Appeal 2006-2171
Application 10/840,715
18. The water management system according to claim 17, wherein
said mounting structure comprises a shaft log.
26. A water management system for a propeller shaft stuffing box,
comprising:
a containment vessel, sized and shaped to fit around a propeller shaft
stuffing box, said containment vessel having first and second axially-aligned
shaft bores at opposing ends thereof;
a support structure supporting said containment vessel in axial
alignment with said propeller shaft;
a holding tank in fluid communication with said containment vessel
for accumulating water from said containment vessel;
a pump responsive to an automatic switch, said automatic switch
responsive to a water level in said holding tank for automatically operating
said pump;
a control unit, said control unit monitoring a rate of water
accumulation in said holding tank and generating a warning signal when said
rate of water accumulation exceeds a predetermined rate;
wherein said control unit monitors said rate of water accumulation in
said holding tank based on the number of times said pump is operated during
a predetermined period of time.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references as evidence
of unpatentability:
Price US 4,341,178 Jul. 27, 1982
Herzhauser US 5,030,150 Jul. 9, 1991
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