Apparatus to water detection in a storage tank
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01F-023/30
G01F-023/00
출원번호
UP-0955922
(2007-12-13)
등록번호
US-7634945
(2010-01-08)
발명자
/ 주소
Champion, James Robert
출원인 / 주소
Robertshaw Controls Company
대리인 / 주소
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
5인용 특허 :
4
초록▼
An apparatus for measuring a level of a fluid and detecting water in a storage container is provided. The apparatus comprises a signal-based fluid level measurement apparatus and a water detection device. The signal-based fluid level measurement apparatus has a first multistatic probe conveying a fi
An apparatus for measuring a level of a fluid and detecting water in a storage container is provided. The apparatus comprises a signal-based fluid level measurement apparatus and a water detection device. The signal-based fluid level measurement apparatus has a first multistatic probe conveying a first signal and a second multistatic probe conveying a second signal. The first and second multistatic probes are electrically coupled by a float-coupler. The signal-based fluid level measurement apparatus determines the level of the fluid in the storage container based at least in part on a time delay between the first and second signals. The water detection device is operably coupled to the fluid level measurement apparatus. The water detection device monitors at least one of conduction and a dielectric constant between exposed ends of the first and second multistatic probes. As such, a presence of the water in the storage tank is detected.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for measuring a level of a fluid and detecting water in a storage container, the apparatus comprising: a signal-based fluid level measurement apparatus having a first multistatic probe conveying a first signal and a second multistatic probe conveying a second sig
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for measuring a level of a fluid and detecting water in a storage container, the apparatus comprising: a signal-based fluid level measurement apparatus having a first multistatic probe conveying a first signal and a second multistatic probe conveying a second signal, the first and second multistatic probes electrically coupled by a float-coupler, the signal-based fluid level measurement apparatus determining the level of the fluid in the storage container based at least in part on a time delay between the first and second signals; and a water detection device operably coupled to the fluid level measurement apparatus, the water detection device monitoring at least one of conduction and a dielectric constant between exposed ends of the first and second multistatic probes such that a presence of the water in the storage tank is detected. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a fuel. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water detection device includes a water detection circuit, the water detection circuit detecting a current between the first and second multistatic probes when the water detection device is monitoring conduction and detecting a bulk capacitance of the first and second multistatic probes when the water detection device is monitoring the dielectric constant. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water detection device includes an excitation circuit, the excitation circuit at least one of a current source and an alternating current (AC) voltage source operating below approximately one gigahertz when the water detection device is monitoring conduction and at least one of an alternating current (AC) voltage source generating a periodic waveform when the water detection device is monitoring the dielectric constant. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water detection device includes an excitation circuit, the excitation circuit operating below, and the fluid level measurement apparatus operating above, a frequency of approximately one gigahertz. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water detection device includes an operational amplifier, the operational amplifier generating an output when at least one of a current and a voltage is detected. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal-based fluid level measurement apparatus and the water detection device operate simultaneously. 8. An apparatus for measuring a level of a fluid and detecting water in a storage container, the apparatus comprising: a flexible probe immersed in the fluid, the flexible probe including a sleeve holding first and second conductors in spaced relation, ends of the first and second conductors projecting from a lower portion of the sleeve; a float coupler moveably coupled to the probe and buoyant upon a surface of the fluid, the float coupler including an internal conductor disposed across and electrically coupling the first and second conductors; a pulse transmitter operably coupled to the first conductor, the pulse transmitter generating pulses; a pulse sampler operably coupled to the second conductor, the pulse sampler receiving the pulses generated by the pulse transmitter; a delay measurement device operably coupled to the pulse transmitter and the pulse sampler, the delay measurement device determining a time delay for the pulses to travel from the pulse transmitter, through the internal conductor of the float coupler, to the pulse sampler, the time of delay indicating a position of the float coupler such that the level of the fluid in the storage container is measured; and a water detection device operably coupled to the first conductor and the pulse transmitter, the water detection circuit monitoring at least one of conduction and a dielectric constant between the ends of the first and second conductors penetrating the bottom portion of the sleeve such that any of the water in the storage tank is detected. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fluid is a fuel selected from the group consisting of a reformulated gasoline and an alcohol/gasoline mixture. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sleeve is a flat cable formed from polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a weight is secured to the lower portion of the flexible probe to maintain a generally vertical orientation of the flexible probe. 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the water detection device includes a water detection circuit, the water detection circuit detecting a current between the first and second conductors when the water detection device is monitoring conduction and detecting a bulk capacitance of the first and second conductors when the water detection device is monitoring the dielectric constant. 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pulse sampler samples the pulses using equivalent-time sampling. 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pulse transmitter generates pulses above approximately one gigahertz and the water detection device operates below approximately one gigahertz. 15. An apparatus for measuring a level of a fluid and detecting water in a storage container, the apparatus comprising: a flexible probe immersed in the fluid, the flexible probe including a sleeve holding first and second conductors in spaced relation, the first conductor coupled to a pulse transmitter node, the second conductor coupled to a pulse sampler node, and ends of the first and second conductors penetrating a bottom portion of the sleeve; a float coupler moveably coupled to the probe and buoyant upon a surface of the fluid, the float coupler including an internal conductor disposed across and electrically coupling the first and second conductors; a conductive element coupled to the pulse transmitter node; a pulse transmitter generating pulses and coupled to the conductive element; a first resistive element coupled to a ground and the pulse transmitter node; a second resistive element coupled to the second conductor and the pulse sampler node; an inductive element coupled the ground and the pulse sampler node; a pulse sampler coupled to the pulse sampler node; an excitation source coupled to the pulse transmitter node; a detection circuit coupled to the pulse transmitter node and the ground; a pulse sampler operably coupled to the second conductor, the pulse sampler receiving the pulses generated by the pulse transmitter; a delay measurement device operably coupled to the pulse transmitter and the pulse sampler, the delay measurement device determining a time delay for the pulses to travel from the pulse transmitter, through the internal conductor of the float coupler, to the pulse sampler, the time of delay indicating a position of the float coupler such that the level of the fluid in the storage container is measured; and a water detection device operably coupled to the first conductor and the pulse transmitter, the water detection circuit monitoring at least one of conduction and a dielectric constant between the ends of the first and second conductors penetrating the bottom portion of the sleeve such that any of the water in the storage tank is detected. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a second conductive element is interposed between the first resistive element and the pulse transmitter node. 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first conductive element has a capacitance of less than about three picofarads. 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first and second resistive elements each have a resistance of about ninety ohms. 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the inductive element has an inductance of about ten nanohenries. 20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the excitation circuit operates below a frequency of approximately one gigahertz.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.