US 11,944,857 B2
Printed capacitive liquid level sensor for fire suppression
Michael John Birnkrant, Wethersfield, CT (US); Marcin Piech, East Hampton, CT (US); and May L. Corn, Manchester, CT (US)
Assigned to Carrier Corporation, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
Appl. No. 17/254,944
Filed by Carrier Corporation, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 26, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/053070
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 22, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/112227, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/773,260, filed on Nov. 30, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0283447 A1, Sep. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. A62C 37/50 (2006.01); A62C 35/02 (2006.01); G01F 23/263 (2022.01)
CPC A62C 37/50 (2013.01) [A62C 35/023 (2013.01); G01F 23/268 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fire suppressant storage device (20) comprising:
a tank (22) having a first port and an interior for storing a fire suppressant; and
a discharge assembly mounted to the first port and comprising:
a discharge valve (48); and
a discharge conduit (50) at least partially within the interior and having:
an interior surface (60); and
an exterior surface (58),
wherein the discharge assembly further comprises:
a capacitive gauge (80) on the discharge conduit comprising:
a first conductor (82A);
a second conductor (82B) spaced apart from the first conductor;
a plurality (180A) of first branches (182A) of the first conductor extending away from the second conductor on the discharge conduit; and
a plurality (180B) of second branches (182B) of the second conductor extending away from the first conductor on the discharge conduit opposite respective said first branches.