Wireless fluid level measuring system

A system for measuring a fluid level in a tank, comprising:

• a level-sensing probe adapted to be positioned in a tank containing a fluid such that said probe substantially spans the height of the tank, said probe divided into a plurality of sections with each of said sections including (i) a section housing having a bore formed therethrough along the length thereof wherein said bore associated with each of said sections is aligned with said bore associated with adjacent ones of said sections, (ii) first and second electrically-conductive plates mounted in said section housing and disposed on either side of said bore substantially all along the length thereof, (iii) a spiral inductor mounted in said section housing and electrically-coupled in parallel to said first and second electrically-conductive plates, (iv) a sensor antenna mounted in said section housing and positioned for inductive coupling to said spiral inductor, and (v) an electrical conductor mounted in said section housing and coupled to said sensor antenna;
• an electrically non-conductive housing adapted to be accessible from a position outside of the tank;
• a plurality of housing antennas arrayed in a pattern within said housing with each of said housing antennas electrically coupled to said electrical conductor from a corresponding one of said plurality of sections;
• and
• a magnetic field response recorder having a measurement head with a plurality of transceiving antennas arrayed therein to correspond to said pattern of housing antennas, said measurement head including means for mechanically coupling said measurement head to said housing wherein each of said housing antennas is substantially aligned with a specific one of said transceiving antennas for inductive coupling thereto.

A system for measuring a fluid level in a tank, comprising:

• a level-sensing probe adapted to be positioned in a tank containing a fluid such that said probe substantially spans the height of the tank, said probe divided into a plurality of sensing sections with each of said sensing sections including (i) a section housing made of a solid material inert with respect to the fluid and having a bore formed therethrough along the length thereof wherein said bore associated with each of said sensing sections is aligned with said bore associated with adjacent ones of said sensing sections, (ii) first and second electrically-conductive plates embedded in said section housing and disposed on either side of said bore substantially all along the length thereof, (iii) a spiral inductor embedded in said section housing, electrically-coupled in parallel to said first and second electrically-conductive plates, and disposed approximately perpendicular to said first and second electrically-conductive plates, (iv) a sensor antenna embedded in said section housing and positioned for inductive coupling to said spiral inductor, and (v) an electrical conductor embedded in said section housing and coupled to said sensor antenna;
• an electrically non-conductive housing adapted to be fitted to and cover an opening used to fill the tank with the fluid;
• a plurality of housing antennas arrayed in a two-dimensional pattern within said housing with each of said housing antennas electrically coupled to said electrical conductor from a corresponding one of said plurality of sensor sections;
• and
• a magnetic field response recorder having a measurement head with a plurality of transceiving antennas arrayed therein to correspond to said two-dimensional pattern of housing antennas, said measurement head including means for mechanically coupling said measurement head to said housing wherein each of said housing antennas is substantially aligned with a specific one of said transceiving antennas for inductive coupling thereto wherein said magnetic field response recorder can interrogate each of said sensing sections independently.