Measuring and testing – Liquid level or depth gauge – Sight glass
Patent
1985-07-11
1986-11-11
Frankfort, Charles
Measuring and testing
Liquid level or depth gauge
Sight glass
116227, G01F 2302
Patent
active
046215271
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to liquid level gauges incorporating aligned flat sight glasses.
Flat glass sight gauges are known, in which a heavy pressed safety glass with a grooved or fluted face on the liquid side is clamped with intervening seals or gaskets between a metal windowed plate and a metal base plate. The base plate may define in part, a passage in which the liquid, whose level is to be viewed, rises and falls. The grooved or fluted face of the glass which is in contact with the liquid provides an optical effect, whereby the appearance of the glass is silvery in the space above the liquid, but black where liquid is present. This contrast is very helpful in rendering visible the level of even colourless liquids.
In the past flat glass gauges have been either of such a weak structural design that they have been prone to breakage or leakage, or, they have been excessively heavy and cumbersome in construction, and it is one purpose of the present invention to provide a gauge construction with good strength/weight characteristics and which still offers the full safety which is normally expected from these gauges, against breakage and leakage under pressure, vibration, rough handling and severe changes of temperature.
It is a purpose of this invention to provide a gauge, which is of bolted up kit construction, which is easy to install without need for any vulnerable weld or braze joints which are often difficult and costly to produce and in particular, whose length may vary. The length of the gauge can range up to 4 meters or more, and the scope of application of the gauge construction, as now envisaged, is for measuring, by sight, the levels in containers, of fuels, oils and non viscous liquids up to, say, 1500 secs. Redwood, whether stored in atmospheric tanks and reservoirs or in tanks under pressure of up to say, 5 bar.
Broadly, the invention provides a flat glass sight gauge in which a plurality of sight glasses are aligned end to end to give the required length, the glasses being bolted to a frontal face of a structurally stiff metal backing plate, the fluid connections required between the aligned glasses being formed at the rear of the backing plate, by rigid metal connector blocks which serve also to give structural reinforcement to the backing plate at the ends of the sight glasses.
As will be seen this proposal allows for efficient sealing of all the liquid passages of the gauge and for structural integrity of the gauge assembly, enabling it to withstand rough handling, vibration and severe changes of pressure and temperature.
A particular advantage which is achieved by the construction now proposed, is that efficient sealing may be accomplished by interposing sealing strips or gaskets between surfaces which are planar and continuous over the whole area of each seal. This sealing efficiency is obtainable firstly, in the case of the seal between the flat sight glasses and the backing plate, which seals can completely surround the mouth of a liquid receiving trough in each glass,; and secondly, in the case of sealing gaskets interposed between the backing plate on its reverse side, and the connector blocks. These flat surfaces can be made to bring pressure evenly on to the whole area of each seal, suitably by employing the same bolts which are used to secure the glasses and the connector blocks to the backing plate.
The invention affords a versatile sight gauge installation which may have a length ranging up to 4 meters or more. It utilizes a plurality of flat sight glasses aligned end to end. The structural integrity of the installation is provided mainly by the backing plate. Where two or more backing plates are provided the rigid metal connector blocks bolted to the rear of the backing plate, form a structural bridge between the aligned backing plates. At the same time, the connector blocks provide liquid inter-communication, with efficient sealing, between adjacent aligned glasses. A cover plate bolted to the backing plate contributes to the structural strength of the installation, the glasse
REFERENCES:
patent: 231350 (1880-08-01), Nunns
patent: 1082441 (1913-12-01), Paul
patent: 1181139 (1916-05-01), Huntress
patent: 1183872 (1916-05-01), Groff
patent: 1954466 (1934-04-01), Aicher
patent: 2326448 (1943-08-01), Ernst
patent: 2326449 (1943-08-01), Ernst
patent: 2608095 (1952-08-01), Miller
patent: 2767586 (1956-10-01), Jancosek
patent: 3358510 (1967-12-01), Hoffmann
Robbins Montague A.
Varga Otto H.
Corr Denis E.
Frankfort Charles
Seetru Limited
LandOfFree
Flat glass sight gauge does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Flat glass sight gauge, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Flat glass sight gauge will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-371673