Bin level indicator
| Title: | Bin level indicator |
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| Patent Number: | 10557,740 |
| Publication Date: | February 11, 2020 |
| Appl. No: | 15/996159 |
| Application Filed: | June 01, 2018 |
| Abstract: | A bulk material storage bin has an upright wall supporting a plurality of vertically spaced indicators providing a person with visual information regarding the level of the bulk material in the bin. The indicators have bright color and dark color surfaces that are selectively displayed to provide a person with information of the level of bulk material in the bin. An actuator located in the bin cooperates with a motion transmission apparatus to move visual members to an ON position displaying the bright color when the bulk material engages the actuator and to an OFF position displaying the dark color when the actuator is free of bulk material. The motion transmission apparatus includes a rod movably retained on an O-ring held on a mount device secured to the side wall of the bin. A yoke supporting an endless flexible member mounted on the rod is connected to the visual members whereby movement of the rod moves the visual members between the ON and OFF positions. |
| Inventors: | Johnson, Thomas C. (Roseau, MN, US) |
| Assignees: | LTJ ENTERPRISES, INC (Roseau, MN, US) |
| Claim: | 1. A combined material storage bin and visual indicator for providing a person with information regarding the level of material located within the bin comprising: said bin having a side wall surrounding a chamber for holding material, said side wall having at least one hole open to the inside and outside of the side wall, said indicator mounted on the side wall operable to provide a person located remote from the bin with visual information regarding the level of material located within the bin, said indicator comprising a housing having an internal chamber, at least one visual member movably mounted on the housing, said visual member having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion located in the internal chamber of the housing, a bright color on the first portion of the visual member, said second portion of the visual member having a dark color, a light transparent member joined to the housing enclosing the visual member within the interior chamber of the housing, a mount device connecting the housing to the side wall of the bin, said mount device including an elongated bar located within the bin engageable with the inside of the side wall of the bin, a boss joined to the bar extended through the hole in the side wall of the bin, a fastener cooperating with the boss to retain the bar in engagement with the inside of the side wall of the bin, an actuator connected to the mount device locatable within the chamber of the bin for movement from a first position to a second position and from the second position back to the first position, said actuator including a flexible body extended downwardly from the bar into the chamber of the bin, said flexible body comprising a flexible sheet member having opposite side portions extended toward the inside side wall of the bin, a top portion, a back wall adjacent the inside bin wall, and a bottom edge extended normal away from the inside side wall of the bin when the actuator is in the first position with material in the bin engaging the actuator, said bottom edge extending upwardly and inwardly away from the inside side wall of the bin when the actuator is in the second position with no material in the bin engaging the actuator, said back wall including a tubular portion having a vertical passage, a plate for holding the flexible sheet member on the bar, at least one fastener attaching the plate and flexible sheet member to the bar, a motion transmission apparatus connecting the actuator to the visual member, said motion transmission apparatus including a rod having a first rod section operatively associated with the visual member for rotating the visual member and a second rod section located in the passage of the tubular portion of the flexible sheet member, a torus mounted on the boss, said second rod section being extended through said torus with the torus in annular engagement with the second rod section thereby supporting the rod on the torus, an axle mounted on the housing rotatably supporting the visual member, a sleeve rotatably supported on the axle and connected to the visual member, a yoke having a stem, a first arm and a second arm, said first rod section being connected to the stem, said sleeve being located between said first and second arms, an endless flexible member having a middle portion wound around the sleeve, a first end portion retained on the first arm and a second end portion retained on the second arm whereby movement of the actuator between its first and second positions selectively moves the rod mounted on the torus, the yoke, and rotates the sleeve with the endless flexible member to rotate the visual member to position the bright color adjacent the transparent member or the dark color second portion of the visual member adjacent the transparent member whereby the bright color or the dark color second portion of the visual member is visible by a person located remote from the bin to provide the person with visual information concerning the level of material in the bin. |
| Claim: | 2. The combined material storage bin and visual indicator of claim 1 wherein: the tubular portion of the flexible sheet member of the actuator extends from adjacent the top portion to the bottom edge of the flexible sheet member, and said second rod section of the rod located in the passage of the tubular portion extends from adjacent the top portion to the bottom edge of the flexible sheet member of the actuator. |
| Claim: | 3. The combined material storage bin and visual indicator of claim 1 wherein: the torus comprises a flexible O-ring retained on the boss, said second rod section being extended through the O-ring with the O-ring in annular contact with the second rod section. |
| Claim: | 4. The combined material storage bin and visual indicator of claim 1 wherein: the second rod section has an annual recess, said torus being located in the annular recess in annular contact with the second rod section of the rod. |
