Apparatus and method for determining a fluid level within an enclosed container

• US 7,508,312 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Davco Technology, LLC (Truck-Lite Holdings 2 Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Davco Technology, LLC (Truck-Lite Holdings 2 Corp.)
• Inventors: Chajec, Zdzislaw
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/346,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20060191826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 340/450, 340/450.2, 340/612, 340/618, 340/603, 340/620, 340/624, 340/623, 340/619, 340/244, 340/622, 340/632, 340/611, 340/605, 340/607, 340/626, 340/627, 123/557, 123/543, 123/510, 123/516, 210/86, 210/295, 210/416.4, 210/348, 210/114, 210/109, 210/138
• US Class Current: 340/624
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/605 by level measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/143 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/147 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/27 Fuel-injection apparatus with filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2921 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2925 using electrical detecting means

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining a fluid level within an enclosed housing. The present invention provides an enclosed housing having a dynamic fluid level contained therein. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic radiation source for directing electromagnetic radiation rays toward the interior of the enclosed housing and an electromagnetic radiation detector for receiving and measuring reflected electromagnetic radiation rays. The electromagnetic radiation detector provides a detector output signal to a controller. The controller interprets the detector output signal to determine whether the fluid level has statically reached a desired level and then generates a controller output signal for indicating that the fluid level has statically reached the desired level. The method includes the steps of generating a logic signal in response to the measured electromagnetic radiation and analyzing the logic signals over a period of time to determine whether a predetermined fluid level has been reached.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining a fluid level within an enclosed housing, comprising:

said enclosed housing having a dynamic fluid level contained therein;

an electromagnetic radiation source for directing electromagnetic radiation rays toward the interior of said enclosed housing;

an electromagnetic radiation detector for providing a detector output signal that indicates whether the fluid level has dynamically reached a desired level;

a reflective element operative to reflect said electromagnetic radiation rays toward said electromagnetic radiation detector, wherein said electromagnetic radiation detector receives and measures said reflected electromagnetic radiation rays to provide said detector output signal; and

a controller for interpreting said detector output signal over an interval of time and generating a controller output signal for indicating whether said fluid level has statically reached the desired level based on said detector output signal during said interval of time.

2. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor housing coupled to an exterior surface of said enclosed housing wherein said radiation source is disposed within said sensor housing and said radiation detector is disposed within said sensor housing.

3. The apparatus stated in claim 2, further comprising:

said enclosed housing being substantially opaque and having an aperture formed therethrough, wherein the electromagnetic radiation source is positioned adjacent to said aperture and directs said electromagnetic radiation toward the interior of said enclosed housing through said aperture.

4. The apparatus stated in claim 3, further comprising:

an elastic sealing ring for sealing said sensor housing with respect to said aperture.

5. The apparatus stated in claim 3, further comprising:

a substantially transparent plug disposed within said aperture, said plug having an exterior surface adjacent to said exterior surface of said enclosed housing and an opposite interior surface adjacent to an interior surface of said enclosed housing, wherein said electromagnetic radiation rays may pass into and out of said plug.

6. The apparatus stated in claim 5, wherein said reflective element comprises a hemispherical surface of said plug located adjacent to said interior surface of said enclosed housing.

7. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising:

an indicator for displaying an indication corresponding to the presence or absence of said fluid level at a predetermined level within said enclosed housing in response to said controller output signal.

8. The apparatus stated in claim 7, further comprising:

said electromagnetic radiation rays being infrared radiation rays.

9. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising:

said reflective element disposed within said enclosed housing.

10. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising:

said enclosed housing being a fuel filter assembly.

11. The apparatus stated in claim 10, further comprising:

said enclosed housing is substantially transparent to allow said electromagnetic rays to pass through said enclosed housing.

12. The apparatus stated in claim 11, wherein said reflective element is an exterior surface of a fuel filter cartridge.

13. The apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising:

said radiation source and said radiation detector lying in a common plane.

14. An apparatus for determining a fluid level within an enclosed housing, comprising:

said enclosed housing having a dynamic fuel level contained therein;

a sensor housing coupled to an exterior surface of said enclosed housing;

an infrared radiation source for directing infrared radiation rays toward the interior of said enclosed housing;

an infrared radiation detector for receiving and measuring said infrared radiation rays and providing a detector output signal;

a signal conditioning circuit for comparing said detector output signal to a threshold value wherein said signal conditioning circuit generates a first logic signal when said detector output signal is greater than said threshold value, and a second logic signal when said detector output signal is less than said threshold value; and

a logic circuit for monitoring said first and second logic signals over an interval of time and thereby determining whether said fluid level has reached a predetermined level and generating a controller output signal for indicating that said fluid level has reached said predetermined level.

15. The apparatus stated in claim 14, further comprising:

a reflective element for reflecting said infrared radiation rays from said infrared radiation source toward said infrared radiation detector.

16. The apparatus stated in claim 15, wherein said reflective element is an interior surface of said enclosed housing.

17. The apparatus stated in claim 16, further comprising:

a fuel filter cartridge disposed within said enclosed housing; and

a non-reflective material on an exterior surface of said fuel filter cartridge for preventing reflection of said infrared radiation rays toward said infrared radiation detector.

18. The apparatus stated in claim 15, further comprising:

an indicator for displaying an indication corresponding to the presence or absence of said fluid at said predetermined level.

