Fluid level measurement system and method
AssigneeThermo King Corporation
InventorsRussell L. Sanders, Anthony J. McReynolds, Randy Hochstein, Ashok Muralidhar
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Abstract
A method for measuring a fluid level in a tank containing a fluid for a transportable temperature controlled space. The method includes providing a temperature control system for the transportable temperature controlled space, providing a fluid level sensor for sensing a fluid level in the tank, generating fluid level signals with the fluid level sensor indicative of the fluid level in the tank, providing a fluid level algorithm for receiving the fluid level signals from the fluid level sensor and computing the fluid level in the tank, and inhibiting nondeterministic fluid level signals from being introduced to the fluid level algorithm.
Claims18
A method for measuring a fluid level in a tank containing a fluid, the tank being included in a temperature control system for a transportable temperature controlled space, the method comprising:
- sensing a fluid level in a tank using a fluid level sensor, the sensing including:
- directing a fluid level signal toward a surface of the fluid such that a fluid level signal travels through a fluid vapor and air and is reflected from the surface of the fluid back toward the fluid level sensor;
- and
- receiving the fluid level signal through the fluid vapor and air after it is reflected from the surface of the fluid;
- generating fluid level signals with the fluid level sensor indicative of the fluid level in the tank;
- receiving the fluid level signals from the fluid level sensor;
- computing the fluid level in the tank, using a controller for the temperature control system, based on the fluid level signals received from the fluid level sensor;
- and
- inhibiting nondeterministic fluid level signals from being introduced by positioning the fluid level sensor a distance from a maximum fluid level, the distance being half the distance that sound travels through the fluid vapor and air toward the surface of the fluid during a ring period of the fluid level sensor.
A system for measuring a fluid level in a tank for a transportable temperature controlled space, the system comprising:
- a transport temperature control system for conditioning a load space of the transportable temperature controlled space;
- and
- a fluid level measurement system for measuring the fluid level comprising:
- a tank containing a fluid;
- a fluid level sensor configured to be directed toward a surface of the fluid configured to generate fluid level signals indicative of the fluid level in the tank, wherein the fluid level signals from the fluid level sensor are reflected from the surface of the fluid;
- the fluid level sensor positioned a distance from the maximum fluid level, the distance being about half the distance that sounds travels through the fluid vapor and air toward the surface of the fluid during a ring period of the fluid level sensor;
- and
- a controller configured to receive the fluid level signals from the fluid level sensor and compute the fluid level in the tank, wherein the fluid level measurement system is configured to inhibit nondeterministic fluid level signals from being introduced.
A method for measuring a fluid level in a tank containing a fluid, the tank being included in a temperature control system for a transportable temperature controlled space, the method comprising:
- Measuring a fluid level in the tank using a fluid level sensor, the measuring including:
- directing a fluid level signal toward a surface of the fluid such that a fluid level signal travels through a fluid vapor and air and is reflected from the surface of the fluid back toward the fluid level sensor;
- and
- receiving the fluid level signal through the fluid vapor and air after it is reflected from the surface of the fluid;
- powering the fluid level sensor and the temperature control system with the same power source;
- generating fluid level signals with the fluid level sensor indicative of the fluid level in the tank;
- and
- inhibiting nondeterministic fluid level signals by positioning the fluid level sensor a distance from the maximum fluid level, the distance being about half the distance that sound travels through the fluid vapor and air toward the surface of the fluid during a ring period of the fluid level sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.