Method and apparatus for optically measuring fluid levels

Details Method and apparatus for optically measuring fluid levels Method and apparatus for optically measuring fluid levels

1987-03-23

1988-05-17

Westin, Edward P.

Radiant energy

Photocells; circuits and apparatus

Optical or pre-photocell system

250227, 73293, 340619, 356133, G01F 2300

Patent

active

047452935

ABSTRACT:
A non-metallic fiber-optic device is provided for measuring the level of fluid in a tank, reservoir, or other vessel. Light from a broadband light source is transmitted through a fiber optic waveguide and an optical coupler to an optical pipe sensor which is immersed in the fluid to be measured. The optical pipe sensor includes a monotonically varied diffraction grating in the surface and along the length of the sensor which serves to retroreflect wavelengths of light as a function of the local spacing of the diffraction grating. For light entering the sensor from the waveguide, wavelengths of light corresponding to the local spacing of the diffraction grating above the fluid level are retroreflected, whereas wavelengths of light corresponding to the diffraction grating spacing below the fluid level either escape into the fluid, are absorbed, or are coupled to a return fiber to be detected. Either the retroreflected wavelengths of light or the non-retroreflected wavelengths of light are emitted by the sensor, separated by a spectrometer, sensed by a photodetector, analyzed by a computer, and converted to an output display indicating measurement of the fluid level.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4134022 (1979-01-01), Jacobsen
patent: 4443699 (1984-04-01), Keller
patent: 4589285 (1986-05-01), Savit
patent: 4644177 (1987-02-01), Barabino
J. Rakucewicz, "Fiber-Optic Methods of Level Sensing", Sensors 5 (Dec. 1986).

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