Solid state illuminator for bi-color ported water level gauges
AssigneeFossil Steam Technologies Inc.
InventorsDavid Kalix, John Spencer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid state illuminator and display are provided for bi-colored ported water level gauges suitable for use in high pressure steam drums or similar water/steam devices to facilitate making an accurate determination of water level in such devices. The illuminator includes an array of bi-colored solid state light emitting diodes (LEDs), as the light source, and a precision lens to focus the light provided from the LEDs through a gauge body and onto a viewing screen.
Claims37
A liquid level gauge, comprising:
- a housing having a first end and a second end;
- a liquid column connected to the first end of the housing, the liquid column including a plurality of viewing ports;
- and
- a light source connected to the second end of the housing, the light source including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), half of the LEDs emitting a first color light and half of the LEDs emitting a second color light, at least one pair of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port, and each pair of bi-color LEDs being oriented with respect to the corresponding viewing port in such a way that the first color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a liquid is present in the corresponding viewing port and the second color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a non-liquid is present in the corresponding viewing port.
An illuminator for a liquid level gauge, the liquid level gauge including a housing having a first end and a second end and a liquid column connected to the first end of the housing, the liquid column including a plurality of viewing ports, the illuminator comprising:
- a light source including a plurality of LEDs for connection to the second end of the housing;
- half of said plurality of LEDs emitting a first color light and half of the LEDs emitting a second color light;
- at least one pair of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port;
- and
- each pair of bi-color LEDs being oriented with respect to the corresponding viewing port in such a way that the first color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a liquid is present in the corresponding viewing port and the second color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a non-liquid is present in the viewing port.
An illuminator for a liquid level gauge, the illuminator including a housing having a front end and a rear end, the front end adapted for connection to a liquid column having a plurality of viewing ports, the illuminator comprising;
- a light source including a plurality of LEDs connected to the rear end of the housing;
- half of said plurality of LEDs emitting a first color light and half of the LEDs emitting a second color light;
- at least one pair of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port;
- and
- each pair of bi-color LEDs being oriented with respect to the corresponding viewing port in such a way that the first color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a liquid is present in the corresponding viewing port and the second color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a non-liquid is present in the corresponding viewing port.
A level display for displaying light transmitted from a bi-color illuminator through viewing ports of a liquid column, said bi-color illuminator emitting first color light and second color light, the level display comprising:
- a display housing having a first end and a second end, the display housing being adapted for attachment to the liquid column at the first end thereof;
- and
- a viewing screen at the second end of the display housing upon which the light may be displayed for viewing by an observer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.