Method and apparatus for sensing fuel levels in tanks
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid within a tank comprising:
- a rod, a first end of which is at least partially immersed in the liquid within the tank and a second end of which at least partially extends outside of the tank, the second end of the rod further at least partially comprising ferromagnetic material;
a magnetostrictive sensor (MsS) comprising a coil at least partially surrounding the second end of the rod;
signal generator circuitry for driving the MsS and thereby generating a longitudinal guided-wave within the rod;
signal receiver circuitry for sensing and receiving a signal from the MsS, generated therein by the longitudinal guided-wave; and
signal analyzer circuitry for measuring and analyzing an attenuation of the guided-wave, the attenuation corresponding to a degree to which the rod is immersed in the liquid.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are described that utilize longitudinal guided waves propagated along a rod placed in a vehicle fuel tank, or the like, to identify the level of the fuel contained within the tank. The system includes a magnetostrictive sensor (MsS) positioned adjacent to one end of the rod that extends out from the tank. The MsS both generates the guided waves in the rod and detects the reverberating reflected waves within the rod. A permanent magnet may be positioned adjacent the MsS to establish a bias magnetic field in association with the MsS. The system and method detect the waves reverberating in the rod and from the detected signals, measure a degree of wave attenuation. A correlation is made between the measured attenuation change and the actual fuel level within the tank.
59 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid within a tank comprising:
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a rod, a first end of which is at least partially immersed in the liquid within the tank and a second end of which at least partially extends outside of the tank, the second end of the rod further at least partially comprising ferromagnetic material; a magnetostrictive sensor (MsS) comprising a coil at least partially surrounding the second end of the rod; signal generator circuitry for driving the MsS and thereby generating a longitudinal guided-wave within the rod; signal receiver circuitry for sensing and receiving a signal from the MsS, generated therein by the longitudinal guided-wave; and signal analyzer circuitry for measuring and analyzing an attenuation of the guided-wave, the attenuation corresponding to a degree to which the rod is immersed in the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for measuring the level of a liquid within a tank comprising the steps of:
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generating longitudinal guided-waves in a rod that is placed inside the tank using a magnetostrictive sensor (MsS); detecting the guided-waves reverberating in the rod over a period of time with the MsS; measuring the level of wave attenuation in the reverberating guided-waves in the rod over a period of time; referencing the measured level of wave attenuation to a calibrated level associated with a known liquid level; and converting the measured wave attenuation to a measure of the liquid level within the tank. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification