US 2018/0087949 A1 · Level Sensor with Parabolic Reflector

Abstract

A level sensor and housing therefor, the level sensor provides a measurement of the depth in a sewer manhole or chamber. The level sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer that emits a signal to measure the liquid below and may use an additional transducer or it is used by itself to detect the signal reflected from the surface. A parabolic reflector is designed and arranged to direct the emitted ultrasonic signal from the transducer to the surface with a linear beam while minimizing the beam spread. The return echo may either be measured directly or with the same transducer that was used to transmit the ultrasonic signal. The narrow ultrasonic beam with limited spread will allow measuring level in a sewer manhole or confined chamber or any sewer where the level is measured close to a vertical wall.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A liquid level sensor system for operation in vertically confined spaces, comprising:

an ultrasonic transmitter and a first ultrasonic transducer coupled to said ultrasonic transmitter for receiving ultrasonic signals from said ultrasonic transmitter and transmitting said ultrasonic signals acoustically through an air medium;
an ultrasonic receiver configured for receiving reflected ultrasonic signals resulting from said transmitted ultrasonic signals;
a unitary system housing forming a circuit compartment and an off axis parabolic acoustic reflector;
said ultrasonic transmitter and said ultrasonic receiver housed in said circuit compartment in said unitary system housing;
said ultrasonic transducer disposed on a lateral side of said circuit compartment and directed to said off axis parabolic acoustic reflector at a focus producing a downward directed beam from said off axis parabolic reflector.

2 more elements

A housing for an ultrasonic level sensor comprising:

a system housing component comprising a processor compartment for housing system circuitry, a parabolic reflector extension extending laterally on one side of said housing compartment, a partition between said processor compartment and said parabolic reflector, said partition configured for mounting a transducer to be directed to said parabolic reflector;
said housing further including a battery compartment container removably attached to an underside of said system compartment;
said housing further including a clamp attached to the top of the processor container for mounting said level sensor on an external mounting feature;
said clamp having a first jaw fixedly attached to said processor container and a second jaw adjustable for tightening the claim on the mounting feature;
said clamp centered above a center of gravity of said level sensor assembly in operational configuration, including batteries and electronics, for pendulous mounting of said level sensor to establish a desired vertical ultrasonic beam angle for said level sensor;
said first jaw of said clamp being an upper jaw configured for hanging said level sensor on said external mounting feature.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Level Sensor with Parabolic Reflector

Life of this patent

Level Sensor with Parabolic Reflector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18