IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0199750
(2005-08-09)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Cupples,Kenneth Alan
- Schenk, Jr.,William Peters
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Robertshaw Controls Company
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대리인 / 주소 |
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren P.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
▼
A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring a liquid level in a closed tank with a differential pressure sensor module disposed in a bottom portion of the tank, by routing a pressure reference tube extending from the pressure sensor module through the interior of the tank and attaching an opp
A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring a liquid level in a closed tank with a differential pressure sensor module disposed in a bottom portion of the tank, by routing a pressure reference tube extending from the pressure sensor module through the interior of the tank and attaching an opposite, open, vented end of the pressure reference tube to the tank at a point inside of the tank in an upper portion of the tank.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A tank monitor apparatus, for a closed tank having a peripheral wall thereof defining an interior of the tank and a tank opening passing through the peripheral wall, the tank monitor apparatus comprising: a sealing closure for the tank opening having an interior surface there
What is claimed is: 1. A tank monitor apparatus, for a closed tank having a peripheral wall thereof defining an interior of the tank and a tank opening passing through the peripheral wall, the tank monitor apparatus comprising: a sealing closure for the tank opening having an interior surface thereof for partially bounding the interior of the tank when the closure is sealing the tank opening; and a submersible differential pressure sensor including a sensor module and a pressure reference tube; the pressure reference tube having a distal end thereof operatively joined to the sensor module, and also having an opposite vented end thereof attached to the sealing closure adjacent the interior surface of the sealing enclosure in such a manner that the vented end of the pressure reference tube provides operative, sealed fluid communication between the sensor module and the interior of the tank adjacent the interior surface of the sealing closure, when the sealing closure is installed in the tank with the submersible differential pressure sensor extending into the interior of the tank. 2. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 1, further including a filter operatively connected to the vented end of the pressure reference tube. 3. The tank monitor of claim 1, further including a vent protector extending from the interior surface of the closure about the vented end of the pressure reference tube. 4. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one signal carrying element operatively extending from the sensor module and through the closure; and an umbilical cord disposed about the signal carrying element and the pressure reference tube, and sealingly extending between the sensor module and the closure. 5. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 4, wherein a juncture of the umbilical cord and the closure is sealed with a liquid-tight compression fitting. 6. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the sealing closure includes a closure wall defining and separating the interior surface of the closure from an outer surface thereof; and the pressure reference tube, extending from the sensor module, passes first outward through the closure wall, sequentially through the interior and the outer surfaces closure, at a first juncture of the reference tube and closure wall, and then back inward through the closure wall, sequentially through the outer and interior surfaces of the closure, before terminating at the vented end of the pressure reference tube. 7. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second junctures is sealed with a liquid-tight compression fitting comprising, having a body, a compression cap, and seal insert; the seal insert having a through-hole therein adapted for passage therethrough of the pressure reference tube and applying a compressive force to the pressure reference tube when a compressive force is applied to the seal insert; the body having a stem portion thereof attached to the closure, and defining a through-bore therein for passage of the pressure reference tube therethrough, a section of the through-bore being configured as a seal insert cavity for receiving and retention therein of the seal insert; the body and compression cap being adapted for fixed attachment to one another in a manner applying compressive force to the seal insert, to thereby cause the seal insert to apply a corresponding compressive force to the pressure reference tube for retaining the pressure reference tube and forming a fluid-tight seal between the pressure reference tube and the housing. 8. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 7, wherein the body and compression cap form a threaded connection with one another for applying a compressive force to the reference tube, as the first and second elements are threaded together, to thereby retain the reference tube in the compression fitting and form the fluid tight seal. 9. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 7, wherein the seal insert includes first and second through-holes therein for passage therethrough of the pressure reference tube at the first and second junctures respectively, and wherein the seal insert applies compressive force to the pressure reference tube at each of the first and second junctures, when the body and compression cap are attached fixedly to one another, to thereby retain the reference tube in the compression fitting and form a fluid tight seal at both the first and second junctures. 10. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 9, wherein the body and compression cap form a threaded connection with one another for applying a compressive force to the reference tube, at both the first and second junctures, as the first and second elements are threaded together, to thereby retain the reference tube in the compression fitting and form a fluid tight seal at both the first and second junctures. 11. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: at least one signal carrying element operatively extending from the sensor module and through the closure; and an umbilical cord disposed about the signal carrying element and the pressure reference tube, and sealingly extending between the sensor module and the closure. 12. