Electronic liquid leak detector
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring the fluid volume in a reservoir having at least one wall, comprising:
- a) a first column having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end extends through the reservoir and is in fluid communication with the external atmosphere, and wherein said second end extends beneath the surface of the fluid and is in fluid communication with the fluid;
b) measuring means for measuring the level of the fluid within said first column;
c) electrically controllable fluid communication means, located through a wall of the reservoir, for selectively venting the atmosphere within the reservoir to the external atmosphere; and
d) wherein the air pressure within the reservoir moves toward equilibrium with the external atmosphere when said controllable fluid communication means vent, whereby any elevated or decreased levels of fluid within said first column may be normalized and said column operates as a virtual column.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A leak detector apparatus 10 is disclosed which measures changes in fluid level in a tube 54 substantially located within a reservoir 29 of hydraulic fluid. The tube 54 has a first end which is open to the atmosphere and a second end which is submerged in the hydraulic fluid. The reservoir 29 is selectively sealed, therefore changes in the volume of the fluid within the reservoir 29 cause the fluid level within the tube 54 to change in accordance with the principles of a manometer. A measuring device is utilized to determine the level of the fluid within the tube 54, wherein the measurement device can include a float 22 having a magnet 23 located thereon interacting with a linear array of Hall effect sensors 24. A controllable venting valve 28 is provided through the reservoir 29 to equalize the pressure within the tank with the external ambient pressure. The opening and closing of the venting valve 28 is controlled by an electronic controller device 30 that uses float position and hydraulic fluid temperature as inputs, among others. Accordingly, the float position can be reset within the tube to extend the range, thereby creating a virtual column.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring the fluid volume in a reservoir having at least one wall, comprising:
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a) a first column having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end extends through the reservoir and is in fluid communication with the external atmosphere, and wherein said second end extends beneath the surface of the fluid and is in fluid communication with the fluid; b) measuring means for measuring the level of the fluid within said first column; c) electrically controllable fluid communication means, located through a wall of the reservoir, for selectively venting the atmosphere within the reservoir to the external atmosphere; and d) wherein the air pressure within the reservoir moves toward equilibrium with the external atmosphere when said controllable fluid communication means vent, whereby any elevated or decreased levels of fluid within said first column may be normalized and said column operates as a virtual column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for measuring volume changes of hydraulic fluid in a reservoir tank, of the type utilized on a turf maintenance vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a reservoir tank having one or more sides and a top, said tank containing fluid which defines a first volume of air between the surface of the fluid and said sides and top of said tank; b) a first column, said first column having a first end extending through said reservoir, wherein said first column is in fluid communication with external atmosphere, and a second end arranged and configured to be located below the surface of the fluid level within said tank, whereby changes in the fluid volume in the tank increase or decrease the first volume of air thereby changing the air pressure which varies the fluid level within said first column; c) measuring means for measuring the level of fluid within said first column and for generating a detect signal responsive to the level of fluid in said first column; d) processing means for receiving said detect signal, wherein the level of the hydraulic fluid within said first column is determined, and for determining changes in the fluid volume; and e) electrically controllable fluid communication means, located through said tank, for venting the atmosphere within said tank to the external atmosphere, wherein the pressure between the two tends to equalize, whereby any elevated or decreased levels of fluid within said first column may be normalized and said first column is operable as a column with an increased measuring range. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for measuring the fluid volume in a reservoir having at least one wall, comprising:
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a) a first column having a first end and second end, wherein said first end extends through the reservoir and is in fluid communication with the external atmosphere, wherein said second end extends beneath the surface of the fluid and is in fluid communication with the fluid and wherein said first column is substantially located within the reservoir; b) measuring means for measuring the level of the fluid within said first column wherein said first column is sized and configured to reduce the free surface of the fluid within the reservoir in order to amplify changes in fluid volume, wherein small volume changes of fluid within the reservoir can be detected by said measuring means; and c) electrically controllable fluid communication means, located through a wall of the reservoir, for controllably venting the atmosphere within the reservoir to the external atmosphere, wherein the pressure within the reservoir moves toward equilibrium with the external atmosphere, whereby any elevated or decreased level of fluid within said first column may be normalized and said first column operates as a column with an increased measuring range. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A hydraulic fluid system for a turf maintenance vehicle, comprising:
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a) a reservoir for hydraulic fluid; b) a pump in fluid communication with said reservoir; c) a valve system for selectively placing hydraulic fluid from said pump in fluid communication with a work piece; d) a return system for returning hydraulic fluid from said work pieces to said reservoir; e) a first column having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end extends through the reservoir and is in fluid communication with the external atmosphere, and wherein said second end extends beneath the surface of the fluid and is in fluid communication with the fluid; f) measuring means for measuring the level of the fluid within said first column; and g) electrically controllable fluid communication means, located through a wall of the reservoir, for venting the atmosphere within the reservoir to the external atmosphere; and h) wherein the pressure between within the reservoir is moves toward equilibrium with the external atmosphere, whereby any elevated or decreased levels of fluid within said first column may be normalized and said column operates as a virtual column. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for measuring the fluid volume in a reservoir having at least one wall, comprising:
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a) a first column having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end extends through the reservoir and is in fluid communication with the external atmosphere, and wherein said second end extends beneath the surface of the fluid and is in fluid communication with the fluid; b) measuring means for measuring the level of the fluid within said first column; c) electrically controllable fluid communication means, located through a wall of the reservoir, for selectively venting the atmosphere within the reservoir to the external atmosphere, wherein the air pressure within the reservoir moves toward equilibrium with the external atmosphere when said controllable fluid communication means vent, whereby any elevated or decreased levels of fluid within said first column may be normalized and said column operates as a column with an increased measurement range; and d) a temperature sensor, wherein compensation for thermal expansion and contraction of the fluid is provided.
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34. An apparatus for measuring the fluid volume in a reservoir having at least one wall, comprising:
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a) a first column having a first end and second end, wherein said first end extends through the reservoir and is in fluid communication with the external atmosphere, wherein said second end extends beneath the surface of the fluid and is in fluid communication with the fluid and wherein said first column is substantially located with the reservoir; b) measuring means for measuring the level of the fluid within said first column, wherein said first column is sized and configured to reduce the free surface of the fluid within the reservoir in order to amplify changes in fluid volume, wherein small volume changes of fluid within the reservoir can be detected by said measuring means; and c) a second column, wherein the volume of the second column can be selectively added to said first column, whereby operating fluid volume changes are amplified to a lesser degree within said first column.
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Specification