Solid state illuminator for bi-color ported water level gauges

• US 7,401,512 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fossil Steam Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fossil Steam Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Spencer, John, Kalix, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Williama; Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bellamy; Tamiko D
• Application Number:
  US11/704,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20070144252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 732/93, 733/28
• 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 are provided for bi-colored 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 devices. The illuminator includes an array of bi-colored 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 a viewing screen.

Claims

1. A liquid level gauge, comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end;

a liquid column connected to the first end of the housing, the liquid column including a plurality of viewing ports; and

a light source connected to the second end of the housing, the light source including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), half of the LEDs emitting a first color light and half of the LEDs emitting a second color light, at least one pair of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port, and each pair of bi-color LEDs being oriented with respect to the corresponding viewing port in such a way that the first color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a liquid is present in the corresponding viewing port and the second color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a non-liquid is present in the corresponding viewing port.

2. The liquid level gauge of claim 1, wherein each light emitting diode (LED) emitting the first color light is a green LED and each LED emitting the second color light is a red LED.

3. The liquid level gauge of claim 1, wherein a focusing lens is provided for focusing the light emitted from each LED towards the corresponding viewing port.

4. The liquid level gauge of claim 3, wherein each focusing lens is housed within a lens divider board.

5. The liquid level gauge of claim 1, wherein a plurality of pairs of bi-color LEDs are provided as arrays of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port.

6. The liquid level gauge of claim 5, wherein each array of bi-color light emitting diodes corresponding to each viewing port includes three LEDs of the first color light and three LEDs of the second color light.

7. The liquid level gauge of claim 6, wherein a focusing lens is provided for focusing the light emitted from each LED towards the corresponding viewing port, the number of lenses corresponding to the number of arrays of bi-color LEDs, each lens being housed within a lens divider board.

8. The liquid level gauge of claim 1, further comprising a heat divider for separating the LEDs from exposure to high temperatures existing at the liquid column.

9. The liquid level gauge of claim 8, wherein the heat divider includes a metal heat shield positioned between the liquid column and the LEDs, the heat shield defining at least one opening to permit the first color light and second color light to pass from the LEDs through to the viewing ports.

10. The liquid level gauge of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an array of offset slots extending substantially completely from top to bottom at or near the first end thereof.

11. The liquid level gauge of claim 1, further comprising a level display for viewing the light transmitted from the LEDs and through the viewing ports of the liquid column, the level display comprising;

a display housing having a first end and a second end, the display housing being attached to the liquid column at the first end thereof; and

a viewing screen at the second end of the display housing upon which the light may be displayed for viewing by an observer.

12. The liquid level gauge of claim 11, wherein the level display further comprises an end plate adjustably mounted to the second end of the display housing, the end plate defining openings positioned along the length thereof in alignment with the viewing ports of the liquid column.

13. The liquid level gauge of claim 11, wherein the display housing defines an array of offset slots extending substantially completely from top to bottom at or near the first end thereof.

14. The liquid level gauge of claim 11, wherein the display housing further comprises a heat divider for separating the viewing screen from exposure to high temperatures existing at the liquid column.

15. The liquid level gauge of claim 14, wherein the heat divider of the display housing includes a metal heat shield positioned between the liquid column and the viewing screen, the heat shield defining at least one opening to permit the first color light and the second color light to pass from the viewing ports through to the viewing screen.

16. The liquid level gauge of claim 1, wherein the liquid is water.

17. An illuminator for a liquid level gauge, the liquid level gauge including a housing having a first end and a second end and a liquid column connected to the first end of the housing, the liquid column including a plurality of viewing ports, the illuminator comprising:

a light source including a plurality of LEDs for connection to the second end of the housing;

half of said plurality of LEDs emitting a first color light and half of the LEDs emitting a second color light;

at least one pair of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port; and

each pair of bi-color LEDs being oriented with respect to the corresponding viewing port in such a way that the first color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a liquid is present in the corresponding viewing port and the second color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a non-liquid is present in the viewing port.

18. The illuminator of claim 17, wherein each LED emitting the first color light is a green LED and each LED emitting the second color light is a red LED.

19. The illuminator of claim 17, wherein a plurality of pairs of bi-color LEDs are provided as arrays of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port.

20. The illuminator of claim 19, wherein each array of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port includes three LEDs of the first color light and three LEDs of the second color light.

21. The illuminator of claim 17, wherein the liquid is water.

22. An illuminator for a liquid level gauge, the illuminator including a housing having a front end and a rear end, the front end adapted for connection to a liquid column having a plurality of viewing ports, the illuminator comprising;

a light source including a plurality of LEDs connected to the rear end of the housing;

half of said plurality of LEDs emitting a first color light and half of the LEDs emitting a second color light;

at least one pair of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port; and

each pair of bi-color LEDs being oriented with respect to the corresponding viewing port in such a way that the first color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a liquid is present in the corresponding viewing port and the second color light passes through the corresponding viewing port when a non-liquid is present in the corresponding viewing port.

23. The illuminator of claim 22, wherein each LED emitting the first color light is a green light LED and each LED emitting the second color light is a red LED.

24. The illuminator of claim 22, wherein a focusing lens is provided for focusing the light emitted from each LED towards the corresponding viewing port.

25. The illuminator of claim 24, wherein each focusing lens is housed within a lens divider board.

26. The illuminator of claim 22, wherein a plurality of pairs of bi-color LEDs are provided as arrays of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port.

27. The illuminator of claim 26, wherein each array of bi-color LEDs corresponding to each viewing port includes three LEDs of the first color light and three LEDs of the second color light.

28. The illuminator of claim 27, wherein a focusing lens is provided for focusing the light emitted from each LED towards the corresponding viewing port, the number of lenses corresponding to the number of arrays of bi-color LEDs, each lens being housed within a lens divider board.

29. The illuminator of claim 22, further comprising a heat divider for separating the LEDs from exposure to high temperatures existing at the liquid column.

30. The illuminator of claim 29, wherein the heat divider includes a metal heat shield positioned between the front end of the housing and the LEDs, the heat shield defining at least one opening to permit the first color light and second color light to pass from the LEDs through to the viewing ports of the liquid column.

31. The illuminator of claim 22, wherein the housing defines an array of offset slots extending substantially completely from top to bottom at or near the first end thereof.

32. The illuminator of claim 22, wherein the liquid is water.

33. A level display for displaying light transmitted from a bi-color illuminator through viewing ports of a liquid column, said bi-color illuminator emitting first color light and second color light, the level display comprising:

a display housing having a first end and a second end, the display housing being adapted for attachment to the liquid column at the first end thereof; and

a viewing screen at the second end of the display housing upon which the light may be displayed for viewing by an observer.

34. The level display of claim 33, wherein the level display further comprises an end plate adjustably mounted to the second end of the display housing, the end plate defining openings positioned along the length thereof in alignment with the viewing ports of the liquid column.

35. The level display of claim 33, wherein the display housing defines an array of offset slots extending substantially completely from top to bottom at or near the first end thereof.

36. The level display of claim 33, wherein the display housing further comprises a heat divider for separating the viewing screen from exposure to high temperatures existing at the liquid column.

37. The level display of claim 36, wherein the heat divider of the display housing includes a metal heat shield positioned between the liquid column and the viewing screen, the heat shield defining at least one opening to permit the first color light and the second color light to pass from the viewing ports through to the viewing screen.