System for monitoring and controlling the level of a liquid in a closed container

• US 6,095,178 A
• Filed: 09/15/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States as Represented By The Secretary of the Army Corps of Engineers
• Original Assignee: US Army Corps of Engineers (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Inventors: McEwen, Thomas Vertis, Jobe, Terry V., Morrow, Johnny Lee, Gilbert, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US08/929,255
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 137/199, 137/206, 137/209, 137/386, 137/392, 137/171, 137/177, 137/178, 137/187, 137/188, 137/197, 73/304 R, 73/304 C, 73/3 B
• US Class Current: 137/199
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/18 closed when a rising liquid reaches a predetermined level float-actuated valves F16K31/18
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 9/12 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3084 Discriminating outlet for gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/309 Fluid sensing valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7306 Electrical characteristic sensing

Abstract

A system for monitoring and controlling the level of liquid in a closed cainer includes a block for mounting at an upper end of the container, a lower level electrode for extending from the block vertically into the container, an upper level electrode for extending from the block vertically into the container and shorter than the lower level electrode, a valve for venting gas from the container, and a motor for driving the valve. Electric circuitry is responsive to liquid in the container rising to a free end of the upper level electrode to activate the motor to close the valve to increase gas pressure in the container to force lowering of the level of the liquid, and further electrical circuitry is responsive to the liquid in the container dropping below a free end of the lower level electrode to activate the motor to open the valve to vent the container and reduce gas pressure therein to permit rising of the liquid level.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and controlling the level of a liquid in a closed container in which a gas is bubbled up through the liquid, the system comprising:

a block for mounting at an upper end of the container;

a lower level electrode for extending from said block vertically into the container;

an upper level electrode for extending from said block vertically into the container and shorter than said lower level electrode;

a valve for venting the gas from the container;

a motor for driving said valve;

first means responsive to liquid in the container rising to a free end of said upper level electrode to activate said motor to close said valve to permit increase of gas pressure in the container to force lowering of the level of the liquid;

second means responsive to the liquid in the container dropping below a free end of said lower level electrode to activate said motor to open said valve to vent the container and reduce gas pressure therein to permit rising of the level of the liquid.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising second electrical circuitry in communication with said lower level electrode for stopping the motor upon the level of the liquid in the container contacting said lower level electrode.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second electrical circuitry comprises a resistor (R1), a transistor (Q1), said resistor (R3), and ground.

4. The system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first means comprises electrical circuitry including a resistor (R5), a transistor (Q2), a resistor (R6), and a switch (S2) for activating said motor in a second direction to move said valve to a closed position to allow gas pressure in the container to increase to urge the liquid level downwardly.

5. The system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first means electrical circuitry is operative when the liquid level in the container drops below said free end of said upper level electrode, to stop current flow through said resistor (R5), turning off said transistor (Q2), which turns off said switch (S2), to stop said motor.

6. The system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second means comprises electrical circuitry including said resistor (R1) turning off said transistor (Q1), causing current to flow through said resistor (R3), said transistor (Q3), and said switch (S1) to start said motor turning in said first direction to open said valve to decrease gas pressure in said container and thereby allow the liquid level to rise.

7. A system for monitoring and controlling the level of liquid in a closed container in which a gas is bubbled up through the liquid, the system comprising:

a block for mounting at an upper end of the container;

a turn-on electrode for extending from said block vertically into the container and of a first length;

a common electrode for extending from said block vertically into the container and of said first length;

a lower level electrode for extending from said block vertically into the container and of a second length shorter than said first length;

an upper level electrode for extending from said block vertically into the container and of a third length shorter than said second length;

a valve for venting the gas from the container;

a motor for driving said valve;

first means operative upon the liquid in the container reaching free ends of said turn-on electrode and said common electrode, to turn on said motor and activate said motor to turn on a first direction to move said valve toward an open position to vent the gas from the container;

a second means operative upon the liquid in the container reaching a free end of said lower level electrode to turn off said motor leaving said valve in an open position; and

third means operative upon the liquid in the container reaching a free end of said upper level electrode, to turn on said motor and activate said motor to turn in a second direction to move said valve to a closed position, to allow gas pressure in the container to increase to push the level of the liquid in the container toward said lower level electrode free end;

whereby upon the liquid in the container dropping from contact with said upper level electrode, said third means is operative to stop said motor; and

whereby upon the liquid in the container dropping from contact with said lower level electrode said second means is operative to start said motor and activate said motor to turn in said first direction to move said valve toward an open position to vent the gas from the container to reduce gas a pressure in the container, to permit the liquid therein to rise;

wherein said first means comprises a resistor (R4);

a transistor (Q3) turned on by said resistor (R4), current through said resistor (R4) being operative to flow through (R3), and through said transistor (Q3) to a switch (S1) which is operative for said turning on of said motor and said activating of said motor in a first direction to move said valve toward an open position.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second means comprises a resistor (R1) through which current flows when the liquid level engages said free end of said lower level electrode to turn on a transistor (Q1), permitting current to flow through said resistor (R3) and through said transistor (Q1) to ground to initiate said turning off of said motor.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said third means comprises a resistor (R5) through which current flows when the liquid level engages said free end of said upper level electrode, a transistor (Q2) turned on by current flowing through said resistor (R5), a resistor (R6) through which current from said transistor (Q2) flows, and a switch (S2) through which current from said transistor (Q2) flows for said activation of said motor for said moving of said valve to said closed position.

10. The system in accordance with claim 9 wherein when the liquid level drops from contact with said upper level electrode, current ceases to flow through said resistor (R5), to turn off said transistor (Q2), to turn off said switch (S2) to stop said motor.

11. The system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said liquid level dropping from contact with said lower level electrode stops flow of current to said resistor (R1), to turn off said transistor (Q1), to flow current through said resistor (R3), said transistor (Q3), and said switch (S1) for said activation of said motor.

12. The system in accordance with claim 11 and further comprising a power source in communication with said motor and said switches, and wherein dropping of the liquid level from contact with said turn-on and common electrodes operates to interrupt communication between said power source and said motor and to turn off said motor leaving said valve in an open position.