Thermal transition zone sensing and indicating system
OwnerHugh G. Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The location of a thermal transmition zone in a water storage tank is detected by a number of temperature responsive electrical elements arranged on the exterior surface tank, out of contact with the water, and at selected locations thereon corresponding to thermal transition zone levels within the tank; visual indicating means are connected to the sensing element and are in an arrangement to correspond to the location of the elements on the tank such that, upon the temperature sensing elements detecting the location of the thermal zone, a corresponding visual indication is provided.
Claims24
Apparatus for indicating the location of a thermal transition zone between heated fluid and unheated fluid, in a storage tank, comprising;
- a plurality of temperature sensitive devices arranged in a predetermined manner and in thermal contact with an exterior surface of the tank;
- said devices being adapted to present a first electrical resistance above a predetermined temperature and a second electrical resistance below said temperature;
- voltage supply means electrically connected to said plurality of devices;
- and
- display means electrically connected to said plurality of devices and to said voltage supply means, said display means being responsive to said first electrical resistance for providing an indication corresponding to the number of said plurality of devices which are above said predetermined temperature, thereby indicating the location of the thermal transition zone in the storage tank.
A system for indicating the amount of heated water available for use in a storage tank by determining the location of a thermal transition zone located between heated and unheated water in the tank, the system comprising;
- a plurality of solid-state temperature sensitive devices arranged in thermal contact with the exterior of the tank so as not to be in contact with the water in the tank, said devices being adapted to present a first resistance above a predetermined temperature and a second resistance below said temperature;
- a plurality of indicating means arranged corresponding to the location of said temperature sensitive devices on the tank, each being connected to a corresponding one of said devices;
- a power source connected between each of said plurality of devices and said plurality of indicating means, whereby
- upon said temperature sensitive devices presenting said first resistance, a corresponding one of said indicating means is energized by the power source, for indicating the location of the thermal transition zone and the amount of heated water in the tank.
Apparatus for indicating the location of a thermal transition zone between heated and unheated water in a storage tank, comprising;
- a plurality of temperature sensitive devices arranged in thermal contact with the outside of the tank and being located thereon at points corresponding to different thermal transition zone levels within the tank;
- said devices being adapted to present a first electrical resistance above a predetermined temperature and a second electrical resistance below said temperature;
- means interconnecting said devices to present a resultant resistance dependent upon the number of devices above said temperature;
- and
- display means responsive to said resultant resistance to indicate the location of the transition zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.