Level indicator
First Claim
1. A sensing apparatus, comprising:
- oscillator sensing means having an oscillator circuit means for outputting an oscillatory signal and a sensing element means associated therewith for radiating an electrostatic field therefrom during operation of said oscillator circuit means, said oscillator sensing means providing a sensing signal output having a voltage level which varies in proportion to changes in such electrostatic field caused by reactions thereof to the proximity of material or object to be sensed; and
output circuit means, responsive to said sensing signal output from said oscillator sensing means, for outputting a voltage level indicative of the proximity of the sensed object or material to said sensing element means;
whereinsaid oscillator sensing means further includes a connecting wire interconnecting said oscillator circuit means and said sensing element means, and wherein said connecting wire has a relatively smaller surface area than said sensing element means so as to minimize interference therewith.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A storage installation which is capable of storing a variety of free-flowing materials, both conductive and non-conductive, includes a level sensing device which may be disposed either exteriorly or interiorly thereof. The device has either one or a plurality of level sensor and sensor circuit pairs which are preferably disposed vertically within a non-electrically conducting tube which may be hermetically sealed from contact with the stored material. The level sensors comprise respective sensing capacitors, each having effectively a single plate construction. Grounded electrical contacts, if relatively adjacent, may comprise the other side of the effective sensing capacitor. Electrostatic force lines flow outward from the sensing capacitor(s), and are differentially interfered with by the presence or absence of materials or objects to be sensed. Such interference affects the dielectric constant of the respective sensing capacitor, which can in turn be detected to drive a level indicator display.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A sensing apparatus, comprising:
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oscillator sensing means having an oscillator circuit means for outputting an oscillatory signal and a sensing element means associated therewith for radiating an electrostatic field therefrom during operation of said oscillator circuit means, said oscillator sensing means providing a sensing signal output having a voltage level which varies in proportion to changes in such electrostatic field caused by reactions thereof to the proximity of material or object to be sensed; and output circuit means, responsive to said sensing signal output from said oscillator sensing means, for outputting a voltage level indicative of the proximity of the sensed object or material to said sensing element means;
whereinsaid oscillator sensing means further includes a connecting wire interconnecting said oscillator circuit means and said sensing element means, and wherein said connecting wire has a relatively smaller surface area than said sensing element means so as to minimize interference therewith. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Detection apparatus, comprising:
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oscillator circuit means for outputting an oscillatory signal; a single-sided capacitive element; a connecting wire, coupling said capacitive element to the output of said oscillator circuit means, and having a smaller surface area than said capacitive element; and an operational amplifier, having a non-inverting input thereof connected with said oscillator circuit means output; wherein said operational amplifier has a DC voltage level output which is proportional to the relative proximity of given materials to said capacitive element, with variations in such relative proximity influencing the electrostatic field emanating from said capacitive element during operation of said oscillator circuit means, whereby such variations in relative proximity are detected. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for sensing the level of conductive or non-conductive materials stored in a container, without electrical contact with such materials, said apparatus consisting of:
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an oscillator circuit connected to single-plate capacitor means and driving same for producing a large, dispersed electrostatic field in the vicinity of a container; an operational amplifier, with the non-inverting input thereof connected to said oscillator circuit and said capacitor means, and outputting therefrom a DC voltage having a level which varies in proportion to changes to the electrostatic field, which is influenced by the relative amount of stored materials in the container; and indicator means, responsive to the level of said DC voltage, for indicating the amount of materials stored in the container. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification