Noninvasive method for determining the liquid level and density inside of a container
First Claim
1. A method for determining the location of the liquid/gas interface of a liquid-containing enclosure, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying an acoustic sine wave burst having a chosen frequency to a wall of the enclosure which is disposed approximately perpendicular to the liquid/gas interface, establishing thereby a flexural wave in the wall;
(b) detecting the flexural wave generated in the wall at a point on the wall nearby to the location of application of the sine wave burst and in a direction substantially parallel to the liquid/gas interface therefrom; and
(c) measuring the phase difference between the sine wave burst and the detected flexural wave;
whereby the location of the liquid/gas interface is determined when a change in the magnitude of the phase difference is observed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Noninvasive method for determining the liquid level and density inside of a container having arbitrary dimension and shape. By generating a flexural acoustic wave in the container shell and measuring the phase difference of the detected flexural wave from that of the originally generated wave a small distance from the generated wave, while moving the generation and detection means through the liquid/vapor interface, this interface can be detected. Both the wave generation and wave detection may be achieved by transducers on the surface of the container. A change in the phase difference over the outer surface of the vessel signifies that a liquid/vapor interface has been crossed, while the magnitude of the phase difference can be related to fluid density immediately opposite the measurement position on the surface of the vessel.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method for determining the location of the liquid/gas interface of a liquid-containing enclosure, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying an acoustic sine wave burst having a chosen frequency to a wall of the enclosure which is disposed approximately perpendicular to the liquid/gas interface, establishing thereby a flexural wave in the wall; (b) detecting the flexural wave generated in the wall at a point on the wall nearby to the location of application of the sine wave burst and in a direction substantially parallel to the liquid/gas interface therefrom; and (c) measuring the phase difference between the sine wave burst and the detected flexural wave;
whereby the location of the liquid/gas interface is determined when a change in the magnitude of the phase difference is observed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for determining the density of a liquid in a liquid-containing enclosure, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying an acoustic sine wave burst having a chosen frequency to a wall of the enclosure at a location on the wall the opposite side of which location is in contact with the liquid, establishing thereby a flexural wave in the wall; (b) detecting the flexural wave generated in the wall at a point on the wall nearby to the location of application of the sine wave burst; and (c) measuring the phase difference between the sine wave burst and the detected flexural wave;
whereby the liquid density is obtained from the magnitude of the phase difference. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method for continuously determining the location of the liquid/gas interface of a liquid-containing enclosure, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a sine wave burst of sound having a frequency, that does not correspond to any resonant mode of the enclosure, to a wall of the enclosure which is disposed approximately perpendicular to the liquid/gas interface, establishing thereby a flexural wave in the wall; (b) detecting the flexural wave generated in the wall at a point on the wall nearby to the location of application of the sine wave burst and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the liquid/gas interface therefrom, the location of application of the sine wave burst of sound and the location of detecting the flexural wave being located on opposite sides of the liquid/gas interface; and (c) measuring the phase difference between the sine wave burst and the detected flexural wave;
whereby the location of the liquid/gas interface is determined by the magnitude of the phase difference.
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Specification