plurality of spaced reed switches vertically aligned for positioning in a liquid, each reed switch vertically overlapping the adjacent above and below reed switches, the longitudinal axis of said reed switches being at an angle to the vertical axis of the apparatus and a float carrying magnetic means movably positioned adjacent said plurality of switches, said magnetic means having a magnetic field for sequentially actuating switches as the float moves relative to the switches, the improvement comprising, a microprocessor electrically connected to the liquid level measuring apparatus, said switches electrically connected together in parallel in a plurality of sets, a plurality of shift registers, each register connected to one of the sets of switches, said registers connected together and to the microprocessor for supplying a parallel to serial conversion of the open or closed status of each switch, said microprocessor providing an output signal indicating the vertical position of the float relative to said switches, and said magnetic field is effective for providing a sequential activation of at least two and then at least the next three switches of said plurality of switches at all times.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3 including means connected to the microprocessor for noting an inoperative switch and disregarding the reading of the inoperative switch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a liquid level measuring apparatus having a plurality of spaced reed switches vertically aligned for positioning in a liquid, each reed switch vertically overlapping the adjacent above and below reed switch, the longitudinal axis of said reed switches being at an angle to the vertical axis of the apparatus and a float means carrying magnetic means movably positioned adjacent said plurality of switches, said magnetic means having a magnetic field for sequentially actuating switches as the float means moves relative to the switches, the improvement comprising, a microprocessor electrically connected to the liquid level measuring apparatus, said switches electrically connected together in parallel in a plurality of sets, a plurality of shift registers, each register connected to one of the sets of switches, said registers connected together and to the microprocessor for supplying a parallel to serial conversion of the open or closed status of each switch, said microprocessor providing an output signal indicating the vertical position of the float means relative to said switches, and said float means including first and second separate floats having different buoyancies for simultaneous measuring the level of two liquids of different densities.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a liquid level measuring apparatus having a plurality of spaced reed switches vertically aligned for positioning in a liquid, each reed switch vertically overlapping the adjacent above and below reed switch, the longitudinal axis of said reed switches being at an angle to the vertical axis of the apparatus and a float means carrying magnetic means movably positioned adjacent said plurality of switches, said magnetic means having a magnetic field for sequentially actuating switches as the float means moves relative to the switches, the improvement comprising, a microprocessor electrically connected to the liquid level measuring apparatus, said switches electrically connected together in parallel in a plurality of sets, a plurality of shift registers, each register connected to one of the sets of switches, said registers connected together and to the microprocessor for supplying a parallel to serial conversion of the open or closed status of each switch, said microprocessor providing an output signal indicating the vertical position of the float means relative to said switches, and said float means including first and second separate floats having different buoyancies for simultaneous measuring the level of two liquids of different densities.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein when said two floats are positioned in contact with each other, the two floats jointly actuate a plurality of consecutive switches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a liquid level measuring apparatus having a plurality of spaced reed switches vertically aligned for positioning in a liquid, each reed switch vertically overlapping the adjacent above and below reed switches, the longitudinal axis of said reed switches being at an angle to the vertical axis of the apparatus and a float carrying magnetic means movably positioned adjacent said plurality of switches, said magnetic means having a magnetic field for sequentially actuating switches as the float moves relative to the switches, the improvement comprising, a microprocessor electrically connected to the liquid level measuring apparatus, said switches electrically connected together in parallel in a plurality of sets, a plurality of shift registers, each register connected to one of the sets of switches, said registers connected together and to the microprocessor for supplying a parallel to serial conversion of the open or closed status of each switch, said microprocessor providing an output signal indicating the vertical position of the float relative to said switches, and means connected to the microprocessor for noting inoperative switches and disregarding the reading of the inoperative switches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a liquid level measuring apparatus having a plurality of spaced reed switches vertically aligned for positioning in a liquid, each reed switch vertically overlapping the adjacent above and below reed switches, the longitudinal axis of said reed switches being at an angle to the vertical axis of the apparatus and a float carrying magnetic means movably positioned adjacent said plurality of switches, said magnetic means having a magnetic field for sequentially actuating switches as the float moves relative to the switches, the improvement comprising, a microprocessor electrically connected to the liquid level measuring apparatus, said switches electrically connected together in parallel in a plurality of sets, a plurality of shift registers, each register connected to one of the sets of switches, said registers connected together and to the microprocessor for supplying a parallel to serial conversion of the open or closed status of each switch, said microprocessor providing an output signal indicating the vertical position of the float relative to said switches, and means connected to the microprocessor for noting inoperative switches and disregarding the reading of the inoperative switches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said microprocessor stores a list of said inoperative switches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 8 including means electrically connected to said microprocessor for updating the list of inoperative switches.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-19 | 1998-03-21 | 1998-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-19 | 2002-03-21 | 2002-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-19 | 2006-03-21 | 2006-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |