Recreational vehicle holding tank sensor probe
US8410948B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 12, 2008 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F23/243
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A wastewater holding tank sensor probe for use in determining the presence of a conductive liquid held within a wastewater holding tank in a recreational vehicle is disclosed. The probe is less sensitive to the presence of conductive residue as a result of an improved geometry and/or choice of materials that reduce the leakage currents between the probe tip and the sensor probe attachment surface, typically the wall of the tank. This reduction in sensitivity to conductive residue buildup can be measured by a geometrically determined resistivity factor between the probe tip and the mounting surface of the probe. The reduction in sensitivity can also be measured by the length of the path through the conductive residue between the probe tip and the mounting surface of the probe. A variety of geometries and material choices to reduce the sensitivity of electrical conductance based sensor probes to conductive residue are disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.