Corrosion resistant refractive and adsorptive type optical liquid level sensors

• US 5,065,037 A
• Filed: 04/17/1990
• Issued: 11/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conax Buffalo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Conax Buffalo Corporation
• Inventors: Finney, Mark J., Stukey, Kevin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Messinger, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/487,953
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 250/577, 250/575, 250/900, 250/901, 250/902, 356/134-136, 356/442, 73/290 R, 73/293, 340/618, 340/619
• US Class Current: 250/577
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2921 for discrete levels

Abstract

Two types of optical liquid level sensor are disclosed. In the first refractive-type (20,65), light is selectively refracted by the particular fluid(s) in a plug recess between primary and secondary detectors (D₁,D₂). The output signal from either detector indicates whether the sensor is above or below the liquid level. The signals of the respective detectors are cross-compared and used to corroborate one another. In the second absorptive-type (100), light at a particular wavelength is passed through a body chamber (86'"'"'), which is exposed to the liquid whose level is to be sensed. Such light is selectively absorbed by the liquid. A detector (D) is arranged to measure the intensity of such light as has passed through the chamber, and to indicate the level of liquid in said chamber.

Claims

1. A corrosion-resistant optical liquid level sensor adapted to determine the level of liquid in a container formed of polytetrafluorethylene perfluoralkoxy material, comprising:

a light source;

said container having first, second and third windows severally formed of said material;

transmitting means for transmitting light from said source through said first window into said container;

primary detection means operatively arranged to measure the intensity of light passing through said second window;

secondary detection means operatively arranged to measure the intensity of light passing through said third window; and

comparator means for monitoring the integrity of the optical path between said source and said primary and secondary detection means as a function of the intensities of light measured by said primary and secondary detection means.

2. A corrosion-resistant optical liquid level sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container is formed of molded polytetrafluorethylene perfluoralkoxy material.

3. A corrosion-resistant optical liquid level sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said primary detection means is arranged to produce a primary electrical signal as a function of the intensity of light received by said primary detection means.

4. A corrosion-resistant optical liquid level sensor as set forth in claim 3 wherein said secondary detection means is arranged to produce a secondary electrical signal as a function of the intensity of light received by said secondary detection means.

5. A corrosion-resistant optical liquid level sensor as set forth in claim 4 wherein the magnitude of each of said electrical signals is substantially proportional to the intensity of light received by the associated detection means.

6. A corrosion-resistant optical liquid level sensor as set forth in claim 5 wherein said comparator means is arranged to monitor the integrity of said optical path as a function of the sum of said primary and secondary electrical signals.

7. A corrosion-resistant optical liquid level sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said primary detection means is arranged on said container at a position to receive light transmitted through said first window when said first window is submerged in said liquid.

8. A corrosion-resistant optical liquid level sensor as set forth in claim 7 wherein said secondary detection means is arranged on said container at a position to receive light transmitted through said first window when said first window is not submerged in said liquid.

9. A corrosion-resistant optical liquid level sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein a particular wavelength of said light is absorbed by said liquid.

10. A corrosion-resistant optical liquid level sensor as set forth in claim 9 wherein said primary and secondary detection means are arranged to measure the intensity of light as said particular wavelength.

11. The method of determining the level of liquid in a container, said container being formed of a polytetrafluorethylene perfluoralkoxy material and having a surface facing into said container, said container also having a first window forming a portion of said surface and through which light may enter said container and having second and third windows forming portions of said surface and through which light may exit said container, said second and third windows being spaced from one another, which method comprises the steps of:

transmitting light into said container through said first window;

directing light passing through said first window to said second window when said first window is submerged in said liquid;

directing light passing through said first window to said third window when said first window is not submerged in said liquid;

measuring the intensity of such directed light passing through said second window;

measuring the intensity of such directed light passing through said third window; and

comparing the measured intensities of light passing through said second and third windows;

thereby to measure the integrity of the optical paths between said windows as a function of said measured light intensities.

12. The method of determining the level of liquid in a container, said container being formed of a polytetrafluorethylene perfluoralkoxy material and having a surface facing into said container and adapted to be exposed to the particular liquid the level of which is to be sensed, said container having a first window forming a portion of said surface and through which light may enter said container and also having a second window forming another portion of said surface and through which light may exit said container, the optical path between said windows being unaffected by the nature of fluid in said container, which method comprises the steps of:

transmitting light through said first window into said container;

selectively absorbing a selected wavelength of said light as a function of the fluid in said container;

transmitting light from said container through said second window; and

measuring the intensity of light passing through said second window at said selected wavelength;

thereby to indicate whether said first window is above or below the level of liquid in said container.