Oil level detector and indicator
First Claim
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1. An apparatus to indicate the level of oil in a supply tank which is coupled through a gravity feed line to a motor, said apparatus comprising:
- A. a detector disposed at a level below that of said supply tank and provided with a cylindrical chamber having a pipe section extending horizontally therethrough and adapted to be interposed in said line, said section being disposed adjacent a bottom wall of said chamber and having openings whereby oil leaking into said chamber creates an oil pool therein, said chamber having an air vent at the upper end thereof, a float disposed in said chamber and rising and falling with said pool, said chamber having a stop at a top wall thereof to maintain an air space between the upper end of said float and said top wall to prevent blocking said air vent, said float incorporating a permanent magnet, and a magnetically-actuatable reed switch disposed at the bottom of said chamber and actuated only when the float magnet is in proximity thereto as a result of a low oil level condition; and
B. means connected to said switch to indicate said condition.
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Abstract
In order to sense the level of oil in a tank coupled through a line to an engine, and to give a warning when the level is low, a detector is provided which includes a pipe section interposed in the line and passing through a chamber. Openings in the pipe section cause the oil to leak into the chamber to form a pool therein. Resting on the pool and rising and falling therewith is a float having a magnet therein. When the oil level is low, the magnet is brought into the proximity of a reed switch at the bottom of the chamber, the switch then being actuated to close an alarm circuit.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An apparatus to indicate the level of oil in a supply tank which is coupled through a gravity feed line to a motor, said apparatus comprising:
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A. a detector disposed at a level below that of said supply tank and provided with a cylindrical chamber having a pipe section extending horizontally therethrough and adapted to be interposed in said line, said section being disposed adjacent a bottom wall of said chamber and having openings whereby oil leaking into said chamber creates an oil pool therein, said chamber having an air vent at the upper end thereof, a float disposed in said chamber and rising and falling with said pool, said chamber having a stop at a top wall thereof to maintain an air space between the upper end of said float and said top wall to prevent blocking said air vent, said float incorporating a permanent magnet, and a magnetically-actuatable reed switch disposed at the bottom of said chamber and actuated only when the float magnet is in proximity thereto as a result of a low oil level condition; and B. means connected to said switch to indicate said condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification