Fiberoptic fuel gauging system for measuring the level of a liquid in a tank
First Claim
1. In an apparatus having at least one probe (40, 62) for measuring the level of a liquid in a tank (32, 54), the probe (40, 62) being located in the tank (32, 54) for at least partial immersion in the liquid and being capable of receiving an input signal and providing an output signal in response thereto which can be utilized to determine the amount of liquid in the tank (32, 54), the improvement comprising a fiber optic element (34, 56) for transmitting the input signal to the probe (40, 62), the input signal being a light signal generated externally of the tank (32, 54) by a light source (30, 52) said probe (40, 62) having a photoelectric conversion device (42, 64) for converting the input light signal to an output voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safe and reliable aircraft fuel gauging system which eliminates the need for electrical wiring to transmit electrical signals into and out of the fuel tank of an aircraft. The fuel gauging system utilizes at least one light source to generate input light signals which are delivered to a plurality of probes multiplexed on a fiber optic element. The same, or a separate, fiber optic element transmits the probes'"'"' output light signals to a light detector located externally of the fuel tank. Each probe includes a photoelectric conversion device, an LC resonant circuit, and a magnetooptic device for generating the responsive output light signal to the input light signal. Based on the output signal form the probes, the light detector determines the level of fuel in the tank.
22 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. In an apparatus having at least one probe (40, 62) for measuring the level of a liquid in a tank (32, 54), the probe (40, 62) being located in the tank (32, 54) for at least partial immersion in the liquid and being capable of receiving an input signal and providing an output signal in response thereto which can be utilized to determine the amount of liquid in the tank (32, 54), the improvement comprising a fiber optic element (34, 56) for transmitting the input signal to the probe (40, 62), the input signal being a light signal generated externally of the tank (32, 54) by a light source (30, 52) said probe (40, 62) having a photoelectric conversion device (42, 64) for converting the input light signal to an output voltage.
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6. A fuel gauging system for measuring the amount of fuel in a fuel tank (32), comprising:
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a probe (40) disposed in the tank (32) for at least partial immersion in the fuel, said probe (40) being capable of receiving an input light signal and providing an output light signal which can be utilized to determine the amount of fuel in the fuel tank (32), and said probe (40) having a photoelectric conversion device (42) for receiving light of said input light signal and for converting said light into an output voltage;
a light source (30) located externally of the tank (32) for generating said input light signal; and
a fiber optic element (34) for transmitting said input light sigh from said light source (30) to said probe (40) and for transmitting said output light signal from said probe (40) to a light detector (48) located externally of the tank (32);
whereby, based on the amount of light detected by said light detector (48), the level, and thus, the quantity, of fuel in the tank (32) can be determined. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A fuel gauging system for measuring the amount of fuel in a fuel tank (54), comprising:
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a probe (62) disposed in the tank (54) for at least partial immersion in the fuel, said probe (62) being capable of receiving an input light signal and providing an output light signal which can be utilized to determine the amount of fuel in the fuel tank (54);
an excitation light source (52) located externally of the tank (54) for generating an input light signal;
a first fiber optic element (56) for transmitting said input light signal from said excitation light source (52) to said probe (62);
a measurement light source (70) located externally of the tank (54) for generating an input light signal; and
a second fiber optic element (72) for transmitting said input light signal from said measurement light source (70) to said probe (62) and for transmitting said output light signal from said probe (62) to a light detector (74) located externally of the tank (54). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification