GB2251690A - Optical liquid level detector - Google Patents
Optical liquid level detector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2251690A GB2251690A GB9023997A GB9023997A GB2251690A GB 2251690 A GB2251690 A GB 2251690A GB 9023997 A GB9023997 A GB 9023997A GB 9023997 A GB9023997 A GB 9023997A GB 2251690 A GB2251690 A GB 2251690A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- water
- detection switch
- optical
- fluid detection
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 18
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 title 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 25
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 238000012806 monitoring device Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 230000002028 premature Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001934 delay Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
- G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
- G01F23/28—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
- G01F23/284—Electromagnetic waves
- G01F23/292—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
- G01F23/2921—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet for discrete levels
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
- G08B21/18—Status alarms
- G08B21/182—Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Emergency Management (AREA)
- Level Indicators Using A Float (AREA)
- Control Of Non-Positive-Displacement Pumps (AREA)
Abstract
An optical water or other fluid detection switch operates by means of an optical detection device 1 which in the presence of water or other fluid senses the modification of an electromagnetic signal the wavelength of which is that of or near that of light. Circuitry is provided to control a power switch 4 which connects power to an electric pump externally connected to the optical water or other fluid detection switch by means of the output connection 5. An auxiliary output connection 6 provides a means of signalling the operation of the switch to an externally connected warning or monitoring device and can be used to control a complete fluid management system primarily on board a boat or ship such as automatic filling of water tanks, fuel monitoring and the like. <IMAGE>
Description
AN OPTICAL WATER OR OTHER FLUID DETECTION SWiTCH
This invention relates to a switch primarily for use on board a ship or boat which upon detection of the presence of water or other fluid by optical means will cause a pump or other electrical device to be operated.
Water detection switches on board boats are well known normally consisting of a float which upon rising to a preset level causes an electrical contact to be made in order to switch on a pump.
These type of switches suffer malfunctions due to float puncture mechanical wear corrosion and the ingress of dirt and other matter preventing the float from rising to the surface of the water being detected.
According to the pr esent invention there is provided a water or other fluid detection switch comprising an optical device which in the presence of water or other fluid senses the modification of an electromagnetic signal the wavelength of which is that of or near that of light, a means of processing the resultant modified signal, and electrical circuiitry to enable electrical current to be connected to an electric pump or other electrical device.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
Figure 1 shows a block schematic diagram of the Optical Water or other fluid Detection Switch.
Figure 2 illustr-ates the switch housed in a completely submersible package.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing the system comprises an optical fluid detector 1 which senses the presence of water or other fluid.
A buffer amplifier 2 feeds the resultant signal to a timing circuit 3 which delays the operation of the switch circuit 4 by a predetermined period of time in order to prevent premature operation of the externally connected pump cnot shown) At the end of the operational cycle the timing circuit 3 maintains operation of the extewrnally connected pump to ensure that the fluid level falls to below the trigger level of the detector 1.
The power switch circuit 4 connects the power- supply 7 to the
The power switch circuit 4 connects the power supply 7 to the output connection 5 which is connected to the external pump.
An auxiliary output connection 6 allows the switch circuit 4 to signal its operation to an externally connected warning or monitoring device (not shown) which can then be used to control a complete fluid management system.
Referring to figure 2 of the drawing the high level of intrinsic safety provided by the complete isolation of electrical power from the detection device 1 and the hermetically sealed package 8 allows the optical water or other fluid detection switch to be used in the presence of volatile fluids such as engine fuels
Claims (7)
- CLAIMS 1 An optical water or other fluid detection switch comprising an optical device which in the presence of water or other fluid senses the modification of an electromagnetic signal the wavelength of which is that of or near that of light, a means of processing the resultant modified signal, and electrical circuitry to enable electrical power to be connected to an electric pump or other electrical device.
- 2 An optical water or other fluid detection switch as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a timing circuit is provided to prevent premature operation of an externally connected pump, and maintains the operation of an externally connected pump to ensure that the fluid level falls below the trigger level of the detector.
- 3 An optical water or other fluid detection switch as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a power switch circuit is provided to connect electrical power to an electric pump or other electrical device.
- 4 An optical water or other fluid detection switch as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein an auxiliary output connection is provided to enable the switch circuit to signal an externally connected electrical warning device.
- 5 An optical water or other fluid detection switch as claimed in Claim 3 or Claimm 4 wherein the auxiliary output connection may be used to enable the switch circuit to signal an externally connected electrical monitoring device.
- 6 An optical water or other fluid detection switch as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the auxiliary output connection may be used to control a complete fluid management system.
- 7 An optical water or other fluid detection switch substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9023997A GB2251690A (en) | 1990-11-05 | 1990-11-05 | Optical liquid level detector |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9023997A GB2251690A (en) | 1990-11-05 | 1990-11-05 | Optical liquid level detector |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9023997D0 GB9023997D0 (en) | 1990-12-19 |
| GB2251690A true GB2251690A (en) | 1992-07-15 |
Family
ID=10684873
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9023997A Withdrawn GB2251690A (en) | 1990-11-05 | 1990-11-05 | Optical liquid level detector |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2251690A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0744612A1 (en) * | 1994-01-26 | 1996-11-27 | Osaka Sanso Kogyo Limited | Oxygen analyzer |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB905401A (en) * | 1959-07-16 | 1962-09-05 | Burndept Ltd | Apparatus for detecting the presence at a particular location of a substance of relatively low atomic number |
| GB995252A (en) * | 1960-12-24 | 1965-06-16 | Halbergerhutte Ges Mit Beschra | Apparatus for indicating and/or controlling liquid levels |
| GB1170525A (en) * | 1966-10-26 | 1969-11-12 | Max Constantin Duplessy | Improvements in or relating to Water Closet Flushing Tanks |
| GB1251435A (en) * | 1968-01-24 | 1971-10-27 | ||
| GB1254860A (en) * | 1968-02-01 | 1971-11-24 | W E Gilson | Light sensitive control apparatus |
-
1990
- 1990-11-05 GB GB9023997A patent/GB2251690A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB905401A (en) * | 1959-07-16 | 1962-09-05 | Burndept Ltd | Apparatus for detecting the presence at a particular location of a substance of relatively low atomic number |
| GB995252A (en) * | 1960-12-24 | 1965-06-16 | Halbergerhutte Ges Mit Beschra | Apparatus for indicating and/or controlling liquid levels |
| GB1170525A (en) * | 1966-10-26 | 1969-11-12 | Max Constantin Duplessy | Improvements in or relating to Water Closet Flushing Tanks |
| GB1251435A (en) * | 1968-01-24 | 1971-10-27 | ||
| GB1254860A (en) * | 1968-02-01 | 1971-11-24 | W E Gilson | Light sensitive control apparatus |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0744612A1 (en) * | 1994-01-26 | 1996-11-27 | Osaka Sanso Kogyo Limited | Oxygen analyzer |
| EP0744612B1 (en) * | 1994-01-26 | 2003-08-06 | Osaka Sanso Kogyo Limited | Oxygen analyzer |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9023997D0 (en) | 1990-12-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |