Fog sensor for tailpipes
AssigneeThermaco, Inc.
InventorsWilliam C. Batten, Sianna Haws, Fred Lehman, Lee Atkinson, Patrick Sturm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus senses the proportion of FOG flowing with effluent from a sink to a p-trap. A pipe portion is connectable for use as a tailpipe for a sink with a first electrode within the pipe portion and a second electrode outside the pipe portion. Conductors connect the first and second electrodes to a capacitance sensor, so changes in capacitance between the electrodes caused by changes in proportions of FOG content in effluent from the sink can be detected and/or monitored. The monitoring can be remote and can cause an action when an excess FOG content is detected.
Claims15
An apparatus for sensing the proportion of FOG flowing with effluent from a sink to a p-trap comprising
- a pipe portion connectable for use as a tailpipe for a sink,
- a first electrode within the pipe portion,
- a second electrode outside the pipe portion, and
- conductors connecting the first and second electrodes to a capacitance sensor,
- whereby changes in capacitance between the electrodes caused by changes in proportions of FOG content in effluent from the sink can be detected.
A monitoring system for FOG disposal in a facility, comprising:
- a capacitance apparatus, including:
- a first electrode for fitting inside a pipe portion situated between a sink drain and a p-trap,
- a second electrode for fitting outside the pipe portion,
- conductors connecting the first and the second electrodes to a capacitance sensor,
- an electrical supply in communication with the capacitance apparatus,
- an evaluation module in communication with the capacitance sensor adapted to:
- receive a capacitance measurement,
- compare a set of capacitance measurements over time,
- determine a common state measurement,
- compare a capacitance measurement to a set threshold tolerance level, related to the common state measurement, to determine a change of capacitance resulting from an amount of FOG displacing water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.