Measuring and testing – Liquid level or depth gauge – Hydrostatic pressure type
Patent
1996-12-10
1998-09-08
Williams, Hezron E.
Measuring and testing
Liquid level or depth gauge
Hydrostatic pressure type
73290R, 73301, 7386149, 7386142, 340618, G08B 2100, E21B 4704, G01F 2318
Patent
active
058029109
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject of the invention is a measuring system, which measures liquid levels of various media in order to measure the liquid volume in containers of all sizes and types, for instance, in order to be able to monitor the volume of media, such as oil, water and fuel, in tanks and coolant in the hollow spaces of engines of all kinds.
The stated object relates to monitoring systems for testing and measuring by simple means without mechanically moving parts, in order to measure and evaluate volumes within seconds, so as to guarantee a reliable operation of all operating devices preferably in a vehicle or in a plant. All the known measurement systems work with mechanically moving parts such as floats and levers.
If not precisely, as in checking engine oil in a motor vehicle, the oil level monitoring is tested with an oil dipstick with calibrated markings thereon in order to be able to detect the oil level by visual comparison with the markings.
In another known level gauge, a float supported by the liquid is connected by a pointer to a level, so as to generate the measurement signals as it moves back and forth. Other fill gauges exist for fuel tanks of vehicles, where a pressure sensor is located near the tank bottom and a measurement site is located at a second point, so that via the pressure difference the fill quantity in the tank can be determined. See German Patent Application DE 37 28 042 Al.
Other measuring methods for liquid containers exist that perform measurements with hydrostatic fill gauges. A tank level transducer that operates by the hydrostatic principle has a differential pressure sensor, which is connected by two measurement inputs and one measurement output to an evaluation unit with an indicator device. See German Patent Application DE 41 12 559 Al.
Other measuring methods include oil level monitors with a hollow dipstick, for instance.
When a test key is actuated, the engine oil is aspirated via a pump, and the oil column in the dipstick is measured with an end feeler. The end switch turns the pump off and via reporting means transmits signals that indicate whether the oil level is acceptable.
This measuring method is very complicated and expensive, as illustrated by German Utility Model G 62 21 367.9.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a measuring system for liquid volumes and liquid levels which does not have the above-described disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a measuring system for liquid volumes and liquid levels which is comparatively simple and does not have moving parts.
Accordingly, a very simple apparatus according to the invention comprises an innermost tube disposed in a tank, container or housing, which can constantly measure the volume of oil or other operating media in order to evaluate or refill them.
According to the invention the apparatus for measuring liquid volume of liquid held in a container having a lowest point has no moving parts and comprises a dynamic pressure tube having an open tube end standing in the container at its lowest point, the open tube end being shaped so that only some, but not all, points on the open tube end rest on the container bottom surface so that the liquid can flow into and out of the dynamic pressure tube through the open tube end; a pressure measurement converter closing another end of the dynamic pressure tube opposite from the open tube end so as to form an air column between the pressure measurement converter and a liquid level in the dynamic pressure tube; and an electronic analyzing device comprising an electronic circuit mounted on the pressure measurement converter and connected electrically to the pressure measurement converter, the electronic circuit including means for producing an electronic signal characteristic of a liquid volume in the container, as well as, preferably, a digital meter connected with the electronic circuit for display of the measured liquid volume.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the
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Gunther Adolf
Krahn Heinrich
Weindl Werner
Striker Michael J.
Wiggins J. David
Williams Hezron E.
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