Digital conversion adapter for magnetically coupled level meters

• US 6,606,906 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trinity Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TRN Business Trust
• Inventors: Arias, Herman Diaz
• Primary Examiner(s): Larkin, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, KATINA M
• Application Number:
  US09/948,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 73/17.3, 732/93, 733/18, 733/14, 733/13, 733/08
• US Class Current: 73/308
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/04 using levers; using cams; using gearing
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/366 using optoelectrically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/38 using magnetically actuated indicating means

Abstract

A digital conversion adapter for magnetically coupled level meters includes a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter. The first rotatable magnet is operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet. The second rotatable magnet is operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level. An encoded disc is mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet. A light sensor array operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc, is also provided.

Claims

1. A digital conversion adapter for a magnetically coupled level rev meter, comprising:

a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter, the first rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet, the second rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level;

an encoded disc being mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet;

a light sensor array being operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc; and

wherein the encoded disc includes a modified binary code having a two percent resolution.

2. The digital conversion adapter of claim 1, further comprising a light illuminator operable to provide source light which passes through the encoded disc.

3. The digital conversion adapter of claim 2, wherein the light illuminator is positioned adjacent a first side of the encoded disc and the light sensor array is positioned adjacent a second side of the encoded disc and wherein the light illuminator is operable to direct the source light perpendicular to the encoded disc, and the light sensor array is operable to detect the transmitted light transmitted through the encoded disc.

4. The digital conversion adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosed adapter body;

the encoded disc being installed within the adapter body;

the light illuminator and the light sensor array being positioned adjacent to and outside the adapter body; and

wherein the light illuminator is operable to provide the source light which reflects from a reflective surface of the adapter body and passes through the encoded disc to form the transmitted light which is read by the light sensor array.

5. A digital conversion adapter for a magnetically coupled level meter, comprising:

a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter, the first rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet, the second rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level;

an encoded disc being mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet;

a light sensor array being operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc;

further comprising a light illuminator operable to provide source light which passes through the encoded disc;

wherein the light illuminator is positioned adjacent a first side of the encoded disc and the light sensor array is positioned adjacent a second side of the encoded disc and wherein the light illuminator is operable to direct the source light perpendicular to the encoded disc, and the light sensor array is operable to detect the transmitted light transmitted through the encoded disc; and

wherein the encoded disc is configured to form no more than two void spaces of a predetermined configuration to selectively allow portions of the source light to pass through the encoded disc, the portions of the source light comprising the transmitted light.

6. The digital conversion adapter of claim 5, wherein the predetermined configuration of the void spaces comprises a modified Gray code.

7. The digital conversion adapter of claim 5, wherein the void spaces are operable to digitally encode the portions of the source light such that the transmitted light provides a reading comprising a proportional relationship between rotation of the encoded disc and a configuration of the transmitted light.

8. The digital conversion adapter of claim 5, wherein the coded void spaces comprise a first and second void spaces formed in the encoded disc, the first and second void spaces cooperating to digitally encode the transmitted light to provide a reading proportional to the position of the encoded disc with respect to the light sensor array.

9. A digital conversion adapter for a magnetically coupled level meter, comprising:

a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter, the first rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet, the second rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level;

an encoded disc being mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet;

a light sensor array being operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc; and

wherein the encoded disc comprises a sheet of light opaque material which is die-stamped to form the void space.

10. A digital conversion adapter for a magnetically coupled level meter, comprising:

a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter, the first rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet, the second rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level;

an encoded disc being mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet;

a light sensor array being operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc;

further comprising a light illuminator operable to provide source light which passes through the encoded disc;

wherein the light illuminator is positioned adjacent a first side of the encoded disc and the light sensor array is positioned adjacent a second side of the encoded disc and wherein the light illuminator is operable to direct the source light perpendicular to the encoded disc, and the light sensor array is operable to detect the transmitted light transmitted through the encoded disc;

wherein the encoded disc is configured to form at least one void space of a predetermined configuration to selectively allow portions of the source light to pass through the encoded disc, the portions of the source light comprising the transmitted light;

wherein the coded void space comprises a first void space, and further comprising a second void space formed in the encoded disc, the first and second void spaces cooperating to digitally encode the transmitted light to provide a reading proportional to the position of the encoded disc with respect to the light sensor array; and

wherein the coded void space is configured to digitally encode the transmitted light to provide a reading comprising two percent resolution.

11. A digital conversion adapter for a magnetically coupled level meter, comprising:

a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter, the first rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet, the second rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level;

an encoded disc being mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet;

a light sensor array being operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc; and

wherein the coded void space is configured to provide a warning reading if the liquid level exceeds ninety percent of a container capacity.

12. A digital conversion adapter for a magnetically coupled level meter, comprising:

a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter, the first rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet, the second rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level;

an encoded disc being mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet;

a light sensor array being operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc; and

wherein the coded void space is configured to provide a warning if the liquid level drops below twenty percent of a container capacity.

13. A digital conversion adapter for a magnetically coupled level meter, comprising:

a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter, the first rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet, the second rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level;

an encoded disc being mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet;

a light sensor array being operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc;

an enclosed adapter body;

the encoded disc being installed within the adapter body;

the light illuminator and the light sensor array being positioned adjacent to and outside the adapter body;

wherein the light illuminator is operable to provide the source light which reflects from a reflective surface of the adapter body and passes through the encoded disc to form the transmitted light which is read by the light sensor array; and

wherein the light illuminator comprises a fiber guide and the light sensor array comprises a multiple fiber guide.

14. A digital conversion adapter for a magnetically coupled level meter, comprising:

a first rotatable magnet located adjacent a second rotatable magnet of a level meter, the first rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet, the second rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level;

an encoded disc being mechanically coupled with the first rotatable magnet and operable to rotate in response to rotation of the first rotatable magnet;

a light sensor array being operable to monitor a position of the encoded disc, with respect to the light sensor array, by reading transmitted light which passes through the encoded disc;

an enclosed adapter body;

the encoded disc being installed within the adapter body;

the light illuminator and the light sensor array being positioned adjacent to and outside the adapter body;

wherein the light illuminator is operable to provide the source light which reflects from a reflective surface of the adapter body and passes through the encoded disc to form the transmitted light which is read by the light sensor array;

wherein the light illuminator comprises a fiber guide and the light sensor array comprises a multiple fiber guide; and

further comprising a plurality of photodiodes coupled with the multiple fiber guide and operable to detect the presence or absence of light at a plurality of reading points associated with the multiple fiber guide.

15. A method comprising:

installing a first rotatable magnet adjacent to a second rotatable magnet of a level meter, the first rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet, the second rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level;

mechanically coupling an encoded disc including a modified binary code having a two percent resolution and the first rotatable magnet such that the encoded disc is operable to rotate in response to changes of the liquid surface level;

directing source light through the encoded disc, the encoded disc being operable to selectively allow a portion of the light to pass through; and

reading the portion of the light which passes through the encoded disc at a light sensor array to determine the liquid surface level.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising digitally encoding the portion of the light which passes through the encoded disc.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting the digitally encoded portion of the source light to a remote location.

17. A method comprising:

installing a first rotatable magnet adjacent to a second rotatable magnet of a level meter, the first rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to rotation of the second rotatable magnet, the second rotatable magnet being operable to rotate in response to changes of a liquid surface level;

mechanically coupling an encoded disc and the first rotatable magnet such that the encoded disc is operable to rotate in response to changes of the liquid surface level;

directing source light through the encoded disc, the encoded disc being operable to selectively allow a portion of the light to pass through; and

reading the portion of the light which passes through the encoded disc at a light sensor array to determine the liquid surface level; and

wherein the source light is transmitted through a fiber guide and the light sensor array comprises a multiple fiber guide and further comprising reading the portion of the source light which passes through the encoded disc at a plurality of photodiodes associated with the multiple fiber guide.

19. A level meter for measuring the surface level of liquid in a container, comprising:

a float operable to rise and fall with the surface level;

a magnet coupled with the float, such that the magnet moves in response to movement of the float;

an encoded disc including a modified binary code providing two percent resolution coupled with the magnet and operable to rotate in response to the movement of the float;

a light illuminator operable to direct source light through the encoded disc; and

a light sensor array operable to read a portion of the source light which passes through the encoded disc, to determine the surface level.

20. A level meter for measuring the surface level of liquid in a container, comprising:

a float operable to rise and fall with the surface level;

a magnet coupled with the float, such that the magnet moves in response to movement of the float;

an encoded disc coupled with the magnet and operable to rotate in response to the movement of the float;

a light illuminator operable to direct source light through the encoded disc; and

a light sensor array operable to read a portion of the source light which passes through the encoded disc, to determine the surface level; and

wherein the light sensor array comprises a multiple fiber guide and further comprising a plurality of photodiodes operable to read the portion of the source light which passes through the encoded disc, at a remote location.