Remote oil tank display apparatus

• US 4,924,221 A
• Filed: 12/05/1988
• Issued: 05/08/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew Filippone
• Original Assignee: Andrew Filippone
• Inventors: Filippone, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Queen, Tyrone
• Application Number:
  US07/279,512
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.38, 340/870.01, 340/870.07, 340/870.09, 340/870.16, 340/870.30, 340/603, 340/612, 340/618, 340/623, 340/624, 340/625, 116/109, 116/110, 116/227-229, 73/290 R, 73/290 B, 73/291, 73/301, 73/304 R, 73/305, 73/306-308, 73/317, 73/319, 73/322, 73/322.5, 73/313, 200/84 R, 200/190, 200/230, 307/118, 361/178, 338/33
• US Class Current: 340/870.38
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/36 using electrically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/60 using electrically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/68 using electrically actuated indicating means

Abstract

A remote oil tank display apparatus is set forth in combination with an oil tank for the indication of oil tank volume. The sending unit is encased in a hermetically sealed container to prevent oil fume propagation throughout an area. A combination digital and light emitting diode display is set forth and is remotely positioned relative to the oil tank to enable individuals of diminished physical capacity to receive and display information of oil volume remaining in an oil tank. Further, an audio means may be selectively employed in concert with the visual displays to assist individuals of diminished hearing capacity.

Claims

1. A remote oil tank display apparatus for use in combination with an oil storage tank comprising, in combination,

an oil tank including a fluid indicating unit secured thereto, and

a housing unit overlying said fluid indicating unit, and

a display means for indicating fluid level within said oil tank in response to a fluid level signal generated from said fluid indicating unit;

a normally open switch means electrically associated in series with said fluid indicating unit, said display means, and a storage battery for providing electrical association between said fluid indicating unit and said display means, and

wherein said switch means includes a spring normally biasing said switch means to an open position and further including a manually depressible button means for accepting manual displacement overcoming a force imposed by said spring to close said switch means to electrically associate said fluid indicating unit and said display means, and

wherein the said display means includes an analog display and a digital display, and

wherein said digital display comprises a series of light emitting diodes for indicating fluid level in said oil tank, and

wherein said housing unit includes a resilient sealing member integrally secured about a lower peripheral surface of said housing unit and further including a removable adhesive flexible strip to enable adhesive securement of said housing unit to said oil tank and wherein said housing unit further includes a plurality of openings to accept electrical transmission lines to electrically associate the fluid indicating unit with said display means, and

wherein said fluid indicating unit includes a float arm reciprocatably disposed within a brass grommet, said brass grommet includes a through-extending bore to slidingly accept said float arm therethrough and wherein said brass grommet is sealingly secured to said oil tank, and

wherein said float arm is mechanically connected to a rheostat by an interconnecting angulated link to pivot a sender arm in response to fluid level within said oil tank, and

wherein said rheostat is secured within a rheostat housing, and said rheostat housing is slidingly securable to an "L" shaped bracket, and said "L" shaped bracket includes an elongate slot for adjustably positioning said rheostat housing vertically with respect to said bracket.