METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING LIQUID QUANTITY IN BULK CONTAINERS

• US 20110100119A1
• Filed: 10/29/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Technologies Group Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Technologies Group Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Justak, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,322,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/292
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/14 by measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/18 Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically

Abstract

A method and apparatus for measuring the mass of liquid within collapsible, bulk fabric storage containers is provided wherein a deflection member arranged in a grid pattern supports the container and undergoes deflection creating an increase in the pressure of fluid within its interior which may be measured and correlated to the mass of the liquid within the container.

Claims

1. A measuring apparatus, comprising:

at least one deflection member arranged in a grid pattern, said at least one deflection member having a hollow interior filled with a fluid, said at least one deflection member being movable between a first position in which said hollow interior has a first cross sectional area and a second position, under the application of a load, wherein said hollow interior has a second cross sectional area which is less than said first cross sectional area;

at least one pressure measurement device coupled to said deflection member, said at least one pressure measurement device being effective to sense the pressure of the fluid within said hollow interior of said deflection member and to produce a measurement of pressure that may be correlated to the mass of the load.

2. The measuring apparatus of claim 1 in which said at least one deflection member comprises at least one flexible line.

3. The measuring apparatus of claim 1 in which said at least one flexible line is a number of flexible lines each having a hollow interior which communicate with one another.

4. The measuring apparatus of claim 1 in which said at least one deflection member comprises a number of pressure pads coupled to one or more conduits.

5. The measuring apparatus of claim 1 in which said deflection member is effective to assume any cross sectional area between said first and second cross sectional areas in response to variations in the mass of the load, said pressure of said fluid within said hollow interior of said deflection member varying in relation to said cross sectional area thereof.

6. The measuring apparatus of claim 1 further including a temperature sensor coupled to said at least one deflection member, said temperature sensor being effective to sense the temperature of the fluid within said hollow interior of said at least one deflection member.

26. The measuring apparatus of claim 1 in which said at least one deflection member comprises a number of pressure pads coupled to one or more conduits.

28. The measuring apparatus of claim 26 in which said pressure pads and at least one conduit are affixed to a mat.

29. The measuring apparatus of claim 26 in which said at least one conduit is substantially inflexible under the application of the load.

7. A measuring apparatus, comprising:

at least one flexible line arranged in a grid pattern, said at least one flexible line having a hollow interior filled with a fluid, said at least one flexible line begin movable between a first position in which said hollow interior has a first cross sectional area and a second position, under the application of a load, wherein said hollow interior has a second cross sectional area which is less than said first cross sectional area;

at least one pressure measurement device coupled to said at least one flexible line, said at least one pressure measurement device being effective to sense the pressure of the fluid within said hollow interior of said at least one flexible line and to produce a measurement of said pressure that may be correlated to the mass of said load.

8. The measuring apparatus of claim 7 in which said at least one flexible line comprises a number of flexible lines each having a hollow interior which communicate with one another.

9. The measuring apparatus of claim 8 in which said at least one pressure measurement device comprises a single pressure measurement device coupled to said flexible.

10. The measuring apparatus of claim 7 in which said at least one flexible line comprises a number of first flexible lines connected to a first common line and a number of second flexible lines connected to a second common line.

11. The measuring apparatus of claim 10 in which said at least one pressure measurement device comprises a first pressure measurement device coupled to said first common line and a second pressure measurement coupled to said second common line.

12. The measuring apparatus of claim 7 in which said at least one flexible line is effective to assume any cross sectional area between said first and second cross sectional areas in response to variations in the mass of the load, said pressure of said fluid within said hollow interior of said at least one flexible line varying in relation to said cross sectional area thereof.

13. The measuring apparatus of claim 7 in which said at least one flexible line is a fabric-covered flexible hose.

14. The measuring apparatus of claim 7 in which said at least one flexible line arranged in a grid pattern is affixed to a mat.

15. The measuring apparatus of claim 7 further including a temperature sensor coupled to said at least one flexible line, said temperature sensor being effective to sense the temperature of the fluid within said hollow interior of said at least one flexible line.

