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US 5,072,617 AGranted
Fiber-optic liquid level sensor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorJonathan D. Weiss
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fiber-optic liquid level sensor measures the height of a column of liquid through the hydrostatic pressure it produces. The sensor employs a fiber-optic displacement sensor to detect the pressure-induced displacement of the center of a corrugated diaphragm.
Claims8
A liquid level sensor comprising:
- a container for holding a column of liquid;
- a pressure transducer comprising:
- a corrugated diaphragm having an edge portion surrounding a central portion;
- and
- mounting means for holding said diaphragm only by said edge portion with only one side of said diaphragm in contact with the pressure head of said column of liquid, movement of said central portion providing a linear mechanical output representative of the hydrostatic pressure exerted at the bottom of said column;
- and
- output means for measuring said mechanical output and providing an electrical signal representative of the depth of the column of liquid, said output means comprising:
- a light source;
- means for reflecting light from said source from said other side of said diaphragm;
- and
- means for detecting the intensity of the reflected light from said diaphragm.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.