US6776900B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Level measurement for grease separators
Assignee: Josam Co
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Filing: 2002-05-20
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Granted: 2004-08-17
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Expires: 2022-05-20
Abstract
Abstract An interceptor for removing grease from an effluent stream containing grease and water may be queried remotely to check it status. An output signal indicative of the amount of grease is transmitted over a telephone line to a telephone or computer or other remote station, or wirelessly to a remote receiver. The status is preferably also indicated locally with visual and/or audible signals. The grease depth level sensor is preferably a capacitive level sensor operative to sense the amount of water in the body of effluent thereby to determine the amount of grease in the body of effluent. The interceptor may include electric circuitry for effecting manual or automatic calibration of the sensor. The sensor may be adapted to be retrofitted to an existing tank made from either metal or plastic.
Inventors
- 👤 Niel Mazurek
- 👤 B. Scott Holloway
- 👤 Charles Tevis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:27
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/40; B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/005; B01D17/02; B01D17/0208; B01D17/0211; B01D17/0214; G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/26; G01F23/263; G01F23/266; G01F23/268; G05; G05D; G05D9/00; G05D9/12; C02F1/008; C02F1/02; C02F2103/00; C02F2103/32; C02F2209/00; C02F2209/02; C02F2209/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A sensor assembly adapted for retrofitting on a grease interceptor for removing grease for an effluent stream containing grease and water, the interceptor including a separation tank having walls and a cover defining a separation chamber, the interceptor having an effluent inlet connected with the separation tank for permitting flow of the effluent stream into the separating chamber to form a body of effluent in the separation chamber, the body of effluent having an upper surface, said sensor assembly comprising: an actuable mechanism adapted to actuate when a thickened layer of grease in the tank reaches a predetermined level; a first grease depth level sensor mountable on the tank cover and comprising an elongate conductive probe for extending generally vertically in the separation tank from a location above the upper surface of the body of effluent to a location below the predetermined level, at a location spaced inwardly of the walls of the separation tank; a measuring means adapted to continuously measure the amount of water in the body of effluent by measuring the capacitance between the first grease depth level sensor and an electrically conductive member as the thickness of a layer of grease in the separation tank varies; and control means adapted to actuate said actuatable mechanism in response to said measuring means measuring a capacitance corresponding to an amount of water in said tank when said thickened layer of grease reaches said predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A sensor assembly adapted for retrofitting on a grease interceptor for removing grease for an effluent stream containing grease and water, the interceptor including a separation tank having walls and a cover defining a separation chamber, the interceptor having an effluent inlet connected with the separation tank for permitting flow of the effluent stream into the separating chamber to form a body of effluent in the separation chamber, the body of effluent having an upper surface, said sensor assembly comprising: an actuable mechanism adapted to actuate when a thickened layer of grease in the tank reaches a predetermined level; a first grease depth level sensor mountable on the tank cover and comprising an elongate conductive probe for extending generally vertically in the separation tank from a location above the upper surface of the body of effluent to a location below the predetermined level, at a location spaced inwardly of the walls of the separation tank; a measuring means adapted to continuously measure the amount of water in the body of effluent by measuring the capacitance between the first grease depth level sensor and an electrically conductive member as the thickness of a layer of grease in the separation tank varies; and control means adapted to actuate said actuatable mechanism in response to said measuring means measuring a capacitance corresponding to an amount of water in said tank when said thickened layer of grease reaches said predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sensor assembly as set forth in claim 1 including an insulating bushing for supporting said first grease depth level sensor on the tank cover.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sensor assembly as set forth in claim 2 further including an electronics package adapted for mounting on the tank cover, connected with said elongate conductive probe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
A sensor assembly as set forth in claim 1 adapted for retrofitting on a grease interceptor having electrically non-conductive walls, and including a second grease depth level sensor for extending generally vertically in the separation tank from a location above the upper surface of the body of effluent to a location below the predetermined level, at a location spaced inwardly of the walls of the separation tank and spaced apart from said first grease depth level sensor, said measuring means being adapted to continuously measure the amount of water in the body of effluent by measuring the capacitance between the first grease depth level sensor and the second grease depth level sensor as the thickness of a layer of grease in the separation tank varies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sensor assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second grease depth level sensor comprises a return plate for mounting in the separation tank at a location spaced inwardly of the walls of the separation tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sensor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said measuring means comprises an R/C oscillator circuit and said control means is responsive to said oscillator circuit to control said actuatable mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
