Fluid gauging apparatus using magnetostrictive sensor and stick gauge

• US 5,723,870 A
• Filed: 05/06/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Crowne, David Henry, Freeman, Kip Joseph, Lichtenfels, Frederick Lloyd II, Maurice, Lisa Brackenbury
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US08/647,328
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 250/577, 250/551, 250/904, 250/221, 340/870.28, 340/870.16, 340/825.37, 340/825.36, 340/825.72, 73/61.41, 73/313, 73/311, 73/306, 73/319, 73/290 V, 73/314, 73/322
• US Class Current: 250/577
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/00 Arrangements in connection with fuel supply for power plant refuelling during flight B64D39/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/48 using wave or particle radiation means G01D5/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/04 by dip members, e.g. dip-sticks
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2963 magnetostrictive
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/72 using magnetically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/74 for sensing changes in level only at discrete points
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing

Abstract

057238701

Apparatus for detecting fluid level in a container, comprises a housing adapted to be disposed in the container; a float with an associated magnetic element, the float position corresponding to fluid level in the container; a magnetostrictive sensor disposed inside the housing; and a stick gauge disposed inside the housing; the magnetostrictive sensor and the stick gauge each being operable to determine the float position.

Claims

1. Apparatus for detecting fluid level in a container, comprising:

a housing adapted to be disposed in the container;

a float with an associated magnetic element, said housing being a floatation guide for the float, with the float position corresponding to fluid level in the container;

a magnetostrictive sensor disposed inside the housing; and

a stick gauge disposed inside the housing;

the magnetostrictive sensor and the stick gauge being individually operable with the float to determine the position thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container includes an opening in the bottom thereof through which the magnetostrictive sensor and the stick gauge can be at least partially withdrawn from the container without loss of fluid in the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the stick gauge comprises a ferromagnetic element that is captured by the float magnetic element when the stick gauge is partially withdrawn from the container, the stick gauge carrying indicia thereon for visual determination of fluid level in the container.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the magnetostrictive sensor comprises an outer tube that is slidable within the housing and which helps slidably inserting the stick gauge within the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the stick gauge includes a spool at one end thereof that engages with one end of the magnetostrictive sensor when both are inserted inside the housing;

the spool carrying the ferromagnetic element so that the spool is captured by the float magnetic element and disengages from the magnetostrictive sensor when the sensor is at least partially withdrawn from the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for wireless interrogation of the magnetostrictive sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the wireless means comprises a transceiver coupled to the magnetostrictive sensor, and a remote unit that transmits and receives electromagnetic energy therewith.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the magnetostrictive sensor is disposed inside a mounting tube;

the mounting tube having a mechanism that releasably engages a mounting flange on the container so that the sensor can be at least partially withdrawn from the container.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the transceiver comprises means for detecting electromagnetic energy from the remote unit, means for transmitting electromagnetic energy to the remote unit, and circuit means for controlling the detecting means and the transmitting means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the transmitting means and detecting means are retained in the tube mechanism, and the circuit means is disposed on a circuit board disposed inside the sensor mounting tube.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the detecting means and transmitting means comprises photoelectric devices.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the photoelectric devices operate in the infrared spectrum.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the remote unit is a hand held device that can be used to interrogate the magnetostrictive sensor from ground level.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a circuit for applying current pulses to the sensor and processing output signals from the sensor, said circuit being disposed in the housing with the sensor and stick gauge.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the magnetostrictive sensor is disposed inside an elongated mounting tube;

and further wherein the circuit comprises a number of components disposed on an elongated circuit board disposed inside the mounting tube.

16. An integral fluid level detection apparatus disposed in a housing that is disposed in a fluid tank and having a magnetic float associated therewith the housing being a floatation guide for the float, with the position of the float corresponding to the fluid level, the apparatus comprising:

a magnetostrictive sensor that can be installed in the housing through an opening in the tank, and a stick gauge that can be releasably retained in the housing by the magnetostrictive sensor;

the sensor and stick gauge each being operable to determine the float position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the magnetostrictive sensor is slidable inside the housing and can be at least partially withdrawn therefrom to permit the stick gauge to be manually operated.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the magnetostrictive sensor comprises a wireless transceiver that can be interrogated by a remote hand held unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the transceiver comprises means for converting detected electromagnetic energy received from the remote unit into electrical energy for energizing the sensor and transceiver.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the fluid tank is an aircraft fuel tank.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the magnetostrictive sensor can be interrogated by fuel gauging circuits on the aircraft.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a remote hand held unit for wireless interrogation of the sensor.

23. An integral fluid level detection apparatus disposed in a housing installed in a fluid tank and having a magnetic float associated therewith such that the housing is a floatation guide for the float with the position of the float corresponding to the fluid level, the apparatus comprising:

an electrically readable sensor assembly disposed in the housing through an opening in the tank, and a stick gauge retained in the housing by the sensor;

the sensor and stick gauge each being operable to determine the float position.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the sensor assembly comprises a magnetostrictive sensor and the stick gauge comprises a manually operated gauge that provides visual fluid level detection.

25. A gauging apparatus for measuring liquid quantity in a container comprising:

a housing disposed in the container;

a magnetic float that is guided by the housing and has a position that corresponds to fluid level in the container;

a stick gauge disposed in the housing and that can be manually and at least partially withdrawn from the container and housing to obtain a visual reading of the liquid quantity by detecting position of the float;

a sensor disposed in said housing that produces an output related to the liquid quantity by detecting position of the float;

the sensor engaging the stick gauge when both are fully disposed within the housing; and

gauging means for receiving the sensor output to determine liquid quantity in the container.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a magnetic float that is slidably disposed with respect to the housing so that the float position corresponds to the liquid level in the container, wherein said sensor and said dripstick operate to determine said float position.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said gauging means comprises a remote control device that determines the sensor output by transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy with said sensor.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said remote control device comprises a hand held unit, and said stick gauge, housing and sensor are disposed in an aircraft fuel tank so that the sensor can be interrogated from the ground using the hand held unit without a direct mechanical connection therebetween.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said sensor comprises means for converting electromagnetic energy received from said remote control device into electrical energy used to energize said sensor, said sensor being substantially deenergized when not being interrogated by said remote control device.

30. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the sensor is wire connected to the gauging means.

31. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the stick gauge can be withdrawn through a bottom opening in the container without loss of fluid.

32. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the stick gauge comprises an elongated tube with the sensor being disposed therein.

33. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the sensor comprises a magnetostrictive device that releasably retains the stick gauge within the housing.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the magnetostrictive device is at least partially withdrawn from the housing when the dripstick is used for a visual reading.