Gauge for measuring liquid levels

• US 5,950,487 A
• Filed: 09/20/1996
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vista Precision Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vista Research, Inc. (Guidepoint Global LLC)
• Inventors: Burns, Alan A., Eckert, Eric G., Maresca, Joseph W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): WORTH, WILLIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/710,654
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 73/293, 73/311, 73/313, 73/319, 33/706, 33/707, 33/708, 33/755, 33/762, 33/763, 33/DIG. 3, 250/573, 250/574, 250/577, 235/460, 340/619
• US Class Current: 73/293
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/686 using opto-electrically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/706 using opto-electrically actuated indicating means

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring liquid level in a container, the apparatus having a flexible measurement scale attached at one end to a weight for retainment at the bottom of the container and at the opposite end to a receiver at the top of the container. A float moves along the flexible scale, and has a configuration and density designed to place a portion of the float below the level of the liquid to be measured and a portion above the liquid level. The portion above the liquid level contains transmitter apparatus for applying energy to one side of the scale, and detection apparatus on the other side for detecting energy transmitted through the scale and converting it to a liquid level in the container. The accuracy of readings is enhanced through the use of a wide gap between the scale and float at the liquid-air interface for reducing surface effects between the float and the scale, and through the use of a special two-dimensional vertically offset gray scale code that allows for the use of a more narrow scale and larger spacing between components.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid comprising:

(a) a flexible vertical measurement scale for measuring the level of a liquid, the scale having a binary code comprised of opaque and transmissive elements along its length indicative of specific levels of the scale, the code implemented such that the code is read by transmission of energy through portions of the code;

(b) means for mounting the scale in the liquid, with a top end of the scale above the highest liquid level to be measured and a lower end of the scale below the lowest liquid level to be measured; and

(c) first float designed to float on the liquid, the float unattached to and configured to move freely about the scale, the float including (i) energy transmission means for transmitting energy from a first side of the scale through transmissive portions of the scale, and (ii) energy receiving means on the opposite side of the scale, whereby the code for a specific level of the scale is read.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy transmission means in the float includes emission means for radiating energy from the first side of the scale.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy receiving means in the float includes detection means for reading the code for a specific level of the scale by receiving energy transmitted through the scale.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the energy receiving means in the float includes detection means for reading the code for a specific level of the scale by receiving energy transmitted through the scale.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitted energy is light.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transmitted energy is light.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising processing means for determining the level of the liquid from the reading of the code for a specific level of the scale.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code is a Gray code.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the scale comprises an anchor below the lower end of the scale for securing the lower end of the scale and maintaining the scale in a vertical position.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a second float configured to float on an upper surface of an upper liquid disposed above a lower liquid, said upper liquid and said lower liquid being immisible liquids, and said second float configured to move freely about the scale, and said second float including energy transmission means for transmitting energy from said first side of the scale through said transmissive portions of the scale, and said second float including energy receiving means on said opposite side of the scale for receiving said energy, whereby code for a specific level of the upper surface of the upper liquid is read; and

(b) said first float is configured to float at an interface between said upper liquid and said lower liquid.

8. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid comprising:

(a) a vertical measurement scale, the scale having a binary code comprised of opaque and transmissive bits along its length indicative of specific levels of the scale, the code implemented such that the code is read by transmission of energy through portions of the code;

(b) a float configured to move freely about the scale, the float including (i) energy transmission means for transmitting energy from a first side of the scale through transmissive portions of the scale, and (ii) energy receiving means on the opposite side of the scale, the energy receiving means including detection means for reading the level code for a specific level of the scale by receiving energy transmitted through the scale; and

(c) first signal transmission means for wirelessly communicating the level code read by the detection means to a receiver at a location remote from the float.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first signal transmission means comprises an optical emitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising processing means for determining the level of the liquid from the reading of the code for a specific level of the scale.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing means is remote from the float and the receiver, and further comprising means for wirelessly communicating the level code from the receiver to the processing means.

13. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid comprising:

(a) a vertical measurement scale, the scale having a Gray code comprised of opaque and transmissive bits along its length indicative of specific levels of the scale, the code implemented such that the code is read by transmission of energy through portions of the code, with the code arranged in a manner such that the portions of the code which change most rapidly from row to row are placed near the center of the scale; and

(b) a float configured to move freely about the scale, the float including (i) energy transmission means for transmitting energy from a first side of the scale through transmissive portions of the scale, and (ii) energy receiving means on the opposite side of the scale, whereby the code for a specific level of the scale is read.

14. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid comprising:

(a) a vertical measurement scale, the scale having a binary code comprised of opaque and transmissive bits along its length indicative of specific levels of the scale, the code implemented such that the code is read by transmission of energy through portions of the code, with the code for a specific level staggered by offsetting bits of the code; and

(b) a float configured to move freely about the scale, the float including (i) energy transmission means for transmitting energy from a first side of the scale through transmissive portions of the scale, and (ii) energy receiving means on the opposite side of the scale, whereby the code for a specific level of the scale is read.

15. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid comprising:

(a) a vertical measurement scale, the scale having a binary code comprised of opaque and transmissive elements along its length indicative of specific levels of the scale, the code implemented such that the code is read by transmission of energy through portions of the code, and wherein the code is a Gray code, and wherein the Gray code is arranged in a manner such that the elements of the code which change most rapidly from row to row are placed near the center of the scale and wherein the code for a specific level is staggered by offsetting bits of the code; and

(b) a float unattached to and configured to move freely about the scale, the float including (i) energy transmission means for transmitting energy from a first side of the scale through transmissive portions of the scale, and (ii) energy receiving means on the opposite side of the scale for receiving said energy, whereby the code for a specific level of the scale is read.

16. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid comprising:

(a) a vertical measurement scale, the scale having a Gray code comprised of opaque and transmissive elements along its length indicative of specific levels of the scale, the code implemented such that the code is read by transmission of energy through portions of the code, with the code for a specific level staggered by offsetting bits of the code; and

(b) a float configured to move freely about the scale, the float including (i) energy transmission means for emitting light energy from a first side of the scale through transmissive portions of the scale, and (ii) energy receiving means on the opposite side of the scale, the energy receiving means including detection means for reading the code for a specific level of the scale by receiving energy transmitted through the scale, whereby the code for a specific level of the scale is read, and wherein the energy transmission means and energy detection means comprise a plurality of rows of optical emitter and detector pairs offset as the code is offset, whereby the offset code for a specific level may be read by the corresponding offset emitter and detector pairs.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the float further comprises a slit smaller than the resolution of the scale placed between the optical emitter and optical detector in each optical emitter and optical detector pair.

18. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid comprising:

(a) a vertical measurement scale, the scale having a binary code comprised of opaque transmissive bits along its length indicative of specific levels of the scale, the code implemented such that the code is read by transmission of energy through portions of the code; and

(b) a float configured to move freely about the scale, the float including (i) energy transmission means for transmitting energy from a first side of the scale through transmissive portions of the scale, and (ii) energy receiving means on the opposite side of the scale, whereby the code for a specific level of the scale is read, the float having a slot therethrough with a gap for passage of the scale, with the slot widened to provide an enlargened gap area at the position of the float which will be at the liquid level, whereby surface tension is reduced between the float, scale, and liquid, thereby allowing the float to move more accurately with the liquid level.

19. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid comprising:

(a) a vertical measurement scale, the scale having a binary code comprised of opaque and transmissive bits along its length indicative of specific levels of the scale, the code implemented such that the code is read by transmission of energy through portions of the code; and

(b) a float configured to move freely about the scale, the float including (i) energy transmission means for transmitting energy from a first side of the scale through transmissive portions of the scale, and (ii) energy receiving means on the opposite side of the scale, whereby the code for a specific level of the scale is read, the float having a slot therethrough with a gap for passage of the scale, wherein anti-adhesion standoffs are positioned along the slot in the area of the float which will be above the liquid level, thereby reducing adhesion between the float and scale due to wetting.

22. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid comprising:

(a) a vertical measurement scale, the scale having a binary code comprised of opaque and transmissive elements along its length indicative of specific levels of the scale, the code implemented such that the code is read by transmission of energy through portions of the code; and

(b) a float configured to move freely about the scale, the float including (i) energy transmission means for emitting light energy form a first side of the scale through transmissive portions of the scale, and (ii) energy receiving means on the opposite side of the scale, the energy receiving means including detection means in the float for reading the code for a specific level of the scale by receiving energy transmitted through the scale, whereby the code for a specific level of the scale is read, and wherein the energy transmission means comprises background illumination from an emitter, and wherein the float further comprises at least one horizontal row of slits, the slits placed between the transmission means and the detection means, whereby each slit allows passage of light for a specific horizontal position on the scale and each slit is smaller than the resolution of the scale.

23. An apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid comprising:

(a) a vertical measurement scale, the scale having a binary code comprised of opaque and transmissive elements along its length indicative of specific levels of the scale, the code implemented such that the code is read by transmission of energy through portions of the code; and

(b) a float configured to move freely about the scale, the float including (i) energy transmission means for transmitting energy form a first side of the scale through transmissive portions of the scale, wherein the transmitted energy is light and wherein the energy transmission means comprises background illumination from within the scale, (ii) energy receiving means on the opposite side of the scale, the energy receiving means including detection means for reading the code for a specific level of the scale by receiving energy transmitted through the scale; and

(iii) at least one horizontal row of slits, the slits placed between the transmission means and the energy receiving means whereby each slit allows passage of light for a specific horizontal position in the scale and each slit is smaller than the resolution of the scale.