Liquid level sensing and control
First Claim
1. A fluid flow chamber and a controller for flow therethrough comprisinga housing defining a chamber, a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet for flow of liquid therethrough,a float in said chamber,a magnet,a magnetic position sensor that provides an output signal with a magnitude related to the strength of a magnetic field to which it is subjected,one of said magnet and magnetic position sensor being carried by said float for movement with the change in liquid level in said chamber,the other of said magnet and magnetic position sensor being fixedly mounted with respect to said housing,said magnet being oriented with respect to said sensor so as to subject said sensor to a magnetic field that continuously varies in strength as a function of level of liquid in said chamber,thereby causing an output signal at said sensor that continuously varies in magnitude as a function of level,an actuator hydraulically connected to said chamber so as to affect flow through said chamber, andan electronic controller connected to receive said output signal of said sensor and to provide a control signal to said actuator based upon the magnitude of said output signal.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid flow chamber including a housing defining a chamber, a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet for flow of liquid therethrough, a float in the chamber, and a magnet and magnetic position sensor, one of which is carried by the float for movement with the change in liquid level in the chamber, the other of which is fixedly mounted with respect to the housing.
38 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A fluid flow chamber and a controller for flow therethrough comprising
a housing defining a chamber, a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet for flow of liquid therethrough, a float in said chamber, a magnet, a magnetic position sensor that provides an output signal with a magnitude related to the strength of a magnetic field to which it is subjected, one of said magnet and magnetic position sensor being carried by said float for movement with the change in liquid level in said chamber, the other of said magnet and magnetic position sensor being fixedly mounted with respect to said housing, said magnet being oriented with respect to said sensor so as to subject said sensor to a magnetic field that continuously varies in strength as a function of level of liquid in said chamber, thereby causing an output signal at said sensor that continuously varies in magnitude as a function of level, an actuator hydraulically connected to said chamber so as to affect flow through said chamber, and an electronic controller connected to receive said output signal of said sensor and to provide a control signal to said actuator based upon the magnitude of said output signal.
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12. A fluid flow chamber comprising
a housing defining a chamber, a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet for flow of liquid therethrough, a float in said chamber, a magnet, a magnetic position sensor that provides an output signal with a magnitude related to the strength of a magnetic field to which it is subjected, one of said magnet and magnetic position sensor being carried by said float for movement with the change in liquid level in said chamber, the other of said magnet and magnetic position sensor being fixedly mounted with respect to said housing, said magnet being oriented with respect to said sensor so as to subject said sensor to a magnetic field that continuously varies in strength as a function of level of liquid in said chamber, thereby causing an output signal at said sensor that continuously varies in magnitude as a function of level, said magnet having its north and south poles vertically oriented with respect to each other and spaced from each other by a gap between them along a vertical axis.
Specification