Sensor assemblies and methods of securing elongated members within such assemblies

• US 6,662,653 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smar Research Corp.
• Original Assignee: Smar Research Corp.
• Inventors: Gullo, Geraldo, Scaliante, Ademir
• Primary Examiner(s): KWOK, HELEN C
• Application Number:
  US10/253,741
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 734/37, 734/39, 73/32.R, 73/32.A, 734/34, 734/48, 734/49, 73/614.6, 73/530.1, 702/137, 702/138
• US Class Current: 73/448
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0007 Fluidic connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/14 Beverages
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/26 by measuring pressure differences

Abstract

An assembly and a method of securing elongated members within the assembly are provided. In particular, one or more particular elongated members which are adapted to contain a particular fluid may be affixed to a temperature-conducting (e.g., metallic) arrangement, and a portion of the assembly may be positioned within a container containing a sample fluid. For example, the temperature-conducting arrangement can be configured to provide the particular elongated member therethrough, and the particular fluid can be a sensor fluid. Further, the temperature-conducting arrangement is affixed to a further elongated member which is configured to provide the temperature-conducting arrangement therethrough. Moreover, the metallic arrangement may maintain a temperature of the particular fluid is provided so that it is substantially the same as a temperature of the sample fluid.

Claims

1. An assembly which has at least one portion positioned within a container containing a sample fluid, comprising:

at least one particular elongated member adapted to contain a particular fluid therein;

a temperature-conducting arrangement configured to facilitate at least one portion of the at least one particular elongated member therethrough; and

at least one further elongated member configured to provide at least one portion of the temperature-conducting arrangement therethrough, wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement is adapted to maintain a temperature of the particular fluid substantially the same as a temperature of the sample fluid.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sensor adapted to measure at least one characteristic of the sample fluid wherein the particular fluid is a sensor fluid which is in communication with the sensor.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the sensor fluid is oil.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the oil is at least one of a silicone oil, a fluorolube oil, and a propylene glycol oil.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one particular elongated member is composed of a metallic material.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement is composed of a metallic material, and wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement extends for a length which is substantially the same as a length of the at least one further elongated member.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement is composed of a metal material, and wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement is configured to provide the at least one particular elongated member therethrough via a groove formed in a side portion of the temperature-conducting arrangement, wherein the at least one particular elongated member is soldered to the temperature-conducting arrangement such that at least one portion of a solder forms at least one portion of the side portion of the temperature-conducting arrangement, and wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement is soldered to the at least one further elongated member.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a member adapted to be affixed to the container.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sensor housing arrangement, wherein the at least one particular elongated member is positioned inside the temperature-conducting arrangement, wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement is positioned inside the at least one further elongated member, and wherein the at least one further elongated member is positioned inside the sensor housing arrangement.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a first sensor which is one of coupled to the housing arrangement and positioned inside the housing arrangement, wherein the first sensor is adapted to detect a first fluid pressure of the sample fluid at a first fluid level by acting on the particular fluid.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one particular elongated member comprises a pair of particular elongated members, wherein a first one of the pair of particular elongated members is adapted to contain the particular fluid, wherein a second one of the pair of particular elongated members is adapted to contain a further fluid, and wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement is further adapted to maintain the temperature of the particular fluid to be substantially the same as a temperature of the further fluid.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a second sensor which is one of coupled to the housing arrangement and positioned inside the housing arrangement, wherein the second sensor is adapted to detect a second fluid pressure of the sample fluid at a second fluid level by acting on the further fluid.

13. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising a transmitter situated externally from the container, wherein the transmitter is one of coupled to the housing arrangement and positioned inside the housing arrangement, and wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate with the first sensor via the particular fluid, and with the second sensor via the further fluid.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the transmitter is further adapted to generate at least one signal corresponding to a density of the sample fluid, wherein at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor is connected to a first end of the at least one further elongated member, and wherein the transmitter is connected to the second end of the at least one further elongated member.

15. The assembly of claim 14, further comprising a determining device coupled to the transmitter, wherein the determining device is adapted to determine the density of the sample fluid based on the at least one signal.

16. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the container is a tank.

17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one particular elongated member is a tube, and wherein the at least further elongated member is a tube.

18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement is further adapted to maintain a first temperature of the particular fluid provided at a first end of the at least one particular elongated member to be substantially the same as a second temperature of the particular fluid provided at a second end of the at least one particular elongated member.

24. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement is composed of a metallic material, and wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement extends for a length which is substantially the same as a length of the at least one further elongated member.

19. A method of securing elongated members within an assembly, comprising the steps of:

affixing at least one portion of at least one particular elongated member within a temperature-conducting arrangement, the at least one particular elongated member being adapted to contain a particular fluid, the temperature-conducting arrangement being configured to facilitate the at least one portion of the at least one particular elongated member therethrough, wherein at least one portion of the assembly is positioned inside a container containing a sample fluid; and

affixing at least one portion of the temperature-conducting arrangement within at least one further elongated member which is configured to facilitating the at least one portion of the temperature-conducting arrangement therethrough, wherein a temperature of the particular fluid is substantially the same as a temperature of the sample fluid.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the assembly includes a sensor which is adapted to measure at least one characteristic of the sample fluid, and wherein the particular fluid is a sensor fluid which is in communication with the sensor.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the sensor fluid is oil.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the oil is at least one of a silicone oil, a fluorolube oil, and a propylene glycol oil.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one particular elongated member is composed of a metallic material.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of affixing the at least one portion of the at least one particular elongated member within the temperature-conducting arrangement comprises the step of soldering the at least one particular elongated member to the temperature-conducting arrangement such that at least one portion of a solder forms at least one portion of a side portion of the temperature-conducting arrangement, and wherein the step of affixing the at least one portion of the temperature-conducting arrangement within the at least one further elongated member comprises the step of soldering the temperature-conducting arrangement to the at least one further elongated member.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of affixing the assembly to the container.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the assembly comprises a sensor housing arrangement, wherein the at least one particular elongated member is positioned inside the temperature-conducting arrangement, wherein the temperature-conducting arrangement is positioned inside the at least one further elongated member, and wherein the at least one further elongated member is positioned inside the housing arrangement.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the assembly further comprises a first sensor which is one of coupled to the housing arrangement and positioned inside the housing arrangement, wherein the first sensor is adapted to detect a first fluid pressure of the sample fluid at a first fluid level by acting on the particular fluid.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one particular elongated member comprises a pair of particular elongated members, wherein a first one of the pair of particular elongated members is adapted to contain the particular fluid, wherein a second one of the pair of particular elongated members is adapted to contain a further fluid, and wherein the step of affixing the temperature-conducting material arrangement to the at least one further elongated member comprises the step of maintaining the temperature of the particular fluid to be substantially the same as a temperature of the further fluid.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the assembly further comprises a second sensor which is one of coupled to the housing arrangement and positioned inside the housing arrangement, wherein the second sensor is adapted to detect a second fluid pressure of the sample fluid at a second fluid level by acting on the further fluid.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the assembly further comprises a transmitter situated externally from the container, wherein the transmitter is one of coupled to the housing arrangement and positioned inside the housing arrangement, and wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate with the first sensor via the particular fluid, and with the second sensor via the further fluid.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of generating at least one signal corresponding to a density of the sample fluid, wherein at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor is connected to the first end of the at least one further elongated member, and wherein the transmitter is connected to the second end of the at least one further elongated member.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of determining the density of the sample fluid based on the at least one signal, wherein the assembly further comprises a determining device coupled to the transmitter.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the container is a tank.

35. The method claim 19, wherein the at least one particular elongated member is a tube, and wherein the at least one further elongated member is a tube.

36. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of affixing the temperature-conducting arrangement to the at least one further elongated member further comprises the step of maintaining a first temperature of the particular fluid provided at a first end of the at least one particular elongated member to be substantially the same as a second temperature of the particular fluid provided at a second end of the at least one particular elongated member.