Apparatus and method for sensing the fluid level in a mixing device
AssigneeGoss Graphic Systems, Inc.
InventorsXin Xin Wang, Thaddeus A. Niemiro, Joseph Vucko, James K. Henzl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor for detecting the level of circulating fluid in a tank comprises a paddle blade disposed at a particular height and oriented generally radially from a rotating shaft in the tank. A sensing device, such as a strain gauge, is attached to the paddle blade to detect when the paddle blade is in at least one of a normal and a displaced position, thereby indicating that fluid is absent or present at a particular level. Additional sensors may be used in the same tank to provide fluid level feedback at more than one height.
Claims23
Apparatus for detecting a fluid level comprising:
- a tank for holding fluid;
- a rotating shaft disposed inside the tank;
- an impeller attached to the shaft for circulating fluid inside the tank;
- a paddle blade coupled to the tank and positioned inside the tank at a particular level, the paddle blade extending substantially radially with respect to the shaft and being moveable between a normal position and a displaced position;
- and
- a detector for sensing when the paddle blade is in at least one of the normal and displaced positions and generating a fluid level signal;
- wherein the circulating fluid at the particular level moves the paddle blade from the normal position to the displaced position so that the fluid level signal is generated responsive to the level of circulating fluid.
Fluid mixing apparatus comprising:
- a tank for holding fluid;
- a rotatable shaft supported inside the tank;
- an impeller attached to the shaft for mixing the fluid in the tank so that the fluid circulates in the tank;
- a paddle blade coupled to the tank and positioned inside the tank at a particular level, the paddle blade being movable between a normal position and a displaced position;
- and
- a detector for sensing when the paddle blade is in at least one of the normal and displaced positions, and generating a fluid level signal;
- wherein the paddle blade moves toward the displaced position when the fluid reaches the particular level.
A method of sensing the presence of fluid in a tank at a particular height, the method comprising the steps of:
- circulating the fluid in the tank;
- supporting a paddle blade inside the tank at the particular height, the paddle blade moveable from a normal position to a displaced position in response to the circulating fluid;
- detecting when the paddle blade is in at least one of the normal and displaced positions and generating a signal;
- wherein the paddle blade will move from the normal position to the displaced position when the fluid is present at the particular height in the tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.