Apparatus for determining the filling level of a filling material in a container

US6672155B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Endress+Hauser Inc. · DE

Inventors

• Roland Muller · Weiling, DE
• Winfried Maier · Maulburg, DE
• Wolfgang Lubcke · Steinen, DE
• Thomas Malzahn · Rheine, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 12, 2001
• Grant date: Jan 6, 2004
• Expiry date: Oct 12, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S15/88
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for determining the filling level of a filling material in a container having a signal production unit which produces measurement signals, having at least one antenna which transmits the measurement signals in the direction of the surface of the filling material and which receives the measurement signals reflected on the surface of the filling material, and having a control/evaluation unit which uses the delay time of the measurement signals to determine the filling level of the filling material in the container. The apparatus allows a filling level measurement device, which operates on the delay-time principle, to be mounted on a container in a cost-effective and simple manner. An opening is provided in the upper region of one sidewall of the container, and in that the at least one antenna is positioned in this opening with the antenna being arranged and configured such that the measurement signals are emitted essentially in the direction of the surface of the filling material and such that the measurement signals reflected on the surface of the filling material are received by the at least one antenna.