| Claim: | 5. An indicator for providing information to a person regarding the level of material located within a bin comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, at least one visual member movably mounted on the housing, said visual member having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion located in the internal chamber of the housing, a bright color on the first portion of the visual member, said second portion of the visual member having a dark color, a light transparent member joined to the housing enclosing the visual member within the interior chamber of the housing, a mount device for connecting the housing to the side wall of the bin, said mount device including an elongated bar adapted to be located within the bin and engageable with the inside of the side wall of the bin, a boss joined to the bar adapted to be extended through the hole in the side wall of the bin, a fastener cooperating with the boss for retaining the bar in engagement with the inside of the side wall of the bin, an actuator connected to the mount device locatable within the chamber of the bin for movement from a first position to a second position and from the second position back to the first position, said actuator including a flexible body, said flexible body comprising a flexible sheet member having opposite side portions adapted to extend toward the inside side wall of a top portion, a back wall and a bottom edge, said back wall of the sheet member including a tubular portion having a passage, a plate for holding the flexible sheet member on the bar, at least one fastener attaching the plate and flexible sheet member to the bar, a motion transmission apparatus connecting the actuator to the visual member, said motion transmission apparatus including a rod having a first rod section operatively associated with the visual member for rotating the visual member and a second rod section located in the passage of the tubular portion of the flexible sheet member, a torus mounted on the boss, said second rod section being extended through said torus with the torus in annular engagement with the second rod section thereby supporting the rod on the torus, an axle mounted on the housing rotatably supporting the visual member, a sleeve rotatably supported on the axle and connected to the visual member, a yoke having a stem, a first arm and a second arm, said first rod section being connected to the stem, said sleeve being located between said first and second arms, an endless flexible member having a middle portion wound around the sleeve, a first end portion retained on the first arm and a second end portion retained on the second arm whereby movement of the actuator between its first and second positions selectively moves the rod mounted on the torus, the yoke, and rotates the sleeve with the endless flexible member to rotate the visual member to position the bright color adjacent the transparent member or the dark color second portion of the visual member adjacent the transparent member whereby the bright color or the dark color second portion of the visual member is visible by a person located remote from the bin to provide the person with visual information concerning the level of material in the bin. |
| Claim: | 6. The indicator of claim 5 wherein: the tubular portion of the flexible sheet member of the actuator extends from adjacent the top portion of the bottom edge of the flexible sheet member, and said second rod section of the rod located in the passage of the tubular portion extends from adjacent the top portion of the bottom edge of the flexible sheet member of the actuator. |
| Claim: | 7. The indicator of claim 5 wherein: the torus comprises a flexible O-ring retained on the boss, said second rod section being extended through the O-ring with the O-ring in annular contact with the second rod section. |
| Claim: | 8. The indicator of claim 5 wherein: the second rod section has an annular recess, said torus being located in the annular recess in annular contact with the second rod section of the rod. |
| Claim: | 9. An indicator for providing information to a person regarding the level of material located within a bin having an upright wall comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, a pair of generally cylindrical visual members having first portions and second portions spaced from the first portions, a first color on the first portions of the visual members, said second portions of the visual members having a second color, said first and second colors being visually contrasting colors, a light transparent member joined to the housing enclosing the visual members within the internal chamber of the housing, a boss adapted to be mounted on the upright wall of the bin, an actuator adapted to be located within the bin for movement from a first position to a second position and from the second position back to the first position, a motion transmission apparatus connecting the actuator to the visual members, said motion transmission apparatus having a member for rotating the visual members, a rod having a first section connected to the member and a second section connected to the actuator, a torus mounted on the boss, said second section of the rod extending through the torus to movably support the rod on the torus whereby movement of the actuator from a first position to a second position moves the visual members to locate the first color adjacent the transparent member and movement of the actuator from the second position to the first position moves the visual members to locate the second color of the visual members adjacent the transparent member whereby the first color and second color of the visual members are separate, visible by a person located remote from the bin to provide the person with information regarding the level of material in the bin. |
| Claim: | 10. The indicator of claim 9 wherein: the torus is a flexible O-ring. |
| Claim: | 11. The indicator of claim 9 wherein: the second section of the rod has an annular recess, said torus including an inner annular surface located in the annular recess in annular engagement with the second section of the rod whereby the rod is movably supported on the torus. |
