Liquid Level Sensor
AssigneeMission Communications, LLC
InventorForrest Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid level sensor includes a base member disposed above the liquid. A lever arm is pivotally attached to the base member. The lever arm is configured to interact with the liquid so that it has an angular displacement relative to the base member. The angular displacement is a function of the level of the liquid in the liquid channel. A sensor senses angular displacement of the lever arm. A communications circuit transmits the angular displacement of the lever arm to a remote location. In a method of detecting a liquid level, a float that is buoyant in the liquid is placed into the liquid and is coupled to a lever arm. An angular displacement of the lever arm relative to a base member is measured. The liquid level is a function of the angular displacement of the lever arm.
Claims17
A liquid level sensor for sensing level of a liquid in a liquid channel, comprising:
- (a) a base member disposed above the liquid;
- (b) a lever arm pivotally attached to the base member, the lever arm configured to interact with the liquid so that it has an angular displacement relative to the base member that is a function of the level of the liquid in the liquid channel;
- (c) a sensor configured to sense the angular displacement of the lever arm;
- and
- (d) a communications circuit configured to transmit an indication of the angular displacement of the lever arm to a remote location.
A method of detecting a liquid level, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a float that is buoyant in the liquid into the liquid;
- (b) coupling the float to a lever arm;
- (c) measuring an angular displacement of the lever arm relative to a base member;
- and
- (d) calculating the liquid level as a function of the angular displacement of the lever arm.
A method of detecting a liquid level of a liquid that is flowing through a channel, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a lower portion of paddle that is pivotally affixed to a base member into the liquid;
- (b) sensing an angular displacement of the paddle relative to the base member;
- and
- (c) calculating the liquid level as a function the angular displacement of the paddle.
The method of claim 16, wherein the sensing step comprises receiving an input from an accelerometer affixed to the paddle that generates a signal indicative of movement of the accelerometer from a known position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.