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US 7,849,890 B2Granted
Apparatus for and methods of draining an enclosure
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorAllen Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An assembly includes a sensor element operable to generate a signal in response to moisture being present at a predetermined level within a sealed housing, and a valve element coupled to the housing and, in response to the signal, operable to enable at least a portion of the moisture to exit the housing.
Claims18
An assembly, comprising:
- a sealed housing;
- at least one moisture-sensitive component disposed of within the sealed housing;
- a first sensor element operable to generate a first signal in response to moisture in a first state being present at a first predetermined level within the sealed housing;
- a first valve element coupled to the housing and, in response to the first signal, operable to enable at least a portion of the moisture to exit the housing at the first valve element;
- a second sensor element operable to generate a second signal in response to moisture in a second state being present at a second predetermined level within the sealed housing;
- a third sensor element operable to sense that a pressure outside the housing is less than a pressure within the housing;
- and
- a second valve element coupled to the housing and, in response to the second signal, operable to enable at least a portion of the moisture to exit the sealed housing at the second valve element if and only if the pressure level inside the sealed housing is greater than a pressure level outside the sealed housing.
5 more elements
A vessel, comprising:
- a first system, comprising:
- a sealed housing;
- at least one moisture-sensitive component disposed of within the sealed housing;
- a first sensor element operable to generate a first signal in response to liquid being present at a first predetermined level within the housing;
- a first valve element coupled to the housing and, in response to the first signal, operable to enable at least a portion of the liquid to exit the housing via the first valve element;
- a second sensor element operable to generate a second signal in response to vapor being present at a second predetermined level within the housing;
- a third sensor element operable to generate a third signal in response to a pressure level inside the housing being greater than a pressure level outside the housing;
- and
- a second valve element coupled to the housing and, in response to the second signal and the third signal, operable to enable at least a portion of the vapor to exit the housing via the second valve element.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- generating a first signal in response to moisture in a first state being present at a first predetermined level within a sealed housing having at least one moisture-sensitive component disposed of within the sealed housing;
- in response to the first signal, causing a first valve element to enable at least a portion of the moisture to exit the housing;
- sensing that a pressure outside the housing is less than a pressure within the housing;
- generating a second signal in response to moisture in a second state being present at a first predetermined level within a sealed housing;
- and
- in response to the second signal and the pressure sensing, causing a second valve element to enable at least a portion of the moisture to exit the housing.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.