Tank level alarm control system

• US 5,124,686 A
• Filed: 12/31/1990
• Issued: 06/23/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Midland Manufacturing Corporation (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: White, John J., Barmore, Gaston C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/635,969
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 340/624, 340/623, 73/306, 73/308, 73/313, 73/322, 73/DIG. 5, 200/84 C
• US Class Current: 340/624
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/72 using magnetically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/74 for sensing changes in level only at discrete points
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 73/05 Liquid levels with magnetic transmission

Abstract

The gauge has an outer tube sealed at its lower end and adapted for attachment to the top wall of the tank, and an inner tube axially movable within the outer tube. A float encircles the outer tube and moves freely therealong. First and second magnets respectively attached to the float and to the lower end of the inner tube provide magnetic coupling therebetween so that a rising liquid causes the inner tube to rise with the float. Magnets within the inner tube operate a switch to signal when the first and second magnets are in position for magnetic coupling therebetween. Another magnet is fixed by a set screw to the outside of the inner tube in position for operating the switch when the tank is substantially full. Retaining clips are also disclosed for holding the latter magnet in place.

Claims

1. In a gauge for indicating the level of liquid in a tank, including an outer tube having a lower end for extending into the tank and an upper end for protruding from the tank, a float encircling the outer tube and movable therealong as the liquid level in the tank rises and falls, an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and axially movable therein, first magnet means attached to the inner tube adjacent to the lower end t hereof, second magnet means in the float and adapted to magnetically couple to the first magnet means so that a rising liquid level in the tank causes the inner tube to rise, and magnetically operable switch means laterally adjacent to the inner tube near the upper end of the outer tube, the improvement comprising:

third magnet means, means removably mounting said third magnetic means on the outside of the inner tube intermediate the ends thereof in a position for magnetically operating the switch means when proximate thereto, and bushing means closing the outer tube at the upper end thereof and having a bore therein for receiving the inner tube therethrough, said third magnet means being engageable with said bushing for limiting the upward movement of the inner tube, said bushing being spaced below the switch means a distance such that said third magnet means is capable of operating the switch means when disposed at said bushing.

2. In a gauge for indicating the level of liquid in a tank, including an outer tube having a lower end for extending into the tank and an upper end for protruding from the tank, a float encircling the outer tube and movable therealong as the liquid level in the tank rises and falls, an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and axially movable therein, first magnet means attached to the inner tube adjacent to the lower end thereof, and second magnet means in the float and adapted to magnetically couple to the first magnet means so that a rising liquid level in the tank causes the inner tube to rise, the improvement comprising:

stop means limiting the downward movements of the float and the inner tube so that in their lowermost positions the first magnet means is disposed a predetermined distance below the second magnet means sufficient to prevent magnetic coupling therebetween, and indicator means responsive to upward movement of the inner tube for providing an indication when the inner tube has been raised sufficiently to provide magnetic coupling between the first and second magnet means.

3. The gauge of claim 2, wherein said indicator means includes means carried by the inner tube and movable therewith.

4. The gauge of claim 2, wherein said indicator means includes switch means laterally adjacent to the inner tube near the upper end of the outer tube, and switch actuating means carried by the inner tube and movable therewith.

5. The gauge of claim 4, wherein said switch means is magnetically operable switch means, said actuating means including coupling indicating magnet means carried by the inner tube.

6. The gauge of claim 5, wherein said coupling indicating magnet means includes two magnets carried by the inner tube and spaced apart a predetermined distance therealong.

7. The gauge of claim 6, and further comprising level indicating magnet means carried by the inner tube below the coupling indicating magnet means in a position for magnetically operating the switch means when proximate thereto.

8. The gauge of claim 2, wherein said indicator means includes level indicating alarm means for producing an indication when the tank has been filled to a predetermined level.

9. In a gauge for indicating the level of liquid in a tank, including an outer tube having a lower end for extending into the tank and an upper end for protruding from the tank, a float encircling the outer tube and movable therealong as the liquid level in the tank rises and falls, an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and axially movable therein, first magnet means attached to the inner tube adjacent to the lower end thereof, second magnet means in the float and adapted to magnetically couple to the first magnet means so that a rising liquid level in the tank causes the inner tube to rise, and magnetically operable switch means laterally adjacent to the inner tube near the upper end of the outer tube, the improvement comprising:

stop means limiting the downward movements of the float and the inner tube so that in their lowermost positions the first magnet means is disposed a predetermined distance below the second magnet means sufficient to prevent magnetic coupling therebetween, third magnet means carried by the inner tube above the first magnet means in a position for magnetically operating the switch means when proximate thereto, and fourth magnet means carried by the inner tube above the third magnet means in a position for magnetically operating the switch means when proximate thereto.

10. The gauge of claim 9, wherein said third magnet means is mounted on the outside of the inner tube.

11. The gauge of claim 10, and further comprising means removably mounting said third magnet means on the inner tube.

12. The gauge of claim 9, wherein said fourth magnet means is disposed along the inner tube in a position for providing an indication when the inner tube has been raised sufficiently to provide magnetic coupling between the first and second magnet means.

13. The gauge of claim 12, wherein said fourth magnet means is disposed inside the inner tube.

14. The gauge of claim 13, wherein said fourth magnet means includes two magnets.

15. The gauge of claim 14, wherein said fourth magnet means includes non-magnetic spacer means disposed between said two magnets of said fourth magnet means.

16. In a gauge for indicating the level of liquid in a tank, including an outer tube having a lower end for extending into the tank and an upper end for protruding from the tank, a float encircling the outer tube and movable therealong as the liquid level in t he tank rises and falls, an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and axially movable therein, first magnet means attached to the inner tube, and second magnet means in the float and adapted to magnetically couple to the first magnet means so that a rising liquid level in the tank causes the inner tube to rise, the improvement comprising:

stop means limiting the downward movements of the float and the inner tube so that in their lowermost positions the first magnet means is spaced a predetermined distance vertically from the second magnet means sufficient to prevent magnetic coupling therebetween, and indicator means responsive to upward movement of the lowermost one of the float and the inner tube for providing an indication when said lowermost one has been raised sufficiently to provide magnetic coupling between the first and second magnet means.