Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6975216 | System and method for indicating fluid condition A fluid condition indicating system and method using visual and audible devices. The system includes a circuit having visual and audible indicators, a power supply, and a plurality of switches or sensors. A start switch is coupled to the power supply, the visual ind... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6927681 | Mixed air amount alarm device A mixed air amount alarm device is provided which determines the amount of air present in a hydraulic circuit between a hydraulic pressure source and an instrument driven by hydraulic pressure, and produces an alarm if the air amount is excessive, a situation is pre... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6753771 | Vehicle monitoring system A vehicle monitoring system for monitoring a condition of relatively moving vehicle components, particularly including the pushrod of a brake actuator, including a magnet on one of the components, a sensor on the other component within the magnetic field of the magn... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6696960 | Hydraulic system with fluid leak warning apparatus An improved hydraulic system comprises a hydraulic fluid reservoir and a hydraulic circuit assembly comprising lines and hydraulic components. The hydraulic components comprise a hydraulic actuator comprising a cylinder, defining an interior, a reciprocat... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6549126 | Dry interface corner actuator single sensor for lining wear and low reservoir detection The present invention provides a sensor system for detecting lining wear and fluid level in a dry interface corner actuator for a single wheel brake including a reservoir assembly. The reservoir assembly includes a reservoir for containing fluid for the a... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6501375 | Brake monitoring system A brake monitoring system generally includes a plurality of brake monitors mounted on each of a plurality of brake actuators. Each brake monitor generally comprises a sleeve mounted to a push rod which moves relative to a stone shield on the brake actuato... | 12/31/2002 |
| 6297733 | Stable, reliable capacitive oil deterioration and level sensor A reliable capacitive oil deterioration and level sensor has a conductive housing member that includes a conductive shielding member defining a ground electrode, and a conductive inner member defining a measuring electrode. The shielding member protects t... | 10/02/2001 |
| 5825287 | Vehicle brake monitoring system A brake condition monitoring system includes a central control receiving signals from each of the several brake actuators mounted on a vehicle. The control receives all of the signals, and sends a single signal to a display in the cab of the vehicle indic... | 10/20/1998 |
| 5785142 | Brake oil level safety device for motor A brake oil level safety device having a control circuit connected in series between the ignition system of a motor vehicle and the battery power supply thereof, the control circuit having a grounding conductor and two oil level detecting conductors mount... | 07/28/1998 |
| 5748077 | Hydraulic leak detection system A system for detecting leaks in a hydraulic system. The system shuts down the hydraulic system if a leak is detected and notifies individuals in the area that a leak has occurred. The leak detection system has sensors for measuring hydraulic system parame... | 05/05/1998 |
| 5501294 | Brake oil level safety device for motor vehicles A motor vehicle safety device including a microswitch connected in series between the ignition system and battery power supply of a motor vehicle, and a float device disposed in the brake oil cup of the oil brake system of the motor vehicle and actuated t... | 03/26/1996 |
| 5298881 | Low liquid level monitoring and warning apparatus and method A sensor is coupled to a reservoir for generating a first signal responsive to the liquid level therein falling below a first level spaced above an output port and indicative of a reserve level of liquid remaining. A pump is coupled to the reservoir for p... | 03/29/1994 |
| 5066940 | Brake pedal travel warning system A brake pedal travel warning system for use in an automotive vehicle includes a brake pedal and a master cylinder associated with the brake pedal through a connecting link. The master cylinder includes a fluid reservoir containing brake fluid and a housin... | 11/19/1991 |
| 5046313 | Master cylinder with fluid level and pressure failure detection A master cylinder (12) having a switch (70) which is activated by either a magnet (78) carried by a float (76) in a reservoir (40) or a pin (66) moved by a differential area piston (52). The switch (70) had a first blade (82) connected a source of electri... | 09/10/1991 |
| 4949069 | Dynamic liquid level indicator A liquid level indicator uses a conductive probe and when the circuit is energized a logic signal indicates whether the liquid is above or below a certain level. The signal is processed by a logic circuit and the output of the logic circuit controls an in... | 08/14/1990 |
| 4841107 | Device for indicating the filling level in a fluid reservoir Disclosed is a device for indicating the filling level in a fluid reservoir of a hydraulic brake system, wherein a magnet is arranged in a radial recess of the float with the side walls of the recess being provided with retaining means for securing the ma... | 06/20/1989 |
| 4626700 | Hydraulic reservoir with fluid level detector A hydraulic reservoir with fluid level detector includes a main body having an internal space for containing brake oil; a cap attached to the main body for covering a top opening of the main body; a diaphragm arranged across the top opening of the main bo... | 12/02/1986 |
| 4591837 | Hydraulic fluid leak warning apparatus Apparatus for warning of a leak in a hydraulic system. The warning apparatus includes a liquid level sensor, mounted above the hydraulic fluid reservoir, and a signal assembly. The sensor includes an expansion chamber with a float chamber pipe inside. The... | 05/27/1986 |
