Ultrasonic liquid level monitoring system
US8104341B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 25, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 8, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F23/804
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasonic liquid level monitoring system includes an ultrasonic transducer unit that is externally mountable to a tank. An ultrasonic emitter may generate an ultrasonic beam and receive an echo of the ultrasonic beam off a liquid surface inside a tank. An acoustic lens is coupled to the ultrasonic emitter to shape the ultrasonic beam to compensate for lensing effects of the tank wall. An acoustic coupler may be disposed between the acoustic lens and the tank wall to improve the acoustic coupling between the ultrasonic emitter and the tank wall. The system determines a time-of-flight between generating the ultrasonic beam and receiving the echo. Using the time-of-flight and geometry of a tank, the system may calculate the liquid volume inside the tank. The time-of-flight may be transmitted via a satellite data link or a local data link. The local data link may further be used to configure and maintain the system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.