Material level checking apparatus for use in a rotating member

A method for measuring the amount of material within a rotating vessel having an end wall and a rotational axis and having a rod having a first and second end and a longitudinal axis parallel to the rotational axis of said vessel wherein said rod is capable of rotation around its longitudinal axis and wherein said rod passes through the end of said vessel so that said first end of said rod is on the exterior of said vessel and said second end of said rod is on the interior of said vessel, a rigid member fixedly secured to said rod between said second end of said rod and said end wall of said vessel so as to extend radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said rod so that said rod lies substantially within the same plane as said rigid member, and a indicator means operatively related to said rod between the first end of said rod and said end wall, wherein said method comprises:

• passing said material through said rotating vessel so that said rigid member rests upon the surface of said material thereby resulting in rotation of said rigid member about the longitudinal axis of said rod as the level of the surface of said material in said vessel changes, wherein said rotation of said rigid member results in an equal rotation of said rod about the longitudinal axis of said rod, and wherein said indicator means provides an indication of the rotation of said rod in response to the engagement of the surface of said material by said member means.

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a rotating vessel having an end wall and a rotational axis;
• (b) a rod having a first and second end and having a longitudinal axis parallel to the rotational axis of said vessel wherein said rod is capable of rotation around its longitudinal axis and wherein said rod passes through said end wall of said vessel so that said first end of said rod is on the exterior of said vessel and said second end of said rod is on the interior of said vessel;
• (c) a rigid member means fixedly secured to said rod between said second end of said rod and said end wall of said vessel so as to extend radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said rod so that said rod lies substantially within the same plane as said rigid member for engaging the surface of a material within said rotating vessel and rotating said rod in response thereto;
• and
• (d) an indicator means operatively related to said rod between said first end of said rod and said end wall for providing an indication of rotation of said rod in response to the engagement of the surface of a material within said rotating vessel by said member means.