Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for eliminating measuring inaccuracies in a storage tank leak detection system

US4914943A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
2References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 21, 1989
Grant dateApr 10, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 21, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01M3/3245
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An improved apparatus for substantially eliminating measuring inaccuracies in a storage tank leak detection system caused by temperature-induced volumetric changes in the stored fluid product is described. The apparatus comprises an alongated tube supported in the storage tank and having first and second ends and a substantially hollow core. The apparatus also includes a housing supported in the storage tank for receiving the second end of the elongated tube. The housing is vented to the fluid product such that a portion of the fluid product enters the housing. According to the invention, a medium is supported in the substantially hollow core of the elongated tube, the medium having a temperature coefficient substantially lower than the temperature coefficient of the fluid product. The apparatus also includes a non-reactive liquid barrier seal supported in the housing between the medium and the fluid product for preventing mixing of the medium and the fluid product and for supporting the medium in static equilibrium with respect to the fluid product. The large disparity between the temperature coefficients of the medium and the fluid product insures that temperature-induced volumet…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.