# US 9,752,918 B2 · System for sensing flowable substrate levels in a storage unit

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- Number: US 9,752,918 B2
- Document ID: US9752918B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/813,935
- Filed: 2015-07-30
- Published: 2016-02-04
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-04
- Assignees: Extron Company
- Applicants: Extron Company
- Inventors: Randall G. Honeck
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752918B2

## CPC

- G01F 23/284: Electromagnetic waves
- G01F 23/28: by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
- B65B 1/48: Checking volume of filled material
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)

## Abstract

A system for estimating a flowable substrate level in a storage unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a transmitter and a conductor that extend downwardly into a grain storage bin, which cycles through a range of frequencies in order to determine the resonant frequency of the conductor which changes depending on the amount of grain in the bin.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for estimating the amount of a flowable substrate in a storage unit comprising:
a transmission line configured to extend from a top portion of a storage unit to a bottom portion of the storage unit,
a transmitter electrically connected to the transmission line at a lower end portion of the transmission line;
a conductor extending from a top portion of a storage unit to a bottom portion of the storage unit;
a receiver positioned at a top portion of the conductor;
a microprocessor configured to cycle through frequencies to be transmitted by the transmitter and to identify the frequency that corresponds to the resonant frequency of the conductor; and
wherein the resonant frequency of the conductor changes and is correlated to the length of the conductor that extends above the surface level of the flowable substrate in the storage unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission line and conductor housing are within the same casing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission line and conductor are part of different spaced apart casings.

### Claim 4

A system for estimating the amount of a flowable substrate in a storage unit comprising:
a transmission line configured to extend from a top portion of a storage unit to a bottom portion of the storage unit;
a wire electrically connected to the transmission line, the wire configured to extend from a top portion of the storage unit to a bottom portion of the storage unit;
electrical components arranged in series along the wire;
a transmitter operatively connected to the transmission line;
a receiver located at the top portion of the wire configured to receive a signal transmission from the transmitter; and
wherein at least one characteristic of the signal transmission between the transmission line and the receiver is correlated to length of the wire that extends above the surface of the flowable substrate in the storage unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one characteristic of the signal transmission between the transmission line and the receiver is signal attenuation.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one characteristic of the signal transmission between the transmission line and the receiver of the signal is a time delay.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the electrical components include inductors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the electrical components include resistors.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the electrical components include capacitors.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the electrical components include a combination of at least inductors, resistors, and capacitors.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the transmission line is a coaxial cable.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the transmission line and wire are within the same casing.

### Claim 13 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the transmission line and wire are spaced apart and in separate casings.

### Claim 14 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the wire is a thermocouple wire.