Empty container detector
US4665391A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1986 |
| Grant date | May 12, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F23/2921
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An empty container detector comprises a photoelectric transducer associated with the fluid container which generates a variable control signal to alternately indicate whether the light path of the photoelectric transducer is being refracted by a fluid. A second photoelectric transducer is associated with the fluid container above the fluid level in the container to establish a reference signal corresponding to the condition wherein the light path is not refracted or attenuated by the presence of a fluid. Electrical means are provided to connect the first photoelectric transducer to the second photoelectric transducer to linearize and normalize the reference signal with the control signal. A comparator is associated with the photoelectronic transducers and connected to an alarm which indicates when the control signal is substantially equivalent to the reference signal and thus indicating the lowering of the fluid level below the light path of the first photoelectric transducer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.