Measuring Device and Method for Measuring the Level of a Liquid in a Container

• US 20170074715A1
• Filed: 11/02/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Sensors Germany GmbH (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: TE Connectivity Sensors Germany GmbH (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Bartos, Axel, Meisenberg, Armin, Voss, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 10,656,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/72 using magnetically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/74 for sensing changes in level only at discrete points
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/76 characterised by the construction of the float

Abstract

A measuring device for measuring a level of a liquid in a container is disclosed. The measuring device comprises a sensor line and a float. The sensor line has a plurality of magnetic-field sensors, at least one of the plurality of magnetic-field sensors uses a magnetoresistive effect or is a Hall effect sensor or a magnetoresistor or an extraordinary magnetoresistive sensor. The float is movable along and relative to the sensor line between a first measuring location and a second measuring location. The float has a magnet generating a magnetic field extending substantially parallel to the sensor line at both the first measuring location and the second measuring location.

Claims

1. A measuring device for measuring a level of a liquid in a container, comprising:

a sensor line having a plurality of magnetic-field sensors, at least one of the plurality of magnetic-field sensors uses a magnetoresistive effect or is a Hall effect sensor or a magnetoresistor or an extraordinary magnetoresistive sensor; and

a float movable along and relative to the sensor line between a first measuring location and a second measuring location, the float having a magnet generating a magnetic field extending substantially parallel to the sensor line at both the first measuring location and the second measuring location.

2. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic-field sensors are disposed spaced apart from one another along the sensor line.

3. The measuring device of claim 2, wherein the sensor line extends linearly.

4. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnetic-field sensors uses an anisotropic magnetoresistive effect.

5. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnetic-field sensors generates an output signal independent of a magnetic field direction.

6. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor line has a support field magnet generating a magnetic support field in the plurality of magnetic-field sensors.

7. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the float has a plurality of magnets.

8. The measuring device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of magnets are aligned axially along a longitudinal axis of the float.

9. The measuring device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of magnets are aligned radially relative to a longitudinal axis of the float.

10. The measuring device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of magnets are disposed in a radially symmetrical manner in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the float.

11. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the magnet is a hollow cylinder.

12. The measuring device of claim 11, wherein a longitudinal axis of the magnet extends parallel to the sensor line.

13. The measuring device of claim 12, wherein the magnet is magnetized axially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magnet.

14. The measuring device of claim 12, wherein the magnet is magnetized radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the magnet.

15. The measuring device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the liquid.

16. A measuring device for measuring a level of a liquid in a container, comprising:

a sensor line having a plurality of magnetic-field sensors containing no movable components; and

a float movable along and relative to the sensor line between a first measuring location and a second measuring location, the float having a magnet generating a magnetic field extending substantially parallel to the sensor line at both the first measuring location and the second measuring location.

17. The measuring device of claim 16, wherein the magnetic-field sensors are disposed spaced apart from one another along the sensor line.

18. A method for measuring a level of a liquid in a container, comprising:

providing a measuring device including a sensor line having a plurality of magnetic-field sensors, at least one of the plurality of magnetic-field sensors uses a magnetoresistive effect or is a Hall effect sensor or a magnetoresistor or an extraordinary magnetoresistive sensor, and a float movable along and relative to the sensor line between a first measuring location and a second measuring location, the float having a magnet generating a magnetic field extending substantially parallel to the sensor line at both the first measuring location and the second measuring location; and

determining a position of the float along the sensor line based on a comparison of output signals of the plurality of magnetic-field sensors to values stored in a memory.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method is used to measure the level of an ink, the level of a solvent, or the level of a urea-containing liquid.