Linear position indicator system and method

• US 20070186648A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PCS Ferguson Incorporated (ChampionX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: FB Imonitoring, Inc. (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Dixon, David, Harmon, Robert, Couch, Philip, Barry, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,343,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/319
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/68 using electrically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/72 using magnetically actuated indicating means

Abstract

The present invention is directed to system and method for determining a fluid level. The system comprises a sensing rod assembly comprised of releasably connectable rod segments. Each rod segment carries a processor and a plurality of inductors. Each inductor generates a position signal responsive to a float signal. A float assembly comprises a housing containing a circuit having an integrally formed coil periodically energizable by a processor to emit the float signal. A control assembly receives the generated position signals and determines the fluid level. The method comprises providing releasably connectable rod segments with inductors that generate a position signal responsive to a float signal, determining a sensing rod assembly length, forming the sensing rod assembly, disposing it within a container, providing a float assembly periodically actuated to generate a float signal, generating position signals responsive to the float signal and analyzing those signals to determine the fluid level.

Claims

9-1. The linear position indicator system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensing rod housing surmounting said sensing rod assembly and having a plurality of releasably connected housing segments.

18. A method for determining the fluid level of a fluid contained within a container and having a fluid surface, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of releasably connectable rod segments, each rod segment extending a given rod segment length and having a plurality of inductors located along said length, each said inductor being responsive to a float signal to generate a position signal;

(d) determining a sensing rod assembly length based on the depth of said container;

(e) forming a sensing rod assembly having said rod assembly length by connecting a plurality of rod segments;

(f) disposing said sensing rod assembly generally vertically within said container;

(g) providing a float assembly that floats at said fluid surface and is vertically movable along said sensing rod assembly, said float assembly comprising a circuit having a coil excitable to generate a float signal corresponding to the position of said float assembly;

(g) periodically exciting said float assembly coil to generate said float signal;

(h) sensing said float signal with said inductors to generate a plurality of position signals; and

(i) analyzing said sensed position signals to determine said fluid level of said fluid in said container.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said container contains a second fluid having a second fluid surface, further comprising the steps of:

(j) providing a second float assembly that floats on said second fluid surface and is vertically movable along said sensing rod assembly, said second float assembly comprising a circuit having an integrally formed coil actuable to generate a second float signal corresponding to the position of said second float assembly;

(g) periodically actuating said second float assembly coil to generate said second float signal;

(h) sensing said second float signal with said inductors to generate a plurality of second position signals; and

(i) analyzing said sensed second position signals to determine said second fluid level of said fluid in said container.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said step (i) of analyzing said sensed position signals comprises performing a non-linear regression analysis.