Radar level gauge with foldable probe
AssigneeRosemount Tank Radar AB
InventorHakan Fredriksson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a guided wave radar level gauge for determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank, said guided wave radar level gauge i.a. comprising a probe comprising a plurality of elongate probe sections each being pivotably connected to an adjacent probe section by means of a joint, said joint allowing probe sections to pivot between an operating state where said probe sections are substantially aligned along a straight line, and a transporting state. The present invention also relates to a probe, and to a method for arranging a guided wave radar level gauge in a tank.
Claims18
A guided wave radar level gauge for determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank, said guided wave radar level gauge comprises:
- a transceiver for transmitting electromagnetic transmission signals and receiving electromagnetic return signals reflected at a surface of said product;
- a tank feed through structure proving a electrical connection through a wall of said tank;
- processing circuitry connected to said transceiver and configured to determine said filing level based on a relationship between said electromagnetic transmission signals and said electromagnetic return signals;
- and
- a probe, mechanically connected to said tank feed through structure, arranged to extend vertically into said tank and configured to guide said electromagnetic transmission signals towards said surface and to guide said reflected electromagnetic signals back to said transceiver;
- said probe comprising a plurality of elongate probe sections, one of said elongate probe sections being mechanically connected to said tank feedthrough structure, and each probe section being pivotably connected to an adjacent probe section by means of a joint, said joint allowing probe sections to pivot between an operating state where said probe sections are substantially aligned along a straight line, and a transporting state, wherein said joint comprises a link member, which link member is pivotally connected to a first revolute joint member provided at an end of a first probe section and to a second revolute joint member provided at an end of a second probe section adjacent to the first probe section.
A probe for a guided wave radar level gauge, wherein the probe is configured to guide electromagnetic signals, said probe comprising a plurality of elongate probe sections, one of said elongate probe sections being adapted to be mechanically connected to a tank feedthrough structure, and each probe section being pivotably connected to an adjacent probe section by means of a joint, said joint allowing probe sections to pivot between an operating state where said probe sections are substantially aligned along a straight line, and a transporting state, wherein said joint comprises a link member, which link member is pivotally connected to a first revolute joint member provided at an end of a first probe section and to a second revolute joint member provided at an end of a second probe section adjacent to the first probe section.
A method for arranging a guided wave radar level gauge in a tank, wherein the guided wave radar level gauge comprises:
- a transceiver for transmitting electromagnetic transmission signals and receiving electromagnetic return signals;
- a tank feed through structure proving a sealed electrical connection through a wall of said tank;
- processing circuitry connected to said transceiver;
- and
- a probe comprising a plurality of elongate probe sections, each probe section being pivotably connected to an adjacent probe section by means of a joint, said joint allowing probe sections to pivot between an operating state where said probe sections are substantially aligned along a straight line, and a transporting state where said probe sections are aligned along each other and substantially parallel to each other,
- wherein the method comprises:
- unfolding the probe from the transporting state to the operating state by pivoting the probe sections relative each other;
- and
- arranging the unfolded probe in the tank, wherein the probe is arranged to extend vertically into said tank and configured to guide said electromagnetic transmission signals towards said surface and to guide said reflected electromagnetic signals back to said transceiver.
101-117. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.