Linear position indicator system and method
First Claim
1. A linear position indicator system for determining the first fluid level of a first fluid within a container and having a first fluid surface, comprising:
- a sensing rod assembly extending substantially vertically within said container, said sensing rod assembly comprising a sensing rod having a plurality of releasably connectable rod segments, each said rod segment extending a given segment length and carrying a rod controller and a plurality of inductors spaced apart given distances along said segment length, each said inductor being responsive to a first float signal to generate one or more first position signals;
a first float assembly capable of floating at said first fluid surface and vertically movable along said sensing rod assembly, comprising(i) a coil energizable to emit said first float signal,(ii) a control circuit configured to periodically energize said coil;
(iii) a power supply electrically associated with said control circuit;
(iv) a fluid-resistant housing containing said coil, said control circuit, and said power supply;
a control assembly electrically associated with said sensing rod assembly and including a controller responsive to receive said first position signals generated by each said inductor and to determine from said first position signals said first fluid level of said first fluid in said container.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to system and method for determining a fluid level. The system comprises a sensing rod assembly comprised of releasably connectable rod segments. Each rod segment carries a processor and a plurality of inductors. Each inductor generates a position signal responsive to a float signal. A float assembly comprises a housing containing a circuit having an integrally formed coil periodically energizable by a processor to emit the float signal. A control assembly receives the generated position signals and determines the fluid level. The method comprises providing releasably connectable rod segments with inductors that generate a position signal responsive to a float signal, determining a sensing rod assembly length, forming the sensing rod assembly, disposing it within a container, providing a float assembly periodically actuated to generate a float signal, generating position signals responsive to the float signal and analyzing those signals to determine the fluid level.
33 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A linear position indicator system for determining the first fluid level of a first fluid within a container and having a first fluid surface, comprising:
-
a sensing rod assembly extending substantially vertically within said container, said sensing rod assembly comprising a sensing rod having a plurality of releasably connectable rod segments, each said rod segment extending a given segment length and carrying a rod controller and a plurality of inductors spaced apart given distances along said segment length, each said inductor being responsive to a first float signal to generate one or more first position signals; a first float assembly capable of floating at said first fluid surface and vertically movable along said sensing rod assembly, comprising (i) a coil energizable to emit said first float signal, (ii) a control circuit configured to periodically energize said coil; (iii) a power supply electrically associated with said control circuit; (iv) a fluid-resistant housing containing said coil, said control circuit, and said power supply; a control assembly electrically associated with said sensing rod assembly and including a controller responsive to receive said first position signals generated by each said inductor and to determine from said first position signals said first fluid level of said first fluid in said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
-
-
19. A method for determining the fluid level of a fluid contained within a container and having a fluid surface, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a plurality of releasably connectable rod segments, each rod segment extending a given rod segment length and having a plurality of inductors located along said length, each said inductor being responsive to a float signal to generate a position signal; (d) determining a sensing rod assembly length based on the depth of said container; (e) forming a sensing rod assembly having said rod assembly length by connecting a plurality of rod segments; (f) disposing said sensing rod assembly generally vertically within said container; (g) providing a float assembly that floats at said fluid surface and is vertically movable along said sensing rod assembly, said float assembly comprising a circuit having a coil excitable to generate a float signal corresponding to the position of said float assembly; (g) periodically exciting said float assembly coil to generate said float signal; (h) sensing said float signal with said inductors to generate a plurality of position signals; and (i) analyzing said sensed position signals to determine said fluid level of said fluid in said container.
-
Specification