Appeal 2006-2171
Application 10/840,715
INTRODUCTION
Appellant invented a method and apparatus for collecting excess
water leaking from a stuffing box of an inboard engine boat propeller shaft
(Specification 3). The stuffing box provides a watertight seal to the
propeller shaft of the boat. Appellant’s method includes monitoring a rate of
water collected in a tank exclusively for water discharged from a stuffing
box and communicating a warning if the rate of water collection exceeds a
preset value (Claim 1). The rate of water collection is based upon the
number of times a pump is operated to discharge the water from the holding
tank within a predetermined period of time (claim 10). The apparatus
includes a containment vessel surrounding the stuffing box, a holding tank
for receiving the water contained in the containment vessel, a pump with a
float switch for removing the water from the holding tank, a counting circuit
for determining the number of times the pump is operated during a
predetermined period of time thereby monitoring the rate of water collection
and an alerting device for communicating a warning signal (claim 13).
Claims 1, 10, 11, 13, 18 and 26 are illustrative:
1. A method for monitoring water leaking from a stuffing box of an
inboard engine boat propeller shaft, comprising the steps of:
shielding an engine compartment from a discharge of water from said
stuffing box;
collecting said discharge of water in a holding tank exclusively
provided for said discharge of water from said stuffing box;
monitoring a rate of water collection in said holding tank; and
communicating a warning if said rate of water collection exceeds a
preset value.
2
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