Methods and Systems for Determining Process Variables Using Location of Center of Gravity
First Claim
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1. A method of monitoring materials in a container comprising the steps of:
- placing the container in a desired position;
wherein when the container is placed in the desired position, a change in level of materials in the container changes position of center of gravity of the materials in the container along the horizontal axis;
determining location of center of gravity of the materials in the container; and
determining level of materials in the container;
wherein the level of materials in the container is determined using position of the center of gravity of the materials in the container and container geometry.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for using force measurements to determine the amount of material in a container and/or the rate at which material is discharged from a container are disclosed. A container for storing a desired material is positioned so that the center of gravity of the container shifts horizontally with changes in level of the material in the container. A plurality of load sensors are symmetrically arranged at a base of the container and are used to monitor the amount of materials in the container.
96 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring materials in a container comprising the steps of:
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placing the container in a desired position; wherein when the container is placed in the desired position, a change in level of materials in the container changes position of center of gravity of the materials in the container along the horizontal axis; determining location of center of gravity of the materials in the container; and determining level of materials in the container; wherein the level of materials in the container is determined using position of the center of gravity of the materials in the container and container geometry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of monitoring materials in a container comprising:
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placing the container at an angle to vertical; wherein the container rests on a first load sensor and a second load sensor; wherein the first load sensor and the second load sensor are separated by a predetermined distance; determining mass of the materials in the container using the readings of the first load sensor and the second load sensor; determining location of center of gravity of the container using a ratio of force at the first load sensor and force at the second load sensor; determining level of materials in the container using the location of the center of gravity and the angle of the container from vertical; and determining volume of materials in the container using the level of materials in the container and container geometry. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of monitoring the amount of materials in a container comprising:
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placing the container on an angled platform resting on a first load sensor and a second load sensor; wherein the first load sensor and the second load sensor are separated by a predetermined distance; locating center of gravity of the container at a first point in time; changing the amount of materials in the container; locating center of gravity of the container at a second point in time; determining the change in the level of materials in the container between the first point in time and the second point in time; and determining the volume of materials removed from the container. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for monitoring material storage comprising:
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a container for storing a material; wherein center of gravity of the container shifts horizontally with changes in level of the material in the container; and a plurality of load sensors coupled to the container; wherein the plurality of load sensors are symmetrically arranged at a base of the container. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of monitoring materials in a container comprising:
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placing the container on a first load sensor and a second load sensor;
wherein the container is positioned at an angle to vertical;determining a relationship between readings of force at the first load sensor and the second load sensor and level of materials in the container; placing a desirable material in the container; monitoring amount of the desirable material in the container using the readings of force at the first load sensor and the second load sensor. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification