Device for measuring the fill level in a liquid container

• US 20110083504A1
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Unger, Hiie-Mai
• Application Number:
  US12/923,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20110083504A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/304.C
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/20 the indication being based on the inclination of the surface of a liquid relative to its container
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/00 Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/003 with a probe suspended by rotatable arms with floats G01F23/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/268 mounting arrangements of probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/292 Light , e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2968 Transducers specially adapted for acoustic level indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/30 by floats
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/64 of the free float type without mechanical transmission elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/76 characterised by the construction of the float

Abstract

A device for measuring the fill level in a liquid container has a fill level sensor secured in the liquid container. According to the invention the fill level sensor is supported in pendulum-like fashion on the liquid container about at least one rotary axis.

Claims

1. A device for measuring the fill level in a liquid container, comprising a fill level sensor secured in the liquid container and being supported, in particular in pendulum-like fashion, on the liquid container about at least one rotary axis.

2. The measuring device as defined by claim 1, wherein the fill level sensor on the liquid container is supported in pendulum-like fashion about two rotary axes, in particular via a cardan joint or a combined rotary/pivot bearing.

3. The measuring device as defined by claim 1, wherein the fill level sensor is supported in pendulum-like fashion on the liquid container on all sides, in particular via a ball joint or a cable suspension.

4. The measuring device as defined by claim 1, wherein the fill level sensor is intended for contactless fill level measurement and is embodied as an ultrasonic sensor or an optical sensor.

5. The measuring device as defined by claim 2, wherein the fill level sensor is intended for contactless fill level measurement and is embodied as an ultrasonic sensor or an optical sensor.

6. The measuring device as defined by claim 2, wherein the fill level sensor is intended for contactless fill level measurement and is embodied as an ultrasonic sensor or an optical sensor.

7. The measuring device as defined by claim 1, wherein the fill level sensor is intended for contact measurement and is embodied as a capacitive sensor.

8. The measuring device as defined by claim 2, wherein the fill level sensor is intended for contact measurement and is embodied as a capacitive sensor.

9. The measuring device as defined by claim 3, wherein the fill level sensor is intended for contact measurement and is embodied as a capacitive sensor.

10. The measuring device as defined by claim 1, wherein the fill level sensor is intended for contact measurement and is embodied as a mechanical sensor with a float.

11. The measuring device as defined by claim 2, wherein the fill level sensor is intended for contact measurement and is embodied as a mechanical sensor with a float.

12. The measuring device as defined by claim 3, wherein the fill level sensor is intended for contact measurement and is embodied as a mechanical sensor with a float.

13. The measuring device as defined by claim 1, wherein an inclination sensor for correcting the fill level measured with the fill level sensor is provided on the liquid container or on a component connected to it.

14. The measuring device as defined by claim 2, wherein an inclination sensor for correcting the fill level measured with the fill level sensor is provided on the liquid container or on a component connected to it.

15. The measuring device as defined by claim 3, wherein an inclination sensor for correcting the fill level measured with the fill level sensor is provided on the liquid container or on a component connected to it.

16. The measuring device as defined by claim 4, wherein the inclination sensor is integrated with a bearing of the fill level sensor.

17. The measuring device as defined by claim 7, wherein the inclination sensor is integrated with a bearing of the fill level sensor.

18. The measuring device as defined by claim 10, wherein the inclination sensor is integrated with a bearing of the fill level sensor.

19. The measuring device as defined by claim 1, further comprising an evaluation unit, which as a function of an inclination of the liquid container and/or of the container geometry recalculates the fill level, measured by the fill level sensor, to the fill level for a non-inclined liquid container.

20. The measuring device as defined by claim 2, further comprising an evaluation unit, which as a function of an inclination of the liquid container and/or of the container geometry recalculates the fill level, measured by the fill level sensor, to the fill level for a non-inclined liquid container.