| Claim: | 12. An indicator for providing information to a person regarding the level of material located within a bin having an inside side wall and a chamber for holding the material comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, at least one visual member movably mounted on the housing, said visual member having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion located in the internal chamber of the housing, a first color on the first portion of the visual member, said second portion of the visual member having a second color, said first color and second color being visually contrasting colors, a light transparent member joined to the housing enclosing the visual member within the chamber of the housing, an actuator locatable within the chamber of the bin for movement from a first position to a second position when engaged with material in the bin and from the second position to the first position when material in the bin does not engage the actuator, said actuator including a flexible body and extended downwardly into the chamber of the bin, said flexible body having a tubular member with a passage, a bar adapted to be located within the bin and engageable with the upright inside wall of the bin, a tubular boss connected to the bar, a fastener attached to the boss adapted to hold the boss and bar on the bin, a plate attached to the bar for securing the flexible body to the bar, and a motion transmission apparatus operably connecting the actuator to the visual member, said motion transmission apparatus including a rod mounted on the boss, said rod having a rod section located in the passage of the tubular member whereby movement of the flexible body moves the rod and the actuator between its first and second positions selectively moving the visual member to locate the first color adjacent the light transparent member or the second color second portion of the visual member adjacent the transparent member whereby the first color or the second color second portion of the visual member is visible by a person located remote from the bin to provide the person with information concerning the level of material in the bin. |
| Claim: | 13. The indicator of claim 12 wherein: the flexible body of the actuator is a flexible sheet member having opposite side portions adapted to extend toward the inside wall of the bin. |
| Claim: | 14. The indicator of claim 12 wherein: the flexible body of the actuator is a flexible sheet member having opposite side portions extendable toward the inside wall of the bin, a top portion secured to the bar, a bottom edge, and said tubular member being located between the opposite side portions of the flexible sheet member and extended from adjacent the top portion to the bottom edge of the flexible sheet member. |
| Claim: | 15. The indicator of claim 14 wherein: the rod section extends in the passage of the tubular member to the bottom edge of the sheet member. |
| Claim: | 16. The indicator of claim 12 wherein: the actuator is a one-piece flexible sheet member including the tubular member with a passage accommodating the rod section of the motion transmitting apparatus. |
| Claim: | 17. The indicator of claim 16 wherein: the one-piece flexible sheet member includes opposite side portions extendable toward the inside wall of the bin, a top portion secured to the bar, a bottom edge, said tubular member being located between the opposite side portions of the flexible sheet member and extended from adjacent the top portion to the bottom edge of the flexible sheet member. |
| Claim: | 18. The indicator of claim 17 wherein: the rod section extends in the passage of the tubular member to the bottom edge of the sheet member. |
| Claim: | 19. The indicator of claim 12 including: an O-ring mounted on the boss, and said rod section of the rod extended through the O-ring to movably support the rod on the boss. |
| Claim: | 20. The indicator of claim 19 wherein: said rod section of the rod has an annular recess, and said O-ring being located in the annular recess in annular contact with the rod section of the rod. |
| Claim: | 21. An indicator for providing information regarding the level of material located in a bin having a side wall and a chamber for holding the material comprising: a housing having an internal chamber, at least one visual member located within the internal chamber of the housing, said visual member having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion, a first color on the first portion of the visual member, said second portion of the visual member having a second color, said first color and second color being visually contrasting colors, a light transparent member joined to the housing enclosing the visual member within the chamber of the housing, an actuator locatable within the chamber of the bin for movement from a first position to a second position by material in the bin and the second position to the first position, a motion transmission apparatus operably connecting the actuator to the visual member operable to rotate the visual member in response to movement of the actuator by material in the bin, said motion transmission apparatus including a sleeve having an axial passage connected to the visual member, an axle mounted on the housing extended through the passage of the sleeve for rotatably mounting the sleeve on the axle, said visual member being rotatably mounted on the axle, an endless flexible member, said flexible member including a middle portion thereof wound around the sleeve, a first end portion and a second end portion, a yoke having a first arm and a second arm located adjacent the sleeve, said first end portion of the flexible member being retained on the second arm, said second end portion of the endless flexible member being retained on the second arm, a member connecting the yoke to the actuator and said member, yoke and flexible member being movable in response to movement of the actuator to rotate the sleeve and visual member connected to the sleeve whereby the bright color and dark color second portion of the visual member are selectively located adjacent the transparent member and visible by a person located remote from the bin to provide the person with visual information concerning the level of material in the bin. |
| Claim: | 22. The indicator of claim 21 wherein: the endless flexible member is an endless flexible cord. |
| Patent References Cited: | 910606 January 1909 Swanson 2260661 October 1941 Enderud 2570952 October 1951 Hyland 2571378 October 1951 Parisi 2698362 December 1954 Bozich 2718867 September 1955 Ray 2851553 September 1958 Grostick 3210493 October 1965 Lau 3290462 December 1966 Watkins 3583221 June 1971 Ehrenfried 3685356 August 1972 Zimmerman 4211966 July 1980 Sweet 4576107 March 1986 Brasher 4799383 January 1989 Johnson et al. 4829820 May 1989 Johnson et al. 5088323 February 1992 Johnson et al. 5657716 August 1997 Beasley 6067927 May 2000 Johnson et al. 6111211 August 2000 Dziedzic 6272818 August 2001 Sebben 9383243 July 2016 Schaefer D848874 May 2019 Johnson 2016/0216147 July 2016 Johnson |
| Assistant Examiner: | Courson, Tania |
| Primary Examiner: | Patel, Nimeshkumar D |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Bartz, Richard John |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.10557740 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Language: | English |
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