Flexible transmitter and fluid level gauging probe
First Claim
1. A fluid level gauging probe, comprising a first electrically-conductive conduct flexible in multiple planes flexibly supported within and separated by spacer means from a second conduit flexible in multiple planes to maintain a substantially constant radial distance therebetween, said second flexible conduit including an electrically-conductive probe portion forming a first electrical capacitance element with said first conduit, an electrically-conductive compensator conduit portion forming a second electrical capacitance element with said first conduit and an electrically insulative collar forming an insulating joint between said probe portion and said compensator portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid level gauging probe having a flexible transmitter wherein the flexible transmitter includes a first flexible electrically conductive conduit flexibly and substantially coaxially supported within a second flexible conduit. The second flexible conduit includes an electrically conductive probe conduit portion forming an electrical capacitance member with the first conduit. Non conductive spacers are provided for flexibly and substantially coaxially supporting the first flexible conduit within the second flexible conduit. Non conducting locating pins are radically disposed through longitudinal slots in the first and second flexible conduits for the attaching the flexible transmitter to a probe housing and for maintaining the first and second flexible conduits in a substantially fixed longitudinal relationship when the flexible transmitter is flexed. Circuitry, including electrical leads to the first flexible conductive member and the probe portion of the second flexible conduit, is provided for measuring the capacitance of the electrical capacitance member and for detecting the level of fluid in a container as a function of the measured capacitance.
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Citations
34 Claims
- 1. A fluid level gauging probe, comprising a first electrically-conductive conduct flexible in multiple planes flexibly supported within and separated by spacer means from a second conduit flexible in multiple planes to maintain a substantially constant radial distance therebetween, said second flexible conduit including an electrically-conductive probe portion forming a first electrical capacitance element with said first conduit, an electrically-conductive compensator conduit portion forming a second electrical capacitance element with said first conduit and an electrically insulative collar forming an insulating joint between said probe portion and said compensator portion.
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18. A fluid level gauging probe, comprising:
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a housing having a flange for fixing said housing to a wall of a fluid container; a fluid level gauging transmitter flexible in multiple planes fixed to said housing and disposed within said fluid container, said transmitter comprising a first flexible electrically-conductive conduit flexibly support within and separated by means from a second flexible conduit, said second flexible conduit including an electrically-conductive probe portion forming a first electrical capacitance member with said first conduit, an electrically-conductive compensator portion forming a second electrical capacitance member with said first flexible conduit and a collar forming an electrically insulating joint between said probe portion and said compensator portion; and circuit means electrically connected to said first conduit, said probe portion and said compensator portion of said fluid level gauging transmitter for receiving signals from said first and second capacitance members, for measuring the respective capacitances of said first and second electrical capacitance members responsive to said signals and for determining a level of the fluid in said container as a function of the measured capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A fluid level gauging transmitter, comprising:
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a first electrically conductive conduit flexible in multiple planes flexibly supported by spacer means within a second conduit flexible in multiple planes having an electrically conductive probe portion forming a first electrical capacitance member with said first conduit; and a plurality of locating pins radially disposed through said first flexible conductive conduit and said second flexible conduit for maintaining a substantially fixed longitudinal relationship therebetween, wherein said pins are arranged in pairs, each pair having a first pin disposed longitudinally offset and radially perpendicular to a second pin. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A fluid level gauging transmitter, comprising:
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a first electrically conductive conduit flexible in multiple planes flexibly supported by spacer means within a second conduit flexible in multiple planes having an electrically conductive probe portion forming a first electrical capacitance member with said first conduit; and a plurality of locating pins radially disposed through said first flexible conductive conduit and said second flexible conduit for maintaining a substantially fixed longitudinal relationship therebetween, wherein said first and second flexible conduits each are provided with radially disposed longitudinal slots for receiving said locating pins. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A fluid level gauging probe, comprising:
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a housing having a flange for fixing said housing to a wall of a fluid container; a transmitter flexible in multiple planes fixed to said housing and disposed within said fluid container, said transmitter comprising a first electrically-conductive conduit flexible in multiple planes flexibly supported by spacer means within a second conduit flexible in multiple planes, said second flexible conduit including an electrically-conductive probe portion forming an electrical capacitance member with said first conduit;
circuit means connected to said first conduit and said probe portion for measuring the capacitance of said electrical capacitance member and for determining a level of the fluid in said container as a function of the measured capacitance; anda plurality of locating pins for maintaining a substantially fixed longitudinal relationship between said first and second conduits, wherein said first and second flexible conduits each are provided with radially disposed longitudinal slots for receiving said locating pins. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A fluid level gauging transmitter, comprising:
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a first electrically-conductive conduit flexible in multiple planes flexibly supported by spacer means within a second conduit flexible in multiple planes having an electrically-conductive probe conduit portion, said first conduit comprising at least two flexible electrically conductive segments in electrical contact, said segments having respective segment diameters; and a plurality of locating pins radially disposed through said first and second flexible conduib 51035020.002 ts for maintaining a substantially fixed longitudinal relationship therebetween, wherein each said locating pins comprises terminal pin heads having a width greater than the width of longitudinal slots in said second flexible conduit. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification