Liquid level detection system for high temperature or pressure environments
First Claim
1. A system for detecting the level of liquid in a hostile environment created within an enclosure in which there is a liquid body, comprising:
- (a) a probe disposed within said enclosure having an element which vibrates in response to signals from an electromagnetic means and after said signals stop,(b) means for applying a first sweep frequency signal to said probe during a first predetermined interval thereby to cause said element to vibrate within a predetermined band of frequencies,(c) means coupled to said probe and to said (b) means for receiving a second signal produced in said probe by the vibration of said element during a predetermined second time interval after said first interval, said second signal having a characteristic which is a function of the height of said liquid,(d) means coupled to said (b) means and to said (c) means for regulating the discharge of predetermined portions of said liquid body in response to said second signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electromagnetically actuatable probe is inserted in a vessel containing a body of liquid and in which high pressure, high temperature, corrosive, or other hostile conditions exist. Pulses are transmitted to the probe within a predetermined range of frequencies which include the normal resonant frequency of the probe. Return signals are generated by the probe between the times the transmitted pulses are sent. These return pulses are processed to produce signals which are a function of the level of the liquid that are then employed to control the discharge of the liquid or used by another utilization circuit.
9 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for detecting the level of liquid in a hostile environment created within an enclosure in which there is a liquid body, comprising:
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(a) a probe disposed within said enclosure having an element which vibrates in response to signals from an electromagnetic means and after said signals stop, (b) means for applying a first sweep frequency signal to said probe during a first predetermined interval thereby to cause said element to vibrate within a predetermined band of frequencies, (c) means coupled to said probe and to said (b) means for receiving a second signal produced in said probe by the vibration of said element during a predetermined second time interval after said first interval, said second signal having a characteristic which is a function of the height of said liquid, (d) means coupled to said (b) means and to said (c) means for regulating the discharge of predetermined portions of said liquid body in response to said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for detecting the level of a liquid body within an enclosure comprising:
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(a) providing an electrically-energized vibrating probe within said enclosure capable of vibrating for an interval which begins following termination of the energization thereof, (b) applying first electrical signals to said probe to cause it to vibrate within first predetermined time intervals in a predetermined range of frequencies, (c) receiving second signals produced by said probe following energization thereof and within second predetermined time intervals which do not overlap said first time intervals, said second signals having a characteristic which correspond to a characteristic of said liquid and (d) processing said second signals to produce third signals for operating a utilization circuit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for detecting the level of liquid in a high pressure or high temperature environment created within an enclosure, comprising:
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(a) an electromagnetically-operated probe disposed within said enclosure having an electromagnet and an element which vibrates in response to signals applied to the electromagnet, (b) a signal generating and transmitting circuit for producing a first band of signals having frequencies which include the normal resonant frequency of said element, said first band being swept at a cyclic rate and being applied to said electromagnet only during first predetermined intervals thereby causing said element to vibrate after termination of said first predetermined intervals, (c) means for receiving second signals produced by said probe during second predetermined time intervals interspersed with but not overlapping said first predetermined time intervals, (d) means for processing said second signals to produce a third analog signal, said means further including means responsive to said third analog signal for producing a fourth signal comprising a plurality of pulses whose widths vary as an inverse function of the level of said liquid, and (e) valve means associated with said vessel to which said fourth signal pulses are applied for allowing predetermined amounts of said liquid to be extracted from said vessel as a function of the widths of said pulses.
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13. A liquid level probe comprising:
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(a) a generally tubular member having its lower end sealed, (b) a vibrating element having one end affixed to the outside of said tubular member toward the lower end thereof, (c) at least one inductive means disposed within and toward the lower end of said tubular member and adapted, when electrically energized, to produce an electromagnetic field for causing said element to vibrate after energization of said inductive means ceases, and (d) a plurality of conductive means coupled to said inductive means within said tubular member and extending out of the upper end of said tubular member and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical signals for operating a utilization circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for use in conjunction with a body of liquid within an enclosure, comprising:
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(a) an electrically-energized vibrating probe having a fixed vertical position within said enclosure, said probe being constructed to vibrate substantially horizontally only, said probe being constructed to vibrate just after energization thereof ceases, (b) means for providing first signals to said probe to cause it to vibrate within a predetermined range of varying frequencies within first predetermined time intervals, (c) means for receiving second signals produced by said probe in response to its vibrations within second predetermined time intervals occurring just after energization thereof ceases, said second predetermined time intervals not overlapping said first time intervals, and (d) means for processing said second signals to produce third signals and applying them to a utilization circuit. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification