Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-09
2001-04-10
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S603000, C340S984000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215407
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pollutant detection systems and, more specifically, to a system for detecting the presence of hydrocarbons in a bilge or pipe system and alerting the appropriate operator or monitor using audible and/or visual alarms while automatically shutting off the flow of contamination into the environment.
The system is comprised of one or more vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s) and one or more liquid submersible hydrocarbon sensor(s). Each of the sensors having electrical connection to other members within the system for initiating a predetermined response to the presence of hydrocarbons.
In the application of the system within a vessel bilge area, the vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s) would be located in an elevated portion of the bilge area having electrical connection to a forced air exhaust member and audible and/or visual alarm members. Said audible and/or visual alarm members may incorporate existing lighting and audible elements within the vessel, such as, vessel running lights and horn.
Further, the vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s) can be an integral part of the vessel ignition system. While it is federally mandated that each compartment in a boat built after 1980 having a permanently installed gasoline engine with a cranking motor for remote starting have a powered ventilation system, there is no mandate for purging said system prior to engaging said engine. It recommended that the operator of the vessel check the bilge area for fuel and vapor contamination prior to vessel use. While this is prudent advice and is an element of an experienced vessel operator checklist for sea worthiness when moored, it is easily overlooked on the open water especially by the novice. Incorporating vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s) and powered ventilation system within the ignition system forms a failsafe system whereby, should an operator engage the ignition system while volatile vapors are present, the vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s) will engage the powered ventilation system for a predetermined time period before energizing the engine.
Further, the vaporous hydrocarbon sensor would engage audio and/or visual warning members should the sensor detect volatile vapors exceeding sensor parameters while the engine is running.
In addition to the vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s), a liquid submersible hydrocarbon sensor would be located in the bilge area having electrical connection to the bilge pump and audible and/or visual alarm members for the purpose of automatically shutting down the bilge pump should the sensor detect emulsified hydrocarbons within the bilge water.
Furthermore, the bilge pump shutdown alarms can be distinctly different from the vaporous hydrocarbon sensor alarms.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other pollutant monitoring devices designed for detecting the presence of pollutants. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,797 issued to Thomas S. Hargest on Jan. 11, 1994.
Another patent was issued to Douglas R. Hamburg et al. on Apr. 18, 1995 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,215. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,643 was issued to Michael L. Barnett on Nov. 21, 1995.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,797
Inventor: Thomas S. Hargest
Issued: Jan. 11, 1994
An oil and water separator for separating oil from water collected in a bilge of a boat prior to discharging the water overboard. A reservoir is provided for receiving the mixture of oil and water from the bilge. The oil separates from the water and floats on top of the water. When only water is between a pair of spaced electrical probes carried in the reservoir, such causes a drain valve to be opened to drain the water from the reservoir. As the water is drained from the reservoir, the oil floating on top of the water will come between the probes and close the valve, stopping the draining of the water from the bottom of the reservoir. A mixture of oil and water is pumped from the tank carried in the bilge at an intermittent rate so that the mixture is allowed sufficient time to separate in the reservoir.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,215
Inventor: Douglas R. Hamburg
Issued: Apr. 18, 1995
An on-board monitoring system for an automotive emission catalyst has (I) a test chamber remote from the automobile's engine exhaust gas stream; (ii) apparatus for supplying the chamber with sampled exhaust gases sequestered from said stream; (iii) a single hydrocarbon sensor exposed to the exhaust gas in the chamber to render the signal responsive to the concentration of hydrocarbon in the chamber; and (iv) apparatus for comparing the sensed signal with a reference signal, and, if a predetermined distance is exceeded, the catalyst is indicated as faulty. Apparatus (ii) has a supply channel interconnected between the chamber and the gas stream upstream of the catalytic converter, a supply channel independently interconnected between the chamber and the gas stream downstream of the catalytic converter, and valve apparatus for permitting flow-through of no more than one channel to said chamber at any one moment, preferably cycled at a certain frequency. Method steps carried out by the System comprise: (a) periodically transferring a sample quantity of gas from the stream into a test chamber at a predetermined flow rate; (b) exposing a hydrocarbon sensor to the sequestered gas to generate a signal in proportion to the hydrocarbon in such gas; and (c) comparing the signal with a reference signal to determine if a predetermined difference exists and thereby conclude the catalyst is sufficiently degraded.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,643
Inventor: Michael L. Barnett
Issued: Nov. 21, 1995
A new method and apparatus for monitoring cooling water flow in a marine engine cooling water system to determine the functional status, and efficiency, of a marine engine cooling system and also monitoring bilge water flow in a bilge water pumping system to determine the functional status, and efficiency, of the bilge water pumping system.
While these pollutant detection systems may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention discloses a system for detecting and removing hydrocarbons from a vessel bilge area or the like comprised of one or more vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s) and one or more liquid submersible hydrocarbon sensor(s). Each of the sensors has electrical connection to other members within the system for initiating a predetermined response to the presence of hydrocarbons. In the application of the system within a vessel bilge area, the vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s) would be located in an elevated portion of the bilge area having electrical connection to a forced air exhaust member and audible and/or visual alarm members. The audible and/or visual alarm members may incorporate existing lighting and audible elements within the vessel, such as, vessel running lights and horn. Further, the vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s) can be an integral part of the vessel ignition system. Incorporating vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s) and powered ventilation system within the ignition system forms a failsafe system whereby, should an operator engage the ignition system while volatile vapors are present, the vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s) will engage the powered ventilation system for a predetermined time period before energizing the engine. Further, the vaporous hydrocarbon sensors would engage audio and/or visual warning members should the sensor detect volatile vapors exceeding sensor parameters while the engine is running. In addition to the vaporous hydrocarbon sensor(s), a liquid submersible hydrocarbon sensor would be located in the bilge area having electrical connection to the bilge pump and audible and/or visual alarm members for the purpose of automatically shutting down the bilge pump should the sensor detect emulsified hydrocarbons within the bilge water. Furthermore, the bilge pump shutdown alarms can be distinctly different from the vaporous hydroca
Kroll Michael I.
Wu Daniel J.
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