# US 12,762,294 B2 · Determining method, system, reflector, vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter and mounting method thereof

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- Number: US 12,762,294 B2
- Document ID: US12762294B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/292,796
- Filed: 2022-07-29
- Published: 2024-10-10
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2022-04-14
- Assignees: Xi'an Dinghua Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Xi'an Dinghua Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Dinghua Wang; Rui Wang; Pu Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12762294B2

## CPC

- G06F 30/10: Geometric CAD
- G01F 23/296: Acoustic waves
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME

## Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a determining method, a system, a reflector, a vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter and a mounting method thereof. An ultrasonic transmitting probe thereof is mounted on an outer wall of the measured vertical tank, and an ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic transmitting probe penetrates through a side wall of the vertical tank and generates an ultrasonic emission source at an inner wall of the vertical tank; an ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic emission source is emitted to the reflector, is returned to the position of the ultrasonic emission source according to the original path after passing through the liquid level of the measured vertical tank, penetrates through the side wall of the vertical tank and is received by a measuring head of the vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter mounted outside the side wall of the vertical tank.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter, comprising an external measurement liquid level meter, an ultrasonic signal source locator, and a reflector;
wherein the reflector is determined by performing operations comprising:
determining a reference line segment; wherein an end point of the reference line segment is a position point T of an ultrasonic emission source, a length of the reference line segment is equal to a focal length P of the reflector;
based on the focal length P and the position point T, constructing a first right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system O1X1Y1Z1, a second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP and a third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ; wherein the position point Tis at a positive value of an O1Y1 coordinate axis of the first right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system O1X1Y1Z1, and a length of a line segment O1T is equal to half of the focal length P; the position point T is a coordinate origin of the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP, the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP is obtained by translating the length of the line segment O1T in a direction of the positive value of the O1Y1 coordinate axis of the first right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system O1X1Y1Z1; a coordinate origin O of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ is at a positive value of the coordinate axis TXp of the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP, and the coordinate origin O of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ is the other end point of the reference line segment; the length of the line segment TO is equal to the focal length P, the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ is obtained by translating the length of the line segment TO in the direction of the positive value of the coordinate axis TXp of the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP; and the position point T is located at a negative value of the OX axis of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ;
according to the position point T and the focal length P, determining a basic cross section of the reflector on a O1X1Y1 coordinate plane of the first right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system O1X1Y1Z1; wherein the basic cross section is a basic parabola, the focal length of the basic parabola is the focal length P; the focus of the basic parabola is the position point T; and the basic parabola rotates with the O1Y1 coordinate axis as the rotation axis to form a paraboloid;
determining a first cross section of the reflector on the TXpYp coordinate plane of the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP according to the form of the parabolic equation in the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP; wherein the first cross section is a first parabola; the focal length of the first parabola is the focal length P; and the focus of the first parabola is the position point T;
determining a second cross section of the reflector on the TXpZp coordinate plane of the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP according to the form of the parabolic equation in the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP; wherein the second cross section is an arc; a radius of the arc is the focal length P; and a center of the arc is the position point T;
determining a third cross section of the reflector on the OYZ coordinate plane of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ according to the form of the parabolic equation in the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ; wherein the third cross section is a second parabola; the focal length of the second parabola is the focal length P; and the focus of the second parabola is the position point T;
determining a parabolic reflector according to the basic cross section, the first cross section, the second cross section and the third cross section; wherein the center point of the parabolic reflector is the coordinate origin O;
wherein the ultrasonic signal source locator comprises an ultrasonic transmitting probe, an ultrasonic transmitting circuit connected with the ultrasonic transmitting probe, an ultrasonic receiving probe, an ultrasonic receiving circuit connected with the ultrasonic receiving probe and an ultrasonic intensity indicator; wherein the ultrasonic transmitting probe emits ultrasonic waves to a vertical tank wall from the outside of a measured vertical tank, and the ultrasonic receiving probe receives ultrasonic signals from the inside of the vertical tank wall, uses the intensity indication displayed by the ultrasonic intensity indicator to find the position of the received strongest ultrasonic signals, and determines the position point T of the ultrasonic emission source formed on the inside of the vertical tank wall after the ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic transmitting probe from the outside of the vertical tank wall pass through the vertical tank wall;
the reflector is configured to reflect an ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic emission source so that the reflected ultrasonic signal is emitted to a liquid level of the measured vertical tank along a preset direction, then reflected and returned back to the position point T of the ultrasonic emission source along the preset direction, and received by a measuring head of the external measurement liquid level meter, and wherein the focus of the reflector is the position point T, and the focal length of the reflector is the focal length P; and
