Ultrasonic liquid level sensing systems
AssigneeAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.
InventorsCharles Michael Birtcher, Thomas Andrew Steidl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide an ultrasonic probe having an increased number (e.g., twelve) of ultrasonic sensors for measuring the level of liquid within a sealed container. The ultrasonic probe includes a neck tube that enables the ultrasonic probe to be used with existing, standardized container fittings despite having an enlarged barrel to accommodate the increased number of ultrasonic sensors. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a system and method in which ultrasonic sensors within an ultrasonic probe are activated one at a time to reduce crosstalk between the ultrasonic sensors and their wiring.
Claims20
An ultrasonic probe for use with a container, the ultrasonic probe comprising:
- a barrel having an outer diameter;
- a conduit disposed within the barrel;
- a neck tube coupled to the barrel and a portion of a fitting assembly, the neck tube comprising a shoulder portion, a lower opening defined by the shoulder portion, a side wall, and a first outer diameter defined by the sidewall, the first outer diameter of the neck tube being less than the outer diameter of the barrel;
- an internal volume disposed within the barrel, the internal volume being isolated from the conduit;
- and
- a plurality of ultrasonic sensors disposed within the internal volume, each ultrasonic sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors having a wire that extends from the internal volume through the neck tube.
A system comprising:
- a container for holding a liquid, the container comprising:
- a body having an upper portion and an internal volume;
- and
- a stem disposed in a hole in the upper portion of the body, the stem having an inner diameter, a sidewall, a lip, and a protruding sealing surface;
- and
- an ultrasonic probe for measuring levels of liquid in the internal volume of the container, the ultrasonic probe comprising:
- a barrel having an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the stem, the barrel having a conduit disposed within the barrel, the conduit being in flow communication with the internal volume of the body of the container;
- a neck tube coupled to the barrel and a portion of a fitting assembly, the neck tube comprising a shoulder portion, a lower opening defined by the shoulder portion, a side wall, and a first outer diameter defined by the sidewall, the first outer diameter of the neck tube being less than the outer diameter of the barrel, wherein a portion of the neck tube is disposed within the stem;
- an internal volume disposed within the barrel, the internal volume of the barrel being isolated from the conduit and the internal volume of the body of the container;
- and
- a plurality of ultrasonic sensors disposed within the internal volume of the barrel, each ultrasonic sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors having a wire that extends from the internal volume of the barrel and through the neck tube, each ultrasonic sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors being positioned and oriented to emit sound waves into at least a portion of the conduit.
A method of assembling a probe comprising a neck tube, a collar, an inner tube, an outer tube, and a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, the method comprising:
- (a) coupling the inner tube to the collar;
- (b) coupling the collar to the neck tube;
- (c) coupling the plurality of ultrasonic sensors to a sidewall of the inner tube;
- and
- (d) only after performing steps (a) through (c), coupling the outer tube to the collar, thereby creating an internal volume between the inner tube and the outer tube that encloses the plurality of ultrasonic sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.