Wireless interface probe apparatus and method

• US 5,821,864 A
• Filed: 04/29/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Environ Products, Inc. (Future FinTech Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Environ Products, Inc. (Future FinTech Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Knop, Scott R., Vorce, Randall J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US08/641,026
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 340/622, 340/621, 340/620, 340/605, 340/854.8, 340/854.9, 340/855.1, 73/152.54, 73/49.2 T, 242/395, 175/40, 166/66, 174/115
• US Class Current: 340/622
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/245 with a probe moved by an auxiliary power, e.g. meter, to follow automatically the level
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/246 thermal devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/80 Arrangements for signal processing

Abstract

A wireless interface probe having a transmitter, a signal transport/measuring device, and a receiver as provided. The transmitter has two sensors: a liquid level sensor and a water level sensor. The liquid level sensor determines the boundary between gaseous and liquid media. The water level sensor detects the presence of conductive liquid such as water. Signals generated by the transmitter sensors are transported inductively to the receiver via the signal transport/measuring device. The signal transport/measuring device is a standard metallic measuring tape which affixes to the transmitter via metallic fasteners. The receiver decodes the signals generated by the transmitter and creates an audio and visual reading output. The output reading indicates to the operator the level of the free-phase hydrocarbons and the level of the water. The difference between the two levels is the thickness of the hydrocarbons, which can be determined by using the measuring tape.

Claims

1. An interface probe for the detection and measurement of water levels, water-free-phase hydrocarbon interface, and depth of free-phase hydrocarbon floating on ground water comprising,

a transmitter probe housed within a water type casing,

said transmitter probe including a liquid sensing means formed by a self-heating thermistor which detects the boundary of gases and liquids by sensing thermal conductivity differences,

a water sensing means formed by a conductivity circuit which detects the presence of conductive liquids,

an inductive signal generating means for transmitting signals from the transmitter probe and having a sensor end and a distal hook end,

a signal transport/measuring means for transmitting inductive signals generated by the transmitter probe and having incremental markings for measuring water levels, water-free-phase hydrocarbon interface and free-phase hydrocarbon depth, and having a connecting end and a receiver approximating end,

and a receiver means for receiving, decoding and displaying data and having a signal transport/measuring means approximating end,

whereby the connecting end of the signal transport measuring means is affixed to the transmitter probe hook end and at the predetermined distance held in contact with the signal transport/measuring means approximating end of the receiver means, the transmitter probe being lowered into a well and upon detection of a liquid by the liquid sensor means or the water sensor means generates an inductive signal which is transmitted to the receiver means via the signal transport/measuring means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inductive signal generating means is an amplitude modulated carrier wave produced by an oscillator having a divider which produces the transmission wave.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said oscillator operates at 4.9152 MHz and is divided by 4 to produce the carrier wave.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter probe includes an end cap and said liquid sensing and water sensing means are directly wired to said end cap whereby an appropriate signal picked up by said sensing means energizes said end cap and said signal is then inductively transmitted along said measuring means to said receiver means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal transport/measuring means is a metallic tape.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a non-conductive coating to keep radio energy from being absorbed by surrounding grounded well pipe.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the non-conductive coating is nylon.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a conversion means at its approximating end for absorbing the carrier waves electromagnetic energy and converts it to electrical signals which are transferred to the receiver means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receiver means includes a loop stick antenna which picks up the electrical signals transferred to it by the conversion means, and means to convert the signals into audio and visual displays.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter includes a magnetically operated read switch which is activated when the transmitter is removed from a carrying case containing a permanent magnet installed, thereby activating the transmitter probe.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and receiver means are battery operated.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and receiver means are battery operated.

12. An interface probe for the detection and measurement of water levels, water-free-phase hydrocarbon interface and depth of free-phase hydrocarbon floating on ground water comprising,

a transmitter probe housed within a water-tight casing,

a liquid sensing means for detecting liquid levels utilizing a self-heating thermistor,

a water sensing means for detecting levels of conductive liquids utilizing a conductivity circuit,

an inductive signal generating means for transmitting signals from the transmitter probe,

an end cap electrically connected to said liquid sensing means and water sensing means,

a hook means,

a signal transport/measuring means for transmitting inductive signals generated by the transmitter probe and for measuring water levels, water-free-phase hydrocarbon interface and free-phase hydrocarbon depth comprising,

a metal tape having incremental markings,

a reel end having a conversion means for converting a carrier wave electromagnetic signal into electrical signals,

a connecting end for attachment to the transmitter probe,

a receiver means for receiving, decoding and displaying data formed by a loop stick antenna which picks up the electrical signals from the signal transport/measuring means,

and means to convert the electrical signals into audio and visual displays,

whereby the connecting end of the signal transport/measuring means is affixed to the transmitter probe hook means and at a predetermined distance held in contact with the receiver means near the loop antenna, the transmitter probe being lowered into a well and upon detection of a liquid by the liquid sensor means or the water sensor means generates an inductive signal which is transmitted to the receiver means via the signal transport/measuring means.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the liquid sensor detects the boundary of gases and liquids by sensing thermal conductivity differences.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the inductive signal generating means is an amplitude modulated carrier wave produced by an oscillator having a divider which produces the transmission wave.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the oscillator operates at 4.9152 MHZ and is divided by four to produce the carrier wave.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the transmitter probe includes an end cap directly wired to said sensing means whereby a signal picked up by said sensing means energizes said end cap such that said signal is inductively transmitted along said signal transport/measuring means to said receiver.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 and further comprising a non-conductive coating to keep radio energy from being absorbed by surrounding grounded well pipe.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the non-conductive coating is nylon.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the transmitter probe includes a magnetically operated reed switch which is activated when the transmitter is removed from a carrying case containing a permanent magnet installed, thereby activating the transmitter probe.

21. A method for detecting and measuring the water level, water-free-phase hydrocarbon interface, and free-phase hydrocarbon depth in ground water comprising the steps of:

lowering a transmitter probe which is affixed to a signal transport/measuring means connecting end into a well of at least two inches in diameter until a signal is transmitted by the transmitter probe to a receiver approximated to the signal transport/measuring means coil end,

determining whether the signal indicates water or free-phase hydrocarbon,

if water is indicated, raising the transmitter probe until a signal is no longer transmitted, followed by slowly lowering the transmitter probe once again until a signal is transmitted,

taking a measurement on the signal transport/measuring means at the well opening to determine a water level,

if free-phase hydrocarbon is indicated, raising the transmitter probe until a signal is no longer transmitted, followed by slowly lowering the transmitter probe once again until a signal is transmitted,

taking a measurement on the signal transport/measuring means at the well opening to determine a free-phase hydrocarbon level,

followed by lowering the transmitter probe through the hydrocarbon until a signal indicating water is transmitted and taking a further measurement on the signal transport/measuring means at its end at the well opening to determine the water-free-phase hydrocarbon interface level,

calculating the difference between the free-phase hydrocarbon level and the water-free-phase hydrocarbon interface level to determine the depth of the free-phase hydrocarbon.