Magnetostrictive probe having phase separation float assembly
First Claim
1. A phase separation float assembly for use with a fuel level probe having a shaft extending into a fuel storage tank, said phase separation float assembly comprising:
- a first float subassembly comprising a first float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft and a first magnet, said first float having a first density;
a second float subassembly comprising a second float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft and at least one stop feature which engages said first float subassembly when said first float subassembly travels vertically a predetermined distance along said fuel level probe shaft;
said second float having a second density greater than said first density;
wherein said first and second densities are selected such that;
in the presence of either higher density phase separation or water, both of said first and second float subassemblies travel vertically along said shaft; and
in the presence of either a higher density fuel or lower density phase separation, only said first float subassembly travels vertically along said shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a phase separation float assembly, a phase separation detection system, and a method for detecting phase separation. One embodiment comprises a first float subassembly comprising a first float adapted for vertical travel along a fuel level probe shaft and a magnet. This embodiment also comprises a second float subassembly comprising a second float adapted for vertical travel along the shaft. The first float has a first density and the second float has a second density greater than the first density. The second float subassembly further comprises at least one stop feature which engages the first float subassembly when the first float subassembly travels vertically a predetermined distance along the fuel level probe shaft. The first float density is selected such that the first float subassembly travels vertically along the shaft to engage the at least one stop feature in the presence of phase separation.
88 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A phase separation float assembly for use with a fuel level probe having a shaft extending into a fuel storage tank, said phase separation float assembly comprising:
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a first float subassembly comprising a first float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft and a first magnet, said first float having a first density; a second float subassembly comprising a second float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft and at least one stop feature which engages said first float subassembly when said first float subassembly travels vertically a predetermined distance along said fuel level probe shaft; said second float having a second density greater than said first density; wherein said first and second densities are selected such that; in the presence of either higher density phase separation or water, both of said first and second float subassemblies travel vertically along said shaft; and in the presence of either a higher density fuel or lower density phase separation, only said first float subassembly travels vertically along said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A phase separation float assembly for use with a fuel level probe having a shaft extending into a fuel storage tank, said phase separation float assembly comprising:
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a first float subassembly comprising a first float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft and a magnet, said first float having a first density; a second float subassembly comprising a second float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft, said second float having a second density greater than said first density; and said second float subassembly further comprising at least one stop feature which engages said first float subassembly when said first float subassembly travels vertically a predetermined distance along said fuel level probe shaft; wherein said first float density is selected such that said first float subassembly travels vertically along said shaft to engage said at least one stop feature in the presence of phase separation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for detecting phase separation in a fuel storage tank comprising the steps of:
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providing a first float subassembly comprising a first float adapted for vertical travel along a shaft of a fuel level probe and a magnet; providing a second float subassembly comprising a second float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft and at least one stop feature which engages said first float subassembly when said first float subassembly travels vertically a predetermined distance along said fuel level probe shaft; evaluating the position of said first float subassembly along said fuel level probe shaft using said magnet; and determining whether said first float subassembly has traveled a distance greater than said predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A fuel level probe for measuring the height of one or more fluids in a fuel storage tank, said fuel level probe comprising:
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a shaft extending into said fuel storage tank, said shaft comprising a ferromagnetic wire; control electronics in electrical communication with said ferromagnetic wire to generate an interrogation pulse along said ferromagnetic wire; a first float subassembly comprising a first float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft, said first float having a first density; said first float subassembly further comprising a magnet which causes a torsional wave in said ferromagnetic wire in response to said interrogation pulse; a second float subassembly comprising a second float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft, said second float having a second density greater than said first density; said second float subassembly further comprising at least one stop feature which engages said first float subassembly when said first float subassembly travels vertically a predetermined distance along said fuel level probe shaft; wherein said first float density is selected such that said first float subassembly travels vertically along said shaft to engage said at least one stop feature in the presence of phase separation. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A phase separation detection system for detecting phase separation in a fuel storage tank, said phase separation detection system comprising:
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a fuel level probe comprising a shaft extending into said fuel storage tank; a control system in electronic communication with said fuel level probe; a first float subassembly comprising a first float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft and a first magnet; a second float subassembly comprising a second float adapted for vertical travel along said fuel level probe shaft; and said second float subassembly further comprising at least one stop feature which engages said first float subassembly when said first float subassembly travels vertically a predetermined distance along said fuel level probe shaft; wherein the respective densities of said first and second floats are selected such that, in the presence of phase separation, said first float subassembly travels vertically along said shaft to engage said at least one stop feature. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification