Measuring device

• US 6,819,251 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hedson Technologies AB (Storskogen Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Hedson Technologies AB (Storskogen Group AB)
• Inventors: Beijbom, Peter, Norman, Christian, Johansson, Niklas
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US10/172,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 340/618, 340/603, 340/612, 340/620, 733/04.C, 732/90.R
• US Class Current: 340/618
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/265 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/268 mounting arrangements of probes

Abstract

A recovery device (1) includes a container (11) for recovering pure solvent (10) A measuring device (12) includes a capacitive detector (13) which is provided to signal if the container (11) is not empty nor substantially empty when one tries to start operation of the recovering pure solvent (10).

Claims

1. A recovery device (1) recovering a solvent (4) contaminated by use in cleaning an object, said recovery device (1) comprising:

a first container (3) for the contaminated solvent (4);

a heating device (5) for heating the contaminated solvent (4) present in said first container (3) and generating solvent vapours (6) in said first container (3);

a condenser (8) for condensing solvent vapours (6) which are fed from said first container (3) to said condenser (8);

a second container (11) for purified solvent (10) from solvent vapours (6) condensed by said condenser (8); and

a measuring device (12) having a capacitive detector (13) for generating a signal acting on said recovery device (1) to prevent start of recovery of additional purified solvent (10) by said recovery device (1) when said second container (11) contains an amount of purified solvent (10).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said capacitive detector (13) operates as a level guard for measuring whether the purified solvent (10) in said second container (11) exceeds a predetermined level (N).

3. A recovery device (1) recovering a solvent (4) contaminated by use in cleaning an object, said recovery device (1) comprising:

a first container (3) for the contaminated solvent (4);

a heating device (5) for heating the contaminated solvent (4) present in said first container (3) and generating solvent vapours (6) in said first container (3);

a condenser (8) for condensing solvent vapours (6) which are fed from said first container (3) to said condenser (8);

a second container (11) for purified solvent (10) from solvent vapours (6) condensed by said condenser (8); and

a measuring device (12) having a capacitive detector (13) for generating a signal acting on said recovery device (1) to prevent start of recovery of additional purified solvent (10) by said recovery device (1) when said second container (11) contains an amount of purified solvent (10),

said capacitive detector (13) being a non-linear capacitive detector having greater sensitivity for the purified solvent (10) in a lower part (24) of said second container (11) than in an upper part (25) of said second container (11).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the signal is fed to a control system (28) in said recovery device (1) for preventing a start of operation of said recovery device (1) when said second container (11) contains purified solvent (10).

5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the signal is fed to a signal device (32) such that said signal device (32) generates a warning signal if said recovery device (1) starts operation (10).

6. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the signal is fed to a display (29) for indicating that said second container (11) contains purified solvent (10).

7. A recovery device (1) recovering a solvent (4) contaminated by use in cleaning an object, said recovery device (1) comprising:

a first container (3) for the contaminated solvent (4);

a heating device (5) for heating the contaminated solvent (4) present in said first container (3) and generating solvent vapours (6) in said first container (3);

a condenser (8) for condensing solvent vapours (6) which are fed from said first container (3) to said condenser (8);

a second container (11) for purified solvent (10) from solvent vapours (6) condensed by said condenser (8); and

a measuring device (12) having a capacitive detector (13) for generating a signal acting on said recovery device (1) to prevent start of recovery of additional purified solvent (10) by said recovery device (1) when said second container (11) contains an amount of purified solvent (10),

said capacitive detector (13) including an elongated, tubular outer member (14) and an inner member (15) within said outer member (14), said outer member (14) being lowerable into said second container (11) such that a lower part (17) of said outer member (14) and a lower part (18) of said inner member (15) are located adjacent a bottom part (19) of said second container (11) such that said capacitive detector (13) measures capacitance between said lower parts (17, 18) of said outer and inner members (14, 15).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the signal is fed to a control system (28) in said recovery device (1) for preventing a start of operation of said recovery device (1) when said second container (11) contains purified solvent (10).

