Patent ID: 7977591

Claim:
A liquid level monitor, comprising: an outer housing; liquid bowl cavity in a lower portion of said housing having a liquid sampling port for fluid coupling to a liquid reservoir of a compression comprising system, said liquid reservoir having a liquid therein and an air portion above said liquid, said liquid in said liquid bowl cavity being at a level that tracks a height of said liquid in said liquid reservoir; a switching device cavity formed within an upper portion of said housing having an electromechanical switching device therein; a separator interposed between said liquid bowl cavity and said switching device cavity; a venting pathway comprising a vent passage having an air sampling port for coupling to said air portion in said fluid reservoir, said vent passage for equalizing pressure between a region over said liquid in said liquid bowl cavity and said switching device cavity; a liquid level indicator comprising a float positioned in said liquid bowl cavity for indicating said height of said liquid in said fluid reservoir, said liquid level indicator for actuating said electromechanical switching device when said level falls below a predetermined level, and a mechanical barrier positioned in said venting pathway, wherein when said fluid migrates into said vent passage from said liquid bowl cavity said mechanical barrier is operable for redirecting at least a portion of said liquid back into said liquid bowl cavity.