Level transmitter
AssigneeVEGA Grieshaber KG
InventorsJosef Fehrenbach, Karl Griessbaum
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A level transmitter for use in a process application measures the height of a product level in a container, e.g., in a tank. The level transmitter includes an electromagnetic wave antenna directed into the tank. An electromagnetic wave source sends an electromagnetic wave signal through the electromagnetic wave antenna. An electromagnetic wave receiver receives the reflected electromagnetic wave signal. Measurement circuitry coupled to the source and receiver initiates transmitting of the electromagnetic wave signal and determines product level height based upon the received, reflected signal. Output circuitry transmits information related to product height. The device is suitable for use with containers having very small orifices for antenna insertion.
Claims14
A device using microwaves for measuring the height of a product in a storage vessel having an orifice therein, the orifice having a first thread, the device comprising:
- a microwave source creating waves with a frequency of at least about 24 GHZ;
- a second thread for engaging the first thread of the orifice of the storage vessel to connect the device to the storage vessel, wherein the second thread has a diameter of less than 4 inches;
- a horn antenna operatively coupled to the microwave source and to be brought into the orifice of the storage vessel for sending the microwaves into the storage vessel and for receiving a reflected wave from the container, wherein the horn antenna is arranged after the second thread seen in sending direction of the microwaves and has a diameter less than the diameter of the second thread;
- a microwave receiver operatively coupled to the horn antenna for receiving the reflected wave from a surface of the product within the storage vessel and transmitting an output signal indicative of the level of the product.
A device using microwaves for measuring the height of a product in a storage vessel having an orifice therein, the orifice having a first thread, the device comprising:
- a microwave source creating waves with a frequency of at least about 24 GHZ;
- a second thread for engaging the first thread of the orifice of the storage vessel to connect the device to the storage vessel, wherein the second thread has a diameter of less than 4 inches;
- a microstrip antenna operatively coupled to the microwave source and to be brought into the orifice of the storage vessel for sending the microwaves into the storage vessel and for receiving a reflected wave from the container, wherein the microstrip antenna is arranged after the second thread seen in sending direction of the microwaves and has a diameter less than the diameter of the second thread;
- a microwave receiver operatively coupled to the microstrip antenna for receiving the reflected wave from a surface of the product within the storage vessel and transmitting an output signal indicative of the level of the product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.