초록 ▼

An apparatus for monitoring water quality parameters is protected from the deleterious effects of its environment when water quality is not being monitored. In a preferred embodiment, a sensor is mounted to a leading end of an elongate worm gear that is mounted in a housing that is positioned above

An apparatus for monitoring water quality parameters is protected from the deleterious effects of its environment when water quality is not being monitored. In a preferred embodiment, a sensor is mounted to a leading end of an elongate worm gear that is mounted in a housing that is positioned above the water level of the body of water under study. An output shaft of a reversible motor engages the worm gear so that the worm gear and sensor are displaced in a first direction when the output shaft rotates in a first direction and are displaced in a second, opposite direction, when the output shaft rotates in a second direction. A hingedly mounted door closes an open end of the housing and is biased to a closed position when a bias member is in repose. When the worm gear is extended, it pushes the door open and the door closes under its bias when the worm gear is retracted. When the worm gear is fully retracted, the sensor is protected by the housing. In this way, the sensor is subjected to the effects of the environment only during brief periods of actual immersion in the water when data is collected. This substantially lowers the cost of maintaining the sensor in good working order relative to the cost of maintaining a sensor that is continuously immersed. The apparatus may be mounted to a piling, a buoy, or any other structure that enables mounting of the apparatus in a predetermined spatial relation to the water line.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for monitoring water quality, comprising:a sensor means having a first, retracted position disposed above a water level of a body of water to be monitored;said sensor means having a second, extended position where it is disposed in immersed relation to said b

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for monitoring water quality, comprising:a sensor means having a first, retracted position disposed above a water level of a body of water to be monitored;said sensor means having a second, extended position where it is disposed in immersed relation to said body of water;retraction and extension means for selectively extending and retracting said sensor means;said sensor means capable of being extended and immersed in said body of water only during a predetermined amount of time required to make a measurement of a preselected water quality parameter;said sensor means capable of being retracted and out of contact with said body of water when no measurement is being made;a housing means for said sensor means, said sensor means being disposed wholly within said housing means when said sensor means is in said first, retracted position and said sensor means being disposed wholly outside said housing means when said sensor means is in its second, extended position;a door means for opening and closing said housing means, said door means being open when said sensor means is in said second, extended position and said door means being closed when said sensor means is in said first, retracted position;a bias means for maintaining said door means in a normally closed position when said sensor means is in said first, retracted position; andat least one elongate member positioned in leading relation to said sensor means wherein said at least one elongate member abuts and pushes open said door means thereby preventing said sensor means from contacting said door means when said sensor means is extended from said first to said second position;whereby said sensor means undergoes the deleterious effects of said body of water to a lesser extent than sensor means that are in continuous contact with said body of water.