Device for gauging the level of a fluid

• US 5,543,720 A
• Filed: 03/02/1994
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Saab Marine Electronics Aktiebolag (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Edvardsson, Kurt O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Glenn W.
• Application Number:
  US08/170,305
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 324/631, 324/637, 324/639, 324/640, 324/642, 324/643, 342/124
• US Class Current: 324/643
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/025 involving the transmission of linearly polarised waves
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/24 Polarising devices; Polarisation filters H01Q15/12, H01Q15/22 take precedence

Abstract

A device for gauging the level of a fluid in a container is described. It comprises a transmitter for transmitting a polarizable microwave signal through a first waveguide section, a receiver for receiving a reflected microwave signal, an electronic unit for determining the reflex position of the reflected microwave signal and an antenna means with a second waveguide section. The device is primarily characterized in that the transmitter and receiver, respectively, transmits and receives a waveguide mode each, mutually orthogonal, and by an easily replaceable third waveguide section (6, 16, 17) inserted between the first (2) and second (5) waveguide sections, provided with means (12, 14, 15, 22) for polarization and/or damping for optimal adaptation of the device to various containers and antennae.

Claims

1. A device for determining the level of a fluid contained in a container, that is, a flowing or granulate material, comprising a transmitter for transmitting a polarizable microwave signal through a first waveguide section, a receiver for receiving a reflected microwave signal, an electronic unit, arranged to determine the reflex position of the reflected microwave signal, and an antenna means with a second waveguide section, the first waveguide section being preferably circular in cross section,

characterized in that, the transmitter and receiver are arranged respectively to transmit and receive microwave signals in different waveguide modes which are mutually orthogonal, that is, mutually independent, and further characterized by an interchangeable third waveguide section inserted between the first and second waveguide sections, provided with means for acting upon said microwave signal through polarization and/or damping, for optimal adaption of the device to different containers and antennae.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said waveguide modes are linearly polarized, mutually perpendicular.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the third waveguide section is empty internally to adjust a transmitted microwave signal to a diffuse surface with simultaneous suppression of the echo from the antenna means, the antenna means being formed symmetrically to the extension plane of either the transmitted or received microwave signal.

4. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the third waveguide section is provided with at least a plate of a damping material for damping the transmitted microwave signal, but not the received signal.

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that said plate of the damping material is set at an angle of 45°

to the extension plane of the transmitted microwave signal in order to achieve linear polarization.

6. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the third waveguide section is arranged turnable relative to the first waveguide section.

7. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the third waveguide section is provided with a dielectric plate set at an angle of 45°

to the extension plane of the microwave signal that goes out from the transmitter, in order to achieve different elliptic polarizations, of which right and left turned circular polarizations are typical.