Fluid level sensor with dry couplant
AssigneeRosemount Aerospace Inc.
InventorsJeffrey P. Danicich, Eric D. Haugen, Greg A. Seidel, Charles G. Huss, Derrick D. Hongerholt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor for measuring the height of fluid in a vessel, the sensor including a mounting base shaped to be coupled to an exterior surface of a vessel. The sensor further includes a transducer having a pulse source for sending pulses into the vessel and an echo detector for detecting echoes of pulses emitted by the pulse source. The sensor further has a dry couplant located between the transducer and the mounting base, and a processor connected to the transducer for calculating the height of fluid in the vessel based at least in part upon the time elapsed between the pulses sent by the transducer and echoes detected by the echo detector.
Claims43
A sensor for measuring the height of fluid in a vessel comprising:
- a mounting base shaped to be coupled to an exterior surface of a vessel;
- a transducer having a pulse source for sending pulses into said vessel and an echo detector for detecting echoes of pulses emitted by said pulse source;
- a solid couplant located between said transducer and said mounting base and being separable from said transducer and said mounting base;
- and
- a processor connected to said transducer for calculating the height of fluid in said vessel based at least in part upon the time elapsed between the pulses sent by said transducer and echoes detected by said echo detector.
A sensor for measuring the height of fluid in a vessel comprising:
- a mounting base shaped to be coupled to an exterior surface of a vessel;
- a transducer having a pulse source generator and an echo detector;
- a solid, non-adhesive couplant located between said transducer and said mounting base, said transducer being biased against said couplant;
- and
- a processor connected to said transducer for calculating the height of fluid in said vessel based at least in part upon the time elapsed between pulses sent by said transducer and echoes detected by said echo detector.
A sensor for measuring the height of fluid in a vessel comprising:
- a mounting base shaped to be coupled to an exterior surface of a vessel;
- and
- a lower assembly that is removably attachable to said mounting base, said lower assembly including a transducer having a pulse source for sending pulses into said vessel and an echo detector for detecting echoes of pulses emitted by said pulse source, a solid couplant located between said transducer and said mounting base, said couplant being separable from said transducer and said mounting base, and a processor connected to said transducer for calculating the height of fluid in said vessel based at least in part upon the time elapsed between the pulses sent by said transducer and echoes detected by said echo detector.
A method for measuring the height of fluid in a vessel comprising the steps of:
- attaching a mounting base to an exterior surface of a vessel;
- selecting a solid, non-adhesive couplant;
- coupling a transducer to said mounting base such that said couplant is located between said mounting base and said transducer;
- causing said transducer to send a pulse through said mounting base and into said vessel;
- detecting an echo pulse that is created when said pulse reaches a fluid-gas interface in said vessel;
- determining the time elapsed between the sending of said pulse and the detection of said echo pulse;
- and
- calculating the height of fluid in said vessel based at least in part upon the determination of the time elapsed between the sending of said pulse and the detection of said echo pulse.
A sensor for measuring the height of fluid in a vessel comprising:
- a mounting base shaped to be coupled to an exterior surface of a vessel;
- a transducer having a pulse source for sending pulses into said vessel and an echo detector for detecting echoes of pulses emitted by said pulse source, said transducer being connectable to a processor that can track the pulses sent by said transducer and echoes detected by said echo detector;
- and
- a solid couplant located between said transducer and said mounting base and being separable from said transducer and said mounting-base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.