IN-TANK ILLUMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• Main Authors: CASPER, ROBERT T, NEDVED, PETER R, HARMON, ANDREW W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.04.2021
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; AGRICULTURE; ALARM SYSTEMS; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS,e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES,DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; CONVEYING; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE; FISHING; FORESTRY; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; PACKAGES; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; SIGNALLING; SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; STORING; TRANSPORTING; TRAPPING

An in-tank illumination system and method for a translucent tank with sensors configured to monitor conditions of the tank and material inside. The illumination system includes an illumination source that illuminates the tank interior and is visible outside; and a controller that determines tank conditions based on the sensor readings, and sends control signals to the illumination source. When the controller detects a tank condition, it sends control signals to the source to illuminate the tank to indicate the tank condition. The system can include a bracket connecting the source to the tank interior near the top. The controller and source can be on different vehicles. Different control signals can change colors, blink patterns, and other properties of the source to indicate different tank conditions. The tank conditions can have different priorities to select which to indicate. The severity or duration of tank conditions can also be indicated.