A sensor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a controller having a non-volatile memory and an equation of frequency versus water level that is valid for substantially all points along the length of said probe, and said controller is operative to compare the measured capacitance with values stored in its memory, and on the basis of said comparison, determine whether the amount of grease in said separation tank is sufficient to actuate said actuatable mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sensor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises means to account for buildup of materials on said sensor during the lifetime of said interceptor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sensor as set forth in claim 1 further including electric circuitry for effecting manual calibration of said grease depth level sensor, including a variable resistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sensor assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including electric circuitry for effecting automatic calibration of said grease depth level sensor, including a microprocessor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
A sensor assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including electric circuitry for receiving a first output signal indicative of said measured capacitance; and means for connecting said electric circuitry with a telephone line; said electric circuitry being responsive to an interrogation signal received over the telephone line to transmit a second output signal corresponding to the first output signal, over the telephone line, to a remote location, for use in determining at the remote location the amount of grease in the body of effluent in the separation tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for removing grease from an effluent stream containing grease and water, comprising: a grease/water separation tank defining a separation chamber; an effluent inlet connected with said separation tank for permitting flow of the effluent stream into said separation chamber to form a body of effluent in said separation chamber, the body of effluent having an upper surface; an actuatable mechanism adapted to actuate when a thickened layer of grease in the tank reaches a predetermined level; a grease depth level sensor comprising an elongated conductive probe extending generally vertically in said separation tank from a location above the upper surface of the body of effluent to a location below said predetermined level; a measuring means adapted to continuously measure the amount of water in the body of effluent by measuring the capacitance between the probe and a wall of the separation tank as the thickness of a layer of grease in the tank varies; and control means adapted to actuate said actuatable mechanism in response to said measuring means measuring a capacitance corresponding to an amount of water in said tank when said thickened layer of grease reaches said predetermined level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for removing grease from an effluent stream containing grease and water, comprising: a grease/water separation tank defining a separation chamber; an effluent inlet connected with said separation tank for permitting flow of the effluent stream into said separation chamber to form a body of effluent in said separation chamber, the body of effluent having an upper surface; an actuatable mechanism adapted to actuate when a thickened layer of grease in the tank reaches a predetermined level; a grease depth level sensor comprising an elongated conductive probe extending generally vertically in said separation tank from a location above the upper surface of the body of effluent to a location below said predetermined level; a measuring means adapted to continuously measure the amount of water in the body of effluent by measuring the capacitance between the probe and a wall of the separation tank as the thickness of a layer of grease in the tank varies; and control means adapted to actuate said actuatable mechanism in response to said measuring means measuring a capacitance corresponding to an amount of water in said tank when said thickened layer of grease reaches said predetermined level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said actuatable mechanism comprises an indicator assembly including audible or visual signal devices.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said actuatable mechanism comprises electric circuitry operative to transmit a signal indicative of the amount of water in said tank to a remote location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said actuatable mechanism comprises electric circuitry operative to transmit said signal to a remote location over a telephone line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said actuatable mechanism comprises electric circuitry operative to transmit said signal to a remote location wirelessly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
An interceptor as set forth in claim 12 wherein said control means comprises a controller having a non-volatile memory and an equation of frequency versus water level that is valid for substantially all points along the length of said probe, and said controller is operative to compare the sensed capacitance with values stored in its memory, and on the basis of said comparison, determine whether the amount of grease in said separation tank is sufficient to actuate said actuatable mechanism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
An interceptor as set forth in claim 17 wherein said controller comprises means to account for buildup of materials on said sensor during the lifetime of said interceptor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
An interceptor as set forth in claim 12 further including electric circuitry for effecting manual calibration of said grease depth level sensor, including a variable resistor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
An interceptor as set forth in claim 12 further including electric circuitry for effecting automatic calibration of said grease depth level sensor, including a microprocessor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
89 words
An interceptor as set forth in claim 12 further including electric circuitry for receiving a first output signal indicative of said measured capacitance; and means for connecting said electric circuitry with a telephone line; said electric circuitry being responsive to an interrogation signal received over the telephone line to transmit a second output signal corresponding to the first output signal, over the telephone line, to a remote location, for use in determining at the remote location the amount of grease in the body of effluent in the separation tank.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 further including at least one local status indicator connected with said electric circuitry for visually and/or audibly indicating the amount of grease in the body of effluent in the separation tank.
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) | 2007-08-17 | 2008-02-16 | 2008-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-08-17 | 2012-02-16 | 2012-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-08-17 | 2016-02-16 | 2016-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |