US 7,321,102 B2
Float switch transient suppression device
Thomas Bruce Fox, Bristol, Vt. (US); William Jon Darling, Ferrisburg, Vt. (US); Rollin Winter Brown, South Burlington, Vt. (US); and Lawrence Carl Maier, New Haven, Vt. (US)
Assigned to Simmonds Precision Products, Inc., Vergennes, Vt. (US)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/695,040.
Prior Publication US 2005/0087432 A1, Apr. 28, 2005
Int. Cl. H01H 3/14 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 200—84R  [200/84 B; 361/58; 361/93.7] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A float switch system for limiting to desirable levels current and energy entering a tank of combustible liquid, said system comprising:
a float switch disposed within said tank;
an interface circuit external to said tank and coupled through wiring to said float switch;
a passive transient suppression circuit coupled to said wiring external and in proximity to said tank, and operative to limit current and energy entering said tank over said wiring to the desirable levels; and
a control circuit coupled to said float switch through said transient suppression circuit and to said interface circuit, said control circuit operative to monitor the status of said float switch with current within the desirable current level and simulate the status of the float switch to energize said interface circuit based on said switch status.