Printed hydrostatic versatile multiple liquid level switch

• US 20140015342A1
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher J. Milone
• Original Assignee: Christopher J. Milone
• Inventors: Milone, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,574,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/118
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/242 Mounting arrangements for electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/243 Schematic arrangements of probes combined with measuring circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/18 Switches operated by change of liquid level or of liquid density, e.g. float switch by magnet carried on a float H01H36/02

Abstract

A liquid level switch is provided having a first elongated substrate having one, two or three or more pairs of elongated electrical conductors thereon, a second elongated substrate having one two or three or more electrically conductive areas thereon, each electrically conductive area being positioned over an associated pair of electrical conductors positioned on the first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate for enabling electrical bridging contact between conductors of the pairs of electrical conductors, and a substrate coupler is provided for coupling the first and second non-electrically conductive substrates together for providing separation of the non-electrically conductive substrates in the absence of hydrostatic pressure thereon, and for causing contact between the first and second non-electrically conductive substrates in the presence of hydrostatic pressure thereon, producing the electrical bridging contact between pairs of conductors on the first non-electrically conductive substrate, in turn producing multiple level output signals.

Claims

1. A liquid level switch comprising:

(a) a first elongated, non-electrically conductive substrate having a pair of elongated electrical conductors thereon;

(b) a second elongated non-electrically conductive substrate having an electrically conductive area thereon, said electrically conductive area being positioned over the pair of electrical conductors positioned on the first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate for enabling electrical bridging contact between conductors of said pair of electrical conductors; and

(c) a substrate coupler for coupling said first and second non-electrically conductive substrates together face to face for providing separation of said non-electrically conductive substrates in the absence of hydrostatic pressure thereon, and for causing contact between said first and second non-electrically conductive substrates in the presence of hydrostatic pressure thereon, producing said electrical bridging contact between said pair of conductors on the first non-electrically conductive substrate.

2. The liquid level switch of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive area of the second elongated non-electrically conductive substrate occupies a small portion of the length of said liquid level switch for producing particular liquid level output signals.

3. The liquid level switch of claim 1 further including an output circuit, coupled to the liquid level switch for applying a readout voltage to one of the conductors of the pair of conductors for producing an output pulse for indicating a particular detected liquid level.

4. The liquid level switch of claim 2 further including an output circuit, coupled to the liquid level switch for applying a readout voltage to one of the conductors of the pair of conductors for producing an output pulse for indicating a particular detected liquid level.

21. The liquid level switch of claim 1 including a vent hole in an upper portion of the switch to allow air to flow in and out of the liquid level switch.

5. A liquid level switch comprising:

(a) a first elongated, non-electrically conductive substrate having a first and second pair of elongated electrical conductors thereon;

(b) a second elongated non-electrically conductive substrate having first and second electrical conductive areas thereon, separated from each other, each electrically conductive area being positioned over an associated pair of electrical conductors positioned on the first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate for enabling electrical bridging contact between conductors of said pairs of electrical conductors; and

(c) a substrate coupler for coupling said first and second non-electrically conductive substrates together face to face for providing separation of said non-electrically conductive substrates in the absence of hydrostatic pressure thereon, and for causing contact between said first and second non-electrically conductive substrates in the presence of hydrostatic pressure thereon, producing said electrical bridging contact between conductors of the first and second pairs of conductors on the first non-electrically conductive substrate.

6. The liquid level switch of claim 5 wherein each of the first and second electrically conductive areas of the second elongated non-electrically conductive substrate occupy a small portion of the length of said liquid level switch for producing particular liquid level output signals.

7. The liquid level switch of claim 6 wherein said first electrically conductive area is positioned near a lower portion of said switch and said second electrically conductive area is positioned near an upper portion of said switch for producing low and high liquid level output signals respectively.

8. The liquid level switch of claim 6 further including an output circuit, coupled to the liquid level switch for applying a readout voltage to one of the conductors of each pair of conductors for producing an output pulse for indicating a particular detected liquid level.

9. The liquid level switch of claim 7 further including an output circuit, coupled to the liquid level switch for applying a readout voltage to one of the conductors of each pair of conductors for producing an output pulse for indicating a particular detected liquid level.

10. The liquid level switch of claim 5 wherein said first and second pair of elongated electrical conductors of said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate are laterally coupled together and thus share a common elongated conductor for saving space on said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate.

11. The liquid level switch of claim 6 wherein said first and second pair of elongated electrical conductors of said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate are laterally coupled together and thus share a common elongated conductor for saving space on said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate.

12. The liquid level switch of claim 7 wherein said first and second pair of elongated electrical conductors of said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate are laterally coupled together and thus share a common elongated conductor for saving space on said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate.

13. The liquid level switch of claim 8 wherein said first and second pair of elongated electrical conductors of said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate are laterally coupled together and thus share a common elongated conductor for saving space on said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate.

14. The liquid level switch of claim 9 wherein said first and second pair of elongated electrical conductors of said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate are laterally coupled together and thus share a common elongated conductor for saving space on said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate.

22. The liquid level switch of claim 10 including a vent hole in an upper portion of the switch to allow air to flow in and out of the liquid level switch.

15. A liquid level switch comprising:

(a) a first elongated, non-electrically conductive substrate having a first second and third pair of elongated electrical conductors thereon;

(b) a second elongated non-electrically conductive substrate having first second and third electrical conductive areas thereon, separated from each other, each electrically conductive area being positioned over an associated pair of electrical conductors positioned on the first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate for enabling electrical bridging contact between conductors of said pairs of electrical conductors; and

(c) a substrate coupler for coupling said first and second non-electrically conductive substrates together face to face for providing separation of said non-electrically conductive substrates in the absence of hydrostatic pressure thereon, and for causing contact between said first and second non-electrically conductive substrates in the presence of hydrostatic pressure thereon, producing said electrical bridging contact between conductors of the first and second pairs of conductors on the first non-electrically conductive substrate.

16. The liquid level switch of claim 15 wherein each of the first second and third electrically conductive areas of the second elongated non-electrically conductive substrate occupy a small portion of the length of said liquid level switch for producing particular liquid level output signals.

17. The liquid level switch of claim 16 wherein said first electrically conductive area is positioned near a lower portion of said switch and said second electrically conductive area is positioned near an upper portion of said switch and said third electrically conductive area is positioned between the first and second electrically conductive areas for producing low high and intermediate liquid level output signals respectively.

18. The liquid level switch of claim 15 wherein said first and second pair of elongated electrical conductors of said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate are laterally coupled together and thus share a common elongated conductor and wherein a voltage terminal or ground is connected to an outer conductor of said first pair of elongated electrical conductors.

19. The liquid level switch of claim 16 wherein said first and second pair of elongated electrical conductors of said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate are laterally coupled together and thus share a common elongated conductor and wherein a voltage terminal or ground is connected to an outer conductor of said first pair of elongated electrical conductors.

20. The liquid level switch of claim 17 wherein said first and second pair of elongated electrical conductors of said first elongated non-electrically conductive substrate are laterally coupled together and thus share a common elongated conductor and wherein a voltage terminal or ground is connected to an outer conductor of said first pair of elongated electrical conductors.

23. The liquid level switch of claim 18 including a vent hole in an upper portion of the switch to allow air to flow in and out of the liquid level switch.