| 4444052 | Compensating brake fluid reservoir Compensating brake fluid reservoirs with a brake fluid alarm device are required for master cylinders of hydraulic brake systems in automotive vehicles. A float chamber, which is disposed in a compensating reservoir and surrounds a float, is defined by a ... | 04/24/1984 |
| 4437091 | Fluid-quantity alarming devices for the master cylinder A fluid-quantity alarming system for a brake cylinder comprises a brake master cylinder body, a reservoir disposed on and connected to the cylinder body to be biased relative to the central axis of the master cylinder, the reservoir including an opening i... | 03/13/1984 |
| 4318078 | Brake fluid level warning apparatus The brake fluid reservoir warning arrangement responds when the fluid level drops below a predetermined minimum level and includes two contact pins and a contact disc arranged on a float to electrically connect the contact pins when the fluid level is bel... | 03/02/1982 |
| 4305285 | Liquid level detecting and warning device A liquid level detecting and warning device of the kind including a tubular member having a mounting portion fitted on an opening of a reservoir and a float guiding portion downwardly extending from the mounting portion, a float having a magnet and slidab... | 12/15/1981 |
| 4301440 | Level detecting device The level detecting device comprises a detector inserted in a reservoir to detect the level of oil liquid, lead wires leading signal from the detector, and a terminal connected to the lead wires. The terminal is fixed to a cap covering an opening of the r... | 11/17/1981 |
| 4217779 | Liquid level sensing means Liquid level sensing device comprising magnet received in the cylindrical portion of an oil reservoir cap, a signal generating electrical circuit, by which an oil level is indicated, including galvano-magneto effect transducing device attached to the magn... | 08/19/1980 |
| 4168613 | Oil reservoir device with oil level detector means for a tandem type master cylinder A device comprising two oil reservoir tanks communicating with the two respective oil-hydraulic chambers of a tandem type master cylinder and also with each other through an upper and a lower interconnecting oil passage. One of the two tanks has a top ope... | 09/25/1979 |
| 4090050 | Electro-mechanical liquid level sensor An electro-mechanical liquid level sensor is disclosed. The sensor comprises a magnetically operable switch in response to liquid level to complete a circuit for actuating a warning light or the like. The switch comprises a movable electrical contact oper... | 05/16/1978 |
| 4087663 | Liquid level contents indicators for vehicle hydraulic systems In a liquid level contents indicator for a vehicle hydraulic system of the float-operated electric switch type manually operable mechanism for testing the circuit comprises a push-button located in an end closure cap for a reservoir and the push-button ac... | 05/02/1978 |
| 4084377 | Brake system failure condition indicator A master cylinder having an indicator activated by either a low level fluid condition in a reservoir or any operational pressure imbalance between first and second fluid distribution systems of a master cylinder to inform an operator of an adverse conditi... | 04/18/1978 |
| 4082930 | Liquid level sensor A liquid reservoir such as that for a brake master cylinder has a float in the liquid, a magnet and a reed switch secured to the float at a fixed spacing so that normally at high liquid level the reed switch is in a given state. When the liquid level fall... | 04/04/1978 |
| 4066997 | Fluid level indicator for tandem master cylinder A dual fluid reservoir for a tandem master cylinder includes front and rear fluid chambers communicated to each other and comprises a lateral partition provided within the casing of the reservoir to block free fluid communication between the two chambers ... | 01/03/1978 |
| 4055957 | Automotive brake fluid low-level warning sensor In a hydraulic brake system, a housing includes a brake master cylinder and a reservoir formed therein for containing a supply of brake fluid. A sensor piston in contact with the pressure in the brake master cylinder is connected to an indicator piston. T... | 11/01/1977 |
| 4037193 | Liquid level alarm apparatus for a tank of a vehicle A liquid level alarm apparatus for a tank of a vehicle comprising a float having a permanent magnet, a pair of electrical contacts opened or closed in response to the proximity of said magnet, and a stopper for limiting the upward movement of the float, s... | 07/19/1977 |
| 3985985 | Brake fluid level sensing system A hydraulic brake fluid level sensing system having a switch housing above a diaphragm which sealingly encloses a fluid reservoir. A float rod guide extends through the diaphragm and a float rod extends through the rod guide and into the switch housing. A... | 10/12/1976 |
| 3978464 | Means for sensing change in the amount of fluent material in a reservoir A fluid level sensor comprising a novel electronic circuit which monitors change in the fluid level in a reservoir through a conductive probe disposed therein. The probe and a capacitor are electrically connected in a circuit which is intermittently energ... | 08/31/1976 |
| 3967238 | Low-brake fluid sensor A liquid level sensor for sensing the levels of brake fluid in the master cylinders of a vehicle having probes for insertion into the fluids of the master cylinders and threshold detector circuits, associated with the probes and having an integrator coupl... | 06/29/1976 |
| 3964079 | Brake fluid reservoir including fluid level indicator A fluid reservoir is partitioned by a diaphragm into a liquid phase portion and a vapor phase portion with the diaphragm being moved in accordance with the liquid level in the liquid phase portion of the reservoir. An operating rod mounted to move with th... | 06/15/1976 |
| 3947813 | Master cylinder liquid level alarm A liquid level reduction alarm device for a braking liquid reservoir vessel in communication with a brake master cylinder wherein the reservoir is closed at its upper open end by an elastic cover member and an elongated hollow case member is suspended fro... | 03/30/1976 |