16. A measuring apparatus, comprising:

a number of pressure pads arranged in a grid pattern and coupled to one or more conduits, said pressure pads each having a hollow interior filled with a fluid, each of said pressure pads being movable between a first position in which said hollow interior thereof has a first cross sectional area and a second position, under the application of a load, wherein each of said hollow interiors has a second cross sectional area which is less than said first cross sectional area;

at least one pressure measurement device coupled to said pressure pads, said at least one pressure measurement device being effective to sense the pressure of the fluid within said hollow interiors of said pressure pads and to produce a measurement of said pressure that may be correlated to the mass of the load.

17. The measuring apparatus of claim 16 in which each of said pressure pads includes an inner layer formed of an elastomeric material that defines said hollow interior, and an outer layer covering said inner layer.

18. The measuring apparatus of claim 16 in which said pressure pads and at least one conduit are affixed to a mat.

19. The measuring apparatus of claim 16 in which said at least one conduit is substantially inflexible under the application of the load.

20. The measuring apparatus of claim 16 further including a temperature sensor coupled to said pressure pads, said temperature sensor being effective to sense the temperature of the fluid within said hollow interior of said pressure pads.

21. Apparatus for measuring the mass of liquid within a bulk container, comprising:

at least one deflection member arranged in a grid pattern upon which the bulk container is positioned, said at least one deflection member having a hollow interior filled with a fluid, said at least one deflection member being movable between a first position in which said hollow interior has a first cross sectional area and the bulk container is empty, and a second position in which said hollow interior has a second cross sectional area and the bulk container is full, said second cross sectional area being less than said first cross sectional area, said at least one deflection member being effective to assume any cross sectional area between said first and second cross sectional areas in response to variations in the mass of the liquid within the bulk container between said empty and full condition;

at least one pressure measurement device coupled to said at least one deflection member, said at least one pressure measurement device being effective to sense the pressure of said fluid within said hollow interior of said at least one deflection member which varies in relation to said cross sectional area thereof and to produce a measurement of said pressure that may be correlated to the mass of the liquid within the bulk container.

22. The measuring apparatus of claim 21 in which said at least one deflection member comprises at least one flexible line.

23. The measuring apparatus of claim 22 in which said at least one flexible line comprises a number of flexible lines each having a hollow interior which communicate with one another.

24. The measuring apparatus of claim 22 in which said at last one flexible line is a fabric-covered flexible hose.

25. The measuring apparatus of claim 22 in which said at least one flexible line arranged in a grid pattern is affixed to a mat.

27. The measuring apparatus of claim 21 in which each of said pressure pads includes an inner layer formed of an elastomeric material that defines said hollow interior, and an outer layer covering said inner layer.

30. The measuring apparatus of claim 21 further including a temperature sensor coupled to said at least one deflection member, said temperature sensor being effective to sense the temperature of the fluid within said hollow interior of said at least one deflection member.

31. A method of measuring the mass of liquid within a bulk container, comprising:

(a) providing at least one deflection member arranged in a grid pattern, said at least one deflection member having a hollow interior filled with a fluid;

(b) placing the bulk container onto said grid pattern of said at least one deflection member, said at least one deflection member being movable from a first position in which said hollow interior has a first cross sectional area to a second position in which said hollow interior has a second cross sectional area, said at least one flexible line being movable between said first and second positions in the course of filling the bulk container with liquid and emptying liquid from the bulk container;

(c) sensing the pressure of the fluid within said hollow interior of said at least one deflection member, said pressure varying in relation to said cross sectional area of said at least one deflection member;

(d) correlating the pressure sensed in step (c) to the mass of the liquid within the bulk container.

32. The method of claim 31 in which step (a) comprises providing at least one flexible line having a hollow interior.

33. The method of claim 31 in which step (a) comprises providing a number of pressure pads coupled to one or more conduits.

34. The method of claim 31 further including:

(e) sensing the temperature of the fluid within said hollow interior of said at least one deflection member;

(f) adjusting the magnitude of the pressure sensed in step (c) in relation to the temperature sensed in step (e); and

(g) correlating the pressure as adjusted in step (0 to the mass of the liquid within the bulk container.