the external measurement liquid level meter is configured to measure a liquid level height in the measured vertical tank from the outside of the measured vertical tank based on the received ultrasonic signal from the measuring head and the emitted ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic emission source.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting part; wherein the supporting part is used for mounting the reflector in the measured vertical tank.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter according to claim 2, wherein the supporting part comprises a platform; a symmetrical center line of the platform coincides with the OX axis in the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter according to claim 2, wherein the supporting part further comprises at least three tubular supporting rods with adjustable lengths, namely a first supporting rod, a second supporting rod and a third supporting rod; the first supporting rod, the second supporting rod and the third supporting rod are connected and fixed with each other through a transverse connecting rod;
an upper end of the first supporting rod passes through the vicinity of a semicircular groove M of the supporting part and the vicinity of a semicircular groove N of the reflector in sequence; the second supporting rod and the third supporting rod are located at both sides of the first supporting rod, respectively; an upper end of the second supporting rod and an upper end of the third supporting rod are both fixed on the supporting part;
a highest point (XN, YN,0) of the reflector on the OXY coordinate plane of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ is the semicircular groove N; the semicircular groove M is on the symmetrical center line of the platform, and the coordinate of the semicircular groove M in the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ is (XN,0,0);
a lower end of the first supporting rod, a lower end of the second supporting rod and a lower end of the third supporting rod are all fixed at the bottom of the measured vertical tank during operation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter according to claim 2, wherein the reflector is fixed on the supporting part to form a steering gear; and the steering gear is mounted on the inner wall of the measured vertical tank.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A mounting method, wherein the mounting method is used for mounting the vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter according to claim 1, comprising:
determining a selection area; wherein the selection area comprises a space area between an ultrasonic signal source and the reflector and a space area between the reflector and a liquid level directly above the reflector, wherein a measured vertical tank has no structure for blocking the ultrasonic signal propagation in the selection area;
determining a position point of an ultrasonic emission source on an inner wall of the measured vertical tank by using an ultrasonic signal source locator in the selection area;
determining a placement point of a center point of the reflector according to the position point of the ultrasonic emission source and the focal length P;
mounting the reflector according to the placement point, so that the center point of the reflector coincides with the placement point, and the focus of the reflector is the position point of the ultrasonic emission source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The mounting method according to claim 6, wherein the ultrasonic signal source locator comprises an ultrasonic transmitting circuit, an ultrasonic transmitting probe, an ultrasonic receiving circuit, an ultrasonic receiving probe and an ultrasonic intensity indicator connected with the ultrasonic receiving probe;
determining a position point of an ultrasonic emission source on an inner wall of the measured vertical tank by using an ultrasonic signal source locator in the selection area specifically comprises:
mounting the ultrasonic transmitting probe on a target area of an outer wall of the measured vertical tank, wherein the target area is opposite to the selection area;
mounting the ultrasonic receiving probe on the inner wall corresponding to the ultrasonic transmitting probe;
adjusting the positions of the ultrasonic transmitting probe and the ultrasonic receiving probe through the ultrasonic intensity indicator until the position with a strongest signal is determined; wherein the position with the strongest signal is located in the target area; and the position with the strong signal is the position point of the ultrasonic emission source;
marking the position of the ultrasonic transmitting probe outside the selected side wall of the vertical tank and the position point of the ultrasonic emission source inside the side wall of the vertical tank, respectively.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The mounting method according to claim 7, wherein a focal length scale is a straight rod with a length equal to the focal length P, one end of the focal length scale is a tip end, and the other end thereof is provided with a magnetic adsorption end, an end face of the magnetic adsorption end is perpendicular to an axial direction of the focal length scale; determining a placement point of a center point of the reflector according to the position point of the ultrasonic emission source and the focal length P specifically comprises:
fixing the magnetic adsorption end of the focal length scale at the position point of the ultrasonic emission source by a magnetic force;
adjusting the position of the reflector, so that the tip end of the focal length scale is inserted into a small hole at the center point O of the reflector, and then the center point of the reflector is positioned at the placement point.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The mounting method according to claim 6, wherein mounting the reflector according to the placement point specifically comprises:
mounting the reflector on the supporting part according to the placement point;
adjusting a pitch angle and a horizontal angle of the reflector, so that the pitch angle θ of the reflector is 0 degrees and the horizontal angle φ is 0 degrees, and then the two mutually perpendicular level meters on the supporting part are horizontal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The mounting method according to claim 9, wherein adjusting a pitch angle and a horizontal angle of the reflector, so that the pitch angle θ of the reflector is 0 degrees and the horizontal angle φ is 0 degrees, and then the two mutually perpendicular level meters on the supporting part are horizontal, specifically comprises:
hanging a heavy hammer line on the semicircular groove N of the reflector, so that a heavy hammer on the heavy hammer line hangs freely;
adjusting the pitch angle of the reflector in the TXY coordinate plane of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ and the horizontal angle in the TXZ coordinate plane of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ, so that the heavy hammer line enters the semicircular groove M and is not contact with an edge of the semicircular groove M;
adjusting the pitch angle and the horizontal angle of the reflector so that two mutually perpendicular level meters on the supporting part are horizontal;
wherein the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ is constructed based on the focal length P and the center point of the reflector, and the highest point (XN, YN,0) of the reflector on the OXY coordinate plane of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ is the semicircular groove N; and the coordinate of the semicircular groove M in the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ is (XN,0,0).

