Fluid level monitor
US5015995A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 1989 |
| Grant date | May 14, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S367/908
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fluid level monitor for monitoring the fluid level in a tank comprises a first pair of transducers arranged in a vertically upper horizontal plane and a second pair of transducers arranged in a vertically lower horizontal plane. Pulse generators send electrical pulses to the transmitter transducers which transmit stress waves into the wall of the tank. The stress waves propagating peripherally are detected by the receiver transducers and processors analyze the amplitude of the detected stress waves to determine if the fluid is present or absent at the upper and lower horizontal planes. The pulse generators are arranged to send pulses out of phase so that stress waves propagating axially can be detected to determine alterations of the fluid level between the upper and lower horizontal planes. The processors may be arranged to operate alarms or to operate valves to control the fluid level in the tank.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.