Reduction of aeration interference in an ultrasonic fluid sensing system

• US 9,535,038 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• 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:
  US14/868,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20160018363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 73/190.3, 73/191, 73/32.A, 73/617.6, 73/617.9, 73/645.3
• 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 sensor operable to sense a characteristic of a fluid. The sensor includes a sensing area, a filter, and a transducer. The sensing area is configured to contain the fluid. The filter covers the sensing area. The filter is configured to allow a liquid portion of the fluid to enter the sensing area and substantially prohibit a gas portion of the fluid to enter the sensing area. The transducer is operable to output a pulse of sound through the liquid portion of the fluid contained within the sensing area, receive the reflected pulse of sound, and output a characteristic of the fluid based on the received pulse of sound.

Claims

1. A sensor operable to sense a characteristic of a fluid, the sensor comprising:

a housing;

a sensing area configured to contain the fluid;

a filter integral with the housing and covering the sensing area, the filter configured to allow a liquid portion of the fluid to enter the sensing area, and

substantially prohibit one or more gas bubbles of the fluid from entering the sensing area; and

a transducer configured to

output a pulse of sound through the liquid portion of the fluid contained within the sensing area,

receive the reflected pulse of sound, and

output a characteristic of the fluid based on the received pulse of sound.

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

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the filter is configured to disperse one or more gas bubbles to produce a homogenous fluid entering the fluid channel, prohibit one or more gas bubbles from entering the sensing area, or both.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensed characteristic is one selected from the group consisting of a concentration, a level, and a temperature.

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

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the filter includes a mesh screen.

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

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

9. A sensor operable to sense a characteristic of a fluid, the sensor comprising:

a sensing area configured to contain the fluid;

a chimney configured to exhaust entrapped air from the sensing area; and

a filter covering the sensing area, the filter configured to

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

substantially prohibit one or more gas bubbles of the fluid from entering the sensing area; and

a transducer configured to

output a pulse of sound through the liquid portion of the fluid contained within the sensing area,

receive the reflected pulse of sound, and

output a characteristic of the fluid based on the received pulse of sound.

10. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the sensing area is one selected from the group consisting of a measurement channel and a level sensing tube.

11. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the filter is configured to disperse one or more gas bubbles to produce a homogenous fluid entering the fluid channel, prohibit one or more gas bubbles from entering the sensing area, or both.

12. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the sensed characteristic is one selected from the group consisting of a concentration, a level, and a temperature.

13. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the fluid is one selected from the group consisting of a urea solution, a gasoline fuel, a diesel fuel, an engine oil, hydraulic fluid, and a transmission fluid.

14. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the filter includes a mesh screen.

15. The sensor of claim 9, further comprising a housing, the filter integral to the housing.

16. The sensor of claim 9, further comprising a housing, wherein the filter is coupled to the housing.

17. The sensor of claim 9, further comprising a housing, wherein the chimney is integrated into the housing.

18. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the chimney is integrated into the filter.