Electronic level gage assembly
AssigneeJogler, Inc.
InventorJeffrey M. Skinner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermowell extends downwardly into tank liquids from the roof of the tank. A magnetostrictive wave guide probe is positioned on the inside of the thermowell and a magnetic float is slidably positioned on the outside of the thermowell. The probe is connected to a head unit containing the necessary electronics for operability which is positioned outside of the tank. The position of the float, and thus the liquid level, is remotely sensed by the probe, and the probe can be removed from the thermowell if necessary without breaking the seal of the tank.
Claims13
An apparatus comprising
- a nonmagnetic outer tube having an upper end and a lower end and an end cover positioned sealingly on the lower end of the outer tube,
- a magnetic annularly shaped fluid-interface-seeking float slidably positioned on the nonmagnetic outer tube,
- a wave guide probe positioned in the outer tube,
- said wave guide probe comprising
- a nonmagnetic inner tube positioned in the outer tube, and
- a magnetostrictive wire positioned in the inner tube,
- wherein the inner tube and the outer tube are straight and coaxial, and
- an electronics assembly operably associated with the wave guide probe for actuating the wave guide probe and producing an electrical output signal representative of a location of the float on the outer tube.
A method comprising
- providing a tank for containing liquids, said tank having a roof and at least one up upwardly directed nozzle forming a vertical flow path through the roof, said nozzle having an outwardly extending nozzle flange at its upper end,
- positioning a straight thermowell vertically in the tank through the nozzle, said thermowell having a lower end which is closed and is positioned near a bottom of the tank and an upper end having an outwardly extending tube flange for sealable engagement with the upper end flange of the nozzle, said thermowell having a generally cylindrical outer surface and slidably carrying a fluid-interface seeking magnetic float on the outer surface, said thermowell being constructed of a nonmagnetic material,
- connecting the upper end of the thermowell to the nozzle so as to seal the fluid flow path through the nozzle;
- positioning a straight wave guide probe in the thermowell from the upper end thereof, said wave guide probe extending to near the lower end of the thermowell coaxially therewith and being operably connected with an electronics assembly positioned outside of the tank for actuating the wave guide probe and producing an electrical output signal representative of a location of the float on the thermowell,
- said method further comprising
- providing a housing encasing the electronics assembly and an upper end of the wave guide probe, and
- connecting the housing to the upper end of the thermowell.
A method for remotely determining a fluid level in a tank with a wave guide probe, said method comprising
- isolating the wave guide probe from liquids on an inside of the tank by positioning a thermowell in the tank and positioning the wave guide probe in the thermowell,
- slidably positioning a liquid interface seeking float carrying magnets on the outside of the thermowell, and
- actuating the wave guide probe to remotely determine to the position of the float,
- wherein the wave guide probe comprises a magnetostrictive wire positioned in a sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.