Did You Know...
...that the x-ray was discovered purely by accident? When German physicist Wilhelm Konrad von Roentgen was experimenting with cathode rays in 1895, he put an activated Crookes tube in a book and went out to lunch. When he returned, he discovered that a key that had also been placed in the book showed up as an image on the developed film!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7615954 | Density sensing, solid state, pump switching system A pump control system incorporates one or more solid state level sensors as well as solid state pump control switches. Elimination of mechanical or electrode-mechanical parts by using ultrasonically based fluid level sensors as well as solid state switches for motor... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7429842 | Control and alarm system for sump pump A control system for a sump pump driven by an AC motor includes an AC power line having an input adapted for connection to an AC power source and an output adapted for connection to the AC drive motor. A controller is connected to a controllable switch in the AC pow... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7365507 | Power control apparatus for motor A power control apparatus for a motor is disclosed. The power control apparatus includes: a moisture sensor for detecting moisture soaking into a housing including the motor; and a switching unit which is switched by an output signal of the moisture sensor, and swit... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7212391 | Grounded isolation system An system and method are disclosed for isolating and grounding a load device, where grounding only occurs after the voltage(s) on the load device have been reduced to acceptable levels. The system includes power and grounding contacts, a sensing device, and a contro... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7112899 | Device for controlling an electric load, and a control device A device for controlling at least one electrical load and a control device therefor. The electrical load includes a first load connection and a second load connection. The first load connection is able to be connected to an operating-voltage potential via a first co... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7082827 | Leak detector An example of an apparatus for detecting the lowering of a top surface of a liquid includes a housing that has a housing hole, and an insertion member attached to the housing. A dowel is inserted into the housing hole, and a float is attached to the dowel. A detecto... | 08/01/2006 |
| 6975930 | Rate limiting control system A method of controlling an operation of a mechanism is provided. A first rate limit is assigned to a first input device that is operable to generate a first signal to control the operation of the mechanism. A second rate limit is assigned to a second input device th... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6938478 | Impedance level meter for liquids in tanks A method and a system for detecting the level of fluid in a container is provided: The level meter includes first, second and third generally parallel probes being positioned within the container. The first probe includes a first portion that is at least partially c... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6548980 | Motor drive An apparatus for driving a motor that opens and closes the window of vehicle, for example, is so adapted that when the vehicle becomes submersed in the sea, a lake or a river, etc., the window is prevented from being closed owing to malfunctioning of a re... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6508120 | Fluid level monitor with at least partially submersible buoyant element This invention discloses a fluid level monitor including a buoyant element suspended from a filament wound on a spool, a load sensor that senses a tensile force in the filament and a rotation sensor that senses the rotation of the spool around which the f... | 01/21/2003 |
| 6236180 | Smart windshield wiper wash system A windshield washer control system for use on a vehicle is herein disclosed. The windshield washer control system for use on a vehicle having an occupant compartment with a windshield and a windshield wiper device. The wiper device is movable across a pre... | 05/22/2001 |
| 5806441 | Automatic carbon black discharging device in waste tire decomposing apparatus An automatic carbon black discharging device for a waste tire decomposing apparatus including a collecting hopper connected to a carbon black discharging portion of the waste tire decomposing apparatus. The automatic carbon black discharging device also i... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5796184 | Method and an apparatus for stopping a motor-driven pressure generating pump of a system for coating workpieces with atomized liquid coating material A method and an apparatus are provided for stopping a motor-driven pressure generating pump of a system for coating workpieces with atomized liquid coating material in case of an empty material reservoir or a leakage in a material supply from a material r... | 08/18/1998 |
| 5473234 | Level sensor and control apparatus Force responsive sensors and circuitry which detect the present and absence of a meterial within a storage bin or hopper and activates a motor to maintain the level of the material within preset limits. The sealed sensors are state-of-the-art force sensin... | 12/05/1995 |
| 5449988 | Vacuum motor control including float switch and in-rush current restraint A soft start power control device for a liquid vacuum motor includes a detection component for shutting off the vacuum motor when the vacuum's recovery tank reach full capacity, and in-rush current limiting component for restraining the in-rush current to... | 09/12/1995 |
| 5325027 | Method and apparatus for measuring the degree of fullness of a mill with lifting beams by monitoring variation in power consumption The degree of fullness of a rotary mill is determined by measuring the variation in power consumption of the elector motor due to the lifting beams of the mill casing striking material in the mill during rotation of the mill casing.... | 06/28/1994 |
| 5199183 | Method and apparatus for measuring rise in height of a liquid column An electrode is lowered toward the surface of a liquid column until electrical contact is made between the electrode and a liquid column to establish current flow between the electrode and the liquid column. The electrode is raised from the liquid column.... | 04/06/1993 |
| 5115574 | Method and apparatus for measuring rise in height of a liquid column Electrical contact is made between an electrode and a liquid column to establish current flow between the electrode and the liquid column. The electrode is raised up the liquid column until electrical contact is broken. An additional quantity of liquid is... | 05/26/1992 |
| 5012589 | Displacement servo gauge A level gauge is used on a tank containing a liquid. The gauge utilizes a displacer suspended on a support wire or tape which is wound on a storage wheel. The storage wheel is balanced by a counterweight. Any change in liquid level results in an imbalance... | 05/07/1991 |
