SOLID STATE FLUID LEVEL SENSOR
First Claim
1. A bilge pump, comprising:
- a first field effect sensor, within a sealed housing within a bilge, the first field effect sensor configured to generate a first electromagnetic field and sense a presence of fluid proximate the first field effect sensor by detecting variations in the first electromagnetic field;
a second field effect sensor, vertically aligned below the first field effect sensor with respect to the bilge, the second field effect sensor configured to generate a second electromagnetic field and sense a presence of the fluid proximate the second field effect sensor by detecting variations in the second electromagnetic field; and
an actuator configured to operate an electric pump in response to the first field effect sensor detecting the presence of the fluid proximate to the first field effect sensor and stop operation of the electric pump in response to the second field effect sensor detecting the presence of the fluid proximate to the second field effect sensor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor system for sensing liquid level in a bilge, for use in automatic bilge pump actuation. First and second field effect sensors are potted or sealed within a container or the bilge wall and are aligned in a vertical array and each comprise a substantially planar pattern of “electrodes” or conductive traces disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) along with integrated circuits used to create a loop or arc-shaped electric field. As bilge liquid rises to the proximity or level of the field effect sensors, a change in the arc-shaped electric field is sensed and, in response, a bilge pump is automatically actuated to pump liquid out of the bilge. Optionally, the pump control can be programmed by use of a microprocessor to permit control of on-off timing and prevent undesirable effects of “sloshing.”
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A bilge pump, comprising:
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a first field effect sensor, within a sealed housing within a bilge, the first field effect sensor configured to generate a first electromagnetic field and sense a presence of fluid proximate the first field effect sensor by detecting variations in the first electromagnetic field; a second field effect sensor, vertically aligned below the first field effect sensor with respect to the bilge, the second field effect sensor configured to generate a second electromagnetic field and sense a presence of the fluid proximate the second field effect sensor by detecting variations in the second electromagnetic field; and an actuator configured to operate an electric pump in response to the first field effect sensor detecting the presence of the fluid proximate to the first field effect sensor and stop operation of the electric pump in response to the second field effect sensor detecting the presence of the fluid proximate to the second field effect sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A bilge pump, comprising:
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a first field effect sensor within a sealed housing within a bilge, the field effect sensor comprising; a first electrode having a first trace area; and a second electrode at least partially surrounding the first electrode, the second electrode having a second trace area substantially equal to the first trace area, wherein the field effect sensor is configured to generate an first electromagnetic field and sense a presence of fluid proximate the first field effect sensor by detecting variations in the first electromagnetic field; and an actuator configured to operate an electric pump in response to the first field effect sensor detecting the presence of the fluid proximate to the first field effect sensor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of pumping fluid from a bilge, the method comprising:
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providing a first field effect sensor within a sealed housing within the bilge; generating, by the first field effect sensor, a first electromagnetic field; sensing a presence of the fluid proximate the first field effect sensor by detecting variations in the first electromagnetic field; providing a second field effect sensor, vertically aligned below the first field effect sensor with respect to the bilge; generating, by the second field effect sensor, a second electromagnetic field; sensing a presence of the fluid proximate the second field effect sensor by detecting variations in the second electromagnetic field; operating an electric pump in response to the first field effect sensor detecting the presence of the fluid proximate to the first field effect sensor; and stopping operation of the electric pump in response to the second field effect sensor detecting the presence of the fluid proximate to the second field effect sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of pumping fluid from a bilge, the method comprising:
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providing a first field effect sensor within a sealed housing within the bilge, the field effect sensor comprising a first electrode having a first trace area and a second electrode at least partially surrounding the first electrode, the second electrode having a second trace area substantially equal to the first trace area; generating, by the first field effect sensor, a first electromagnetic field; sensing a presence of the fluid proximate the first field effect sensor by detecting variations in the first electromagnetic field; and operating an electric pump in response to the first field effect sensor detecting the presence of the fluid proximate to the first field effect sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification