Remote monitoring adapter for levelmeter

• US 6,762,679 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2000
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trinity Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TRN Business Trust
• Inventors: Díaz, Herman
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US09/706,956
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 73/492, 732/90.R, 733/17, 733/14, 733/11, 733/225, 733/05, 702/55, 702/100, 417/36, 417/43, 340/870.3
• US Class Current: 340/524
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/38 using magnetically actuated indicating means

Abstract

An adapter for a mechanical type levelmeter, which has a magnet that moves in response to a changing level of liquid in a container. The adapter is fitted onto the levelmeter in a manner that is transparent to any existing reading dials, but that permits hall sensors on the adapter to respond to the motion of the magnet. The adapter also has a processing unit and a transmitter, which process the output of hall sensors and generate a transmittable signal representing level data.

Claims

1. A remote monitoring adapter for use with a levelmeter having a magnet that moves in response to varying levels of liquid in a container, comprising:

a probe having a thin flat plate for placement proximate to the magnet and having a first hall sensor mounted on the plate operable to respond to motion of the magnet;

a processing unit that receives an output signal from the first hall sensor and converts it to digital level data;

a transmitter operable to receive the digital level data and to generate a remotely transmittable signal containing the digital level data; and

wherein the first hall sensor and a second hall sensor are positioned a distance apart and relative to the magnet such that the processing unit calculates a rate of consumption, and wherein the digital level data represents the rate of consumption.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the plate and the first hall sensor are fabricated as a printed circuit board.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the first hall sensor is positioned relative to the magnet such that the hall sensor switches on when the liquid level reaches a certain level, and wherein the digital level data represents that level.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the processing unit has a counter for determining how much time elapses between switching of the first and second hall sensors.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the probe provides a digital output representing a discrete liquid level.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the probe provides an analog output representing a liquid level along a continuous range of levels, and wherein the digital level data represents that level.

7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the processing unit and the transmitter are housed separately from the levelmeter.

8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the levelmeter has a reading mechanism activated by the magnet, and wherein the probe is transparent to the reading mechanism to minimize interference with the reading mechanism.

9. A levelmeter for measuring the surface level of liquid in a container, comprising:

a float operable to rise and fall with the surface level;

a magnet mechanically attached to the float, such that the magnet moves in response to the float;

a probe having a first hall sensor and placed near the magnet such the first hall sensor responds to motion of the magnet;

a processing unit that receives an output signal from the first hall sensor and converts it to a digital level data;

a transmitter unit that generates a remotely transmittable signal representing the digital level data; and

wherein the first hall sensor and a second hall sensor are positioned a distance apart and relative to the magnet such that the processing unit calculates a rate of consumption, and wherein the digital level data represents the rate of consumption.

10. The levelmeter of claim 9, wherein the probe provides a digital output representing a discrete liquid level.

11. The levelmeter of claim 9, wherein the probe provides an analog output representing a liquid level along a continuous range of levels, and wherein the digital level data represents that level.

12. The levelmeter of claim 9, wherein the first hall sensor is positioned relative to the magnet such that the hall sensor switches on when the liquid level reaches a certain level, and wherein the digital level data represents that level.

13. A method of providing a signal transmittable to a remote location that represents the level of liquid in a container, comprising the steps of:

installing a levelmeter in the container, the level meter having at least a mechanism for activating a magnet that moves in response to the level of the liquid and having a probe with a first hall sensor that responds to motion of the magnet;

wherein the first hall sensor and a second hall sensor are positioned a distance apart and relative to the magnet such that the processing unit calculates a rate of consumption;

receiving an output signal from the probe;

processing the output signal to provide digital data representing the level of liquid in the container; and

transmitting the digital data to a remote location, and wherein the digital level data represents the rate of consumption.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the probe provides a digital output representing a discrete liquid level.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the probe provides an analog output representing a liquid level along a continuous range of levels, and wherein the digital level data represents that level.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of transmitting the signal along a pipeline associated with the container.

17. A method of providing a signal transmittable to a remote location that represents the rate of consumption of liquid in a container, comprising the steps of:

installing a levelmeter in the container, the level meter having a least a mechanism for activating a magnet that moves in response to the level of the liquid and having a probe with at least two hall sensors that respond to motion of the magnet;

receiving an output signal from the probe;

processing the output signal to provide digital data representing the rate of consumption of liquid in the container; and

transmitting the digital data to a remote location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the processing step is performed by counting the time elapsed between signals provided by the hall sensors.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of transmitting the signal along a pipeline associated with the container.