Devices, methods, and algorithms for rapid measurement of mean surface level change of liquids in containers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring fluid level of a fluid in a container, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor pod comprising a housing having an upper end and a lower end, the housing defining a cavity therein, the housing having an opening configured to allow fluid in the container to flow into and out of the cavity;
a sensor assembly disposed in the cavity, the sensor assembly comprising a strain gauge coupled to a load beam disposed at the upper end of the cavity and a float disposed below the load beam, the float is not mechanically connected to the strain gauge and does not engage with the strain gauge when water is not present inside the cavity and configured to engage the load beam when a sufficient fluid level is provided in the cavity and to move toward or away from the load beam in response to changes in the fluid level in the cavity, the strain gauge configured to output distortion data in response to distortion or movement of the load beam caused by movement of the float; and
a sample tube configured to provide fluid communication between the container and the cavity, the sample tube having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be attached to the opening in the housing, the second end configured to be disposed in the container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A leak detection system for the rapid and accurate detection of the mean surface level change of a body of liquid is provided. The system is capable of sensing mean surface level changes under static or turbulent surface conditions. In one embodiment, the system includes a rigid walled sensor pod with at least one inner pod cavity that is so positioned to receive liquid from a body of liquid by way of an opening below the surface of the liquid such that dynamic equilibrium is possible and maintained between the mean surface level of the body of liquid and the amount of liquid in the inner cavity. The system further includes a sensor assembly having a stiction free float operating in conjunction with a strain gauge, and microprocessors applying algorithms to process, display, and report the sensor data in accordance with the needs of the end user or to initiate actions for automated control functions.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring fluid level of a fluid in a container, the apparatus comprising:
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a sensor pod comprising a housing having an upper end and a lower end, the housing defining a cavity therein, the housing having an opening configured to allow fluid in the container to flow into and out of the cavity; a sensor assembly disposed in the cavity, the sensor assembly comprising a strain gauge coupled to a load beam disposed at the upper end of the cavity and a float disposed below the load beam, the float is not mechanically connected to the strain gauge and does not engage with the strain gauge when water is not present inside the cavity and configured to engage the load beam when a sufficient fluid level is provided in the cavity and to move toward or away from the load beam in response to changes in the fluid level in the cavity, the strain gauge configured to output distortion data in response to distortion or movement of the load beam caused by movement of the float; and a sample tube configured to provide fluid communication between the container and the cavity, the sample tube having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be attached to the opening in the housing, the second end configured to be disposed in the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for measuring and monitoring a fluid level in a container of fluid, the system comprising:
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a sensor pod having a cavity with an opening configured to allow fluid in the container to flow into and out of the cavity; a fluid level sensor disposed in the cavity of the sensor pod, the fluid level sensor comprising a stiction free movable float disposed below a strain gauge, the stiction free movable float configured for stictionless movement in response to changes in the fluid level in the cavity, wherein said stiction free movable float is not mechanically connected to other components in the sensor pod and does not engage with the strain gauge when water is not present inside the cavity; an analog-to-digital converter disposed in the cavity adjacent the fluid level sensor, the analog-to-digital converter configured to convert analog data received from the fluid level sensor to digital data; a controller configured to receive the digital data from the analog-to-digital converter, the controller configured to receive the digital data from the analog-to-digital converter and, based at least in part on the digital data, to determine a value of a fluid level or a change in the fluid level in the cavity; a downsample tube configured to provide fluid communication between the cavity in the sensor pod and the fluid in the container, the downsample tube having a length such an end of the downsample tube can be disposed in the container at a depth where turbulence or wave effects are reduced compared to turbulence or wave effects at the surface of the fluid in the container; and a display configured to be in communication with the controller, the display configured to output information related to the value or the change of the value of the fluid level in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for monitoring a fluid level in a container of fluid, the method comprising:
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disposing, adjacent the container of fluid, a sensor system for monitoring the fluid level in the container of fluid, the sensor system comprising; a sensor pod having a cavity with an opening configured to allow fluid in the container to flow into and out of the cavity; a fluid level sensor disposed in the cavity, the fluid level sensor comprising a strain gauge coupled to an upper surface of the cavity and a movable float disposed below the strain gauge, the movable float is not mechanically attached to a component inside the cavity and does not engage with the strain gauge when water is not present inside the cavity and configured for stictionless movement in the cavity in response to changes in the fluid level in the cavity; a controller in communication with the fluid level sensor, the controller configured to determine a value representative of a rate of change of the fluid level in the container; and a downsample tube configured to provide fluid communication between the cavity in the sensor pod and the fluid in the container, the downsample tube having a first end attached to the opening and a second end configured to be disposed in the container of fluid; positioning the sensor pod in the container such that at least the opening and the first end of the downsample tube are below the fluid level in the container and the movable float engages the strain gauge; disposing the second end of the downsample tube below the fluid level in the container at a depth where turbulence or wave effects are reduced compared to turbulence or wave effects at the surface of the fluid in the container; and measuring, with the sensor system, the value representative of the rate of change of the fluid level in the container. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification