초록 ▼

A tank to contain a fluid includes a tank wall having an inner surface. A vane is disposed within the tank. The vane is configured to facilitate extraction of fluid from the tank. The vane may include an electrically conductive material. The tank also includes a first connector to electrically coupl

A tank to contain a fluid includes a tank wall having an inner surface. A vane is disposed within the tank. The vane is configured to facilitate extraction of fluid from the tank. The vane may include an electrically conductive material. The tank also includes a first connector to electrically couple at least one portion of the tank wall to a capacitance sensing device and a second connector to electrically couple at least one portion of the vane to the capacitance sensing device.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tank comprising: a wall having an inner surface, wherein an insulating layer is disposed on a first portion of the inner surface;a vane that is disposed within the tank and that is configured to facilitate extraction of a fluid from the tank, wherein the vane comprises an electrically conductiv

1. A tank comprising: a wall having an inner surface, wherein an insulating layer is disposed on a first portion of the inner surface;a vane that is disposed within the tank and that is configured to facilitate extraction of a fluid from the tank, wherein the vane comprises an electrically conductive material;a first connector to electrically couple a portion of the wall to a capacitance sensing device; anda second connector to electrically couple a portion of the vane to the capacitance sensing device,wherein, when the capacitance sensing device is coupled to the first connector and is coupled to the second connector, the capacitance sensing device is operable to measure a capacitance between the portion of the vane and the portion of the wall,wherein the capacitance sensing device is coupled to a controller, the controller operable to receive information representative of the capacitance between the portion of the vane and the portion of the wall and to apply a function to the information representative of the capacitance between the portion of the vane and the portion of the wall to determine an amount of the fluid remaining in the tank, and wherein the function is associated with a relationship between the amount of the fluid that is contained in the tank and the capacitance. 2. The tank of claim 1, wherein an insulating material is disposed between the vane and the inner surface of the wall. 3. The tank of claim 1, further comprising a second vane that is disposed within the tank and that is configured to facilitate extraction of the fluid from the tank. 4. The tank of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the wall comprises an electrically conductive material. 5. The tank of claim 1, wherein the capacitance measured by the capacitance sensing device decreases as a level of the fluid in the tank decreases. 6. The tank of claim 1, further comprising an outlet, wherein the vane and the inner surface of the wall form boundaries of a capillary channel, the capillary channel facilitating movement of the fluid toward the outlet. 7. The tank of claim 6, wherein the capacitance measured by the capacitance sensing device decreases in response to fluid in the capillary channel becoming discontinuous. 8. A system comprising: a processor; anda memory accessible to the processor, the memory including instructions that are executable by the processor to: receive information indicative of a capacitance between an inner surface of a wall of a tank and a vane disposed within the tank, wherein an insulating layer is disposed on a first portion of the inner surface; andapply a function to the information indicative of the capacitance between the inner surface of the wall and the vane to determine an amount of liquid that is contained in the tank, wherein the function is associated with a relationship between the amount of liquid that is contained in the tank and the capacitance. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the insulating layer is resistant from corrosion. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein a second insulating layer is disposed on the vane. 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the inner surface of the wall comprises an electrically conductive material. 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the capacitance decreases as the amount of the liquid contained in the tank decreases. 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the vane and the inner surface of the wall form boundaries of a capillary channel, the capillary channel facilitating movement of the liquid toward an outlet of the tank. 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the information is received via a downlink signal from a satellite, wherein the tank is onboard the satellite. 15. The system of claim 8, further comprising receiving second information indicative of the amount of the liquid that is contained in the tank via a downlink signal from a satellite, wherein the tank is onboard the satellite. 16. A mobile platform comprising: a tank, wherein an insulating layer is disposed on a first portion of an inner surface of a wall of the tank;a vane that is disposed within the tank and that is configured to facilitate extraction of liquid from the tank, wherein the vane comprises an electrically conductive material; anda capacitance sensing device coupled to the tank and to the vane, wherein the capacitance sensing device is configured to measure a capacitance between the vane and the inner surface of the wall of the tank,wherein the capacitance sensing device is communicatively coupled to a controller, the controller operable to receive information representative of the capacitance between the vane and the inner surface of the wall and to apply a function to the information representative of the capacitance between the vane and the inner surface of the wall to determine an amount of the liquid remaining in the tank, wherein the function is associated with a relationship between the amount of the liquid that is contained in the tank and the capacitance. 17. The mobile platform of claim 16, wherein the vane is further configured to inhibit sloshing of the liquid in the tank. 18. The mobile platform of claim 16, further comprising a propulsion system coupled to the tank, wherein the liquid comprises a fuel that is for use by the propulsion system. 19. The mobile platform of claim 16, wherein the measured capacitance decreases as the amount of the liquid contained in the tank decreases. 20. The mobile platform of claim 16, wherein the vane and the wall form boundaries of a capillary channel, the capillary channel facilitating movement of the liquid toward an outlet of the tank, and wherein the measured capacitance changes when a level of the liquid in the tank is insufficient to fill the capillary channel.