Fuel tank alarm system

• US 5,831,536 A
• Filed: 02/22/1996
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ray Zager & Company
• Original Assignee: Ray Zager & Company
• Inventors: Zager, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US08/605,771
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 340/623, 340/450, 340/450.2, 340/450.3, 340/618, 340/625, 73/290 R, 73/305, 73/306, 73/307, 73/317, 73/308, 73/328
• US Class Current: 340/623
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/38 using magnetically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/02 actuated by movement of a float carrying a magnet

Abstract

An alarm system to warn those pumping fuel into remote tanks that the fuel level is at the top of the tank, and thus prevent overflowing. This system is particularly useful for filling tanks in boats.

Claims

1. A retrofit overflow alarm system for signaling that the level of a flammable liquid in a remote tank has reached a preselected level to prevent spillage thereof, the system comprising a magnetic switch and a float means attached to said magnetic switch in an electric circuit including an alarm means, a power source, and said magnetic switch;

said float means and said magnetic switch being suspended inside said tank through an opening in a top horizontal wall of said tank, a retainer plate, a liquid proof housing for said switch for retrofitting and extending through said opening of said tank;

said housing having an outer portion extending outwardly of said wall and an inner portion within said tank, said housing having an outwardly disposed flange larger than said opening and extending laterally of said opening and located outwardly of said tank and being clamped to said wall by said retainer plate attached to and located outwardly of said tank and being clamped to said wall by said retainer plate attached to and located outwardly of said wall by screws piercing said plate and said wall, a single flexible flammable liquid resistant liquid seal suitable for use in a flammable environment surrounding said housing inwardly of said flange and pressed between said plate and said flange and outwardly of said wall of said tank.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said liquid seal is an elastomeric O-ring.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said liquid seal is a flat gasket.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said magnetic switch includes a liquidproof recess in said housing containing a reed switch which closes when said float means moves upwardly causing an internal magnet to move closer to a magnetically attracted reed of said reed switch.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said liquid is a fuel.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said power source is a dry cell battery.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said power source is a direct current (DC) wet cell battery.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said wall is a top horizontal wall of said tank.

9. The system of claim 1 on a marine craft having at least two remote fuel tanks, each of which has an independent identical float means and magnetic switch in said electric circuit, said circuit further including a selector switch to select one of said fuel tanks to be electrically joined to said alarm means and to said power source and said power source being a storage battery of a marine craft.

10. A retrofit kit for installing an alarm system on a marine craft having at least two fuel tanks, the kit comprising a reed switch in a housing, said housing including a flange larger than an opening in a fuel tank wall through which said housing is to be inserted, the switch being operable by a magnet-containing movable float adapted to be positioned inside a fuel tank near the top thereof, a conductor pipe connecting the reed switch housing to the space outside the fuel tank, a retainer plate and gasket sealing means adjacent said flange outside of the fuel tank adapted to seal the conductor pipe to the fuel tank and prevent any leakage around the pipe as it extends from inside to outside of the fuel tank, thread cutting screws, and lengths of two electric wires to connect the reed switch to the electrical system of the marine craft.

11. The kit of claim 10 which additionally includes sound and light emitters activatable by the alarm system, and a switch control adapted to operate the alarm system selectively with each fuel tank connected to the alarm system.

12. In a marine craft having at least one remote fuel tank and retrofit alarm system for signaling that the fuel in said tank has reached a preselected level to prevent fuel overflow, said system comprising an electric circuit having a power source, a magnetic switch and an alarm, a float disposed within said tank, said tank having a top horizontal wall with an opening therethrough, suspension means passing through said opening and supporting said float adjacent said preselected level within said tank, said suspension means including a liquidproof housing for said magnetic switch being retrofitted to and extending outwardly of said wall through said opening, a retainer plate located outwardly of said wall through said opening, a retainer plate located outwardly of said tank, a flexible flammable liquid resistant liquid seal suitable for use in a flammable environment located outwardly of said tank and surrounding said opening, said housing having an outer portion extending outwardly of said wall and an inner portion within said tank, said housing further including a flange larger than said opening and extending laterally outwardly of said opening and adjacent the outside of said wall, said seal being sandwiched between said wall, said flange, and said retainer plate to seal between said opening and said wall outwardly thereof and spaced screws piercing said retainer plate and said wall to compress said liquid seal to prevent leakage of the fuel from said tank through said opening.

13. In the marine craft of claim 12 wherein said housing includes a liquidproof recess containing a reed switch which closes when said float moves upwardly causing a magnet to move closer to and magnetically attract one reed of said reed switch to close against another same reed thereby providing a complete circuit from said power source to said alarm.

14. In the marine craft of claim 12 wherein said wall is a top horizontal wall of said tank.

15. In the marine craft of claim 12 wherein said power source is a dry cell battery whereby said power source and alarm are self-contained.

16. In the marine craft of claim 12 wherein said power source is a direct current (DC) wet cell battery of said craft.

17. A retrofit kit for installing an alarm system on a marine craft having at least one fuel tank to prevent fuel spillage when filling same, the kit comprising an alarm, a movable float carrying a magnet and positionable within said tank near its top and a housing, a magnetic reed switch disposed in said housing, said switch being closed by said magnet carried by said float when fuel in said tank reaches a preselected level near its top, a liquid impervious suspension means passing through an opening in a wall of said tank and connecting said housing to said fuel tank, said suspension means including a retainer plate and a single seal adapted to surround said opening to prevent any leakage around said opening as said suspension means extends from inside to outside of said tank, a pair of electric wires to connect said reed switch between said alarm and an electrical system of a marine craft, said housing including a flange larger than said opening in said wall and extending laterally outwardly of said opening and being located outside of said tank and adjacent said wall and said sealing means, and a pair of self tapping thread cutting screws spaced on said retainer plate for connection thereof to said wall of said tank and sandwiching said single seal squeezingly between said retainer plate and said flange and the outside of said wall.

18. The kit of claim 17 which additionally includes another identical reed switch and float connected to another fuel tank, and a manually operable switch to control said alarm to be activated selectively with each of said reed switches associated respectively to said fuel tank being filled with fuel.