Tank seal for guided wave radar level measurement
AssigneeRosemount Inc.
InventorsJames L. Gravel, Mark C. Fandrey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microwave level gauge for measuring a level of a process material in a tank includes a ceramic seal and a microwave conductor. The ceramic seal is disposed adjacent to an opening in the tank and adapted to isolate circuitry from the process material. The microwave conductor is electrically coupled to the circuitry and extends through the hermetic seal and into the process material in the tank. The ceramic seal and an isolating adapter cooperate to isolate the microwave conductor from the process fluid and from external forces.
Claims39
A microwave level gauge for measuring a level of a process fluid in a tank with a tank atmosphere, the microwave level gauge comprising:
- a hollow adapter body extending from a lower portion that is open to the tank atmosphere to a transmitter mount outside the tank;
- a connector rod extending from the lower portion and connectable to an antenna in the tank;
- conductors coupled between the connector rod and the transmitter mount such that microwaves are couplable from the antenna to the transmitter mount;
- and
- a primary seal in the lower portion that includes a lower support band brazed to an outer surface of a ceramic seal body, and an upper support band brazed to an outer surface of the ceramic seal body and sealingly joined to the adapter body such that the primary seal contacts the tank atmosphere and seals the conductors from the tank atmosphere.
A microwave level gauge for measuring a level of a process material in a tank with a tank atmosphere, the microwave level gauge comprising:
- a housing coupled to an opening in the tank;
- a ceramic seal disposed within the housing and adjacent to the opening in the tank to isolate the housing from the tank atmosphere, the ceramic seal contacting the tank atmosphere;
- a microwave conductor extending from the housing and through the ceramic seal;
- and
- an isolating adapter extending over the microwave conductor and sealed to the ceramic seal, the isolating adapter and the ceramic seal sealing the microwave conductor from the tank atmosphere.
A microwave level gauge assembly for measuring a level of a process material in a tank with a tank atmosphere, the microwave level gauge assembly comprising:
- a hermetic seal in contact with the tank atmosphere and fixed over a tank opening to isolate transmitter circuitry from the tank atmosphere, the hermetic seal comprising:
- a ceramic seal body having an opening sized to receive a microwave conductor;
- an isolating element disposed over the opening and coupled to the ceramic seal body at a coupling joint;
- and
- a brazed seal disposed over the coupling joint for fixedly sealing the isolating element to the ceramic seal body;
- and
- a microwave conductor extending through the opening and electrically coupled to the transmitter circuitry on one end and to the isolating element on an opposing end, the microwave conductor being sealed from the tank atmosphere by the hermetic seal.
A microwave level gauge for measuring a level of a process fluid in a tank having a tank atmosphere, the microwave level gauge comprising:
- a ceramic seal disposed in a tank opening and contacting the tank atmosphere, and adapted to seal the tank opening;
- and
- a microwave conductor extending through the ceramic seal and into the tank, the microwave conductor being sealed to the ceramic seal at a brazed joint such that the ceramic seal seals the microwave conductor from the tank atmosphere.
A microwave level gauge for measuring a level of a process fluid in a tank having a tank atmosphere, the microwave level gauge comprising:
- a microwave conductor electrically coupled to process circuitry outside of the tank and extending through a tank opening disposed in a portion of the tank;
- and
- a seal disposed in the tank opening and contacting the tank atmosphere, and extending over the microwave conductor to isolate the microwave conductor from the tank atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.