...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7353704 | Storage tank external gauge system Provided herein are devices useful for guiding cables, wires, cords, and the like. A device according to the present invention is particularly useful for guiding a cable that is used in providing an external liquid-level gauge on an oil tank. A cable guide means acc... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7168313 | Rotary remote visual liquid quantity indicator A rotary remote visual liquid quantity indicator allows a user to remotely determine the amount of liquid in a container, such as an accumulator on an aircraft. A flexible rotary cable assembly may be coupled between a rotatable drum and a remote indicator having a ... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7117740 | Remote visual liquid quantity indicator A remote visual liquid quantity indicator comprises a flexible cable within a flexible outer sleeve and allows a user to remotely determine the level of a liquid in a container, such as an accumulator without the need for electrical power or a direct line of sight t... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7066024 | Float adapted to track an interface between two liquids of differing density A float adapted to track an interface between two liquids of differing density, includes a hollow buoyant body having an interior cavity adapted to retain liquid. At least one upper access opening is provided in the body, which is adapted to permit filling of the in... | 06/27/2006 |
| 6974317 | Lightweight concrete composite blocks An apparatus for manufacturing lightweight concrete composite blocks includes a form, a station conveyor, a form-loading station, a form assembly station, a curing oven, and a block removal station. The station conveyor conveys the form or a multitude of forms aroun... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6955083 | Vertical liquid level measuring device A system for actuating an indicator in response to a depth change in a liquid that is confined to a container comprises a housing, a float constrained to vertical movement in response to changes in liquid depth in the container, an actuator connected to the housing ... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6928862 | Method of monitoring dual-phase liquid and interface levels A dual-phase level monitoring (DPLM) instrument that provides continuous signals that enables determination of the location of the top surface of the lighter of two immiscible fluids (the product) and the hydrostatic pressure below the total fluid column of both imm... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6913438 | Pump lubrication system including an external reservoir A circulating lubrication system for a centrifugal pump, or other rotating equipment utilizing an oil sump, is disclosed. The lubrication system includes an external reservoir located distant from the main lubrication chamber, so that lubricating fluid from the main... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6708562 | Level gauge for oil-filled transformers, chokes and tap changers A liquid level indicator for an oil-filled transformer, power choke or tap changer in which a sensor part has a float which rises and falls with the oil level and rotates a sensor shaft and the sensor shaft is coupled to an indicator shaft on which a pointer is prov... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6527719 | Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system with reduced power consumption and heat generation An ultrasound system is described which exhibits reduced power consumption and improved reliability. When the ultrasound system is idle for a period of time it automatically invokes a sequence of energy-saving procedures, including readying the system for... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6523404 | Apparatus for measuring a fluid level An apparatus for measuring a fluid level in a tank comprises a housing including a level indicator for displaying a measured fluid level in the tank. A rod extends from the housing and a float is adapted to travel along the rod. A first end of an elongate... | 02/25/2003 |
| 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 |
| 6457356 | Piston pump elevator having fluid level measurement capabilty A piston pump elevator having fluid level measurement capability which is capable of providing an electrical signal proportional to the approximate amount of fluid remaining in a container from which fluid is being withdrawn.... | 10/01/2002 |
| 6223596 | Portable clamp-on liquid level indicator gauge Apparatus and method are provided for indicating the amount of liquid contained in a railroad tank car, or any other liquid storage tank having an interior surface defining a liquid level reference point. A readily portable liquid level indicator gauge is... | 05/01/2001 |
| 6199428 | Fluid level measuring device A fluid level measuring device for measuring a fluid filling level in a container contains a float disposed in the container and a magnet disposed in the container. The magnet is coupled to the float in terms of movement and, in the event of a change in t... | 03/13/2001 |
| 5806363 | Tank level gauge of driven sensor type A level gauge for a tank of a driven sensor type includes a drum around which is wound a thread on the end of which is suspended a driven level sensor. A reversible servomotor drives the drum with the drum being driveable in reverse directions. The rotati... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5655403 | Reversible float for use in a tank gauging system A reversible float assembly includes a float, an elongated flexible member, a first attachment disposed on a first surface of the float body, and a second attachment disposed on a second surface of the float body. The lower end of the elongated flexible m... | 08/12/1997 |
| 5649450 | Alarm assembly for product level gauge A gauge assembly for measuring the level of a liquid product in a storage tank includes a float member that is constructed and arranged to float on the liquid product in the storage tank, a housing that is constructed and arranged to be mounted on an exte... | 07/22/1997 |
