System for detecting liquid in an inground lift
AssigneeDelaware Capital Formation, Inc.
InventorsDoug Brown, Mark Bordwell, Bryan Taylor, David Porter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for detecting liquid in an inground lift has a tube with an open end disposed within the internal cavity defined by the containment housing of the inground lift. The tube is in fluid communication with a source of pressurized gas. A pressure sensor generates a signal if the pressure within the air line exceeds a predetermined level, which occurs if the end is blocked by liquid. A control system is configured to respond to the signal.
Claims9
An inground vehicle lift, said lift having at least one vertically moveable lift engagement structure, said inground vehicle lift comprising:
- a. a containment housing defining an internal cavity;
- b. a hollow tube having an open end, said open end being disposed within said internal cavity;
- c. said hollow tube being in fluid communication with a source of pressurized gas, whereby gas from said source of pressurized gas flows from said end of said tube if said end of said tube is not blocked;
- and
- d. a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said source of pressurized gas and said end of said tube, said pressure sensor configured to generate a signal in response to pressure at said pressure sensor exceeding a predetermined pressure.
An inground vehicle lift, said inground vehicle lift having at least one vertically moveable lift engagement structure, said inground vehicle lift comprising:
- a. a containment housing defining an internal cavity;
- b. a hollow tube having an open end, said open end being disposed within said internal cavity;
- c. said hollow tube being selectively in fluid communication with a source of pressurized gas, whereby gas from said source of pressurized gas flows from said end of said tube if said end of said tube is not blocked;
- and
- d. a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said source of pressurized gas and said end of said tube, said pressure sensor configured to generate a signal in response to pressure at said pressure sensor exceeding a predetermined pressure.
A method of controlling an inground vehicle lift, said inground vehicle lift including a said inground vehicle lift having at least one vertically moveable lift engagement structure and a containment housing defining an internal cavity, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. flowing gas through an orifice disposed within said internal cavity;
- b. sensing the existence of a predetermined amount of increase in gas pressure as a result of said orifice being blocked by liquid within said internal cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.