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 11, wherein the seal insert includes first and second through-holes therein at the first and second junctures respectively, the umbilical tube, with the reference tube and one or more signal carrying elements enclosed therein, passing through the first through-hole and only the reference tube passing through the second through-hole, and wherein the seal insert applies compressive force to the umbilical cord and the pressure reference tube respectively at the first and second junctures, when the body and compression cap are attached fixedly to one another, to thereby retain the umbilical cord and the reference tube in the compression fitting and form a fluid tight seal at both the first and second junctures. 13. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 12, wherein the body and compression cap form a threaded connection with one another for applying a compressive force to the umbilical cord and the reference tube respectively, at the first and second junctures, as the first and second elements are threaded together, to thereby retain the umbilical cord and the reference tube in the compression fitting and form a fluid tight seal at both the first and second junctures. 14. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 12, further including a filter operatively connected to the vented end of the pressure reference tube. 15. The tank monitor of claim 12, further including a vent protector extending from the interior surface of the closure about the vented end of the pressure reference tube. 16. The tank monitor of claim 15, wherein the vent protector comprises an imperforate tubular-shaped wall defining an open distal end thereof. 17. A tank monitor apparatus, for a closed tank having a peripheral wall thereof defining an interior of the tank and a tank opening passing through the peripheral wall, the tank monitor apparatus comprising: a tank monitor housing, and a submersible differential pressure sensor; the tank monitor housing having a peripheral wall thereof defining a closed interior cavity of the monitor and a sealing closure for the tank opening, with the closure including a closure wall defining and separating a tank-facing surface thereof from a monitor-interior-cavity-facing surface thereof, with the tank-facing surface configured for partially bounding the interior of the tank when the closure is sealing the tank opening, and the cavity-facing surface partially bounding the interior cavity of the monitor; the submersible differential pressure sensor including a sensor module disposed outside of the interior cavity of the monitor and a pressure reference tube extending from the sensor module; the pressure reference tube having an imperforate wall thereof extending from a distal end to an opposite, open, vented end of the reference tube, with the distal end of the reference tube being operatively joined to the sensor module and the vented end thereof being fixedly attached to the closure of the monitor housing, for providing fluid communication between the vented end of the pressure reference tube and the sensor module; the pressure reference tube passing sequentially through the closure wall and into the interior cavity of the monitor, at a first juncture of the reference tube and the closure wall, and then passing back out of the interior cavity of the monitor through the closure wall, at a second juncture of the pressure reference tube and the closure wall, with the open, vented end of the reference tube being disposed outside of the closure wall adjacent the second juncture of the reference tube and the closure wall. 18. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: at least one signal carrying element operatively extending from the sensor module and through the closure; and an umbilical cord disposed about the signal carrying element and the pressure reference tube, and sealingly extending between the sensor module and the first juncture of the closure; the at least one signal carrying element terminating within the interior cavity of the tank monitor; the umbilical cord terminating prior to the second juncture of the reference tube and the closure wall. 19. The tank monitor of claim 18, further including a vent protector extending from the tank-facing surface of the closure about the first and second junctures and the vented end of the pressure reference tube. 20. The tank monitor of claim 15, wherein the vent protector comprises an imperforate tubular-shaped wall terminating in an open distal end thereof, with the imperforate wall extending beyond the vented end of the pressure reference tube. 21. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 20, further including a filter operatively connected to the vented end of the pressure reference tube. 22. The tank monitor apparatus of claim 4, wherein first and second junctures are sealed with a single liquid-tight compression fitting. 23. The tank monitor of claim 22, wherein the interior cavity of the monitor is not vented. 24. A method for measuring a differential pressure in a closed tank having a peripheral wall thereof defining an interior of the tank including an upper and a lower portion of the interior, the method comprising, operatively connecting one end of an imperforate pressure reference tube to a differential pressure sensor module located in the lower portion of the tank, routing the pressure tube, sequentially, through the lower and upper portions of the interior of the tank, out through the peripheral wall of the tank at a first sealed juncture of the reference tube and the peripheral wall located in the upper portion of the interior, and then back through the peripheral wall of the tank and into the interior of the tank at a second sealed juncture of the reference tube and the peripheral wall located in the upper portion of the interior, before terminating the pressure reference tube at an open vented end thereof, to thereby provide the differential pressure sensor in the bottom of the tank with an internal pressure reference in the upper portion of the tank. 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: sealingly enclosing a segment of the pressure reference tube extending between the pressure sensor module and the first juncture, and one or more signal carrying elements extending between the pressure sensor module and the first juncture, in an umbilical cord extending from the pressure sensor module to the first juncture; and terminating the one or more signal carrying elements and umbilical cord prior to the second juncture. 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising, providing a sealing closure in the peripheral wall of the tank, and locating both the first and second junctures in the closure. 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising sealing both the first and second junctures with a single liquid-tight compression fitting attached to the closure. 28. The method of claim 26, further comprising, providing a vent protector extending into the interior of the tank from the closure about the first and second junctures and the vented end of the pressure reference tube, with the vent protector having an imperforate tubular-shaped wall terminating in an open distal end thereof, with the imperforate wall extending beyond the vented end of the pressure reference tube.
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