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The mounting method according to claim 9, wherein adjusting a pitch angle and a horizontal angle of the reflector, so that the pitch angle θ of the reflector is 0 degrees and the horizontal angle φ is 0 degrees, and then the two mutually perpendicular level meters on the supporting part are horizontal, specifically comprises:
adsorbing and fixing a magnetic base of a laser ranging calibrator at the position point of the ultrasonic emission source, wherein the end face of the magnetic base of the laser ranging calibrator is perpendicular to the direction in which the laser is emitted by the laser ranging calibrator, and adjusting the position and the shape of the reflector by using a scanning function of the laser ranging calibrator, so that the laser emitted by the laser ranging calibrator is emitted at the central point of the reflector, and the distance displayed by the laser ranging calibrator is equal to the focal length P, so that the pitch angle θ of the reflector is 0 degrees and the horizontal angle φ is 0 degrees, and then the two mutually perpendicular level meters on the supporting part are horizontal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The mounting method according to claim 11, wherein adjusting the position and the shape of the reflector by using a scanning function of the laser ranging calibrator specifically comprises:
controlling a graphic signal emitted by the laser ranging calibrator; wherein the graphic signal is reflected by a plane reflecting plate arranged above the reflector and adjusted to horizontal, and is focused on the position near the ultrasonic emission source after being reflected by the reflector to form a circular bright spot;
adjusting the pitch angle, the horizontal angle, the shape and the mounting position of the reflector according to the shape of the graphic signal focused on the position near the ultrasonic emission source, so that the graphic signal near the ultrasonic emission source becomes a circular graphic as small as possible.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter according to claim 1, wherein
the equation of the basic parabola on the O1X1Y1 coordinate plane of the first right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system O1X1Y1Z1 is x12=2Py1; where x1 is an X1 coordinate of the O1X1Y1 coordinate plane, and y1 is the Y1 coordinate of the O1X1Y1 coordinate plane;
the parabolic equation is in the form of x12+Z12=2Py1 on the first right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system O1X1Y1Z1; wherein x1 is the coordinate on the coordinate axis O1X1 of the first right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system O1X1Y1Z1, y1 is the coordinate on the O1Y1 coordinate axis of the first right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system O1X1Y1Z1, and z1 is the coordinate on the O1Z1 coordinate axis of the first right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system O1X1Y1Z1;
the parabolic equation is in the form of xp2+zp2=2P(yp+P/2) in the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP; wherein xp is the coordinate on the coordinate axis TXp of the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP, yp is the coordinate on the TYp coordinate axis of the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP, and ZP is the coordinate on the TZp coordinate axis of the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP;
the parabolic equation is in the form of (x+P)2+z2=2Py+P2 in the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ; wherein x is the coordinate on the OX coordinate axis of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ, y is the coordinate on the OY coordinate axis of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ, and z is the coordinate on the OZ coordinate axis of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter according to claim 1, wherein
the equation of the first parabola is xp2=2Pyp+P2;
on the first cross section, a pitch angle of the ultrasonic emission source emitted from the coordinate origin T on the TXpYp coordinate plane of the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP to any point (xp,yp) on the first parabola is θ=art (yp/xp); wherein xp is a TXp coordinate value of a projection point (xp,yp) on the first parabola, yp is a TYp coordinate value of the projection point (xp,yp) on the first parabola; the range of the pitch angle is the range of a radiation angle of the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic emission source on the TXpYp coordinate plane;
the equation of the arc is xp2+ZP2=P2;
a horizontal angle of the ultrasonic emission source from the coordinate origin T of the second right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system TXPYPZP to any point (xp,ZP) on the arc is θ=art (ZP/xp); wherein xp is a TXp coordinate value of the projection point (xp,ZP) that the ultrasonic signal emitted from the position point T emits on the arc of the TXpZp coordinate plane, ZP is a TZp coordinate value of the projection point (xp,ZP) that the ultrasonic signal emitted from the position point T emits on the arc of the TXpZp coordinate plane; the range of the horizontal angle is the range of the radiation angle of the ultrasonic signal emitted by the ultrasonic emission source on the TXpZp coordinate plane;
the equation of the second parabola is z2=2Py, and the second parabola is on the OYZ coordinate plane of the third right-handed three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system OXYZ.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter according to claim 1, wherein there is no structure between the parabolic reflector and the liquid level of a measured vertical tank to block the ultrasonic signal propagation; and the focal length P is less than or equal to the radius of the measured vertical tank.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The vertical tank external measurement liquid level meter according to claim 1, wherein
when the measured vertical tank is in an inclined state, the area where the parabolic reflector is capable of receiving ultrasonic waves is reserved, and the area where the ultrasonic waves are received is determined as a reflector required for measuring the measured vertical tank.