| 5533392 | System and method for sensing material level within a container A system for sensing the surface level of flowable material within a container, comprises a drop weight secured to a cable through a pulley for being disposed above the material and brought into contact with the surface level of the material. The cable is... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5144836 | Liquid level sensing gauge assembly and method of installation A liquid level gauge assembly which has particular utility for petroleum products has a threaded cylindrical projection which allows quick installation onto a storage tank. The gauge assembly operates by measuring the displacement of a float member throug... | 09/08/1992 |
| 5136883 | Liquid level gage system A liquid level gage system is disclosed. This system includes a displacer secured to a cable and movable in response to winding or unwinding said cable around or from around a rotatable drum. The rotatable drum is coupled to a driven shaft, and a drive as... | 08/11/1992 |
| 5104056 | Motor assembly A motor assembly useful for rotating a drum comprising: a hub adapted to be removably secured to the drum so that the drum rotates in response to rotation of the hub, the hub including a first outer surface adapted to face toward the drum and a second out... | 04/14/1992 |
| 5072600 | Wash column ice-pack bottom detection device Apparatus comprising a vessel capable of receiving a variable supply of an aqueous ice slurry in which an upper packed ice bed can float on an aqueous volume; a hollow conduit having a first end located in the lower internal space of the vessel and a seco... | 12/17/1991 |
| 5050432 | Tank gauge A tank gauge for oil tanks wherein a double pulley is provided on a common shaft with the shaft being journaled in the wall of a sealed housing which is in communication with the interior of the tank. One of the pulleys is within the sealed housing on the... | 09/24/1991 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 4895450 | Weighing, measuring, and mixing apparatus for lightweight concrete Cement weighing and measuring apparatus includes a primary mixing chamber into which two different types of material are placed, and the materials are measured separately. The different materials are fed into the primary mixing chamber from two separate h... | 01/23/1990 |
| 4890493 | Automatic tank reading gauge An automatic reading gauge is provided and consists of an elongated flexible measuring member having a scale thereon with a float affixed to one end and a counterweight at other end. The measuring member is disposed within an O-shaped body having a weep h... | 01/02/1990 |
| 4875295 | Drop-weight material level indicator A drop-weight material level indicator in which a spool is mounted above material whose level is to be sensed and is coupled to a motor for selectively unwinding and winding a drop line wound on the spool. The drop line is trained over an idler pulley car... | 10/24/1989 |
| 4836018 | Rain gauge with improved syphon discharge An improved rain gauge in which a large rain collector feeds collected rain into a receptacle having 1/5 the cross-sectional area, and in which a float and counterweight connected by a flexible strand passing over a pulley mechanism creates electrical imp... | 06/06/1989 |
| 4819484 | Portable liquid level gauge A portable liquid level device is provided for measuring the depth of liquid in a storage tank. The device has a portability similar to that of a regular dip stick, but provides more accurate measurement of liquid level especially with liquids which do no... | 04/11/1989 |
| 4709653 | Mechanical fluid indicator A mechanical fluid indicator 10 of the type comprising an endless belt 18 having a float 22 and marking elements 20 affixed thereto extending about top and bottom pulleys 16 comprises a tube 12 in which the entire mechanism is mounted. In this respect, ho... | 12/01/1987 |
| 4571998 | In-ground tank measuring system An in-ground tank measuring system for monitoring the level of fuel in a plurality of tanks. A float is provided in each tank connected by cable to a biased take-up reel connected to a potentiometer. A palm-sized monitor with provision to switch from one ... | 02/25/1986 |
| 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 |
| 4508460 | Process and apparatus for continuous measurement of the pour point of oil A process for continuously measuring the pour point of oil comprises introducing the oil into the lower portion of a substantially vertical tube at a pressure sufficient to cause the oil to move up the tube and subjecting the oil to a temperature gradient... | 04/02/1985 |
| 4467647 | Direct reading tank gauge A direct reading tank gauge is made of plastic tape or thin metal in an endless loop. Measuring indicia are applied to one surface of the tape in a display tape assembly. An armature is fixedly mounted to the tape. A tank float is magnetically coupled to ... | 08/28/1984 |
| 4459584 | Automatic liquid level indicator and alarm system An automatic liquid level indicator and alarm system (10) that automatically emits an alarm when liquid in a vessel reaches a preselected low or high level. The system (10) is particularly adaptable for use on petroleum storage tanks (50) of the type foun... | 07/10/1984 |
| 4422328 | Liquid level sensor The device senses the level of a float which may rest on the surface of the liquid whose level is to be determined or may rest on the surface of liquid (e.g., mercury) of a manometer which measures the level of liquid in accordance with the purge bubble p... | 12/27/1983 |
| 4384486 | Fill indicator for fire extinguishing systems An improved indicator for fill content of a fire extinguishing system including a pressure vessel having an outlet through which the fire extinguishing material may flow. The indicator includes a non-magnetic, closed housing, mounted on the vessel and hav... | 05/24/1983 |
| 4276774 | Method and apparatus for measuring the level of semi-solid material A method and apparatus for measuring the level of containerized or free standing semi-solid material is disclosed. A substantially smooth uniform cable is suspended above and into the semi-solid material. A predetermined amount of slack is introduced into... | 07/07/1981 |