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US 4,361,038 AGranted
Liquid level sensor
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics Corporation
InventorAlan L. Schuler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a liquid level sensing apparatus having a stillwell in a liquid-holding tank disposed around the sensing device, a bubble shield is provided to interdict the upward flow of bubbles to the stillwell to protect the sensor from contact with bubbles or foreign matter which could result in a false reading.
Claims12
Apparatus for detecting a liquid level within a liquid-holding tank having
- liquid level sensing means located at a predetermined depth in the tank, which sensing means disposed in a tube means mounted to the liquid tank is responsive to the difference in a physical property of the liquid in the tank and the vapor above the liquid surface,
- said tube means comprising a stillwell means laterally surrounding said sensing means having an upper opening through which said stillwell means is in communication with the atmosphere and a lower opening through which said stillwell means is in communication with the liquid, said stillwell means isolating the liquid therewithin from surface disturbances of the liquid in said tank that would expose said sensing means to a false apparent liquid level, and
- shield means attached to the bottom portion of said stillwell means in the path of bubbles flowing upwardly toward said lower opening for interdicting the upwardly-flowing bubbles and deflecting the bubbles away from said lower opening.
Apparatus for detecting a liquid level within a tank having;
- liquid level sensing means located at a predetermined depth in the tank, which sensing means disposed in a tube means mounted to the liquid tank is responsive to the difference in a physical property of the liquid in the tank and the vapor above the liquid surface,
- said tube means comprising a stillwell means laterally surrounding said sensing means having an upper opening through which said stillwell means is in communication with the atmosphere and a lower opening through which liquid flows, said stillwell means isolating the liquid therewithin from surface disturbances of the liquid in said tank that would expose said sensing means to a false apparent liquid level, and
- shield means attached to the bottom portion of said stillwell means in the path of bubbles flowing upwardly toward said lower opening for interdicting the upwardly-flowing bubbles and deflecting the same from said lower opening,
- said shield means having an upper rim laterally surrounding said stillwell means and located above said lower opening of said stillwell means and lower than said sensing means whereby liquid is caused to flow over said rim prior to flowing into said stillwell means.
1 more element
Apparatus for detecting a liquid level within a fluid-holding tank having;
- liquid level sensing means located at a predetermined depth in the tank, which sensing means disposed in a tube means mounted to the liquid tank is responsive to the difference in a physical property of the liquid in the tank and the vapor above the liquid surface,
- said tube means comprising a stillwell means laterally surrounding said sensing means having an upper opening through which said stillwell means is in communication with the liquid, said stillwell means isolating the liquid therewithin from surface disturbances of the liquid in said tank that would expose said sensing means to a false apparent liquid level, and
- shield means attached to the bottom portion of said stillwell means in the path of bubbles flowing upwardly toward said lower opening for interdicting the upwardly-flowing bubbles, said shield means having a lower surface which rises continuously from a lower vertex, which lower surface deflects the upwardly-flowing bubbles away from said lower opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.