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AssigneeMassa Products Corporation
InventorsDonald P. Massa, Dawn F. Stancavish, Algis E. Karosas, Joseph P. Donahue, Christopher R. Johnson
Estimating the term…
Disclosed in one aspect is an echo-ranging sensor system that gives reliable and accurate measurements when used in high-temperature(s), high-pressure(s), and over all hostile environment(s). An example of a novel application is for sensing, monitoring, and controlling water level measurement in boilers where the environment is extremely challenging and caustic. Although disclosed systems are not limited to the ultrasonic frequency range, many applications in which they will most likely be used would work best with transducers that operate at ultrasonic frequencies. This disclosure includes a robust and optimized mechanical and electronic design for mounting, and a design for transducers that are thermally matched and allow transmission and reception of energy with precision in harsh environments and can also be used with a controller. The system performs in high-temperature, high-pressure, and can withstand extreme conditions, such as boiling water, steam, and other gaseous substances and caustic chemicals.
In a distance measuring system, electronic means and electroacoustic hardware means, said electroacoustic hardware means capable of operating in high-pressure and/or high temperature, said electroacoustics hardware containing transmit transducer means, mounted in a known location, for radiating an acoustical signal into a gaseous environment after receiving a transmit excitation signal from said electronics means, receiving transducer means, which could be the same instrument as the transmit transducer, also mounted in a known location, for receiving an echo from said acoustic signal after it reflects from the surface of an object or substance in the gaseous medium, and turning said acoustic signal into an electronic signal, said electronic hardware having means capable of detecting said received echo electronic signal and means to measure the time from when said transmit excitation signal was sent until when said echo signal was received, and means for calculating the location of the reflecting object or substance using the known location of the transmitting and receiving transducer and the speed of sound.
An apparatus for measuring a distance from a surface in a high-temperature and/or high-pressure environment, comprising:
A method of measuring a distance from a surface in a high-temperature and/or high-pressure environment, comprising:
A transducer, comprising
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.