Solid state Illuminator for bi-coloured ported water level gauges

• US 20050092082A1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fossil Power Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fossil Power Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Spencer, John, Kalix, David
• Granted Patent: US 6,938,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/293
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/02 by gauge glasses or other apparatus involving a window or transparent tube for directly observing the level to be measured or the level of a liquid column in free communication with the main body of the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2921 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2927 for several discrete levels, e.g. with more than one light-conducting sensing element

Abstract

A solid state illuminator and display means are provided for bi-coloured ported water level gauges suitable for use in high pressure steam drums or similar water/steam devices to facilitate making an accurate determination of water level in such a device. The illuminator comprises an array of bi-coloured solid state light emitting diodes (LEDs), as the light source, and a precision lens to focus the light provided from the LEDs through a gauge body and onto the view screen.

Claims

1. A bi-colour water level gauge for use in determining the water level in a boiler steam drum, heater, or similar water/steam device characterized by:

an electronic printed circuit board (10) containing an array of high-intensity narrow beam first colour and second colour light emitting diodes (19);

said electronic printed circuit board (10) being mounted on an electronics divider board (11);

a lens divider board (12) comprising a plurality of viewing ports, each of said ports containing means, such as a plano-convex lens (13), for focussing light originating from said light emitting diodes (19), said ports being equal in number to, and aligned with said light emitting diodes (19);

a heat divider (26) for separating said printed circuit board (10) from exposure to high temperatures existing at an external housing; and

a display means (15) onto which light originating from the light emitting diodes (19) is projected for inspection by an operator.

5. A bi-colour water level gauge for use in determining the water level in a boiler steam drum, heater, or similar water/steam device according to claim 1, wherein said array of high-intensity narrow beam first colour and second colour light emitting diodes (19) comprises at least two light emitting diodes of said first colour arranged in parallel for independent operation and at least two light emitting diodes of said second colour arranged in parallel for independent operation.

7. A bi-colour water level gauge for use in determining the water level in a boiler steam drum, heater, or similar water/steam device according to claim 1, wherein said first colour is red.

8. A bi-colour water level gauge for use in determining the water level in a boiler steam drum, heater, or similar water/steam device according to claim 1, wherein said second colour is green.

2. A bi-colour water level gauge for use in determining the water level in a boiler steam drum, heater, or similar water/steam device characterized by:

an electronic printed circuit board (10) containing an array of high-intensity narrow beam first colour and second colour light emitting diodes (19);

said electronic printed circuit board (10) being mounted on an electronics divider board (11);

a divider board (12) comprising a plurality of ports aligned with said light emitting diodes (19);

a heat divider (26) for separating said printed circuit board (10) from high temperatures existing at an external housing; and

a display means (15) onto which light originating from the light emitting diodes (19) is projected for inspection by an operator.

3. A bi-colour water level gauge illuminator for use in determining the water level in a boiler steam drum characterized by:

an electronic printed circuit board (10) containing an array of high-intensity narrow beam first colour and second colour light emitting diodes (19);

said electronic printed circuit board (10) being mounted on an electronics divider board (11);

a lens divider board (12) comprising a plurality of ports, each of said ports containing means, such as a plano-convex lens (13), for focussing light originating from said light emitting diodes (19), equal in number to, and aligned with said light emitting diodes (19); and

a heat divider (26) for separating said printed circuit board (10) from high temperatures existing at an external housing.

6. A bi-colour water level gauge illuminator according to claim 3, wherein said array of high-intensity narrow beam first colour and second colour light emitting diodes (19) comprises at least two light emitting diodes of said first colour arranged in parallel for independent operation and at least two light emitting diodes of said second colour arranged in parallel for independent operation.

9. A bi-colour water level gauge illuminator for use in determining the water level in a boiler steam drum, heater, or similar water/steam device according to claim 3, wherein said first colour is red.

10. A bi-colour water level gauge illuminator for use in determining the water level in a boiler steam drum, heater, or similar water/steam device according to claim 3 wherein said second colour is green.

4. A bi-colour water level gauge illuminator for use in determining the water level in a boiler steam drum characterized by:

an electronic printed circuit board (10) containing an array of high-intensity narrow beam first colour and second colour light emitting diodes (19);

said electronic printed circuit board (10) being mounted on an electronics divider board (11);

a divider board (12) comprising a plurality of ports aligned with said light emitting diodes (19); and

a heat divider (26) for separating said printed circuit board (10) from high temperatures existing at an external housing.

11. A method for determining the water level in a boiler steam heater, or similar water/steam device characterized by the steps of:

projecting a first light from one or more light emitting diodes of a first colour;

projecting a second light from one or more light emitting diodes of a second colour;

passing said first and second lights though a column containing steam and water at a varying level on an opposing side of said column relative to said light emitting diodes;

observing the position of the first and second light at varying vertical levels along the column; and

determining the presence of water or steam at each of said varying vertical levels based upon the observed positions of the first and second lights.

12. A method for determining the water level in a boiler steam heater, or similar water/steam device according to claim 11 characterized in that said step of determining the presence of water or steam at each of said varying vertical levels is based upon the observed positions of the first and second lights on a projection screen.

13. A method for determining the water level in a boiler steam heater, or similar water/steam device according to claim 11, characterized in that said step of projecting a first light utilizes at least two light emitting diodes of said first colour arranged in parallel for independent operation.

14. A method for determining the water level in a boiler steam heater, or similar water/steam device according to claim 11, characterized in that said step of projecting a second light utilizes at least two light emitting diodes of said second colour arranged in parallel for independent operation.

15. A method for determining the water level in a boiler steam heater, or similar water/steam device according to claim 11, characterized in that said first colour is red.

16. A method for determining the water level in a boiler steam heater, or similar water/steam device according to claim 11, characterized in that said second colour is green.