Ultrasonic fluid measurement method
First Claim
1. A method of measuring fluid level in an aircraft fluid tank having a bottom wall including an external surface and an inclined internal surface, comprising the steps of:
- providing an ultrasound guide surface on said inclined internal surface;
moving an ultrasonic transducer to a measurement position at said external surface;
transmitting ultrasound from said ultrasonic transducer into said tank upwardly and substantially vertically through the fluid via said ultrasound guide surface;
receiving an ultrasonic echo at said ultrasonic transducer;
deducing the fluid level based on the arrival time of said ultrasonic echo; and
,removing said ultrasonic transducer from said measurement position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of measuring the level of a fluid in a tank of an aircraft, the method comprising: moving an ultrasonic transducer to a predetermined measurement position; measuring the level of the fluid by: transmitting ultrasound from the transducer into the fluid via an external surface of a wall of the tank, receiving an ultrasonic echo at the transducer, and deducing the fluid level based on the time of arrival of the ultrasonic echo; and removing the transducer from the measurement position.
A fluid tank comprising a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal; and an ultrasound guide surface which is located in the interior of the tank and oriented to direct ultrasound substantially vertically.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of measuring fluid level in an aircraft fluid tank having a bottom wall including an external surface and an inclined internal surface, comprising the steps of:
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providing an ultrasound guide surface on said inclined internal surface; moving an ultrasonic transducer to a measurement position at said external surface; transmitting ultrasound from said ultrasonic transducer into said tank upwardly and substantially vertically through the fluid via said ultrasound guide surface; receiving an ultrasonic echo at said ultrasonic transducer; deducing the fluid level based on the arrival time of said ultrasonic echo; and
,removing said ultrasonic transducer from said measurement position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A fluid tank comprising a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal;
- and an ultrasound guide surface which comprises a recess formed in the inclined internal surface of the bottom wall of the tank and oriented to direct ultrasound substantially vertically.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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6. A fluid tank comprising an interior;
- a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal; and
an ultrasound guide surface which is located in the interior of the tank and oriented to direct ultrasound substantially vertically, wherein the ultrasound guide surface is substantially planar and substantially horizontal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
- a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal; and
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7. A fluid tank comprising a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal;
- and an ultrasound guide member having a first surface which is attached to the inclined internal surface of the bottom wall of the tank and an ultrasound guide surface which is opposite to the first surface and oriented to receive ultrasound from the first surface and direct said ultrasound substantially vertically.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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8. A fluid tank comprising a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal;
- and an ultrasound guide surface which is formed in the inclined internal surface of the bottom wall of the tank and oriented to direct ultrasound substantially vertically, the tank
further comprising a visual indicator on an external surface of the bottom wall of the tank, the visual indicator indicating the position of the ultrasound guide surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
- and an ultrasound guide surface which is formed in the inclined internal surface of the bottom wall of the tank and oriented to direct ultrasound substantially vertically, the tank
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12. A fluid tank comprising an interior;
- a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal; and
an ultrasound guide surface which is located in the interior of the tank and oriented to direct ultrasound substantially vertically, wherein the ultrasound guide surface is substantially planar, anda visual indicator on an external surface of the bottom wall of the tank, the visual indicator indicating the position of the ultrasound guide surface.
- a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal; and
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15. A fluid tank comprising a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal;
- and an ultrasound guide member having a first surface which is attached to the inclined internal surface of the bottom wall of the tank and an ultrasound guide surface which is opposite to the first surface and oriented to direct ultrasound substantially vertically, and
a visual indicator on an external surface of the bottom wall of the tank, the visual indicator indicating the position of the ultrasound guide surface.
- and an ultrasound guide member having a first surface which is attached to the inclined internal surface of the bottom wall of the tank and an ultrasound guide surface which is opposite to the first surface and oriented to direct ultrasound substantially vertically, and
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18. A fluid tank comprising an interior;
- a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal; and
an ultrasound guide surface which is located in the interior of the tank and oriented to direct ultrasound substantially vertically, wherein the bottom wall has an opening containing a cover with an inclined internal surface; and
the ultrasound guide surface is located on the cover, anda visual indicator on an external surface of the bottom wall of the tank, the visual indicator indicating the position of the ultrasound guide surface.
- a bottom wall having an internal surface which is inclined to the horizontal; and
Specification