Wakeboat ballast measurement assemblies and methods

• US 10,329,004 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2019
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard L. Hartman
• Original Assignee: Richard L. Hartman
• Inventors: Hartman, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A
• Application Number:
  US16/255,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20190152575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 153 Days
• Field of Search: 114121, 114122, 114123, 114124, 114125, 701 21, 701 36
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 11/04 Constructional features of bunkers, e.g. structural fuel tanks, or ballast tanks, e.g. with elastic walls tanks for fuel or the like not forming subdivisions of the hull B63B17/0027; cleaning of tanks B63B57/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 13/00 Conduits for emptying or ballasting; Self-bailing equipment; Scuppers draining means for hatches B63B19/26; centrifugal bilge-water separators B04; arrangements of installations for treating ballast water B63J4/002; pipes in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 39/03 by transferring liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 43/06 using ballast tanks conduits for emptying or ballasting B63B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/10 using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/0007 for discrete indicating and measuring G01F23/02 - G01F23/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/0046 with a stationary probe, where a liquid specimen is separated from the mean mass and measured by gauge glasses G01F23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/265 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/266 measuring circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/268 mounting arrangements of probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/292 Light , e.g. infrared or ultraviolet

Abstract

Wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assemblies are provided that can include: a wakeboat having a hull; a ballast compartment associated with the hull; a nonconductive sensor chamber in fluidic communication with the ballast compartment; and at least one conductive electrode associated with the sensor chamber. Methods for sensing a fluid level within a ballast compartment aboard a wakeboat are also provided. The methods can include maintaining fluid communication between the ballast compartment and a sensor chamber; and determining the electrical communication of electrodes operatively associated with the sensor chamber.

Claims

1. A wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assembly comprising:

a wakeboat having a hull;

a ballast compartment associated with the hull;

a nonconductive sensor chamber in fluidic communication with the ballast compartment; and

at least two conductive electrodes associated with the sensor chamber, wherein at least one of the conductive electrodes is electrically isolated from fluid within the sensor chamber.

2. The wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assembly of claim 1 further comprising processing circuitry operatively coupled to the electrodes, the processing circuitry configured to measure the electrical relationship between the electrodes resulting from the fluid level within the sensor chamber.

3. The wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assembly of claim 2 wherein the electrical relationship being measured is electrical capacitance.

4. The wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor chamber is oriented vertically.

5. The wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assembly of claim 2 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to selectively convert the measure of the electrical relationship between the electrodes to an alternative unit of measure.

6. The wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assembly of claim 5 wherein the alternative unit of measure is one of capacity, volume, distance, and/or mass.

7. The wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assembly of claim 5 wherein the processing circuitry further comprises a connection of at least one of Controller Area Network, Ethernet, RS-232, RS-423, analog voltage, analog current, optical, and/or radio, the processing circuitry configured to selectively communicate, using the connection, at least one of the measure of electrical relationship between the electrodes and/or the alternative unit of measure.

8. The wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the ballast compartment is defined by at least one of a hard sided compartment, a flexible sack or bag, and/or the hull walls.

9. The wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are aligned on the sensor chamber opposing one another.

10. The wakeboat ballast compartment fluid level sensing assembly of claim 1 wherein the ballast compartment defines a total fluid capacity height and the sensor chamber defines a sensor fluid capacity height at least as tall as the total fluid capacity height of the ballast compartment.

11. A method for sensing a fluid level within a ballast compartment aboard a wakeboat, the method comprising:

maintaining fluid communication between the ballast compartment and a sensor chamber; and

determining the electrical communication between at least two electrodes operatively associated with the sensor chamber wherein at least one of the electrodes is electrically isolated from fluid within the sensor chamber.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising aligning the ballast compartment and the sensor chamber along at least one vertical plane.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the electrodes are extended along a portion of the sidewalls of the sensor chamber.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising extending a conduit between one position on the ballast compartment and another position on the sensor chamber, the positions being different from one another.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the one position is associated with the bottom of the ballast compartment.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising calibrating a level of fluid within the chamber that corresponds to a level of fluid within the compartment.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising incorporating the ballast compartment within a hull of the wakeboat.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the electrical communication being determined comprises electrical capacitance.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising correlating the electrical capacitance with a level of fluid within the sensor chamber.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising correlating a level of fluid within the sensor chamber with a level of fluid within the ballast compartment.