Reduction of aeration interference in an ultrasonic fluid sensing system

• US 9,377,441 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SSI Technologies, LLC (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SSI Technologies, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Reimer, Lawrence B., Murphy, Gregory P., Schlenke, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US14/044,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20150089996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 73/190.3, 73/191, 73/617.6, 73/617.9, 73/645.3, 73/32.A
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0226 Oils, e.g. engine oils
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0228 Aqueous liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/02 Analysing fluids using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14 ; constructional or flow details for analysing fluids G01N29/222; optoacoustic fluid cells G01N29/2425
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/024 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/32 Arrangements for suppressing undesired influences, e.g. temperature or pressure variations , compensating for signal noise
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2835 specific substances contained in the oil or fuel

Abstract

A fluid sensor for sensing at least one characteristic of a fluid. The fluid sensor includes a sensing area, a sensing element and a mesh. The sensing element is configured to sense a characteristic of fluid located within the sensing area. The mesh is positioned around the sensing area. The mesh is configured to allow a liquid portion of the fluid to enter and exit the sensing area, and substantially prohibit a gas portion of the fluid to enter the channel.

Claims

1. A fluid sensor comprising:

a housing;

a sensing area;

a sensing element configured to sense a characteristic of a fluid located within the sensing area; and

a mesh enclosing the sensing area, the mesh coupled to the housing via a frame and configured to

allow a liquid portion of the fluid to enter and exit the sensing area, and

substantially prohibit one or more gas bubbles of the fluid to enter the sensing area.

2. The fluid sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensing area is one of a measurement channel and a level sensing tube.

3. The fluid sensor of claim 1, wherein substantially prohibiting the one or more gas bubbles of the fluid from entering the sensing area includes dispersing the one or more gas bubbles to produce a homogenous fluid entering the fluid channel.

4. The fluid sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensing element is one of a concentration sensing element, a level sensing element, and a temperature sensing element.

5. The fluid sensor of claim 1, wherein the fluid is one of a urea solution, a gasoline fuel, a diesel fuel, an engine oil, hydraulic fluid, and a transmission fluid.

6. The fluid sensor of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a chimney configured to exhaust entrapped air from the sensing area.

7. The fluid sensor of claim 1, wherein the frame includes two arms, the two arms configured to couple the mesh and frame to the housing.

8. The fluid sensor of claim 7, wherein the frame includes a chimney configured to exhaust entrapped air from the sensing area.

9. A method of preventing gas bubbles in a sensing system for sensing a fluid contained in a tank, the sensing system including a housing, a sensing area and a sensor, the method comprising:

coupling a mesh to the housing via a frame, wherein the mesh covers the sensing area;

allowing a liquid portion of the fluid to enter and exit the sensing area through the mesh;

prohibiting one or more gas bubbles of the fluid entering the sensing area; and

sensing a characteristic of the fluid contained within the sensing area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensing area is one of a measurement channel and a level sensing tube.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein prohibiting the one or more gas bubbles of the fluid entering the sensing area includes dispersing the one or more gas bubbles to produce a homogenous fluid entering the fluid channel.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensed characteristic is one of a concentration, a level, and a temperature.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the fluid is a urea solution, a gasoline fuel, a diesel fuel, an engine oil, hydraulic fluid, and a transmission fluid.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising exhausting the gas portion of the fluid from the sensing area.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the frame includes two arms, the two arms configured to couple the mesh and the frame to the housing.