Thermal measuring and testing – Temperature measurement – Combined with diverse art device
Patent
1991-12-31
1993-07-27
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
Thermal measuring and testing
Temperature measurement
Combined with diverse art device
340620, 73292, 73304R, G01K 1300, G08B 2100
Patent
active
052305635
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a liquid level monitoring device.
The invention provides a liquid level monitoring device comprising detecting means for detecting the presence of a liquid, and alarm means for indicating when liquid is detected by the detecting means. There is also provided temperature sensing means for measuring temperature, and display means for displaying the measured temperature.
The device includes a housing for housing component parts of the device and mounting means on the housing for removably mounting the device on the wall of a vessel, such as a bath. Preferably the mounting means is pivotably mounted on the housing. Preferably the mounting means comprises a sucker which is pivotably mounted on the housing. Preferably, the detecting means, alarm means, temperature sensing means and display means are electrical or electronic devices and are preferably powered by an onboard battery power supply.
The alarm means may be an audible alarm such as a buzzer which sounds when liquid is detected. Means may also be provided for indicating audibly and/or visually when the detected temperature is above or below a predetermined value.
Other preferred features and advantage of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying claims.
The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanyings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a liquid level monitoring device forming an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section along the line IV--IV of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;
FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram for the device of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of another monitoring device.
Referring to the drawings, a liquid level monitoring device 2 forming an embodiment of the invention comprises a plastics housing 4 formed by front and rear half shells 4a and 4b which are welded together to form a watertight joint.
A sucker 6 is attached to an arm 8 which is pivotably mounted on an upper end 10 of the housing 4. The arm 8 pivots in a slot 12 in the housing.
A liquid crystal display 14 is mounted on the front half shell 4a. The rear half shell 4b carries a battery compartment 16 which is closed by a removable cover 18 and houses a battery 20. Two contacts or electrodes 22, 24, and a temperature sensitive transducer 26 extend through the wall of the rear half shell 4b and are positioned near the lower end 28 of the housing 4. Transducer 26 is positioned below contacts 22, 24 so that it will be covered by liquid when the contacts 22, 24 are bridged by the liquid.
A printed circuit board 30 carrying electronic circuitry for the device and a buzzer 32 are mounted inside the housing 4.
Referring to FIG. 5, the temperature sensitive transducer 26 is connected to an integrated circuit IC1 which displays the measured temperature on the liquid crystal display 14.
The presence of liquid is detected by contacts 22, 24. When the contacts are immersed in liquid such as bath water which forms a relatively low resistance path between the contacts, contact 24 is earthed which triggers an oscillator 34 which sounds buzzer 32 for a predetermined period, preferably about 10 to 20 seconds.
Earthing of terminal 24 also signals IC1. IC1 is arranged to measure the temperature, through contact 26, about once every 10 seconds whilst contact 24 is high (not earthed) and display the (new) measured temperature on display 14. When contact 24 goes low (earthed through the liquid and contact 22), IC1 measures the temperature about every 1 second.
An on-off switch (not shown) may be provided to conserve power when the device is not in use. Also IC1 may be adapted to drive the buzzer, preferably at different frequencies, to sound an alarm when the measured temperature falls below or goes above preset limits. Additional switches may be provided for setting the preset limits.
In use, the device is mounted on a wall by means of sucker 6, for examp
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Elektor, vol. 1, No. 5 Jul./Aug. 1975, Author-Anonymous; Great Britain, "Temperature Monitor" p. 742.
Bennett G. Bradley
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Solar Wide Industrial Ltd.
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