19. A method for determining a fluid level within an enclosed housing, comprising:

providing a dynamic fluid level within said enclosed housing;

providing an infrared radiation source for emitting infrared radiation rays toward said enclosed housing;

providing a reflective element for reflecting the infrared radiation rays;

providing an infrared radiation detector for measuring the magnitude of reflected infrared radiation rays;

generating a first logic signal if the measured infrared radiation is greater than or equal to a threshold value;

generating a second logic signal if the measured infrared radiation is less than a threshold value;

analyzing the first and second logic signals over a period of time to determine whether a predetermined fluid level has been reached; and

generating a controller output signal for indicating that the predetermined fluid level has been reached.

20. An apparatus for determining a fluid level within an enclosed housing, comprising:

said enclosed housing having a dynamic fluid level contained therein;

an electromagnetic radiation source for directing electromagnetic radiation rays toward the interior of said enclosed housing;

an electromagnetic radiation detector for providing a detector output signal;

a reflective element operative to reflect said electromagnetic radiation rays toward said electromagnetic radiation detector, wherein said electromagnetic radiation detector receives and measures said reflected electromagnetic radiation rays to provide said detector output signal;

a controller for interpreting said detector output signal and generating a controller output signal for indicating whether said fluid level has reached a desired level;

said reflective element is an interior surface of said enclosed housing;

a fuel filter cartridge disposed within said enclosed housing; and

a non-reflective material on an exterior surface of said fuel filter cartridge for preventing reflection of said infrared radiation rays toward said infrared radiation detector.

21. An apparatus for determining a fluid level within an enclosed housing, comprising:

said enclosed housing having a dynamic fuel level contained therein;

an electromagnetic radiation source for directing electromagnetic radiation rays toward the interior of said enclosed housing;

an electromagnetic radiation detector for receiving and measuring said electromagnetic radiation rays and providing a detector output signal for indicating that said fluid level has reached said predetermined level;

said enclosed housing is substantially transparent to allow said electromagnetic rays to pass through said enclosed housing;

said enclosed housing being a fuel filter assembly;

a fuel filter cartridge disposed within said enclosed housing; and

a reflective element operative to reflect at least a portion of said electromagnetic radiation rays toward said electromagnetic radiation detector, wherein said reflective element is an exterior surface of said fuel filter cartridge.

22. An apparatus for determining a fluid level within an enclosed housing, comprising:

said enclosed housing having a dynamic fuel level contained therein;

an electromagnetic radiation source for directing electromagnetic radiation rays toward the interior of said enclosed housing;

an electromagnetic radiation detector for receiving and measuring said electromagnetic radiation rays and providing a detector output signal for indicating that said fluid level has reached said predetermined level;

said enclosed housing is substantially transparent to allow said electromagnetic rays to pass through said enclosed housing;

a reflective element operative to reflect at least a portion of said electromagnetic radiation rays toward said electromagnetic radiation detector, wherein said reflective element is an interior surface of said enclosed housing;

a fuel filter cartridge disposed within said enclosed housing; and

a non-reflective material on an exterior surface of said fuel filter cartridge for preventing reflection of said infrared radiation rays toward said infrared radiation detector.

23. An apparatus for determining a fluid level within an enclosed housing, comprising:

said enclosed housing having a dynamic fuel level contained therein;

an electromagnetic radiation source for directing electromagnetic radiation rays toward the interior of said enclosed housing;

an electromagnetic radiation detector for receiving and measuring said electromagnetic radiation rays and providing a detector output signal for indicating that said fluid level has reached said predetermined level;

a fuel filter cartridge disposed within said enclosed housing;

a reflective element operative to reflect at least a portion of said electromagnetic radiation rays toward said electromagnetic radiation detector, wherein said reflective element is an exterior sui-face of said fuel filter cartridge;

a sensor housing coupled to an exterior surface of said enclosed housing wherein said radiation source is disposed within said sensor housing and said radiation detector is disposed within said sensor housing;

said enclosed housing being substantially opaque and having an aperture formed therethrough, wherein the electromagnetic radiation source directs said electromagnetic radiation toward the interior of said enclosed housing through said aperture; and

an elastic sealing ring for sealing said sensor housing with respect to said aperture.

24. An apparatus for determining a fluid level within an enclosed housing, comprising:

said enclosed housing having a dynamic fuel level contained therein;

an electromagnetic radiation source for directing electromagnetic radiation rays toward the interior of said enclosed housing;

an electromagnetic radiation detector for receiving and measuring said electromagnetic radiation rays and providing a detector output signal for indicating that said fluid level has reached said predetermined level;

a sensor housing coupled to an exterior surface of said enclosed housing wherein said radiation source is disposed within said sensor housing and said radiation detector is disposed within said sensor housing;

said enclosed housing being substantially opaque and having an aperture formed therethrough, wherein the electromagnetic radiation source directs said electromagnetic radiation toward the interior of said enclosed housing through said aperture; and

a substantially transparent plug disposed within said aperture wherein said electromagnetic radiation rays may pass into and out of said plug; and

a reflective element operative to reflect at least a portion of said electromagnetic radiation rays toward said electromagnetic radiation detector, wherein said reflective element is a hemispherical surface of said plug located adjacent to the interior of said enclosed housing.