9. The device according to claim 7 characterized in that the signal is fed to a signal device (32) such that said signal device (32) generates a warning signal if said recovery device (1) starts operation when said second container (11) contains purified solvent (10).

10. The device according to claim 7 characterized in that the signal is fed to a display (29) for indicating that said second container (11) contains purified solvent (10).

11. A recovery device (1) for recovering a solvent (4) contaminated by use in cleaning an object, said recovery device (1) comprising:

a first container (3) for the contaminated solvent (4);

a heating device (5) for heating the contaminated solvent (4) present in said first container (3) and generating solvent vapours (6) in said first container (3);

a condenser (8) for condensing solvent vapours (6) which are fed from said first container (3) to said condenser (8);

a second container (11) for pure solvent (10) from solvent vapours (6) condensed by said condenser (8); and

a measuring device (12) having a capacitive detector (13) for generating a signal acting on said recovery device (1) to prevent start of recovery of additional purified solvent (10) by said recovery device (1) when said second container (11) contains an amount of purified solvent (10),

said capacitive detector (13) including an elongated, tubular outer member (14) and an inner member (15) within said outer member (14), said outer member (14) being lowerable into said second container (11) such that a lower part (17) of said outer member (14) and a lower part (18) of said inner member (15) are located adjacent a bottom part (19) of said second container (11) such that said capacitive detector (13) measures capacitance between said lower parts (17, 18) of said outer and inner members (14, 15),

a lower gap (21) between said lower parts (17, 18) of said outer and inner members (14, 15) being narrower than an upper gap (22) between an upper part (20) of said outer member (14) and an upper part (23) of said inner member (15).

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the signal is fed to a control system (28) in said recovery device (1) for preventing a start of operation of said recovery device (1) when said second container (11) contains purified solvent (10).

13. The device according to claim 11 characterized in that the signal is fed to a signal device (32) such that said signal device (32) generates a warning signal if said recovery device (1) starts operation when said second container (11) contains purified solvent (10).

14. The device according to claim 11 characterized in that the signal is fed to a display (29) for indicating that said second container (11) contains purified solvent (10).

15. A recovery device (1) recovering a solvent (4) contaminated by use in cleaning an object, said recovery device (1) comprising:

a first container (3) for the contaminated solvent (4);

a heating device (5) for heating the contaminated solvent (4) present in said first container (3) and generating solvent vapours (6) in said first container (3);

a condenser (8) for condensing solvent vapours (6) which are fed from said first container (3) to said condenser (8);

a second container (11) for purified solvent (10) from solvent vapours (6) condensed by said condenser (8); and

a measuring device (12) having a capacitive detector (13) for generating a signal acting on said recovery device (1) to prevent start of recovery of additional purified solvent (10) by said recovery device (1) when said second container (11) contains an amount of purified solvent (10),

said first container (3) and said condenser (8) being located beside each other in an outer casing (2) of said recovery device (1),

said first container (3) and said outer casing (2) defining a space (33) for said second container (11), said second container (11) being removable from said space (33) for emptying said second container (11).

16. A recovery device (1) recovering a solvent (4) contaminated by use in cleaning an object, said recovery device (1) comprising:

a first container (3) for the contaminated solvent (4);

a heating device (5) for heating the contaminated solvent (4) present in said first container (3) and generating solvent vapours (6) in said first container (3);

a condenser (8) for condensing solvent vapours (6) which are fed from said first container (3) to said condenser (8);

a second container (11) for purified solvent (10) from solvent vapours (6) condensed by said condenser (8); and

a measuring device (12) having a capacitive detector (13) for generating a signal acting on said recovery device (1) to prevent start of recovery of additional purified solvent (10) by said recovery device (1) when said second container (11) contains an amount of purified solvent (10),

said recovery device (1) being a mobile device which, when required, can be moved by an operator, said recovery device (1) recovering solvent in the form of purified thinner from contaminated thinner originating from cleaning of paint spray guns.