Oil tank sight glass monitor

• US 7,116,236 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Antron Engineering & Machine Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Antron Engineering & Machine Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Denietolis, Anthony F. Jr., Burke, James G. III
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/852,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20050007253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 340/619, 340/618, 340/623, 340/624, 340/612, 733/23, 736/24, 732/90.R, 732/93, 250/577, 200/61.02, 200/61.2, 222/51
• US Class Current: 340/619
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2921 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/606 using opto-electrically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/686 using opto-electrically actuated indicating means

Abstract

An oil tank sight glass monitor comprising a housing having an opening therein sized to receive the sight glass of an oil tank; an emitter for emitting a beam of light, the emitter being mounted to the housing on one side of the opening so that the beam of light is directed across the opening; a detector for detecting the beam of light generated by the emitter, the detector being mounted to the housing on the other side of the opening, in optical alignment with the emitter, so as to detect the beam of light emitted by the emitter; and an alarm for producing an audible sound when the detector fails to detect the beam of light generated by the emitter.

Claims

1. An oil tank sight glass monitor comprising:

a housing having an opening therein sized to receive the sight glass of an oil tank;

an emitter for emitting a beam of light, said emitter being mounted to said housing on one side of said opening so that said beam of light is directed across said opening;

a detector for detecting said beam of light generated by said emitter, said detector being mounted to said housing on the other side of said opening, in optical alignment with said emitter, so as to detect said beam of light emitted by said emitter; and

an alarm for producing an audible sound when said detector fails to detect said beam of light generated by said emitter.

2. An oil tank sight glass monitor according to claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling the operation of said emitter and said detector.

3. An oil tank sight glass monitor according to claim 2 wherein said controller is configured so that it will only activate said emitter and said detector periodically, with said monitor assuming a sleep mode between these periods of activation.

4. An oil tank sight glass monitor according to claim 1 wherein said alarm comprises an RF transmitter and an RF receiver, said RF transmitter being located in said housing and said RF receiver being located in a second housing to be disposed at a remote location, and further wherein said RF transmitter sends an RF signal to said RF receiver when said detector fails to detect said beam of light, whereby said RF receiver will produce an audible sound.