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US 6,629,457 B1Granted
Device for measuring a fill level of a liquid in a container
AssigneeMannesmann VDO AG
InventorDieter Keller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for measuring a fill level of liquid in a container includes a measuring tube arranged inside the container and an ultrasonic sensor arranged outside the container such that a portion of the wall of the container is arranged between the measuring tube and the ultrasonic sensor. The ultrasonic sensor therefore has no contact with the liquid located in the container.
Claims13
A device for measuring a fill level of a liquid in a container, comprising:
- a measuring tube arranged in the container, said measuring tube comprising compensating openings operatively arranged for allowing an equalization of pressure and fill level between the measuring tube and the container;
- an ultrasonic sensor arranged proximate an end of said measuring tube and operatively arranged for generating an ultrasonic signal and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic signal reflected in the region of the fill level of the liquid in the container, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is arranged on said container such that a portion of a container wall of the container is arranged between said end of said measuring tube and said ultrasonic sensor;
- and
- an evaluation unit operatively connected to said ultrasonic sensor for determining the fill level from the signals of the ultrasonic sensor, wherein said evaluation unit and said ultrasonic sensor are arranged as a structural unit and said structural unit is arranged directly on said portion of a container wall.
1 more element
A device for measuring a fill level of a liquid in a container, comprising:
- a measuring tube arranged in the container, said measuring tube comprising compensating openings operatively arranged for allowing an equalization of pressure and fill level between the measuring tube and the container;
- an ultrasonic sensor arranged proximate an end of said measuring tube and operatively arranged for generating an ultrasonic signal and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic signal reflected in the region of the fill level of the liquid in the container, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is arranged on said container such that a portion of a container wall of the container is arranged between said end of said measuring tube and said ultrasonic sensor;
- and
- a housing arranged for holding said ultrasonic sensor onto the container.
1 more element
A device for measuring a fill level of a liquid in a container, comprising:
- a measuring tube arranged in the container, said measuring tube comprising compensating openings operatively arranged for allowing an equalization of pressure and fill level between the measuring tube and the container;
- an ultrasonic sensor arranged proximate an end of said measuring tube and operatively arranged for generating an ultrasonic signal and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic signal reflected in the region of the fill level of the liquid in the container, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is arranged on said container such that a portion of a container wall of the container is arranged between said end of said measuring tube and said ultrasonic sensor;
- a housing arranged for holding said ultrasonic sensor onto the container;
- and
- a contact means arranged in said housing for filling spaces between said ultrasonic sensor and said housing, wherein said contact means is a conductor of ultrasonic waves.
2 more elements
A device for measuring a fill level of a liquid in a container, comprising:
- a measuring tube arranged in the container, said measuring tube comprising compensating openings operatively arranged for allowing an equalization of pressure and fill level between the measuring tube and the container;
- an ultrasonic sensor arranged proximate an end of said measuring tube and operatively arranged for generating an ultrasonic signal and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic signal reflected in the region of the fill level of the liquid in the container, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is arranged on said container such that a portion of a container wall of the container is arranged between said end of said measuring tube and said ultrasonic sensor;
- an evaluation unit operatively connected to said ultrasonic sensor for determining the fill level from the signals of the ultrasonic sensor, wherein said evaluation unit and said ultrasonic sensor are arranged as a structural unit;
- and
- a housing arranged for holding said ultrasonic sensor and said evaluation unit onto the container.
2 more elements
The device for measuring a fill level of a liquid in a container, comprising:
- a measuring tube arranged in the container, said measuring tube having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising compensating openings operatively arranged for allowing an equalization of pressure and fill level between the measuring tube and the container;
- an ultrasonic sensor arranged proximate said proximal end of said measuring tube and operatively arranged for generating an ultrasonic signal and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic signal reflected in the region of the fill level of the liquid in the container, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is arranged on said container such that a portion of a container wall of the container is arranged between said proximal end of said measuring tube and said ultrasonic sensor, wherein said portion of said container wall comprises a bottom of a container and said ultrasonic sensor bears directly against said portion of said container wall;
- and
- support elements arranged in the container for laterally supporting said distal end of said measuring tube.
1 more element
A device for measuring a fill level of a liquid in a container, comprising:
- a measuring tube arranged in the container, said measuring tube comprising compensating openings operatively arranged for allowing an equalization of pressure and fill level between the measuring tube and the container;
- an ultrasonic sensor arranged proximate an end of said measuring tube and operatively arranged for generating an ultrasonic signal and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic signal reflected in the region of the fill level of the liquid in the container, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is arranged on said container such that a portion of a container wall of the container is arranged between said end of said measuring tube and said ultrasonic sensor;
- and
- a component arranged in the container, wherein said measuring tube forms a structural unit with said component.
1 more element
A device for measuring a fill level of a liquid in a container, comprising:
- a measuring tube arranged in the container, said measuring tube comprising compensating openings operatively arranged for allowing an equalization of pressure and fill level between the measuring tube and the container;
- and
- an ultrasonic sensor arranged proximate an end of said measuring tube and operatively arranged for generating an ultrasonic signal and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic signal reflected in the region of the fill level of the liquid in the container, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is arranged on said container such that a portion of a container wall of the container is arranged between said end of said measuring tube and said ultrasonic sensor, wherein the container comprises a multichamber tank and said device comprises a plurality of ultrasonic sensors bearing against the outside of the container, each of said plural ultrasonic sensors corresponding to one of the chambers in the multichamber tank.
A device for measuring a fill level of a liquid in a container, comprising:
- a measuring tube arranged in the container, said measuring tube comprising compensating openings operatively arranged for allowing an equalization of pressure and fill level between the measuring tube and the container;
- an ultrasonic sensor arranged proximate an end of said measuring tube and operatively arranged for generating an ultrasonic signal and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic signal reflected in the region of the fill level of the liquid in the container, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is arranged on said container such that a portion of a container wall of the container is arranged between said end of said measuring tube and said ultrasonic sensor;
- and
- a float arranged in said measuring tube for following the fill level of the liquid in the container, and wherein said measuring tube comprises a stop for bounding the float below a range of movement such that said ultrasonic sensor receiving two reflections when said fill level is below said stop.
1 more element
A device for measuring a fill level of a liquid in a container, comprising:
- a measuring tube arranged in the container, said measuring tube comprising compensating openings operatively arranged for allowing an equalization of pressure and fill level between the measuring tube and the container;
- an ultrasonic sensor arranged proximate an end of said measuring tube and operatively arranged for generating an ultrasonic signal and receiving reflections of the ultrasonic signal reflected in the region of the fill level of the liquid in the container, wherein said ultrasonic sensor is arranged on said container such that a portion of a container wall of the container is arranged between said end of said measuring tube and said ultrasonic sensor;
- and
- a damping element arranged in at least one of said compensating openings of said measuring tube for damping the pressure compensation.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.