Sensor for measuring content levels in containers
OwnerWilliam J. Bakerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container level sensor is disclosed comprising an elongate strip member for mounting in a container in a generally upright orientation. The strip member has a measurable capacitance that changes as the level of material stored in the container changes. Two insulated conductive strips, held apart by magnetic forces or resilient spacers, can be used to form a capacitor, with the force of material in the container against the sensor pushing the strips together and thereby changing the capacitance. This change can be measured by a circuit.
Claims16
A container level sensor for mounting in a container in a generally upright orientation to sense the level of material in said container, said sensor comprising an elongate strip member having a measurable capacitance, said strip member comprising:
- a. a first elongate electrically conductive strip insulated from said material and from said container;
- b. a second elongate conductive strip insulated from said material, from said container and from said first strip;
- c. at least one of said first and second strips being flexible and mounted spaced from the other said strip such that the force of said material on the flexible strip causes the space between said first and second strips to be reduced so as to change the capacitance of the capacitor defined by said first and second strips;
- and
- d. a cover to prevent said material from entering said space between said first and second strips.
An apparatus for measuring the level of material in a container comprising:
- a. a container level sensor for mounting in a container in a generally upright orientation to sense the level of material in said container, said sensor comprising an elongate strip member having a measurable capacitance comprising:
- 1. a first elongate electrically conductive strip insulated from said material and from said container;
- 2. a second elongate conductive strip insulated from said material, from said container and from said first strip;
- 3. at least one of said first and second strips being flexible and mounted spaced from the other said strip such that the force of said material on the flexible strip causes the space between said first and second strips to be reduced so as to change the capacitance of the capacitor defined by said first and second strips;
- and
- 4. a cover to prevent said material from entering said space between said first and second strips;
- and
- b. a circuit for detecting the change in capacitance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.