System for monitoring fills of liquid in a tank container and ongoing liquid condition
First Claim
1. A tank liquid monitoring system, comprising:
- air bell means arranged to be located inside a tank, for producing an output signal corresponding to a liquid pressure at a certain location in the tank;
processor means coupled to an output of said air bell means, said processor means including;
delivery-in-progress sensing means for sensing an initial increase in the liquid pressure greater than a preset pressure difference and for providing a corresponding delivery indication,means for determining an initial volumetric measure of liquid in said tank at about a time when said delivery-in-progress sensing means provides said delivery indication,delivery complete sensing means for providing a delivery complete indication in the absence of further increases in said liquid pressure following said initial increase,means for determining a final volumetric measure of liquid in said tank at about a time when said delivery complete sensing means provides said delivery complete indication; and
means for determining a volumetric measure of liquid delivered to said tank, including means for calculating a difference between said final and said initial volumetric measures of liquid in said tank, and means for producing a signal indicative of the volumetric measure of liquid delivered to said tank in accordance with the calculated difference.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for continuously monitoring fills of liquid such as fuel oil in a tank, and the condition of the liquid. A dual in-line air bell structure senses fluid pressure at upper and lower locations inside the tank, the locations being spaced a known distance apart from one another in a normal direction relative to the tank. Processing circuitry responsive to the fluid pressures obtained via the air bell structure, determines quantities of liquid contained in the tank at certain times and produces corresponding outputs such as gallons of liquid delivered to the tank at each of a number of delivery times, and total gallons of liquid in the tank as the liquid is consumed. The air bell structure is formed with upper and lower air bell sections joined end-to-end along a common axis. Each of the air bell sections includes at least one aperture in its wall to define a cross-section through the air bell section. Liquid pressures sensed at the defined cross-sections of each of the air bell sections, are communicated by pumped air lines to the processing circuitry. The system can be operated on-site or remotely through a telephone modem. Records of tank liquid levels, delivery amounts, and other important data are stored for later access by the user.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A tank liquid monitoring system, comprising:
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air bell means arranged to be located inside a tank, for producing an output signal corresponding to a liquid pressure at a certain location in the tank; processor means coupled to an output of said air bell means, said processor means including; delivery-in-progress sensing means for sensing an initial increase in the liquid pressure greater than a preset pressure difference and for providing a corresponding delivery indication, means for determining an initial volumetric measure of liquid in said tank at about a time when said delivery-in-progress sensing means provides said delivery indication, delivery complete sensing means for providing a delivery complete indication in the absence of further increases in said liquid pressure following said initial increase, means for determining a final volumetric measure of liquid in said tank at about a time when said delivery complete sensing means provides said delivery complete indication; and means for determining a volumetric measure of liquid delivered to said tank, including means for calculating a difference between said final and said initial volumetric measures of liquid in said tank, and means for producing a signal indicative of the volumetric measure of liquid delivered to said tank in accordance with the calculated difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of monitoring quantities of liquid delivered to a tank, comprising:
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locating air bell means inside a tank, whereby the air bell means produces an output signal corresponding to a liquid pressure at a certain location in the tank; sensing the output signal for an initial increase in the liquid pressure greater than a preset pressure difference, thereby providing a corresponding delivery indication, determining an initial volumetric measure of liquid in said tank at about a time when said delivery indication is provided, providing a delivery complete indication in the absence of further increases in said liquid pressure following said initial increase, determining a final volumetric measure of liquid in said tank at about a time when said delivery complete indication is provided; and determining a volumetric measure of liquid delivered to said tank, by calculating a difference between said final and said initial volumetric measures of liquid in said tank, and producing a signal indicative of a measure of liquid delivered to said tank in accordance with the calculated difference. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification