Liquid sensing switch

Abstract

A system includes a pump, a liquid sensing switch linked to the pump and suspended in an area, the liquid sensing switch including a large surface area upper bare uninsulated stainless steel sensor plate linked to electronics, a large surface area lower bare uninsulated stainless steel sensor plate linked to the electronics, and a large surface area ground linked to the electronics, the pump activated when a liquid level in the area rises above a position of the lower bare uninsulated stainless steel sensor plate and a position of the upper bare uninsulated stainless steel lower sensor plate, causing a current to pass between the two sensor plates.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 510,575, filed May 24, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING GOVERNMENT INTEREST[0002]None.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates generally to boats and other water craft or vessels, and more particularly to a liquid sensing switch.[0004]In general, most boats, regardless of the material or construction and fabrication, have a tendency to take on a certain amount of water when floating in a body of water. For the most part, water entering a boat hull tends to accumulate in the lower portion of the hull usually referred to as the “bilge.” While small amounts of water within the bilge of a boat is a tolerable and generally common condition, extensive water collection within a bilge of a boat hull is extremely undesirable and may, if left unattended, prove dangerous or even catastrophic.[0005]Bil...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is about a liquid sensing switch that can detect the presence of liquid in an area. It includes a pump, two sensor plates, and a ground. When liquid reaches the area, the pump is activated and a current passes between the two sensor plates. The switch also has a 20 KHz square generator and two detectors, which work together with an inverter and a set / reset circuit to generate a signal that can be used to activate a DC amplifier and a relay. The technical effect of this invention is to provide a reliable and efficient way to detect liquid in an area, which can help to prevent damage and improve safety.

Problems solved by technology

In general, most boats, regardless of the material or construction and fabrication, have a tendency to take on a certain amount of water when floating in a body of water.

For the most part, water entering a boat hull tends to accumulate in the lower portion of the hull usually referred to as the “bilge.” While small amounts of water within the bilge of a boat is a tolerable and generally common condition, extensive water collection within a bilge of a boat hull is extremely undesirable and may, if left unattended, prove dangerous or even catastrophic.

However, in the past, bilge pump switches have been unreliable mechanical “float-type” switches that stick causing the bilge pump to remain “on” or remain “off'.

Electronic switches, having no moving parts, exhibited the same issues, i.e., they either “stick on,” keeping the bilge pump running indefinitely due to a high conductivity of soapy water used to clean a vessel, or never turn the pump on, due to low conductivity which comes as the result of oil mixed with water commonly found in the bilge.

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