Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-16
2001-04-17
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S612000, C340S613000, C340S616000, C340S618000, C340S620000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06218948
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the detection of water by electronic means, and more particularly to an electronic probe for detection of occult water or oil in bilges or storage tanks.
In the marine and petroleum industries, the detection of water is often necessary to preserve equipment, fuel, and even human lives.
As an example, in the marine industry, unwanted water in bilges of ships and other vessels can amount to a lethal hazard if left undetected. History is full of well known instances where rising water in the bilge of a vessel, when undiscovered, has had fatal results and many lives have been lost. In the petroleum and aircraft industries, occult water inside of storage tanks has also had fatal consequences for aircraft and other vehicles where clean fuel is imperative.
Prior art devices used in the same context are prone to failure due to a constant off/on cycling as water levels fluctuate with the motion of the vessel, causing the activation float/switch to move with each water movement. This failure is common and potentially lethal. The prior art devices are also prone to running dry once they have pumped all of the available water from the bilge. They also, while pumping all of the water, pump all of the oil and other contaminants into the surrounding water.
As one example, a tank field as is usually found at airports, oil refineries, military installations, etc. can cover a vast area with storage tanks in vast numbers. Due to the nature of fuel tanks, in particular, jet fuel tanks where the tank has a floating “lid” designed to prevent the formation of dangerous fumes, rain water tends to leak past the edge seals of the “lids” and into the fuel. In the event that such water finds its way into the fuel tanks of an aircraft, the results are predictably bad. Current technology uses a variety of physical “sounding” methods which employ long wooden rods with a water sensitive coating affixed to one end which is then lowered into the fuel tank where the presence of water can be seen by color change in the coating. This method of detection is physically demanding and inefficient in terms of time and potential for human error. Furthermore, by nature, the fuel tanks often do not have bottoms which are perfectly level, giving rise to the possibility that water could be present but remain undetected by reason of the “sounding” being taken in the wrong place.
Use of the instant invention makes possible completely accurate monitoring of even vast tank fields in real time through the use of existing computer networking and satellite uplinks and other existing communications systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a unique means whereby occult water can be detected remotely through the use of a detection probe connected via wires to the detection/signaling electronic circuitry.
The invention, in its current form, has at least two configurations both of which rely upon the same electronic circuitry for the detection of water and in one configuration, the circuitry can be connected to a signaling/activation means for controlling a bilge or other pumping device. In the second configuration, the electronic circuitry connects to an electronic measuring means whereby quantitative measurements of occult water can be made and the measurements can be output in a variety of ways such as digital/analog gauges or dials, through remote connection to computers and networks of same or other display or signaling means.
The primary element of the instant invention in whichever configuration it may be used, is a special TEFLON coated probe which is the primary detection means. The probe is composed of two thin strips of conductive material held in close proximity to each other. Each of the strips connects via a wire conductive means to an electronic assembly. The function of the electronic assembly is to collect and amplify the minute signal from the probe. The signal is caused to occur whenever the probe is brought into contact with water. The probe senses a change in capacitance which causes the emanation of the signal. Included within the electronic assembly are amplification and calibration circuits which provide a useful operating range and an interface between the device and the operator or monitoring means.
As an example, a pre-set calibration allows the probe device to manifest useful features such as alerting to the presence of water and, should the need arise, the automatic activation of a pumping means to remove the water and thereafter automatically deactivating the pumping means once the water returns to a safe level.
In actual use, the instant invention constantly monitors the water level present. It ignores the oil which floats upon the water surface and only activates the pumping/signaling means when the water rises to the pre-set level. Once the water level has been reduced to the pre-set level, the device deactivates the pumping means before the floating oil can reach the inlet of the pumping means.
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patent: 4601201 (1986-07-01), Oota et al.
patent: 4733560 (1988-03-01), Dam
patent: 5005407 (1991-04-01), Koon
patent: 5049878 (1991-09-01), Stern
patent: 5121631 (1992-06-01), Koon
patent: 5546005 (1996-08-01), Rauchwerger
patent: 5929754 (1999-07-01), Park et al.
patent: 5973415 (1999-10-01), Brenner et al.
Hofsass Jeffery
Lukasik Frank A.
Tang Son M.
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