Level Sensor System

• US 20100215511A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mount Everest Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Mount Everest Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Spraker, Jim, Pfarr, William, Hart, Charles, Eller, Theodore
• Application Number:
  US12/713,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20100215511A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/44.100
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 4/00 Arrangements of installations for treating ballast water, waste water, sewage, sludge, or refuse, or for preventing environmental pollution not otherwise provided for; centrifugal bilge-water separators B04; discharge of refuse, e.g. for ash B63B17/06; arrangements on tanks for fuel or the like for minimizing pollution by accidents B63B17/0036, associated with cargo tanks B63B25/082; vessels for collecting pollution from open water B63B35/30; soil-water discharges B63B29/16; treating waste water, sewage, or sludge, in general, C02F; cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water, in general E02B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/02 Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/022 by means of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/106 Responsive to pumped volume
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0218 the condition being a liquid level or a lack of liquid supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/802 Particular electronic circuits for digital processing equipment

Abstract

A system and method for turning on and off a bilge pump whereby bilge water level is detected using level sensors and bilge pumps are turned on and off based on the detected water level. The system further incorporates an automatic transmission outside the watercraft to alert of the water level in the bilge. The system is controllable from within the watercraft and remotely controllable through wireless transmission.

Claims

1. A system for operating a marine Bilge pump comprising:

a. at least one sensor for detecting the presence of liquid;

b. a first electronic transceiver operatively associated with said sensor;

c. a second electronic transceiver communicatively associated with said first electronic transceiver;

d. a device operatively associated with said each of said transceivers; and

e. an actuator for controlling power and operation of said device;

wherein said sensor, when actuated, transmits a signal to a master controller, said first transceiver sends a signal to said second transceiver and said second transceiver, processes said signal in said master controller that subsequently sends a signal to said device to initiate or cease operation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is in the bilge compartment of a marine watercraft

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is constructed and arranged to exhibit electromagnetic sensing field lines up to ¾

inch outward from the surface of said sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said first electronic transceiver receives information from said sensor regarding the presence of water at said sensor, and said transmits information relating to said presence of water to a bridge command module.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said second electronic transceiver is operatively associated with a bridge command module.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said bridge command module is constructed and arranged to receive information from said sensor and to transmit information in response to information received from said sensor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said transmission of information comprises instructions to actuate a bilge pump or device.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said actuation of said bilge pump is an instruction to turn on or turn off said bilge pump or device.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said transmission of information comprises initiation of a visual signal, audio signal, or combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein said transmission further comprises communication with a cellular device.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein said transmission comprises communication with at least one preprogrammed cellular device by SMS messaging.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein said bridge command module is constructed and arranged to automatically turn on and turn off said bilge pump in response to information received from said sensor.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein said bridge command module is constructed and arranged to manually turn on and turn off said bilge pump or device in response to information received from said sensor.

14. The system of claim 6 wherein said bridge command module is constructed and arranged to remotely turn on and turn off said bilge pump or device in response to information received from said sensor.

15. The system of claim 6 wherein said bridge command module is constructed and arranged to communicate with a Bluetooth transmission mechanism.

16. The system of claim 1 constructed and arranged to transmit and receive by Global Positioning Satellite.

17. The system of claim 1 constructed and arranged to convert a radio frequency signal to a WiFi signal.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said first electronic transceiver wirelessly communicates with said second electronic transceiver.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said first electronic transceiver communicates with said second electronic transceiver by optional DC power line modulation.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said first electronic transceiver is operatively associated with a level sensor module.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said level sensor module utilizes an algorithm to decide on starting and stopping said bilge pump.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said algorithm to decide on starting and stopping said bilge pump includes a time delay for starting and stopping said bilge pump.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein said optional DC power line modulation uses existing wiring in a marine watercraft.

24. The system of claim 5 wherein said bridge command module queries said sensor at predetermined time intervals.

25. The system of claim 6 wherein said bridge command module transmission of information in response to information received from said sensor comprises sending at least one Internet transmission.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said Internet transmission is sent to at least one email address, a monitoring station, or combinations thereof.

27. The system of claim 6 wherein said transmission of at least one Internet transmission comprises multiple transmissions at predetermined time intervals.

28. The system of claim 14 wherein said remote control of said bilge pump is based upon receipt of an instruction from a cell phone, Internet website, monitoring service, or combinations thereof.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein said liquid is water.

30. A system for monitoring a liquid level in a container comprising:

a. at least one sensor for detecting the presence of liquid;

b. a first electronic transceiver operatively associated with said sensor;

c. a second electronic transceiver communicatively associated with said first electronic transceiver;

d. a device operatively associated with said each of said transceivers; and

e. an actuator for controlling power and operation of said device;

wherein said sensor, when actuated, transmits a signal to said a master controller, said first transceiver sends a signal to said second transceiver and said second transceiver, processes said signal in said master controller that subsequently sends a signal to said device to initiate or cease operation.

31. A system for monitoring a liquid level in a container comprising:

a. at least one sensor for detecting the presence of liquid, wherein said sensor is operatively associated with an actuator to turn on or off a device based on the level of liquid in said container.