Water level sensor

• US 4,276,454 A
• Filed: 03/19/1979
• Issued: 06/30/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William J. Zathan
• Original Assignee: William J. Zathan
• Inventors: Zathan, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truhe, J. V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsburg, Morris
• Application Number:
  US06/021,691
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.04, 200/61.05, 340/620, 73/304R, 73/304 C, 324/61 P, 361/284
• US Class Current: 200/61.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/18 Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically

Abstract

The invention is a bi-level fluid level sensor intended to be used in the bilges of boats with complementary equipment which activates emergency equipment such as warning devices and/or pumps when the upper level is reached, and deactivates such equipment when the lower level is reached. The sensor is uniquely constructed of three specially coatedwater repellent probe elements which are received in a socket which is in turn imbedded in a molded body of plastic or the like to absolutely seal the sensing unit against corrosion and mitigate against the accidental bridging of the probes by oil slicks and bilge slime.

Claims

1. A sensing device for determining the level of a fluid comprising:

(a) an electrical connector connected to a lead cable with a three-wire breakout and defining three parallel downwardly directed sockets connected respectively to said three wires;

(b) two pre-formed conductor elements plugged into two of said three sockets and defining respectively two depending probes each having an insulation sheath completely covering same except for the tip thereof;

(c) a third pre-formed conductor element plugged into the third of said sockets and defining a horizontally extended probe having an insulation sheath completely covering same except for the tip thereof; and

(d) a solid block of an insulating, impermeable mass completely encapsulating said connector and said conductor elements except for the ends of said probes so that the exterior surface of said block intersects the insulation sheaths of said probes and said cable beyond the three-wire breakout, whereby all elements extending from said block are imbedded in said block up to and beyond their areas of greatest insulation.