Process under/over temperature indicator

• US 8,400,315 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Sherman, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US12/606,632
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 340/584, 340/581, 340/585, 340/588, 340/589, 340/635, 340/653, 340/657, 340/870.17, 219/445.1, 219/446.1, 219/483, 621/27, 621/30
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/15 Power, e.g. by voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/21 Temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method for indicating a process temperature anomaly during a power outage comprising employing a power source separate from that powering the process, setting a temperature set point; sensing presence and absence of power powering the process, sensing process temperature; and indicating to users that an absence of power was sensed and that the temperature sensed during the absence of power was below (or above) the temperature set point.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating a process temperature anomaly during a power outage, said apparatus comprising:

a power source separate from that powering the process;

a temperature setting command device;

a temperature sensor sensing process temperature;

a power sensor sensing presence and absence of power powering the process; and

an indicator showing that the power sensor sensed absence of power and that the temperature sensor sensed during the absence of power a temperature below that set by said temperature setting command device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power source comprises one or more batteries.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said temperature setting command device comprises a switch.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said temperature setting command device comprises a three-way or greater switch.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

6. An apparatus for indicating a process temperature anomaly during a power outage, said apparatus comprising:

a power source separate from that powering the process;

a temperature setting command device;

a temperature sensor sensing process temperature;

a power sensor sensing presence and absence of power powering the process; and

an indicator showing that the power sensor sensed absence of power and that the temperature sensor sensed during the absence of power a temperature above that set by said temperature setting command device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said power source comprises one or more batteries.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said temperature setting command device comprises a switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said temperature setting command device comprises a three-way or greater switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the indicator comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

11. A method for indicating a process temperature anomaly during a power outage, the method comprising the steps of:

employing a power source separate from that powering the process;

setting a temperature set point;

sensing presence and absence of power powering the process;

sensing process temperature; and

indicating to users that an absence of power was sensed and that the temperature sensed during the absence of power was below the temperature set point.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the setting step comprises employing a switch.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the setting step comprises employing a three-way or greater switch.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the indicating step comprises lighting one or more light emitting diodes.

16. A method for indicating a process temperature anomaly during a power outage, the method comprising the steps of:

employing a power source separate from that powering the process;

setting a temperature set point;

sensing presence and absence of power powering the process;

sensing process temperature; and

indicating to users that an absence of power was sensed and that the temperature sensed during the absence of power was above the temperature set point.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the setting step comprises employing a switch.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the setting step comprises employing a three-way or greater switch.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the indicating step comprises lighting one or more light emitting diodes.