LEVEL SENSOR SYSTEM FOR PROPANE TANKS AND OR THE LIKES

• US 20100126267A1
• Filed: 07/04/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensotech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sensotech, Inc.
• Inventors: Agam, Uri, Marcovecchio, Pino
• Granted Patent: US 8,689,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/290.V
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2961 for discrete levels G01F23/2962 - G01F23/2968 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurement G01S15/32

Abstract

A level sensor system according to the present invention includes a controller and a sensor assembly defined by a transducer assembly and a mounting assembly configured for a quick connection or non permanent attachment of the transducer assembly to the tank or container. The ultrasound transducer assembly emits ultrasound pulses in the tank along a detecting path, receives ultrasound echoes indicative of at least one of the first and second fluids and produces echo signals representative of the at least one of the first and second fluids. The mounting assembly is configured for receiving the ultrasound transducer assembly and for operatively mounting the ultrasound transducer assembly to the tank for ultrasound measurement. The controller is coupled to the ultrasound transducer assembly, receives the echo signals and determines the position of the fluid interface therewith; the level of the first fluid being defined by the position of the fluid interface. The fact that the sensor assembly is configured so as to be removably mounted to the tank allows replacing the tank, for example when it is empty, without having to replace the sensor assembly.

Claims

1. A level sensor assembly for measuring the level of a first fluid in a tank, the first fluid defining a fluid interface with a second fluid, the system comprising:

an ultrasound transducer assembly for emitting ultrasound pulses in the tank along at least one detecting path, for receiving ultrasound echoes indicative of at least one of the first and second fluids and for receiving echo signals representative of the at least one of the first and second fluids; and

a mounting assembly for receiving the ultrasound transducer assembly and for operatively mounting the ultrasound transducer assembly to the tank for ultrasound measurement.

2. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first fluid is a liquid and the second fluid is a gas above the liquid.

3. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly is to be mounted to the tank outside thereof;

the mounting assembly including a deformable liner mounted to the transducer assembly for contacting the tank when the level sensor assembly is mounted thereto to allow transmission of ultrasound waves from the ultrasound transducer assembly through the tank.

4. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the mounting assembly further comprising a biasing element for forcing a tight contact between the transducer assembly and the tank via the deformable liner.

5. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the tank includes a bottom;

the mounting assembly operatively mounting the ultrasound transducer assembly to the bottom of the tank so that the ultrasound transducer assembly emits the ultrasound pulses from the bottom of the tank towards the top therefrom and receives the ultrasound echoes, which are indicative of the fluid interface, after a time representative of the level of the first fluid in the tank.

6. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the tank includes a bottom;

the ultrasound transducer assembly including at least one ultrasound transducer mounted to the tank via the mounting assembly for emitting the ultrasound pulses in the tank along the at least one detecting path which is generally parallel to the bottom of the tank at a position relatively therefrom;

whereby each of the at least one transducer acting as a level switch, wherein some of the ultrasound echoes which are indicative of the first fluid are received by the transducer whenever the first fluid level is at least equal or higher than the position of the transducer relatively to the bottom.

7. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one ultrasound transducer includes a plurality of transducers each mounted to the tank via the mounting assembly at a respective position relatively to the bottom of the tank along the height thereof.

8. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the mounting assembly operatively mounts the at least one ultrasound transducer to an outside wall of the tank.

9. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the mounting assembly includes a dip-stick for operatively mounting the at least one ultrasound transducer in the tank.

10. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising a reflector secured to the dip-stick along the at least one detecting path;

the reflector defining a gap with the at least one ultrasound transducer;

the reflector causing a reflection of the ultrasound pulses when the first fluid fills the gap, yielding echo signals representative of the first fluid and thereby allowing the detection of the first fluid at the position of the at least one transducer relative to the bottom of the tank.

11. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein a time of flight of the ultrasound pulses to the reflector is indicative of an identity of the at least one of the first and second fluids in front of the at least one transducer.

12. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the tank includes a bottom and a top;

the ultrasound transducer assembly being mounted to the tank via the mounting assembly for emitting the ultrasound pulses in the tank along the at least one detecting path which is generally perpendicular to the bottom of the tank;

the ultrasound transducer assembly being positioned adjacent the top of the tank so that the level sensor assembly acts as a fill stop detector.

13. A level sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the ultrasound echoes are indicative of a distance of the ultrasound transducer assembly to the fluid interface.

14. A level sensor system for measuring the level of a first fluid in a tank, the first fluid defining a fluid interface with a second fluid, the system comprising:

an ultrasound transducer assembly for emitting ultrasound pulses in the tank along a detecting path, for receiving ultrasound echoes indicative of at least one of the first and second fluids and for receiving echo signals representative of the at least one of the first and second fluids;

a controller coupled to the ultrasound transducer assembly for receiving the echo signals and for determining a position of the fluid interface therewith;

the level of the first fluid being defined by the position of the fluid interface; and

a mounting assembly for receiving the ultrasound transducer assembly and for operatively mounting the ultrasound transducer assembly to the tank for ultrasound measurement.

15. A level sensor system as recited in claim 14, wherein the controller determining a position of the fluid interface includes computing a delay between the ultrasound transducer emitting one of the ultrasound pulses and the ultrasound transducer receiving a corresponding one of the echo signals representative of the at least one of the first and second fluids.

16. A level sensor system as recited in claim 14, further comprising an output device coupled to the controller for outputting information related to the position of the fluid interface.

17. A level sensor system as recited in claim 14, wherein the controller is further programmed to frequently determine the position of the fluid interface.