| 4942351 | System for monitoring a level of material, device therefor and methods of making the same A system for monitoring a level of material held in a confining means, a device therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the system comprising a rotatable reel, an electrically operated motor operatively interconnected to the reel for causing... | 07/17/1990 |
| 4934458 | Small diameter dual pump pollutant recovery system A groundwater pollutant recovery system using the cone of depression approach, in which a sensing probe having liquid level sensors responsive to both water and pollutant levels and having attached to it the pollutant intake is deployed in a recovery well... | 06/19/1990 |
| 4910878 | Suspended-cable apparatus for measuring level of material in a storage vessel Apparatus for indicating level of material comprises a cable vertically suspended so as to contact and be surrounded by the material. The cable is suspended from a cam follower mechanism that engages a cam coupled to a motor for selectively introducing sl... | 03/27/1990 |
| 4900999 | Control system for reciprocating linear motion or intermittent motion devices A control system for a reciprocating linear motion or intermittent motion device. The system includes e.g. programmable control for setting an extent of stroke for an operation member of the device, for setting a period of stroke time for the operation me... | 02/13/1990 |
| 4786846 | Level guage apparatus A self-balancing type level gauge apparatus is disclosed, in which the change of a magnetic flux generated between coupling outer and inner magnet rings on the basis of a displacement between the coupling outer and inner magnet rings due to the displaceme... | 11/22/1988 |
| 4749925 | Well pump control A device to control an electric well pump motor to pump continuously so long as there is liquid available to be pumped from the well. Whenever there is insufficient liquid to be pumped, the device causes shut-off of the electric pump motor. When liquid ag... | 06/07/1988 |
| 4678403 | Liquid level sensor for controlling pump operation The invention concerns a bilge pump control system. Sensing of water level in the bilge is accomplished by the conduction of current (on the order of one milliampere) between two stainless steel probes. The probes are mounted in a triangular package which... | 07/07/1987 |
| 4652802 | Alternator circuit arrangement useful in liquid level control system Alternator circuit arrangement (20) for controlling the electrical energization of multiple load devices such as two pump motors (41,42) on an alternating basis so as to maintain the level of a liquid (86) in a container (84) within a predetermined range.... | 03/24/1987 |
| 4554494 | Fluid level gauge having magnetic sensor A fluid measurement gauge is principally used to measure the fluid level in large underground storage tanks, such as for storing gasoline at service stations. A housing is positioned vertically in the fluid and includes a leadscrew which is driven by a st... | 11/19/1985 |
| 4551663 | Level control device A level control device is disclosed comprising a paddle on a rotary shaft projecting from a housing, a carrier disc coupled to the shaft and supporting a plurality of torque-transmitting levers having first arms engageable by drive pins or an apertured dr... | 11/05/1985 |
| 4527107 | Liquid level measuring apparatus In liquid measuring apparatus, a cable supporting a sensing plate is attached to a drum that is connected via a magnetic clutch with the drive shaft of a servomotor. The servomotor is supported in a pivot mount which is flexibly rotatively connected to th... | 07/02/1985 |
| 4442389 | Apparatus for measuring a metal surface position In an apparatus having a magnetic sensing type metal sensor arranged in spaced relation to a surface of metal under measurement and reciprocable in a predetermined direction, a tracing unit for driving the sensor in accordance with a change in the output ... | 04/10/1984 |
| 4363585 | Bale level control system for mechanical hopper feeder Apparatus for removing fiber portions from a selected plurality of bales and delivering the fiber to a receiver, such apparatus including a head that is lowered into contact with the top surface of such bales to grasp fibers therefrom. A control system is... | 12/14/1982 |
| 4341983 | Automatic sequence control system An automatic system for controlling a plurality of motors includes motor starting circuitry and motor stopping circuitry that serves to sequentially start and stop the motors in the same cyclic order. The starting circuitry has a sensing component for sen... | 07/27/1982 |
| 4291261 | Electrical load control circuit useful in liquid level control systems Control apparatus for an electrical load device, comprising a relay having a winding and a set of normally open contacts which are closed and opened, after short delays, upon energization and deenergization respectively of the winding, first and second sw... | 09/22/1981 |
| 4244219 | Liquid-level meter A liquid level meter having a first and second rotatable shaft mounted within a housing coaxially one within the other and coupled for relative rotation. A drum is mounted on one shaft and has a float suspended therefrom, for engagement with the liquid. D... | 01/13/1981 |
| 4211966 | Level control sensor switch mechanism In a level control sensor switch mechanism mountable upon a bin containing bulk material of varying levels, a housing having a base which is mounted upon the bin wall and mounts a low-torque, low-speed electric motor having an output shaft which is couple... | 07/08/1980 |
| 4161677 | Material flow stoppage detector device A flow stoppage detector device for a particulate material supply line includes a housing that has a pivoted partition member for dividing the housing into first and second adjacent upright conduit sections. The partition member has a pair of leg members ... | 07/17/1979 |
| 4132936 | Condensate discharge apparatus An apparatus is provided for discharging from a condensate sump large amounts of condensate as well as high viscous liquid by means of an electrically driven valve which is arranged at the outlet of the condensate sump and which is controlled to open and ... | 01/02/1979 |
| 4120611 | Electronic device for automatically controlling the level of a liquid in a vat A device is described which comprises in combination at least one resistor means placed at a determined level on the inner wall surface of the vat, said resistor means having a resistance which is variable in response to the presence or absence of the liq... | 10/17/1978 |
| 4105367 | Liquid level sensing circuit A circuit for sensing and controlling the level of fluid within a reservoir includes a pump for controlling the level of fluid. The circuit further includes two sub-circuits each including a probe adapted to contact the fluid. Each sub-circuit further inc... | 08/08/1978 |
