Transmitter for providing inventory or inventory transfer information on a product in a container

• US 7,765,867 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Company KG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Dieter, McIntyre, Craig, Schaffer, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FITZGERALD, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US11/284,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 733/04.R, 732/91, 732/92
• US Class Current: 73/292
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35316 using a Bragg gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35358 using backscattering to detect the measured quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35374 Particular layout of the fiber
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/247 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/324 using Raman scattering

Abstract

A transmitter for providing inventory or inventory transfer information on industrial sites is described, for measurement of mass (M), weight (W), volume (V), level (L) and/or density (p) of a product (1) in a vessel (3) comprising: a level sensor (5), comprising: a conductive probe (9) extending into the vessel (3), means (11, 13) for generating and sending short electromagnetic pulses (S) down the probe, means (15) for reception of echoes (E) of the pulses (S) reflected at a surface of the product (1), means (17) for determining a time of flight (t) needed for a pulse (S) to travel down the probe (9) and its echo (E) to return, a pressure sensor (7), mounted on the probe (9), and a signal processing unit (45) for determining mass (M), weight (W), volume (V), level (L) and/or density (p) based on measurement signals supplied by the level sensor (5) and the pressure sensor (7).

Claims

1. A transmitter for measurement of mass, weight, volume, level and/or density of a product in a vessel, comprising:

a level sensor, comprising;

a conductive probe extending into the vessel, means for generating and sending short electromagnetic pulses down the probe, means for reception of echoes of the pulses reflected at a surface of the product, and means for determining a time of flight needed for a pulse to travel down the probe and its echo to return;

an optical fiber as a temperature sensor which is integrated in said conductive probe;

at least one optically analysing pressure sensor, mounted on said conductive probe; and

a signal processing unit for determining mass, weight, volume, level and/or density based on measurement signals supplied by said level sensor and said at least one optically analysing pressure sensor.

2. The transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication interface for reception and/or delivery of information to a user, a supplier and/or a control unit.

3. The transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a totalizer, for totalizing supplies or withdrawals of the product.

4. The transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor, for monitoring unauthorized supply or withdrawal of product and leakage.

5. The transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a device for determining a physical position of the transmitter.

6. The transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising:

an integral server for supporting communication with at least one Information Technology Network.

7. The transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply to provide energy for said level sensor, said pressure sensor, said temperature sensor, said means for generating and sending, for reception of echoes and for determining a time of flight, and said signal processing unit.